"Tired" off Dunlop and Metzler

[Fathertime]

Ok group, time for a new backside tire and not too happy with my experiences with Dunlop or Metzler rubber.
  Looking into Bridgestone Excedra Max Cruiser and Touring tire.

  Any experience good or bad?

[Bighead]

Only Bridgestone I have ever had was cupped in 3,000 miles so not for me.

[John Schmidt]

If you used a stock size Metz in back, it doesn't last very long. When I was running an m/c tire in back I always had a 200 Metz, run 42 psi and usually got better than 12k. I now have a Metz front tire with at least 17k on it, run 40 psi in that with the car tire in back.

[john]

                             air pressure is your friend ...              

[Oss]

I ran the excedra max in 200 /60/16

Loved it
40 lbs pressure
But I got 2 flats   one in IZ last year that I plugged
and another on the way to IZ this year that did the tire in. first I plugged it then it blew out
and almost took me down

If you can keep from getting a flat you should get 12000 out of it

It was the best tire I ever ran on my interstate by far  Great grip wet or dry

[Fathertime]

Currently have Dunlop in back, 38psi, two up riding and not much over 4K in miles.
There's gotta be something better

[Lazy]

Dunlop E3s front and rear with about 8500 miles, 2 up probably 70% of the time. Rear looks like it is gonna make around 12k and of course front looks better than rear. 42 psi front and rear all the time.

As John said,

"air pressure is your friend"

[Jess Tolbirt]

michelin has a tire that i cant think of the name off hand but my son swears by it,, i will text him and see what it is,,,i have 20 thousand on my front tire and it is getting rather thin but still got rubber on it,,

[cookiedough]

i'm guessing it is this bias ply michelin commander II:  http://www.chaparral-racing.com/product/michelin-commander-ii-bias-rear-tire/190-879749.aspx


I wouldn't mind trying that tire for 138 bucks in pricing.  Michelin makes good tires.

I really don't think the dunlop elite III or Metzeler ME880's are worth their top dollar price paid for the mileage  you would get out of them vs. other cycle tires.  10-12K doing good on average for a rear tire I think.

My Avon Cobra rear went 10K before pinholes in tread so went the cheapest route this time, the Shinko SE890 Journey for 120 bucks in hopes it lasts 9-10K miles, will see I guess?

NO experience with the Brigestone Exedra, I think was G702,  but doubt it will last any longer than Dunlop Elite III's either. 

[Bighead]

Currently have Dunlop in back, 38psi, two up riding and not much over 4K in miles.
There's gotta be something better

Yep bump up the pressure about 4 lbs.

[BF]

Currently have Dunlop in back, 38psi, two up riding and not much over 4K in miles.
There's gotta be something better

You're running the pressure way too low.  Bump it up to 44/45 pounds. 

[Jess Tolbirt]

i'm guessing it is this bias ply michelin commander II:  http://www.chaparral-racing.com/product/michelin-commander-ii-bias-rear-tire/190-879749.aspx


I wouldn't mind trying that tire for 138 bucks in pricing.  Michelin makes good tires.

I really don't think the dunlop elite III or Metzeler ME880's are worth their top dollar price paid for the mileage  you would get out of them vs. other cycle tires.  10-12K doing good on average for a rear tire I think.

My Avon Cobra rear went 10K before pinholes in tread so went the cheapest route this time, the Shinko SE890 Journey for 120 bucks in hopes it lasts 9-10K miles, will see I guess?

NO experience with the Brigestone Exedra, I think was G702,  but doubt it will last any longer than Dunlop Elite III's either. 

yep thats it!!!

[cookiedough]

I agree about bumping up the rear tire to at least 42 psi up to say 46 psi if loaded 2-up and heavier set.  I run 44-45 psi rear tire but only 39-40 psi front tire since I prefer a softer ride in front over bumps since my OEM front springs probably need to be replaced with firmer/better handling progressive fork springs as most upgrade to.

Under 40 psi rear cycle tire even if say 150lbs. riding solo, in my opinion, is too low of air pressure.

You can try the Bridgestone tire pretty sure you will get about the same 9-12K miles out of it.  It is not overpriced still around 135-150 bucks depending on where you buy it.  Certainly cheaper than the 200 or more bucks for a metzler or dunlop with the dunlop elite III outlasting the metzler rear cycle tire.   If I get 10K out of my shinko SE890, it will probably be a keeper next time around and if not at least 9K,  the michelin commander will be my next rear cycle tire for the price paid. 

I noticed NO difference in handling or comfort if you even bump up the rear cycle tire to 46 psi vs. only say 40 psi, but front tire pressure, to me anyways, make a world of difference.  If I run 42 psi front tire, it is too firm a ride can feel bumps in the road up thru my handlebars, but if I go down to 38-40 psi, the bumps smooth out and not as bad a feel thru the handlebars onto my hands. 

[J.Mencalice]

Avons?  Are they still good or gone downhill?

