Poll on Metzler M880 Vs. Avon Venom

[Bobby G]

I've posted/boasted before about the M880's, and I'll stick to my choice. Just changed them out after 20K on the front and 18K on the rear. No issues whatsoever, and still had some decent tread life. I will admit that I prefer a softer tire for the mountain riding I do, such as the D404's, but you can't beat the overall performance of the M880 IMO.

 

On our '03 H-D Softail, we run only the H-D wide whitewall Dunlop's. It's a Harley thing!

[in flagrante]

I have Metzler 880 now and my first choice was the Avon until I read all the cracking issues here. My Metzler are noisy in the curves. So after having run Elite 2's on my First Gen the past 13 years, so I'm sticking with Dunlop. This time it will be the E's, I ordered them from Jake Wilson. Total cost was $201.00 and took three days to get here....Both tires!

 

hmm, who is this Jake Wilson tire-guy? (Needing a new rear tire now that OEM is giving out at 4,000 measley miles.)

[Skid]

hmm, who is this Jake Wilson tire-guy? (Needing a new rear tire now that OEM is giving out at 4,000 measley miles.)

 

 

 

Jakewilson.com

 

Also google search Jake Wilson coupon and you'll find a code to enter when you check out to save another $20.00. Anything over $100.00 is free shippng, and mine were delivered in 3 days so fast shiping.

 

 

jakewilson.com

[Zfrebird4]

to match t he almost new rear M880 and both perform great. I took the advice of my wrench, but I think next time I'll take Squidley's for no more M880's. Wrench says the key is to keep them properly aired. Given this report I'll check the tires BEFORE each ride, sidewall especially, and air pressure weekly.

 

Good post, so good having M880's now cautions me some. Time will tell, and hopefully not chunks out or an accident or blow out! Eh? Ya.

 

All ride safe and happy now!

 

JackZ

 

[ediddy]

I have had dulops, metzlers and avon venoms. I am on my second set of venoms. I ride 2up mostly on an 05 venture and the handling of the venoms is much better than metzlers. I didn't like the metzelers.

[Dave77459]

I swapped out the OEM Brickstone to Avon Venoms with my first change, and will never go back to those. I run an Avon Venom MT90HB-16 in front... I like the more narrow tire.

 

I ran two Venom rears, but the last died early so I tried the Dunlop E3 on back. It's wearing very well, but it seems hard to me. Runs fine, but I feel a lack of confidence in it that 8000 miles hasn't cured. It makes me worried to try one on the front, and I am not at all concerned about mix and matching.

 

I'll probably go back to the Avon up front, but does Dunlop make a narrow (MT90HB equivalent) front?

 

Dave

[Cowboy]

Dunlop D404 had a good ride in the mountains but very low mileage. I have 62,000 miles on the Midnight 2004. I ride two up 80% of the time and pull a trailer 20%.

Previous owner not sure what he ran but my use as follows:

First set of D404 got 11,600

Second set D404 got 10,200

Third set D404 got 9,400

Fourth set D404 got only 8,100

Fifth set D404 only 7,200

Decided that the Wide White Wall was not worth the money I was spending on tires. Dunlop would not say why I was gettting such a change in mileage. I have not changed my riding habits. I ride the mountains 80% of my riding and I ride like I have a 1st Generation which I use to have.

That said I changed to the Elite 3's 6500 miles so far still look new.

I like the performance in the rain & on the tar snakes and the mileage looks great so far

However in the mountains the noise is more than what I like. To truely enjoy the mountain roads with the running rivers no radio or loud pipes the whine of the tires is more than the whine of the I-basket.

Dunlop makes a great tire but the Elite 3's just have the noise issue. Next change I will be trying the Avons is the craking issue is solved.

Just my 2 cents.

[1 Canuck]

Yesssss...I noticed my new Avon tire that was installed on the back of my RSV has made it to 4-5k miles, before this one started to crack too. Much better than my first one which started cracking at 300 miles.

 

 

Since the dealer that installed it is 8-9 hours away from where I live now and I'll never use another Avon tire, I think I will use it for a bumper on my dock.

Dunlop E3's, lets give it a try! I can't afford to waste anymore money.

[stroker ace]

I would run the 880's did not like the feel of the avon's in the corners. I guess it all depends on how you ride. I have the elite 3's now if I could do it again with the same knowledge I would put the 880's on. I get around 12,000- 15,000 miles out of a set.

