Metzler 880 sidewall cracking

[VALARIE]

Hi, was sold a 2 yr old tire  and installed on 6/20/2016 mfg date 4112,  made in germany, now 2018 with 3m miles notice sidewall cracking, checking both sides,just above rim, inflated to 40psi always garaged, heard alot of complaints with these tires after i installed this one,,, ANYBODY ELSE?? WHAT SHOULD I DO, HONDA SAYS, TS....

[The emperor has no clothes]

You’ve got a 6 year old tire with 3,000 miles that is showing checking on the sidewalls ? It sucks, but I would get a new tire. It may be ok, but I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the ride knowing that.

[Bighead]

Hi, was sold a 2 yr old tire  and installed on 6/20/2016 mfg date 4112,  made in germany, now 2018 with 3m miles notice sidewall cracking, checking both sides,just above rim, inflated to 40psi always garaged, heard alot of complaints with these tires after i installed this one,,, ANYBODY ELSE?? WHAT SHOULD I DO, HONDA SAYS, TS....

Seems that tire is 6 years old if it were me I would opt for a new one.
Well seems as my Head Twin was posting as I was so go with his suggestion.

[VALARIE]

thats what i thought, id be nervous with mama on back riding to virginia city..., ill pay more attention to getting a fresh tire too, your opinion,, shinko or avons? thanks meathead

[Bighead]

Everyone has their preferences as to tires and oil I myself prefer Avon.  never tried a Stinko but have heard good things about them. Shinko will be cheaper $$$$ wise.

[The emperor has no clothes]

If it’s a choice between shinko and Avon, I pick Avon.

[Bighead]

Dang Meat we agree again what the hell is the world coming to

[VALARIE]

ok, avons it is,,, best price i found dennis kirk,,, do you agree,

[mhallock]

I've used Metz 880E for 13-14 years now on my IS....never had a problem....will buy them next time tires are due to be changed....

Mark

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dang Meat we agree again what the hell is the world coming to

The “End Times” must be near. 

[cookiedough]

avon cobra vs. shinko SE890 journey,  I would go Shinko but nothing wrong with Avon either but 30-40 bucks higher in price.  My avon cobra went 9K miles in rear and toast,  am sure my shinko se890 journey will do all of that and more.

nothing wrong with either, but shinko is cheaper and will last just as long and just as good of quality.

you can get a bad apple in any tire made though regardless of mfg.

are the cracks just hairline along sidewalls or much, much worse? 

[The emperor has no clothes]

ok, avons it is,,, best price i found dennis kirk,,, do you agree,

I didn’t check Dennis Kirks price. I found some on Amazon thru Motorcycle Superstore for $173 free shipping.

https://www.amazon.com/Avon-Cobra-Cruiser-Motorcycle-Front/dp/B005J6NRBE/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1530666556&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=avon+150%2F80%2F17&dpPl=1&dpID=41k26WMFnQL&ref=plSrch

[Bighead]

Dang Meat we agree again what the hell is the world coming to

The “End Times” must be near. 

Lets hope not Rob

[Savago]

If buying Metzlers, it seems that the new 888 is available now for Valkyries.

[Chrisj CMA]

[/quote]
Lets hope not Rob
[/quote]

 

I guess its a matter of preparedness.  Im excited it seems near, bring it on! 

[old2soon]

I've run a number of Shinkos and I am happy with the performance of them. I've run a Metzler and no complaints due to handling there either. I am on my second Shinko 777 white wall in 140-80-17 cuz I do like the old school look. I have run the Shinko in a couple of cow floatin toad stranglers of rain and never felt them slip. Austone Taxi tire on the rear and I go into twistys like I MIGHT have some sense left-or not!  You wanna check prices on Shinko I suggest Rocky Mountain A T V & Motorcycle. RIDE SAFE.

[3fan4life]

I've ran about every brand of bike tire made on the rear and have yet to find one that I've fallen in love with.

Avons seem to have the best grip but they don't last very long 8-9k mi for me.

The last Avon that I bought on sale for about $150.

I ordered online and it turned out to be about 4yrs old.

I've gotten the most life out of Dunlop E3's (10-12k) but they are $$$$ and others here have had significant issues with how they grip. 

I have ran several Shinko 890 Journeys on the rear with no issues except from the first one.

It had a serious vibration problem at high speeds.

Shinko did do the right thing and send me another tire.

I have purchased them for as low as $130, my only complaint would be lower mileage @ 6-8k mi.

