New Tires

[MagnaDaddy]

OK guys,  I got the old DisQualifiers replaced finally with a nice new pair of ME880's and I think I got a new bike in the deal    

The dealership (Georgetown Honda) actually had a better price than what I could find online and mounted them up for $35ea so I didn't have to mess with it at all.

In the past I had to really push her over in the turns and now I'm oversteering!  These tires are sweet but it's gonna take a little bit of getting used to the responsiveness.  

I didn't know no better when I had the Dunlops but now I'm a believer  

Thanks for all the advice and help here this group is GREAT!

[drkngas]

I made the change from Dunlops to Metz last month and I like the Metz 880s but prefer the Duns in the turns.  One month later and I still don't feel as confident in the turns.

[Curtis_Valk]

I hear you on the turn-in quickness of the Metzelers.  The first time I turned right at an intersection, I thought I was going to dump her on the curb.

I too went back to a Dunlop for the rear of my '99 because the Metz kept slipping on humid days (city intersections are kinda greasy).  The Dunlop gripped better for me under those conditions.  No complaints on the front Metz.

Curtis

[Len Averyt]

I now have that 99 and I too have no issue with the dunlop i just put on her.

[Ed Mackessy]

I went with the ME 880 for my third set of tires and went oversize on the back with a 170/80-15. (You need the Cycleistic off set brake stay for this size tire) I think the 180/80-15 might have been a better choice as it is not quite as wide as the 170 and might fit the weel better. The Metz handle great ( so did the Dunlops) but I'm looking for longer wear.

Don't forget that with a new set of tires you need to be careful for about 200 miles. They use a release agent when molding the tire, and you need to wear it off before really laying the bike over.

[Sledge Hammer]

I too went back to a Dunlop for the rear of my '99 because the Metz kept slipping on humid days (city intersections are kinda greasy).  The Dunlop gripped better for me under those conditions.  No complaints on the front Metz.

Curtis

I have been told that one of the tradeoffs of radials is that while they may generally offer better traction in a given size under most conditions, when they do lose traction they tend to do so more abruptly than the bias-ply tires in the same size. Is that the experience the rest of you have had?

Mike

[Curtis_Valk]

I don't know, I think the Metz 880s are bias ply as well.  My Valk uses Radials, but with a 180 rear and 150 front I've had very little slippage problems.

Curtis

[Sledge Hammer]

I don't know, I think the Metz 880s are bias ply as well.  My Valk uses Radials, but with a 180 rear and 150 front I've had very little slippage problems.

Curtis

I think they are, at least in the Magna's nominal size, but it may be offered both as a radial or a BP. The link to Dennis Kirk calls the rear tire for the 3G VF750C a radial. http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/tpl/tire/product.jsp;jsessionid=SL405WXOVEKFHLA0WTVSM4VMDK0NCIV0?skuId=540811&store=Main&productId=p540233&catId=213&leafCatId=&mmyId=

When I bought my bike in March of last year, it was already at the local Honda dealership to be checked out, so after the transaction, I wanted to replace the 10-year old, dry-rotted tires on it. From all I had read, Metzler was the way to go, but the service manager talked me out of it and led me back to the OEM Dunlops. He told me that unless I were riding very aggressively, I would be just spending extra money. Based on your comments, I don't think I would want Metzlers for aggressive riding on this bike.

[MagnaDaddy]

ME880's are bias-ply....   I couldn't find anything in a radial in the standard sizes for my bike.

Update:  The old dunlops were horrible on any kind of grooves or lines on the pavement, there are several spots in the area where I commute like this.  lots of front-end wobble which corresponds to the wavy lines of the grooves.

These Metzelers handle them like they are not there at all !!!!

[Greg Cothern]

The Metzelers in stock size (150/80-15)are narrower than a stock size Dunlop, thus less contact patch as well as the Metz has a more aggressive tread pattern turning onto the sidewall (for great lean angle) than that of the Dunlop.
This creates a much quicker turn in rate, to combat this and to gain back contact patch go with a wider and taller size, such as the 170/80-15.  However this will also mandate a brake rod replacement to something such as the Cycle-istic unit or a Ruben special..
This bigger tire will slow the turn in rate down closer to that of the Dunlop, and with the larger contact patch should keep ya from breaking loose...

[Curtis_Valk]

I agree with Greg, I may have had an entirely different experience if I had gone with the Metz 180/70 instead of the 150 (I don't like the looks of the 170/80, it's too tall in my opinion).

Curtis

[Magnum Magna]

I will need a new front tire and I may try the Metzelers.  If the Metzelers run narrow what is the recommended size for the front?

[Greg Cothern]

Well lets see, the stock size is 110/80 right??  Man my memory is going LoL.
If this is correct then I would go with a 120..

[Curtis_Valk]

I thought stock on the front was 120, but since I no longer have a Magna in the stable to verify..............................  

[Magnum Magna]

Dunlop 555 Front Tire: 120/80-17 tubeless so I will look at Metzelers sizes on the net.