Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Avon vs. Metzler - Oh yeah, even more tire talk...

In my search for replacement tires, I've narrowed my choices to the Metzler ME880 Marathon and the Avon Venom X. I've come to those two because of how well the Metzlers have served me and the reports of pleased persons concerning the Avons. I'm hoping that one or more of you have had BOTH and may be able to give me your personal comparison.

I would also like to know if anyone replacing original Metzlers on the FRONT have replaced the ME33 with a matching ME880 and what the results were – primarily in rain.

Thanks in advance for any help.

We have ME880's on the custom. The front is a 110-90, slightly larger than the 110-80 on my SM. I have nothing but good to say regarding the 880's. They work very well in all weather. Because I've always ran Metzlers, I have no basis for comparison.

I've no experience with ME880s on the TBA but I've had them on my K1200LT and didn't like them there for two reasons: 1) they get loud when they wear(prone to cupping or feathering) and 2) they slip in the rain. On that bike (which is MUCH heavier) I switched to BT020 Battlax tires that worked a whole lot better but didn't last as long.

On my TBA, I'll be going to Avons at the 8K mark coming up in about a month. My OEM front is shot at 6.8K miles but the rear is fine. I'll swap both anyway.

I've run both. The ME880 and the ME330. I didn't like the ME330 as it caused a front end wobble after 3 or 4 thousand miles. BTW, the metz 880 series dosen't come in a stock size. That's why I ran the ME330. I know that the Avon dosen't either, but I told the losers at Atlantic cycle service to mount it anyway. The same losers that put my flated tube back under a new Avon mind you. ACS said they used the old punctured tube cause they did not have one in stock. Sorry I'm ranting...Back to it

The ME880 I never had long enough to have problems with. The Avons I like. I run the AM42 Venoms. So far so good! I have about 4K on both the front and the rear. Tom at vTs has my first rear Venom that I shipped to him so he could use it first for a mockup then for a BURN OUT! Remember that thread?

As far as a difference? Chy could better discern the supple differences since he has run both and currently has a rear metz. I can't tell. They both seem to handle well. Far better than the stock Bridgestones Vera came with, although the rear oem Exedra wasn't such a bad tire. It was the front Mag Mopus that followed road grooves like ducklings after their mother.

Moe,
Now that's the sort of info I'm lookin' for. The Metzler does come in the 110/80 that is OEM on my SM. I actually held it in my hand. What really bothers me is all that flat surface. No doubt thats ok in the dry, but it took me a looong time to get comfortable with the rear in the rain. Also, in the back of my mind something says there's a reason that triumph puts the 330 in the front. I stopped at my tire guy's after work today. He had the front 880 and had a rear with a very noticable blem he was going to knock $40 off. I looked it over and decided that even though there probably isn't anything wrong with it - It's my sorry butt that's sittin' on it. So I opted to wait until next week for a fresh shipment. That way I'll get the oportunity to hear anyone else's comments about the two. He was out of the Avons and another counter guy said they weren't available in the OEM size. He may be full of crap though. Anyway, the guy waiting on me said that Avons were significantly more $ and that they keep raising the price. He said they've had about a 20% increase this year. Anyway - Until next week I'll continue to troll for comments - Keep those cards and letters comming folks.

Barry

American Moto Tire

Barry:
I bought my front ME880 from these folks. The customer service guy was very knowledgable in helping me chose between the Metzler and the Avon. They also has the best prices I ran across. Had my tire in about 4 days from AZ. They have weird customer service hours (M-W-F or so) and PCT.

I have the Avon Venoms on my TBA and I couldnt be more pleased. I rode to Americade and back 800 miles and felt a whole lot more comfortable than the stock bridgestones. Also turning felt slighly lighter. On the front you have to go down a size because they dont make the exact America size. Just keep them at about 35psi for best performance.

I'll post here not to open a new thread.

I was not comfortable with the stok Bridgestone, and then I read here that I was not alone. So at 8000km I changed them against Venom. They were already weared out, as I live in the mountains (Swiss Alps).

My Triumph representative did put the AM42 on the back, but the Azaro ST45 in front, because the sized matched, so he said. But I then discovered that the front one was a radial one and the back one was not. Although it was a vast improvement over the stock, I still felt unsure: strange behavior at high-speed cornering.

The Avon weared out after another 10000km (mostly the front one), so I decided to go to a tyre specialist to get either two Venoms or two Metzeler.

That guy, who is kinda weird otherwise, proposed a totally different configuration: front Bridgestone BT45 and back Bridgestone G702.

I could not be more happy. They grip like hell on dry road (it did not rain since) and they follow the indicated direction like I were on rail. I have scraped my exhaust on one side and my foot on the other, and it feel so good I am getting very confident riding "sportly".

Just my two cent on the quest to good tires.

Ride safe

Ben

Grüezi Ben! I am really surprised he would put a radial on the bike with a normal-ply tire, that is kind of dangerous I would think!! I have an Avon Venom front and Dunlop K555 on the rear, but will get the Avon rear when I replace the Dunlop (very soon) I wish we did have radial tires for our bikes, because you are right, they make a big difference in handling! Till then, I'll use the Avons I think.

All of the T 100 Bonny's come with a MEZ4 Radial on the rear and a ME33 Laser on the front.

Gruezi Greg, sorry I am not from the german part of Heidiland, although I can speak it fairly well.

My Triumph garage lost a good deal of respect by doing that. And all that for 400$. I am trying to learn how to service my bike all by myself.

I don't know if radial would be better. I've read that one should not mix. The manufacturer of bikes say that, those of tires say that and every forum I've read. So my Triumph garage guy did not know or did not care. In both case, I want someone better to service my (loved) bike.

With my post, I was just giving another option for thoses who, like me, search this site for opinions/experiences. And I had to rant :-)

Ben

Good rant, Ben.

Welcome to the herd.

Every ME33 that I ran on my BMW's "cupped" (symtomatic of hard front-braking). The Marathons seem to wear better, but are not as quick into the turns. I finally switched from Metzelers to Michelin Macadam's.
After my Bridgestones wear a little more, I plan to put on a pair of Avon Venom's on my TBA.

Sorry Ben, when I saw Valais, I should have started off "Bonjour" instead of "Grüezi", but like the German language better (it's my second language, and I spent quite a bit of time in Aarberg in Kanton Bern, as well as Innenschweiz between Aarberg and Luzern, and would DIE to go back for another extended stay until I gain 100 lbs from eating Rösti each day!) But you are right, it is absolutely stupid of the dealer to mix tire types, they should know this like a basic rule!!! I feel pretty good about Radials being better, I went from normal tires to Michelin Radials on my old Honda Sabre, and it was truly a night and day difference in handling (MUCH more responsive and sure-footed!)

So Greg, would you recommend radials on our BA's/Speedy's?

blackdog, I WOULD if our wheels were suited to them. For the Speedy, yes, the alloy rims should be fine, but I don't think the results would be worth it for the America, due to the need for an inner tube (don't know if you'd get the same profile with a Radial and inner tube as just a radial on an alloy rim) I know the Thruxton has radials, but not sure if it has inner tubes or has tubless rims like BMW uses.

The Thruxton's have radials on the rear (MEZ4)and regular ME33 at the front. They are tubed.

Will a 110/90 fit under the fender on a speedmaster or do you have to go down a size when using avon's?

I'm running a 110/90 ME880 and it has about 1/2" of clearance at the front of the fender. A little more on the back tip of the fender. Over 13,000 miles now and it's never rubbed on the fender.

thanks sal.