I've ran Bridgestone and didn't like them for grip or mileage.

Metzler 880's ride and grip well, but they don't last that long 8-9k mi.


I'm trying out a Michelin Commander II right now, so far so good.

It doesn't come in the exact size to fit our Valks (180/65-16 instead of 180/70-16) which increases the RPM's a little but not bad.

If it gives me the mileage that others have reported (19-20k) then it may become my regular rear tire.

I am considering trying a Metz 888 as the next tire on one of mine so that I can have a good comparison with the Michelin.

Since it does come in the right size and is supposed to wear well.



As for the front tire I have found a tire that will be my "GO TO" tire.

My fronts are Shinko 230 Tourmasters, I like the grip especially wet road and I like the price about $100.

[old2soon]

I've ran about every brand of bike tire made on the rear and have yet to find one that I've fallen in love with.

Avons seem to have the best grip but they don't last very long 8-9k mi for me.

The last Avon that I bought on sale for about $150.

I ordered online and it turned out to be about 4yrs old.

I've gotten the most life out of Dunlop E3's (10-12k) but they are $$$$ and others here have had significant issues with how they grip. 

I have ran several Shinko 890 Journeys on the rear with no issues except from the first one.

It had a serious vibration problem at high speeds.

Shinko did do the right thing and send me another tire.

I have purchased them for as low as $130, my only complaint would be lower mileage @ 6-8k mi.

I've ran Bridgestone and didn't like them for grip or mileage.

Metzler 880's ride and grip well, but they don't last that long 8-9k mi.


I'm trying out a Michelin Commander II right now, so far so good.

It doesn't come in the exact size to fit our Valks (180/65-16 instead of 180/70-16) which increases the RPM's a little but not bad.

If it gives me the mileage that others have reported (19-20k) then it may become my regular rear tire.

I am considering trying a Metz 888 as the next tire on one of mine so that I can have a good comparison with the Michelin.

Since it does come in the right size and is supposed to wear well.



As for the front tire I have found a tire that will be my "GO TO" tire.

My fronts are Shinko 230 Tourmasters, I like the grip especially wet road and I like the price about $100.

                Got any mileage figures on that 230 Tourmaster yet? As always-T I A.  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

Mark, I ran the close but not correct 140 Mich Commander II on the front (a bit shorter too), and it was an exceptional tire, right away with no release agent to be found.  Gripped and handled like a champ, but done at 6500 miles.  Kept it up a pound lower than max PSI on the sidewall.  I had high hopes, and another is hanging in my shed, but I probably won't use it.

I made an effort to email Michelin and ask if they would make the correct Commander II sizes for Valkyrie, and their answer was.... we don't make sizes to fit the Valkyrie.   NO crap Sherlock (that's why I asked).

I may try a Cobra front some day, but otherwise, I am sticking with ME880s (though I can only get 8K of good miles, and maybe another 1K (or less) of not so good miles.

My car tires are going 37K with good grip, so no complaints there.

[vanagon40]

An interesting opinion regarding tire cracks:

my last rear on front a Conti-go 130/90-17 developed cracks inside the tread area after 800 miles. ran it to the wear bars for 26k miles. never a problem. the cracks never change size. 
D404 on front now.

Better you than me.    

The cracks on my dds front tire were below the tread, going into the tire itself.  Couldn't get it off fast enough!

"Almost all tires will begin to exhibit small cracks in the sidewall after a short period of time. Is it time to worry?

The outer layer of rubber on the sidewall is simply a sealing layer to keep the elements away from the inner (structural) part of the tire—in other words, those unsightly cracks are purely cosmetic."
http://www.gowesty.com/tech-article-details.php?id=136

u can fine many sites that state the same and u can find many sites that state stop riding and change the tires. much much scare tactics out there today to sell tires. now they are saying a tire is only good for 4-5yrs and should be replaced even if only 20k miles on them.  replace your helmet every 3 yrs, change your oil 3k miles. scare tactics that work on peoples emotions and who don't have the knowledge on the subject, just like politics today.

just my opinions and what I did. used to change tires for 4 yrs while in school, and read a lot of technical manuals available before the emotional driven internet to sell product even against science.

if it was a fresh dated tire u had, then it might have been normal or a defect. only problem installed on a valkyrie manufacturer won't talk to u unless u know what m/c that tire actually is for and u tell them that to find out if the cracking is normal or not.
are u using a calibrated digital tire gage? if not u might have overinflated it causing damage to the tire.
enjoy, my rant is over.