I'm So Bloomin Tired Of Worrying About What Tire To Buy!!!

[BigLenny]

It's the dreaded tire time again! And, as usual, I have read and re-read every freaking thread on our wonderful forum trying to decide which brand and model to go with this time.

 

Years ago, after quickly burning through the stock Brickstones in the 1st 4000 miles, I took a buddy's suggestion and went with Metzeler's . I LOVED them! Got about 14K out of them before I decided to change them due to a 4500 mile two week trip that was facing us. Went with Metzelers again, and truly LOVED their performance for a second time. Wound up putting 17K on that set. Then, I was in a bind for some quick tires before i went to a bike rally 3 hours away. I let the local Suzuki dealer talk me into putting some cheap tires called Pirelli MT66 Route's on the bike the morning I left for the rally. I bought them for under $200.00 for the set. Like a crazy person, I left the dealership that day and rode in a driving frog strangling rain for 3 hours with brand new tires, and they did just fine with that much rain on the roads. Well, the dang things have lasted 14000 miles, and frankly, or surprisingly, haven't been that bad of a tire. Actually, they have been fine. They look like they have about another 1000 miles left in them. . Anywho, I've decided I'm not going to go back to Metzelers. Reading about all of the issues some of you have described with the Metzeler tires delaminating and such, scares me to death. Even though I didn't have any issues with them (other than cupping and singing as they got older), I don't want to push it. I've always wanted to try some of those sexy looking tires like E3's and Commander 2's and such, or some of those Avons. But, to tell ya the truth, I'm kinda wondering why I don't just throw another set of Pirelli's on it and be done with it. The dang things are so affordable, and I have proof that they last fairly decently. Hmmm. I agree that they corner just a smidgen less than the Metzlers used to, but then again, as I'm getting older, I ain't looking to scrape boards with my wife on back as much as I used to.

 

Crap! I dont' know! I'm tired of thinking about it! It's ridiculous.

 

Big Lenny

[Sylvester]

I would love to help you, Big Lenny, but I have only had the experience of the first set of Bridgestones and the replacement Metzlers for those. Since then I have only run Dunlop D404 tires. That was 178,000 miles ago when I put the first set on. Never had a complaint or problem with them. I get 8-10K out of them but I change my own tires and use Dyna Beads for balancing. They are relatively cheaper and grab the road.

 

Stay with the Pirelli and enjoy.

[Freebird]

I have a new set of E3s sitting in the garage. Will get them installed once I get over this Flu and then find the time. I ended up paying $270.00 for the pair. Ended up buying them from Dennis Kirk. Shipping was free and they arrived in two days. This will be my first experience with the E3 but from all I've read about them, I expect to be just fine with them.

 

This bike had whitewall D404's on it when I bought it. Have no idea how many miles on them. The front was needing replaced and then on my last ride of the season, the rear lost about a 3 - 4" chunk of rubber. I won't blame the tire because since I didn't put most of the miles on them, I have no idea how well the inflation was maintained and etc. I was never a fan of the whitewalls though and have had better experience with other tires in regards to traction and etc.

[BigLenny]

I have a new set of E3s sitting in the garage. Will get them installed once I get over this Flu and then find the time. I ended up paying $270.00 for the pair. Ended up buying them from Dennis Kirk. Shipping was free and they arrived in two days. This will be my first experience with the E3 but from all I've read about them, I expect to be just fine with them.

 

This bike had whitewall D404's on it when I bought it. Have no idea how many miles on them. The front was needing replaced and then on my last ride of the season, the rear lost about a 3 - 4" chunk of rubber. I won't blame the tire because since I didn't put most of the miles on them, I have no idea how well the inflation was maintained and etc. I was never a fan of the whitewalls though and have had better experience with other tires in regards to traction and etc.

 

Don,

 

i sure hope you get to feeling up to snuff soon.

 

I do look forward to reading your honest opinion of the E3's. As for me, I went ahead today and bought two new Pirelli's from a local dealer who sold them to me for internet prices. I paid $200.00 for the pair. I mounted the rear tonight, and will do the front tomorrow.

 

I'm with you on the whitewall thing. Can't make myself like them. But, there's certainly folks out there that love the look of whitewalls, and thats cool too.

 

BL

[bongobobny]

Well, Pirelli is a tire name that has been around for a long long time with a very good reputation as a performance tire, especially in the automotive sports car racing, so if you were happy with them, then why not go with them again, especially if they fit your pocketbook? How any brand of tire performs is purely a personal matter as no two rider's style is the same...

