After about 12 hours at work today, I was going home and picked up a roofing nail from one of the dirty Houston streets. Nice ending to a day, huh?
I've got 6,000 miles on this Metzeler 880 Marathon and it's still in good shape. The nail is sticking right through the center (or pretty close) of the back tire, not through the tread or near a sidewall. So here's my questions:
1. I've heard of a plug patch from Greg. Is this a good candidate for it?
2. I ride it pretty hard... out on the back roads up to 100. Do I want to do this with a patch plug?
3. Where can I get a patch plug in Houston? I know everyone is going to want to sell me a new tire.
If I do have to get a new tire, I was considering getting the larger rear tire that many of you have.
1. What are the advantages?
2. Any disadvantages?
3. Will it fit as is or do I have to do something to the brakestay rod?
Hey Jesse well lets see where to start nails suck hehehehehehe anyhow I have the Metz 170-80-15 on the back which is I think the widest that will go... A few things to watch for yes the brake stay rod will have to be modifed. As far as negitives well as far as I can tell there are not much. Maybe just maybe a little slower turning in but not much. It is supposed to last a little longer but this is my first one on here so not much to report there. If you have a sissy bar on the back like mine you have to watch for the bolt length they will rub the tire.. Oh I do love the look of that fat tire back there heheheheheheh
Hey Allen, I knew I could count on you for some tire info.
As far as the patching goes, by the time I paid to have the tire pulled off, patched, and put back on, I was halfway there. Plus other sources I read said you should not exceed 80 mph... I knew that wasn't going to happen. :)
Well my local dealership had a Dunlop in the stock size, so I decided to try that one out. I won't know how good Metzelers are if I don't have something to compare it to, right? The dealership's price was basically even with most on-line places after I paid shipping for one tire.
On one thread here, Curtis said he felt the Dunlop gripped a little better on the rear of the Magna. And I do have to say that I felt the Metzler slipping lately on corners and some street surfaces. One shop told me I needed to run less air pressure, so I may try that with the Dunlop.
Next time around I may consider going with a wider tire when I'm not in a pinch. I want to take a look at them at Mootmag.
I kept my old tire because it's still in good shape. Not sure what I'll do with it, but if someone who rides a little slower is interested in it, all you need to do is get a plug patch. Just let me know. :)
QuoteOn one thread here, Curtis said he felt the Dunlop gripped a little better on the rear of the Magna
Yes, I will never run a 150 Metz on the rear again. I'm happy with the Dunlop, althought I probably could be talked into trying the 180 Metz. The 170 it too tall to my eye. Even if it looked right to me, it would necessitate a sprocket change in my opinion.
On the plug patch, I've heard that they are the most reliable method to use. However, Al Lamb's Dallas Honda installed one in my 150 Metz and I think they drilled the hole out too large and didn't clean the inside of the tire sufficiently. The tire failed a couple of hundred miles later, and upon examination, the plug patch was GONE!! I broke the tire down myself on a clean shop floor and there's no way it got away from me. It WAS NOT inside the tire so the only place it could have gone was out
through the hole!!! Looking inside the tire at the hole, you could not tell there had ever been anything glued in there. No glue residue or anything. I can't imagine how this could be unless the patch was improperly applied.
I think you did the right thing by replacing it, needless to say.
Curtis
Curtis, another thing I considered was the potential of this happening again.
The streets in Houston are so dirty, especially since they never seem to finish a construction project, that I figure my chances of finding another nail are higher than most. That means I'll be "rotating" my tires more often. :) So I figure I can get away with Dunlops and more frequent tire changes.
I have been riding in houston for years and well not to jinks my self I have never had that problem not saying it won't happen.... The dunlops are a good tire but tend to harden and start slipping from what I have read so I went with the Metz but all that matters is you like them and we make it to mootmag.... heheheheh
Allen, I sure hope you haven't jinxed yourself, either. Having to get rid of a good tire before its time is just painful. :) Funny you should say that about the Dunlops hardening, I've actually been told that they are softer than Metzlers and will wear out faster... There's so many different sources out there.
If they harden with time, then I may not experience that since I tend to be racking up a lot of miles on my tires anyway. Judging from the remaining tread on my back tire, I'd say would have gotten about a year and half total out of it before hitting the wear bars.
I want to look at your tire either at our next get together or Mootmag. I may go with the wider tire next time. The dealership guy told me that if I could get a 180 on there, I would have a lot of options. And the Cycle-istic brake stay rod says its for 170s and 180s.
A 170/80 Metz is the widest you can fit on the swingarm. A 180/70 will fit but it's taller, not wider.
Thanks, Gloveberg. I knew someone would know. What do you run?
I run the 170/80 Metzler (due for a replacement soon actually). Before I was fortunate enough to win a Cyclistic brakestay rod at MOOT MAG I just flattened the stock brakestay rod in a big vise for tire clearance which worked out fine.
As far as handling to me the wider Metz feels more planted than the stock size Dunlop plus a much better highway ride to boot. From what I have read a wider tire "should" slow handling but if you increase the rear shock preload to raise the rear end up a little it is supposed to quicken handling.
Also, if you run a stock 16 tooth front sprocket you might want to drop down to a 15 tooth if you go with the wider metz since the larger tire radius will in affect raise your gearing so you will lose a little acceleration off the line. I loved having the 15 tooth but went back with a 16 tooth last time to help save a little gas mileage. I miss that sprocket...lol
Jimmy, I've thought about the 15 tooth sprocket... I've also thought about the 17 tooth sprocket. They both have advantages I desire...So I stick with the 16 as compromise. :) Maybe one day.
Curtis, I have to say that I believe the stock size Dunlop is actually sticking bettter than the stock size Metzeler. I haven't noticed the slippage on the back end in the usual places on my commute. I am going to check the tire pressure though to see where it is relative to my Metzeler.
Incidentally, the dealership ran the adjustment nut on my back brake up real tight... The wheel doesn't drag but there's not the recommended amount of pedal freeplay and it doesn't activate the brake light. I could adjust this myself but I already called and told them I was bringing it in to have them do it correctly. That's just poor workmanship. And it get's quality checked by a service manager, I don't know how they couldn't notice that the brake light doesn't come on.
Quote from: MagnaManJimmy, I've thought about the 15 tooth sprocket... I've also thought about the 17 tooth sprocket. They both have advantages I desire...So I stick with the 16 as compromise. :) Maybe one day.
. That's just poor workmanship. And it get's quality checked by a service manager, I don't know how they couldn't notice that the brake light doesn't come on.
The 15 tooth was fun, especially accelerating out of turns but with climbing gas prices I went back to the 16 which isn't bad but you notice the difference. I have toyed with the idea of a 17 for my trip to Ruidoso in May but I don't know.
I recently bought a chain riveting tool so now the only thing I need to have the dealer do is mount and balance tires. EVERYTHING else is done by me and me only.