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Cruiser
Posts: 105
Columbia, TN United States | Just replaced the tires on my 09 Vision Tour Premium. Replaced the stock with Metzler ME880's. Now the bike feels top heavy and a strong wind makes the bike unstable at speeds of 55+. Did my tire installer miss something? Has anyone had these issues? There is clearly something wrong. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks for this great forum. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Sounds like soft rubber compound side-walls or ???. Why the heck wouldn't you buy the stock Dunlop tires? I did, and I'm as happy as day 1 ... |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Sorry! I get touchy on the subject. My dealer quoted me $1,000 for new Dunlops. Like anyone, I like to save a buck - I e-mailed the closest Victory dealer in the U.S. - and got my tires for $500. But I never considered changing to something other than what the MANUFACTURER sold the bike with. I am NOT a 'Lab-Rat'.
One thing I have learned - "Life is short"
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | First thing I would do is double check your air pressure... |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | TLD, I agree with Chris (and Don) and check your air pressure first. I had new tires put on recently by another dealer and did not recheck the air pressure before installing. I spent a day trying to figure out if I left something loose, only to find both tires were 10 psi below my normal pressure of 40 in front and rear. You also might recheck the axles to make sure they are tight and which side they, or you, installed the spacers. In the rear the larger spacer goes to the right, in the front, to the...I forget, so check the book. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | 1+ on the air pressure. I had the dealer install new E3s. The bike felt like it had power steering when stopped and felt like I was "falling over" in turns. Idiot had 70 PSI front and rear.
Edited by cw1115 2010-11-18 6:16 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 446
East TN | I looked into getting Metzlers for my Vision, Metzlers did not recommend using their tire due to the load rating....I went with Dunlop E3's.>>But yes check air pressure and let us know if that fixed it... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 105
Columbia, TN United States | Thankd for the responses. I went with Metzlers because I had had a great experience with them on my bikes in the past. Yes, the tire pressure is the first thing I checked. Now when I ride 2 up, it is like there is a 1,000 gorilla in my back seat, she only weighs about 125. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I'm concerned with the axles, just double check. If that's not it, ride a hundred miles on the twisties to see if you just need to learn your muscles to the new feel. I love when I put new tires on my bike and don't really know how bad the old tires really was. I ride with a little more caution to retune my body after a tire change. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | I work with a Harley guy who has ridden Metzlers for a long time. They used to be consistently great but have turned into a real crap-shoot lately. If you get German-made, they will be good every time. If you get the Brazilian-made, it's 50/50 whether they will be good or total crap. One rear tire he had lasted 14,000 miles, the next one lasted less than 4,000 (exact same Metzler model/size). How can you make sure you get a German one? I have no clue. |
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Tourer
Posts: 576
, IA | Y metz cause they handle great and last |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | There are folks that use the ME880 on the Vision with no issues, but as SF states there could be an issue with where the tire is made and their QC. But there is one item you need to check with the folks that sold you the tire...that is fitment. Everyone needs to remember that the Vision rear rim is 5" wide. A lot of the 180/60R-16 motorcycle tires spec out a 5.5" to 6" rim, and I think Metzler is one. So their tire even though is the same size may act a little different and that probably has a lot to do with air pressure. By running an air pressure that you used on the E-3 might be too much for the ME-880 as it might crown the tire which could effect the handling. Again there are a lot of folks here using the ME-880 with success. As for the load rating, it is a 74 which is 827 lbs. Speed rating is an H. One last thing, as varyder said, check everything the installer did when they put on the tire. My last rear tire installed, they hooked up the shock link wrong, good thing I checked after I got the bike home. Good luck. |
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Tourer
Posts: 390
| I run the "GW" rated Metzlers on my 2009. I have 6000 miles on them and they ride great. The bike feels responsive and stable. I wonder about what Songfan said. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 52
The Great Northwet | On my 08 I have 32,000 miles. on 4th set of tires....original dunlops, 7000 miles and cupped bad, then Metz 880's 10,000 and cupped bad but felt great and better than the originals ever did, then E3's 13,000 cupped bad but felt loose or like I had no traction, just went back to Metz 880's a little over 1000 miles ago and the grip feel is back....Also had the best luck traction wise with the 880's on my 99 and 04 TC. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | You need to keep in mind that a radial tire is a suspension all by itself; air pressure is critical to ride and handling. This is why we see NASCAR teams completely changing a car with half pound air adjustment increments |
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
Lindale, TX | I have 12,000 miles on origional Dunlaps EIIIs. Dealer quoted me $450 to replace and mount OEM tires. Sounds like a great deal.
