METZLER OR COBRA WHICH HAS HAD PROBLEMS LATELY

[Oss]

I know Chrome had a delamination issue with his Avon Cobra

Has anyone else had problems with a recently purchased (within the last year) front Metzler or Cobra tire and what happened?

I am getting a front tire in Americade in a couple of weeks before heading out west

The Metzler to me was a better inclement weather tire but the Cobra a better tracking tire for mountains and more resistant to cupping.

EDIT 

And my Avon in front has had cracks for some time, not as bad as some of the pics I have seen but enough that I stick to checkin air pressure before each day's ride  The 200 battleaxe in the rear is like no rear tire I have had. Always on the money with the pressure

Thanks

Oss

[sandy]

Hey OSS: I currently have Cobras on the Valk. My rear has 16K on it now and still has plenty of tread. Don't know when it will wear out. Several years ago I used up a set of Metzlers and then switched to Venoms. I like the Avons better for ride and sticktion.

[fudgie]

Always had Metzlers. Like you said, great wet weather tire. I've had no problems riding the Black Hills (mountains). Staid true even in the 10 mph turns. Only prob was tar snakes in WY. But I blame that on 100 deg temps and a 'bald' front tire. I always get about 24k out of the front.

[Momz]

I've had several Avon Venoms and the rears could not last 10K.  
My Metzlers wore out very quickly also.  
But I have a set of Avon Cobras on my 98 std. and after 13K they still look great.  
I'd recommend the Cobras.  

















k

[R J]

I've run nothing but Metz front tires for the las 110K.     They work beautiful with my Good Year Triple Tread.

And, it has more of the tire on the ground than any other front tire.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Loong time ago I had an Avon that delaminated. They treated me right! Bad batch they said maybe some of you remember that period.
 Like Sandy, my RT Avon has boucou miles on it and still looks good! Going Austone Taxi next time. No problems w/ the front Avon either.

[mhallock]

Dunlops when I bought the I/S in 2001.....Metz ever since.....some 70,000 miles. Only cupping I ever experienced was over 10,000 miles on a front tire.......I like the Metz......conservative rider with 2 up about 20% of the miles......

Mark

[Flat6Valk]

my cobras are great.  had venoms.  9000 and counting on the cobras, expect 6000 or more on this set.  8000 and out on the venoms. 

[old2soon]

My Metzler 880 i had on the front i got 14454 miles out of it and was quite happy with it. I now have a Shinko 890 on the front and liking it a lot. Both the Metz and the Shinko work very well with my General Altimax 205-60-16 D/S that i run. Hope this helps brother Oss. RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

What about dunlop elite III's?

From what I've read postings on, the Metz's grip pretty good but do not last as long as the Avon Cobra's.  No Metzler experience but my Cobra's looks like will last well over 10K guessing pushing 14K in the front although tar snakes get a little squirrely with the Cobras but probably will with any tire.  I would base my decision on which tires you can get a better price on since both seem decent quality, well usually anyways.

[Alien]

I put a set of Avon Cobra's on my 98 standard about 5K miles ago.  It's the first time the bike has had anything other than Dunlops since new.  I'm loving the Cobras so far.  We'll see how they hold up long term.

[Bearinthehouse]

John,Alan, and I put Vipers on our bikes, It was , John onw week, Alan The next, Me the next day!!!!The tires where six months old, fully inflated and in the middle of nowhere when they deflated and broke the bead.... went back to EIII'S

[flatsixlover]

Had a set of Cobras after my Venoms wore out.  Really liked the Cobras, but after about 5,000 miles I experienced the front end wobble/vibration on deceleration with hands off the handle bars. 
Figured it was the front tire, but wondered about the steering head bearings.  Kept the tire on until I picked up a nail in the rear and had to plug it.  Just replaced the front & rear with new Cobras and the front end wobble is gone.
Could not detect an out of round or cupping on the front, but seems like it was the culprit.  I'm anal about checking air pressure and never had a problem with the Venoms.
All in all I like the Avon product, maybe just had a bad front tire.
Just my .02

[jer0177]

When I picked up my Valk IS in March of 2011, it has Avons on it, and the rear one was in dire need of replacement, so I did that before I did any serious riding.

I replaced it with a Metzler, and that one lasted 5,978 miles - overloaded 2-up riding on the BRP did it in early.  I had Wheeler's replace it with another Metzler before I headed back up from that trip, and that one lasted 5,652 before a screw picked up from the road warranted replacing it.  I put another Metzler on it and so far (863 miles) it's doing great.

I replaced the front Avon tire 4,549 miles ago with a Metzler, and it still looks like new.

[Valkahuna]

I have Metzlers on my H-D, and have had for a long time. I've never had a problem with them ever. They seem to wear better than than the Dunlop Elites that are on the Fat Lady. My power in the H-D is about the same as the Valk, and the riding style is as well, and I regularly get 12K plus out of the rear tire, and better than twenty on the front. No cupping issues, no flats, no nothin'.

My I bought the Valk, it had a brand new E-3 on the front, so I put one on the rear as well. Otherwise, it would be wearing Metzlers. Even ran them on my Dirt bikes when I was still able to bounce instead of break.

JMHO-YRMV!

[Momz]

Valkahuna

I'd have to say that is somewhat like compareing apples to oranges.

Why? Well the Metzlers used on Valks are radials (for better grip on a heavy bike), while the Metzlers for HDs are bias ply (for longevity).

[Valkahuna]

Valkahuna

I'd have to say that is somewhat like compareing apples to oranges.

Why? Well the Metzlers used on Valks are radials (for better grip on a heavy bike), while the Metzlers for HDs are bias ply (for longevity).

Yes but, (I know, dangerous statement!) the point I was trying to make was that the quality of Metzler has never let me down. On road, off road, different brands of bikes, etc. Speaking of Bias Ply, they are known on bikes to follow every crack, tar snake, etc in the road. Except for the Metzlers, they run true.

Here is the disclaimer: I am not in any way affiliated, or benefit....

[T-Bird]

COBRA'S