Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Tire Recommendations

My front tire needs changing and I'd like to get some views and opinions on the available tires, comparison to the Metzeler one ( stock on 07 ) and what not... I'm looking to replace with 18" ( 110-90, or your personnal choice ) and Black Wall. Price/Value... that kind of stuff.

If this is posted at a wrong place, feel free to relocate...

Thanks

I posted this chart a while back, it's a little old, but may give you some useful info
http://www.foreven.com/motorcycles/Tyres/Descriptions.htm

You might want to peek into the "Tech Vault" forum, if you haven't already. Mfc'erererers, sizes etc. listed in there for BA/SM.

jh

I went the oversize look, a 130/70 Metzler Marathon XXL.
Fits w/o fender mods, no clearence problems.

I went with the oversize tire too, 120/90 IRC Wild Flare... I did need to cut the fender mount bracket for clearance, no big deal

i like my metzeler lasertec. I got a good deal online (like <$100 iirc).

I had a Metz Lazertech on the front I don't know if it was old stock or what, but it only lasted about 6000 miles before it was worn out and the side walls had dry rot cracks, maybe about a year.... I got the IRC online for about 80 bucks or so

I did 16 000 miles with the stock Lasertec on my bike... Not a problem... Altho it was slidy near the end of the season... I had the most recommendations on Dunlop tires for Motorcycle... Altho it was mostly HD riders... I was told at the Dealer to stick with the Metzeler for better handling, but I really don'T like the look of it... and the dealer might have just pushed for the brand he sales...

I've had Dunlops and Metzelers. I prefer the Metzelers. Dunlop front wasn't too bad, but the Metzeler rear outlasted the Dunlop rear by quite a bit. The factory Bridgestone front cupped horribly.

Although I got 12,000 miles out of the stock B'stones,
the rear was worn to the cords, and the front wobbled.
I didn't realise how bad they were until I replaced them
with Dunlop 404s. They feel great, We'll see how they last.
Uncle Charlie

I must not ride my bike as hard as you guys. I've got 15000 on my stock Bridgestones and still have decent tread front and rear. I haven't had any cupping or wear problems. I've kept them 32/36 psi since the bike was new. I'll probably replace them with Metzelers like stock now (but with tubes).

I'm no knee dragger, but you'll understand when you change tires.

i run avon's. the difference between avons and stock is amazing. after market tires and shocks made this a whole new bike.

Like above Wendy's stock Bridgestone cupped and caused the dreaded front end wobble, her new Michlin seems to be wearing well and no wobble yet.

My stock Lazertech has 20,000 miles on it and still going, can ride no hands as long as I keep enough forward motion to do so even corner without touching the handle bars. It also still has enough tread to pass inspection if I ever decided to do that. I don't think I'll get the next season out of if I get a good riding season in.

I've been very happy with the Metzelers, so I'll stick with them.
Currently 20,000 on front Lazertec, 24,000 on rear ME880.
They are getting changed very soon.

Which tires grip the best? I'm not all that pleased with the stock Metzlers, thinking about trying something that handles better, maybe with a higher coverage tread pattern.

avon venoms. they last half as long as metzlers too!

Nice to know information.

I bought a second set of Metzler 880's from a large retail store. They were on sale for less than what I can get them from my own suppliers for, so I bought them. This past summer (six months and a few thousand miles after installing they weather checked badly. After a little educations I found out why.

The tires were sold at discount because they were older than my 2003 America! There is a date stamped on each tire when they are manufactured.

The letters a specific but the numbers represent (3508 as in this picture) the 35 is the 35th week of the year, the 08 represents 2008.

Lesson I learned? All deals are not such a good deal no matter what tire brand. There is usually a reason they are being discounted.



eddy

Avon Storm ST or Continental Road Attack for me

Avon Venom. Coupled with progressive springs in the front it was like buying a new, faster bike.

Note to self, don't buy tires from Eddie!

( all kidding aside my experience with Eddie was great and wouldn't hesitate to buy anything from him in the future.)

Reading all the tire posts on here for the past several years, it seems Metzelers offer the best performance/treadlife compromise. Avon Venoms grip like snot on a fingernail, but cup and wear rather quickly. The jury is still out on Dunlops - I've got a set of D404's on my 03 TA but "global warming" has kept me off the road since November, so it's too soon for me to offer an opinion of their treadlife. They handle fine, but they're not Avons....

This was a big help, eh?

I like the IRC Wild Flare, holds the road well and wears just a little faster than the Metz 880 for me. Cheap good tire but ends up about the same cost as the 880 due to less mileage out of the tire. I think it grabs the road a little better though.

I have run Dunlops for years and they were always good tires.

I'm pushing nearly 48k now, and never have run anything but the Metzlers. The stock tires lasted real well - 12k-14k on both ends, and I replaced them early - I like riding fast in the rain....but I could have held out for more miles.

My first front tire was a Metzler Lazer-T, which they no longer produce - it has become the LazerTech - I don't know what other differences there may have been, but as a new rider I know I was not pushing my machine that hard then.

Now I can barely get 8k-10k out of either tire, front or rear. I know it's me though, because I'm always "on the gas", and so much of my riding aorund here is freeway/highway stuff - the only curves I get to see are the freeway interchanges here in H-town, and I go out of my way to take advantage of them.

I ordered another front yesterday, and we looked at/talked about the Avon Storm, but they make no match for the rear in a 15".

I'm going to review the Tech Vault info now, but I have to say I have been more than pleased with the Metzlers. They really belong on my Speedmaster, and another tire has a real tall order to fill to be as good.

12,000, 15,000, and 20,000+ miles on a front tire? You guys must not be using your front brake.
I am looking for a new front after 6200 miles on my stock Metz Lazertech and am somewhat satisfied as I had Avon Storms on my Sprint ST and barely got 5k out of them. Avons had bad cupping, poor tread life but a good rain tire.
Any opinions on Kenda? Have em on my KZ900 but never kept track of mileage, do seem to be wearing well.

I always use my front break and to bleed off some speed use it without the rear and have 20,000 on my stock front and it still has some tread on it. That is the Lazertech that came on my 04 SM.

Road conditions make a very big difference in tire mileage.

I have a gravel driveway and over 15,000 miles on my stock Bridgestones. They still have good tread left. I've never had any complaint with them, but I've never tried different ones either. I'll probably replace them with Metzlers this summer after a few more thousand miles on them.

Not so much gravel but some road surfaces are rougher and thus more abrasive than others. Like cement is different than asphalt and tar and chip different than both of them and each wears differently. There are even differences among the same type surfaces.

I use my front brake a lot, also, always hitting it first and then the rear. I did see a lot longer life out of the stock ME330, but I was a real newbie then, too.

I carry a tool roll on the front forks, have the TRIUMPH Light Bar, and the stiffer PROGRESSIVE front fork springs, and a Fly Screen, all added or changed since that first set of tires wore out.

I figure all of that plays a roll, and the fact that I ride her real hard.....it's like gas mileage - we all know it could be better but we would rather have fun, right!

I have never felt the least bit vulnerable on wet road with these Metler tires, other than right when the road gets wet after a dry spell. They are confidence-inspireing, and I therefore trust them immensely. Wear is wear, and still better than what those z-rated sport bike radials will ever see.