Edited by Easttexasrider 2010-11-18 9:55 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 77
| I have 15,000 on my original E-3's. Getting both changed out for around $550.00 |
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Cruiser
Posts: 105
Columbia, TN United States | I have stayed on top of the tire pressure. My mechanic wants to check the front and rear suspension. If that does not take care of it, I guess I will have a nice set of ME880's for sale to someone with a Gold Wing. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 7
Cabot Arkansas | Just replaced my Dunlop with a Metz 880 and have had no problem. I only replaced the rear at 15,000 the front still has a lot of tire with no cupping ..Like others have said went with Metz do to they wore better on my TC than any Dunlop I had. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 105
Columbia, TN United States | Found several things today on the tires. First the tire gauge that came with the bike read 10 pounds heavy, thus I was 10# underinflated, the tech raised the rear shock pressure to 65 psi, then he lowered the front forks by 12mm. I feel like I am riding a brand new bike, even in the headwinds, it is stratght on. Thanks for all of the responses. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 249
Montreal, QC Canada | As I've said before, you can't beat the Dunlops. I had to drive about 5 miles on a completely flat rear tire and never put a mark on my chrome rims. I easily get 15000 miles on them. Don't switch. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Its a shame that there is really no way to find a good accurate tire gauge. I had 5 of them an there in the trash can now. I bought a dial gauge and
a new pencil gauge. I check my car tires with the gauge and then with the pencil stick and tuck the pencil stick back to the auto store and bought the best one they had. Now the pencil stick is with in 2 pounds of the gauge. The bike ride great and maybe the tires will last longer.
My advice don't trust the stock pencil stick gauge. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
Cold Lake Alberta Canada | I went dark side and have no issues handling or performance, stock front tire and all is good. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 804
Perry Hall, MD | Sounds like you've got a pretty good wrench. Glad to hear that the problem is resolved. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 117
Spring Hill, Tennessee | Hey Guys. Just a thought I wanted to throw out there about tires and this time of year.
It is probably safe to say that a tire takes a little longer to heat up in the winter than in the summer months. That being said, be aware that tires may not grip as well on cold pavement "right out of the garage" as they might on hot pavement. Give your tires a little time to heat up this time of year to help ensure the "shinny side" always stays up.  |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Sounds like a good tip, thanks. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
Tifton, GA | I had Metz 880 on a Honda Magna and got great ride, handling and tread life. Tried them on my Harley great ride and handling, but tread life was same a standard Dunlops. The E3 Dunlop was a different in that it had a longer tread life and was less expensive that Metz 880. Me and a buddy of mine do our service work, so all I am looking at is cost of tire shipped to my house. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Prairie Dog Heaven, CO | Did you get the bias ply or the radials?
Bias ply feels much slower on turn-in than the radials.
As others have said, both are not appropriately load rated for the VV
(if you go to metzeler web site and search for tires for the VV nothing comes up - for just that reason) |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | SongFan - 2010-11-18 6:42 AM
I work with a Harley guy who has ridden Metzlers for a long time.? They used to be consistently great but have turned into a real crap-shoot lately.? If you get German-made, they will be good every time.? If you get the Brazilian-made, it's 50/50 whether they will be good or total crap.? One rear tire he had lasted 14,000 miles, the next one lasted less than 4,000 (exact same Metzler model/size).? How can you make sure you get a German one?? I have no clue.
I used to love the Metz 880s, but stopped using them for the very reasons cited by Songfan. I'm on my second set of E3s and won't look for anything different unless someone starts making a set with a narrow white stripe.
I buy the E3s online and have my dealer install them. I'm very loyal, but not an extra $300 loyal. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 88
Billings, MT | I have an '08 Vision, at 28000 miles it was time to replace the rear tire for the fourth time! I weight the decision carefully, asked a lot of questions, and then went to the darkside! 5000 miles later I am still going strong, and pleased that i made the decision!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 208
Edmonton Alberta, Canada | Check alignment, last set worked good, wore good, felt good, but after replacing tires this summer bike was totally diferent, before lateral tar snakes and deep grooves were very scary, now, butt pukers when encourtering them, but next to now feel on the bike. |
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New Tires, no bike is not stable