[cookiedough]

Avons?  Are they still good or gone downhill?

avon cobra's o.k., but only got pushing 10K out of them.  o.k. priced around 150 bucks for rear tire.  doubt much over 10K out of them.  A few I know have had delamination and severe cupping/bubbling out of them recently but could be a fluke well before 8K miles? 

I think most radial cycle tires will start cupping around 7K miles or so and gradually get worse in last 2-3,000 miles.  My Avon Cobras did but what puzzled me was had some tread left (NOT much) in center and 10-12 pinhole puncture wounds invisible to the eye slowly leaking air out about 1 psi per day.  I think DARN road conditions make any cycle tire not last and around me,  almost every road is plastered with sharp pea gravel with tar mixed in calling it seal coating supposedly making the road last longer, not cycle tires though.    They did our city street with SMOOTH as glass blacktop about 4 years ago was AWESOME and SMOOTH kids loved it for skateboarding, etc., but 1 year AFTER NEW road, the village decided to smuther it with tar and pea gravel making it suck for smooth skateboard use as all the other roads are plastered with it as well whether new or old roads.

[RainMaker]

Running the Bridgestone Exedra on front and a Falken 512 DS on rear.  Put it on just before my trip to South Dakota and ran it up to 100mph in streches.  No problems, no cupping at 3800 miles.

[ChromeDome]

If you used a stock size Metz in back, it doesn't last very long. When I was running an m/c tire in back I always had a 200 Metz, run 42 psi and usually got better than 12k. I now have a Metz front tire with at least 17k on it, run 40 psi in that with the car tire in back.

John, did you have to make any mods under the fender for the 200?

[Ice]

Dunlop E3s front and rear with about 8500 miles, 2 up probably 70% of the time. Rear looks like it is gonna make around 12k and of course front looks better than rear. 42 psi front and rear all the time.

As John said,

"air pressure is your friend"

I usually do not chime in on tire threads, they are kinda like oil, everyone has their own opinion, and I have heard many issues with tires, (just ask Joe) he will say, its going to be a flaming death if you run Dunlops, and others say soemthing different. I personnaly do not like the Metzler's, feels like ice to me.
I for one, have run Dunlops on my Valk for the 15 years I have had her and never had an issue except one extremely large nail.
I am starting to believe it depends on when the tire was made or such ( I know sound crazy   and may be) however I have had tires that only went 6K and were toast and then my first set of the E3 went 18K (Front and Rear) did nothing special and I run 36 PSI two up, my second set of E3's only went 11K, I am now on my third set and have to wait and see, currently 5K on them and still look new. Not trying to say Dunlop's are the best, or knock someone elses choice of tire, I have justs tarted to believe it depends on the manufaturing date, as nuts as that sounds.
Whatever the choice of rubber is, ride safe  

[Hoser]

If you don't do darkside, the American elite Dunlop gives good service.  20K on the worn one, new next to it.  Hoser.

[Flat6Valk]

AVON brand works for me.  the only time I had a problem is 8 years ago when I was  not paying attention to air pressure.  My avons have lasted 10-12 K depending on the type of roads I ride.  I get out to all points of the country and the smooth roads naturally allow for the highest mileage.  I buy my avons at Iron Pony.  They have a high turnover of tires and I think they are the freshest.  In other words they don't sit in stock and age.  That is my thought.

[Woton]

Ok group, time for a new backside tire and not too happy with my experiences with Dunlop or Metzler rubber.
  Looking into Bridgestone Excedra Max Cruiser and Touring tire.

  Any experience good or bad?

BikerGirl gets really good mileage on Bridgestone tires which came OEM on 2009 Yamaha Stratoliner.  She is small and is not an overly aggressive rider.  Still, this bike weighs about 75 lbs more than my Tourer.

Just replaced a full set earlier this Spring on her Strat given the reasonable price and decent experience with these tires...

[O-B-1]

Avon Cobras just not what the Venom's were. You can see the rubber separating in the treads as well as the belt on the left side. That baby was just coming apart.

Just put on Metzler ME880 Marathons at Inzane XV.

Next back tire will be a car tire.

BTW, I guess I will be needing a U-Joint soon... It started making some vibration in the highway pegs and some noise from its general area on my way back from South Dakota.

[cookiedough]

Yep, that pic of the Avon Cobra around 9K is just like what I had but a tad bit of less center tread, but mine was 3x's worse.  The tread pattern grooves both left/rigth of center more so on the sides were facing OUTWARDS pretty bad not following the line of the tire out to the sides, almost like someone took a pliers and started prying the rubber away from the tire.  Wasn't too happy with how the tire looked.

Hey,  not to change subject, but above post mentioned slight vibration on hwy. pegs being a possible u-joint replacement needed.  Does the vibration ONLY happen when giving gas to the throttle like my situation recently have been noticing at only 30K miles?  Do U-joints go that bad at only 30K miles even though bike is 14 years old?  If I let off the throttle, no vibrating in my cobra floorboards, only when speeding up on the throttle do the floorboards do a slight vibration feeling.

[Fathertime]

Thanks for all the comments.
Have a Avon being shipped out.
I'll remember about the air pressure, and keep you all posted.