[Smilerider]

I just wanted to say thanks again for all your help here. I am pricing out the E3's and seeing what I can do... It's really crappy that none of the local places will install tires unless you purchase them from them.. I found the E3 for $200 a set on line delivered to the door!! Local dealers want $190+ mount and balance for just the rear.... rrrrrrrrrrrr:bang head:

[eusa1]

I just wanted to say thanks again for all your help here. I am pricing out the E3's and seeing what I can do... It's really crappy that none of the local places will install tires unless you purchase them from them.. I found the E3 for $200 a set on line delivered to the door!! Local dealers want $190+ mount and balance for just the rear.... rrrrrrrrrrrr:bang head:

ask the local stealership to try and match the prices, mark up on tires is huge, and many will play monte hall with you.

mike

[YamaDuck]

Sometimes you can pay a little higher at a local shop and with the money they save on mounting their tires you can sometimes come out better. So like Mike said see if one will match the price and if not how close they can come and ask there mounting price if you buy the tires from them verses bringing your tires in. Around here the local shops will mount tires purchased anywhere but you pay extra if you don't buy the tires from them.

[rjmalizia]

Avon Venom's...

Love 'em. they handle great and are lasting forever! got 14k+ on my set. Bought them in May of 2008.

 

Hate 'em! Just noticed a slice in the tread of the front tire. Looks like it might be getting to throw the tread, peal off or delaminate i guess? not sure of the correct terminology here .. sorry. AND more so, once i really took a good look at it, i noticed "bulges" periodically around the tire. Just off center of the tread and about the size of a quarter.

 

It really pisses me off because i REALLY love these tires, but I highly doubt that I'll invest in another set.

 

For what it's worth.

 

[Storminyte]

Can anyone tell me where to find the best deal for these Dunlops??

 

Thanks...D:2133:

[Sylvester]

My 02' Venture has 130,000 miles. I have tried various tires in the past but my favorite is the D404 WWW. Excellant wet handling and decent wear. I have my own tire changing equipment so I order online tires. Metzler's really suck! That is all I can say.

 

[Guest Boomerbiker]

Avons - On second set of front and rear with 14,000 out of the first rear and 21,500 on the narrower front tire. No cracks in either set. Bike is the 2006 and now has 27,000 miles on it. Getting ready to do the valve adjustment this week.

 

Bill

[CMIKE]

Can anyone tell me where to find the best deal for these Dunlops??

 

Thanks...D:2133:

Jake wilson is where I bought my last one...103.99 front 125.99 rear stock sizes Free shipping.

 

http://www.jakewilson.com/productDetail.do?&navType=type&webTypeId=440&navTitle=Motorcycle+Tires&webCatId=57&prodFamilyId=16940

I got over 13000 on a set so far and probably can get another 3-4000...if I wanted to push it.

 

I may swap out the rear next week (already bought the tire) cause we are planning a 2-3000 mile trip. I do not want to chance having to change it on the road.

[G7mag]

I just put a new set of E-3's on. I got 13,000 miles on the last rear and it was just down to the wear bars. They are a little louder that some other brands but thats what the stereo is for! I'm sold on them and would recommend them to anyone. Just my 2 cent's worth.

[Bobby G]

Last set of ME880's - 21,000 on the front, 17,000 on the rear.

 

Replaced them in March with the same. Have 6,600 on both, and no problems or issues, and no visible tread wear at this time.

 

Footnote: I ran only Dunlop 404's on my VTX and loved them. Also run only Dunlop's on the Harley Softail, and also love them as well.

 

I think it really depends on the bike you put them on. Until I have a bad experience with Metzlers on the Venture, that's what I'll be running.

[jfoster]

Metzlers front and rear....no problems, rear 13k the front still running it with bout 10k on it. Both tires have held up with no problems. Currently running E3 on the rear to see what kind of mileage I get out of it.

[Dragonslayer]

Still running the ME 880 I bought in Daytona 2005 on the front over 30,000 miles on it and you can't notice any Tread missing but the sidewall is cracking. The rear ME 880 didn't do so well. It got less then 5,000 miles on it pulling a trailer and it almost left me stranded in the desert of New Mexico on the Sturgis 2008 trip. You might recall the story, 140 miles to Tucumcari on a may pop metzler.

 

The used 1/2 life HD Dunlop I had to buy in Tucumcari got about 18,000 miles before I swapped it for a new Dunlop E3 which I'm now running on the rear. The E3 has about 6,000 miles on it now and is cupping on the outside tread.

 

All in all my tire experience from brand to brand has been all over the board and reminds me of the old farmer talking about his cross eyed wife. He said.....

 

"She falls down the well and her eyes go crossed......... Mule kicks her in the head and they go back straight............I don't know!":confused24: