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Tire warning! (Metzler ME 8880)

15K views 14 replies 6 participants last post by  thumper 823  
#1 ·
Metzler 16 'ME888
This is not to knock a vendor or play games!
Watch your tires !
I had a 16 rear ME 888 come apart on way back from Sturgis.
The tire had about 8000 miles on it and started shedding its carcass.
Thank god we did not die!
I took the tire in and they said they have seen this B4, not too many times but does happen.:confused:
Chunks of tread were actually missing mostly on left side of center.
I could see the steel belts where the missing tread was.
Its a little worse, - it took out the wiring to the rear lights of the bike...BUT
It could have been a lot worse.
Yes it had the right air pressure .
 
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#12 ·
They?

Did you not look at how old the tire was when you bought it?

46 lbs on rear, 43 on front.
Not sure what over loaded would be , it is a tour tire, a tour bike.
We were two up all loaded.
i think with people and stuff I would guess around 450 lbs plus the bike weight.
The tread was coming of the casing . No nails, was holding air.
I am not exactly sure when it started coming apart...But i would guess it was they day i discovered it.
it would not have lasted too much longer .
Normal speeds.
If you were running 46 rear and 43 front, I'm guessing you do not have a manual for your bike.

You really should know what you weight is when touring and know what the max curb weight is for your bike and max load for your tires. Not knowing those things is asking for trouble.

There has been a big war as to what air P. to run these.
The consensus is more air P. is a lot better then less.
The dealer said he sees a few of these..
I am pretty sure its plain as day as to the cause-
The bond between the tread carcass and skeleton belts did not hold.
Its quite obvious its a manufacturing problem as it was on the left side only(left of center ).
The tread cracked to the bone followed by disintegration .
Big war? Where has this war been taking place?

You keep answering "I don't know" to valid questions, so how do you determine that the cause is "plain as day"?

Thats the 3 rd Metzler we have had problems with.
The front decided to crack all around the side wall this Spring, Replaced it with another Metzler.( I like to run matched brands.)
They said it happens.................................
Last Summer the Rear went bald after about 6000 miles ! ( it happens)
So, I Got a New metzler.....(getting boring )
Ok Back to now-
I am done with the Metzler brand, this could have killed us!
No they did not offer me anything other then a Metzler.(and not for free)
I said no thanks .
They said we might get a refund (prorate) after it was sent back......( i know longer care)
So at this point I could care less about mixing brands...the rate these are going the front will not last the summer and only has 4K on it......( Now i am being sarcastic)
I said "what else do you have?"
I explained "Its not so much the cost, I want a really good tire."
Secretly i hoped they had a Pirelli Or Avon in stock.
All they had for the next option was Michelin commander 11 .
So..we will see how this one goes.
As of right now I am still fixing the wiring to everything...
The moral of the story is look your tires over real good at least once a day.
Why would you keep buying a brand you feel hasn't been holding up correctly?

Who are "they"? Is this the only place you can buy tires?

I have run a few sets of Metzler 880s on my RK and my experience was that 7000 to 9000 was about the life expectancy of a rear tire doing a lot of 2 up highway riding. Front tire lasted about 2 back tires.

I'm confused. Your post seems like a bash on the 888, but then you say the moral of the story is to look at your tires. So, are you upset about the Metzler tires or just realizing you need to look things over occasionally, especially before a long ride?
 
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#4 · (Edited)
Who confiscated it? What was the pressure other than right? Was the bike overloaded? What was the speed the day it came apart? Picking up a nail, for a slow leak will cause a failure just like yours
Glad you didn't crash, blaming it on the tire, is probably incorrect. The manufacturers like to DL an inspection on tire failures like yours, but...
Firestone had a similar issue years back, it came down to which was right, the tire placard on the vehicle, or the tire sidewall info???
 
#5 ·
46 lbs on rear, 43 on front.
Not sure what over loaded would be , it is a tour tire, a tour bike.
We were two up all loaded.
i think with people and stuff I would guess around 450 lbs plus the bike weight.
The tread was coming of the casing . No nails, was holding air.
I am not exactly sure when it started coming apart...But i would guess it was they day i discovered it.
it would not have lasted too much longer .
Normal speeds.
 
Save
#7 ·
There has been a big war as to what air P. to run these.
The consensus is more air P. is a lot better then less.
The dealer said he sees a few of these..
I am pretty sure its plain as day as to the cause-
The bond between the tread carcass and skeleton belts did not hold.
Its quite obvious its a manufacturing problem as it was on the left side only(left of center ).
The tread cracked to the bone followed by disintegration .
 
Save
#10 ·
Interesting, this is something I have never heard of before. I was thinking of trying one of those tires the next time I need one, might have to rethink it.
Did they at least give you a new tire? Would you be confident running their tires again?
 
#11 ·
Thats the 3 rd Metzler we have had problems with.
The front decided to crack all around the side wall this Spring, Replaced it with another Metzler.( I like to run matched brands.)
They said it happens.................................
Last Summer the Rear went bald after about 6000 miles ! ( it happens)
So, I Got a New metzler.....(getting boring )
Ok Back to now-
I am done with the Metzler brand, this could have killed us!
No they did not offer me anything other then a Metzler.(and not for free)
I said no thanks .
They said we might get a refund (prorate) after it was sent back......( i know longer care)
So at this point I could care less about mixing brands...the rate these are going the front will not last the summer and only has 4K on it......( Now i am being sarcastic)
I said "what else do you have?"
I explained "Its not so much the cost, I want a really good tire."
Secretly i hoped they had a Pirelli Or Avon in stock.
All they had for the next option was Michelin commander 11 .
So..we will see how this one goes.
As of right now I am still fixing the wiring to everything...
The moral of the story is look your tires over real good at least once a day.
 
Save
#13 · (Edited)
Dont get too confused.
I simply posted to remind people to check their tires.
My particular vendor says he sees this in small numbers.
In the name of safety i posted.
Someone asked If i would buy another Metzler.
No is my answer.
Just answering questions.
If you would read the post carefully the context explains why i bought 3 meztlers...
I do not think anyone expects the tread to just start shedding like a big trk tire
A book for the bike is worthless when it comes to tires and pressures..
Tire technology changes.
The bike is about the same......
If we followed the book for the bike and put 32 pounds in a metzler it would be a very big mistake.
46 rear 43 front is the recommended TP .(for Metz)
 
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#14 ·
Dont get too confused.
I simply posted to remind people to check their tires.
My particular vendor says he sees this in small numbers.
In the name of safety i posted.
Someone asked If i would buy another Metzler.
No is my answer.
Just answering questions.
If you would read the post carefully the context explains why i bought 3 meztlers...
I do not think anyone expects the tread to just start shedding like a big trk tire
A book for the bike is worthless when it comes to tires and pressures..
Tire technology changes.
The bike is about the same......
If we followed the book for the bike and put 32 pounds in a metzler it would be a very big mistake.
Maybe you should re-read what your title for this thread is. It sounds nothing like a friendly reminder to check tires.

Do tell how the tire technology has changed and how you determined what pressure to run in yours.

This page from Metzler's web site says to refer to your manual for proper tire pressure.

http://www.metzeler.com/site/us/tech-and-safety/safety-maintenance.html
 
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#15 ·
The metzler people told me last year not to pay any atn . to what the owners book says for the very reason i mentioned.

They blamed low Air p. on the side wall cracks as in MANY other cases.
I am not making this thread unfriendly how ever you are a bit caustic
 
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