Metzlers vs Dunlops

[Jaguar]

Any thoughts on the difference between the two? I am about to put on my third rea tire on my FLHSTC with 27K. I still have the orginal front which I will change now as well. Getting about 13K on rear Dunlop with no 2 up riding. I do however load it up with additional weight twice a year when I ride to Sturgis and then on to California and back to PA. Not sure if I should stay with Dunlop or try thr Metzlers?

Jaguar

[JamieWG]

Once you try Metzlers or Avons, you will never buy another Dunlop.

[SoCal harley]

Just put on Metzelers 500 miles ago and what a big difference from Dunlops. Rides ALOt smoother.

[Camera108]

06 Street Glide, Metzler 880s
02 T-Sport, Metzler 880s
Wife's 05 1200 Custom, Metzler 880s

93 Yamaha Venture son rides until he can afford HD, Metzler 880s
83 Suz GS1100E (restored) Metzler Lazer & ME99

If I could put them on my Explorer, it would be on Metzler 880s. Can I vote a couple times?

[nc-renegade]

Originally Posted by Camera108

06 Street Glide, Metzler 880s
02 T-Sport, Metzler 880s
Wife's 05 1200 Custom, Metzler 880s

93 Yamaha Venture son rides until he can afford HD, Metzler 880s
83 Suz GS1100E (restored) Metzler Lazer & ME99

If I could put them on my Explorer, it would be on Metzler 880s. Can I vote a couple times?

I have been running Metzler's for about 25k miles and have been mostly satisfied with these tires. (ME 880s). I have read here a lot of good things about Avon tires as well. I am thinking about putting the following on my softail.
MT90B16 74H on front and the 150/80B16 77H on rear

Any comments on the handling differences between these Avon's and the Metzler's ME880 is appreciated!

(Main reason for switching is for the increased load handling of the Avons, plus the understanding that they hold the road equally as well as Metzlers.)

Regards

[George C]

JMO.


http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/

Dunlops are by FAR the better tire company. Their tires are much more specific and Dunlop has decades of racing technology.
Also, most are built in Buffalo, NY.

What comes on a Harley stock is Dunlop's all around, moderatly priced imported tire. If you look at a stock HD tire as a barometer for Dunlop, you've made a mistake.
Avons or Metz tires? I guess they are a decent "one tread pattern fits all" comparison to a Dunlop Qualifier D401 if you want a different tire label, but not in the same league as a specific Dunlop.

For long distance wear, I would go with a Dunlop E-3 radial

.

If you want great handling, go with one of their high performance street tires.


Load ratings:


SIZE LOAD/ SPEED INDEX SIDEWALL PART # APPLICABLE RIMS
RECOMMENDED RIM OVERALL DIAMETER OVERALL WIDTH FULL TREAD DEPTH MAXIMUM LOAD @ PSI

Elite 3 Radial Front
150/80R17 72H BW 4080-92 3.50 26.77 6.16 5/32 783 @ 41
130/70R18 63H BW 4080-78 3.50 25.26 5.08 6/32 600 @ 41
120/70R21 62V BW 4080-97 3.00 3.50 3.75 27.61 4.83 6/32 584 @ 41
Elite 3 Radial Rear
180/60R16 74H BW 4080-56 5.00 24.39 7.16 9/32 827 @ 41
180/70R16 77H BW 4080-82 5.00 26.06 7.13 10/32 910 @ 41
240/40R18 79V BW 4080-88 8.00 25.91 9.29 12/32 963 @ 41
250/40R18 81V BW 4080-99 9.00 26.20 10.02 8/32 1019 @ 42

[jawrider]

switched to Metzelers, HUGE improvement over stock
could be, as GeorgeC said ,that other Dunlops are better, but I only know the stock, which made me feel like I was sliding sideways sometimes

[Mtclassic]

I will go against the grain here. I have 6000 miles on my metzler 880 140/16 and it is to the wear bars. I never got that bad of milage with the Dunlops. I can tell you that new dunlop 402's handle better than worn metzler 880's and new 880's handle better than worn 402's. I ride two bikes and one bike has the worn out 880's (only 6000 miles) front is still good and the other new dunlops. the new dunlops feel great.

[bigbluff]

I recently replaced my Dunlops with...Dunlops. I went in planning on going to Metzlers and discussed it with the HD Service Advisor who IS a rider. He said there really isn't a lot of difference. He says the tread will usually last a little longer on the Metz, however he usually has to replace them before the tread wears out because they develop scallops. He says the Dunlops have a slightly softer rubber than the Metz. He said that whenever you replace a worn out tire with a new one, it always feels a lot better and that is what most people rave about. I tend to agree with that statement. He was able to save me more than $130 on the Dunlops over the Metz, which in my mind made it a pretty easy decision. I believed him for two reasons: 1) he's a rider and 2) he had more to gain from selling me the Metz for a higher price. He knew I came in planning on buying Metz. I went back with the Dunlops so I could spend the $130 on other stuff.

[Mtclassic]

Originally Posted by SEDELUXE

metzlers or Avons you cannoit go wrong...
Its my understanding that the moco dont want to spend good money on a tire i mean wtf do you expect. Some people hardly ever even look at another brand if the dealer sell it it has to be top shelf. Dunlop makes tires specifically for HD and their imported to say the least whats wrong why cant they sell them tires made in the us. Thats bull **** .. im starting to regret that i even brought a harley. stick with metzlers or avons fu(k Dunlop

The service manager saved you 130.00 so you could buy more chrome that is made in japan. Obviously he does not ride that much to know the diffrence between tires. First off metzlers and Avons are softer compound then dunlos that hd sells. thats how much he knows

The dunlop harley branded tires say made in the USA my metzelers say made in Brazil.

[zoomie67]

Metzlers or Avons hands down. I hear alot of people discuss the wear issue with the Metzlers, makes me wonder if they know te specs of the tire. The rears are supposed to run at 44 psi. I put a set on my 01 Fatboy this winter and have put about 300 miles on them so far this year. They rock, way more responsive and track better than the stockers. They don't track the ruts as much as the stockers but I went from a 130 to a 160 on the rear, so that may be part of it too.

[trooper113]

Originally Posted by SEDELUXE

metzlers or Avons you cannoit go wrong...
Its my understanding that the moco dont want to spend good money on a tire i mean wtf do you expect. Some people hardly ever even look at another brand if the dealer sell it it has to be top shelf. Dunlop makes tires specifically for HD and their imported to say the least whats wrong why cant they sell them tires made in the us. Thats bull **** .. im starting to regret that i even brought a harley. stick with metzlers or avons fu(k Dunlop

The service manager saved you 130.00 so you could buy more chrome that is made in japan. Obviously he does not ride that much to know the diffrence between tires. First off metzlers and Avons are softer compound then dunlos that hd sells. thats how much he knows

Wow....not sure I understood much of the above, but.....

I like Metzelers a lot. I've never run Avons or Dunlop E-3s so I can't speak to them. Many riders love both of them. I plan to replace my stock Dunlops on my Ultra with Metzelers when the time comes. Yup...they're made in either Germany or Brazil.

Re: bigbluff's savings....I understand that pricing was at a H-D dealer. That's one of the worst places on earth to try to buy non-Dunlop tires since H-D and Dunlop are contractually intertwined.

T113

[Thorns]

If you spend a lot of time in the rain, you will like the Metzeler. I get good mileage from the Metzeler. I like the way they track. My money is well spent. My choice.

Thorns

[Carrie]

Metzler finally added WWW to their lineup.

[Thunderhog]

Originally Posted by JamieWG

Once you try Metzlers or Avons, you will never buy another Dunlop.

+ 1........