I just got my second street bike, an '05 Electra Glide and the rear tire has maybe a couple months left in it considering how much I ride.

My last bike - an 1100 V-Star - got great service out of Metzeler ME880's (17,000 miles) so I'm curious if these tires are available for the E-G and, assuming they are available,if you fellas have found them to perform well on the Harley as far as mileage and peformance?

PS:Assuming i'm not laying patches of rubber and am a gentle rider (mostly long distance freeway commute), what kind of mileagedo theElectra Glides give for front and rear tires? I know the rear is about half of what the front normally gives. My V-Star gave me 27,000 miles on a front tire before I finallychanged it. What tires do you all find give the best service life? I log about 30,000 miles a year, so tire life is important to me, lol.

 

I've got 3k on a set of 880s that look brand new. They are the only tire my indy shop mounts. The earlier 880s may have not worn so well but the newer ones have a deeper tread that is supposed to give mileage equal to or better than other brands.

These are great tires, many of us belive them to be much superior to the LOPS.

As they say though, your mileage may vary.

 

You could search the 1000's of tire posts to read all the opinions but here's the summary: Metzelers get better grip & don't do the raingroove squirm like Dunlops. Dunlops get slightly longer wear than Metzelers. (but who wants to ride those extra 1000 miles on slippery, squirmy, nearly wore out Dunlops?)

Check Metzelers site for your tire fitment: http://www.metzelermoto.com/

 

Thanks guys, I'm happy to hear reports consistant with what I've gotten in the past. I've had excellent service out of them personally too.

 

I run the Metzlers but went to the next larger size for an Ultra, the 140. I've run lops and Conti's but get the best mileage out of the Metz 880. The ride with the 140 is good and feels more stable with a load. No fitment problems either using the 140.

Good luck, your results may vary, not valid in Vt, Ms or AK. Batteries not included.

Bubba

 

A previous thread on tires had a good quote that made me stick with Dunlops instead of trying Metzlers.........If you get a flat tire, all HD dealers have Dunlops, you will be hard pressed to find a Metzler tire so you can run the same treads. I got 13k on the rear Dunlop before I changed it and the originalfront has 17k on it and still in good shape.

Just my $0.02 and no, i do not need change

 

If someone has some comparative empirical data on this debate don't hold back--POST IT. Either engineering data or blind test data would be helpful. For me, anyway, I doubt that I could tell the difference between a Metzler or LOP(without looking at the sidewall)what rear tireis on my '04 EG ifit has the recommended tire pressue. I spend very little time on steel deck bridges, and avoid riding in downpours. I have ridden 35,000 miles on the HD recommended LOPS and have had zero problems in rain, repaving road grooves, or on the rare occasion I have ridden over steel deck bridges. I get about 9K miles on the rear tire.

 

This topic has as many opinions as.......... Metzelers have always worked for me on 'glides. Yes, truth is, they don't squirm on combed concrete or shredded asphalt like the 'lops. And I always found them in stock at several different HD stores as well as indy shops.

 

metzler 880's withouta doubt.... I usually get 10 or 11,000mi out of back on roadking. 2 back to 1 front... handle great and no squirm in rain or on rain grooves in road

 

Just installed the ME880 140 on my Ultra. Rides/handles good, no complaints. For the baggers, don't get the ME 880 150 tire because it does not have the load rating.

Dunlops are getting harder to find with the strike.