metzler tires : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

superglide9619 · 04-17-2004, 05:59 AM

first time running the 880s thought id try something different to see if could get better milage then dunlop averaged around 8 thou out of rearwith dunlop.anyways question is i used to run 36 ponds in rear and 30 in front with dunlops.I was told to run 48 pounds in rear and 45 in front.seems like alot or is that correct?ive put about just over hundred miles on em yesterday not quite sure if i am going to like the handling of em yet .seems squirly curious if its the air pressure.

Ed Y · 04-17-2004, 07:00 AM

Metzeler recommends 38 in the front and 44 in the rear. This info is from a Harley tire fitment guide from their website. If in doubt at all, go to their website and it will probably have some kind of contact info. Ask them. Advice passed around by word of mouth should be taken with a grain of salt unless you know and trust whoever's giving it to you. Too much BS out there.

Raywood · 04-17-2004, 08:45 AM

I just changed out my rear 240 at 13,000 miles. Will get about 20,000 out of the front. I've used lots of different brands over the last 25 years and this is the first time I got so many miles out of a rear tire. No problems with traction and I keep the pressure right at what the manufactures says, different for various sizes I'm sure.

DynaMike · 06-10-2004, 06:53 PM

I had my tires changed to Metzeler 880s in Laughlin this year. When I was leaving, a guy with a funny accent came up to me and started talking about the tires. It turns out that he was a Metzeler Factory Manager and he told me to run 42 PSI in the front (80/90H21) and 49 PSI in the rear (150/80HB16)

Apparently they run with more pressure than the Dunlops. I love the ride and have no complaints after 2000+ miles.

We'll see how it goes.

Trollman · 06-10-2004, 08:31 PM

Just installed a pair of 880 Marathons on my Superglide last night. Basically straightforward job and balanced perfect. I took it out this evening to road test and scuff up the footprint a little. Very smooth and quiet and the bike transitions from upright to full lean much smoother. The tread cross section is much more radial than the worn out (1/16in and only 6200 miles on the rear!) Dunlops. I'm running 38 Front and 44 Rear as detailed on the Metzler website (Like Ed says above). Thanks to whoever recommended MAW online-- they were the best price I could find and easy to deal with.

texastooltime · 06-13-2004, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollman

Just installed a pair of 880 Marathons on my Superglide last night. Basically straightforward job and balanced perfect. I took it out this evening to road test and scuff up the footprint a little. Very smooth and quiet and the bike transitions from upright to full lean much smoother. The tread cross section is much more radial than the worn out (1/16in and only 6200 miles on the rear!) Dunlops. I'm running 38 Front and 44 Rear as detailed on the Metzler website (Like Ed says above). Thanks to whoever recommended MAW online-- they were the best price I could find and easy to deal with.

Your Superglide is almost identical to mine. What year model? I have a 99. Thinking about either metzler or Avon venoms next time (soon). I ride a lot of twisties (solo and 2 up) and don't want anything squishy but I like the way the tread goes furthur up the sidewall on the Avons. How about the Metzlers? What size rear were you able to put under yours without having clearance problems, or did you stay with the stock dimension? I would like to go to a 140 if there are no clearance issues, I know on the 99 and back a 150 will not fit without doing a lot of respacing, narrow belt or chain, etc. Any thoughts or experience on any of this would be appreciated as I would prefer not to experiment a lot and someone has tried all of this at one time or another on the same scoot I am sure.

Trollman · 06-14-2004, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texastooltime

Your Superglide is almost identical to mine. What year model? I have a 99. Thinking about either metzler or Avon venoms next time (soon). I ride a lot of twisties (solo and 2 up) and don't want anything squishy but I like the way the tread goes furthur up the sidewall on the Avons. How about the Metzlers? What size rear were you able to put under yours without having clearance problems, or did you stay with the stock dimension? I would like to go to a 140 if there are no clearance issues, I know on the 99 and back a 150 will not fit without doing a lot of respacing, narrow belt or chain, etc. Any thoughts or experience on any of this would be appreciated as I would prefer not to experiment a lot and someone has tried all of this at one time or another on the same scoot I am sure.

Hey Texastooltime-- mine is a '99 too. The wife and I put about 400 on the bike this weekend and it feels rock solid even two up. I just went with the stock tire sizes because I figured for the little difference in appearance it wasn't worth the hassle of having to return a tire that wouldn't fit. Because of the shape of the tire, I think I might have a little more room around where my saddlebag bolts go thru the fender. From what I've heard you can't go wrong with the Avon's either!

texastooltime · 06-15-2004, 06:46 PM

Judging from the pictures of the Metzler 880's in the JP catalog, they seem to have a more rounded profile on the rear tire than the square shaped Dunlops that came on the superglides. Does it seem to you to be that way and does the tread seem to wrap a little higher up the sidewalls? That could account for the additional clearance. I have the factory HD concho bags that are hard-mounted for now. I hope to eventually go to easy-brackets with them, along with a mustang studded solo and wide pillion, and quick detach on the sissy bar as well. That way I can run a fender bib and the solo when my wife doesn't ride with me. I am like you, I don't want to mess with the problems for very little width and change in appearance, so I probably will stay with a stock 130 on the rear. I would like to build a scoot with a 200 rear eventually. I have ridden with the guys with the big 240's and they have to herd them in the twisties and almost run out of road doing it at high speed. That part is what I like about my Dyna the most, it handles easy in the corners. Thanks for the info about the Metzlers, I always like to hear from someone who has actually done it before throwing down my hard-earned.