[M61A1MECH]

In the for what it is worth department, I just pulled this from the Metzler website.

I was told this was the case many years ago by someone in Akron that was very close to the tire industry, but never bothered to follow it up until now.

 

http://www.metzeler.com/site/us/about-us/history.html

1986 - Since the 1st January 1986, Metzeler had been a member of the Pirelli Group. A restructuring period of the existing different branches into independent companies took place, and in 1989, Pirelli founded Metzeler Reifen GmbH.

[BigLenny]

In the for what it is worth department, I just pulled this from the Metzler website.

I was told this was the case many years ago by someone in Akron that was very close to the tire industry, but never bothered to follow it up until now.

 

http://www.metzeler.com/site/us/about-us/history.html

 

That's some interesting stuff, Steve.

 

Ya never know what companies are tied to each other.

 

BL

[saddlebum]

For what its worth I have the E3's and heading into my fourth season. All I can say is I love the tires. great cornering. excellent in the rain. I have also noticed that they are totally unaffected by road snakes unlike my E2 which squimed each time I hit a road snake. Also they handle ground ashphalt surfaces far better than my E2s did and so far I am getting good wear millage. When I come due for another set of tires I will be going to another set of E3s. I have heard some complain about the tire being noisy but I have not experienced this at all, I found them smooth and quiet.

[videoarizona]

I'm running the Routes on my 05 RSV. Handles well, quiet. I'm good with them.

[MiCarl]

Pirelli and Metzeler are under the same roof.

 

I do business with three tire wholesalers. Two of them handled both Pirelli and Metzeler. Last year Pirelli changed their distribution strategy and each wholesaler got to carry either Pirelli or Metzeler, but not both lines. Both of my wholesalers ended up with the Pirelli line so no I can't sell Metzeler unless I get involved with another wholesaler.

 

I put MT66s on a friend's RSV last summer. He's thrilled with them.

[VentureFar]

Hey Big Lenny - Neil here.

I just put on my second E3 on my 07 RSV.

Got 12k on the first set.- still had some rubber left but I needed to change the rear disc so just had the rear replaced at the same time ( labor cost)

ME888 got 8 or 9k but it was a pain in the butt having to keep it at 50#

On Los Angeles freeways the grooving causes tire following unless I keep a Metz up front.

Best to you,

VentureFar...

[Bones]

You know, then I would say why worry. Most all the tires that fit work well for someone or other. It seems that you found one that you liked that fit the wallet well. That seems to be all that really counts to me. Keeping an ear open for the make and model of tires that give some folks the most trouble can help us to avoid that same trouble with our purchases in the future, however if you had good fortune with your last set, I would say keep on with what you are doing... Fuss over tires if you are trying to find ones that better suit you for whatever reason...

 

Enjoy the ride,

[Pegasus1300]

It's the dreaded tire time again! And, as usual, I have read and re-read every freaking thread on our wonderful forum trying to decide which brand and model to go with this time.

 

Years ago, after quickly burning through the stock Brickstones in the 1st 4000 miles, I took a buddy's suggestion and went with Metzeler's . I LOVED them! Got about 14K out of them before I decided to change them due to a 4500 mile two week trip that was facing us. Went with Metzelers again, and truly LOVED their performance for a second time. Wound up putting 17K on that set. Then, I was in a bind for some quick tires before i went to a bike rally 3 hours away. I let the local Suzuki dealer talk me into putting some cheap tires called Pirelli MT66 Route's on the bike the morning I left for the rally. I bought them for under $200.00 for the set. Like a crazy person, I left the dealership that day and rode in a driving frog strangling rain for 3 hours with brand new tires, and they did just fine with that much rain on the roads. Well, the dang things have lasted 14000 miles, and frankly, or surprisingly, haven't been that bad of a tire. Actually, they have been fine. They look like they have about another 1000 miles left in them. . Anywho, I've decided I'm not going to go back to Metzelers. Reading about all of the issues some of you have described with the Metzeler tires delaminating and such, scares me to death. Even though I didn't have any issues with them (other than cupping and singing as they got older), I don't want to push it. I've always wanted to try some of those sexy looking tires like E3's and Commander 2's and such, or some of those Avons. But, to tell ya the truth, I'm kinda wondering why I don't just throw another set of Pirelli's on it and be done with it. The dang things are so affordable, and I have proof that they last fairly decently. Hmmm. I agree that they corner just a smidgen less than the Metzlers used to, but then again, as I'm getting older, I ain't looking to scrape boards with my wife on back as much as I used to.

 

Crap! I dont' know! I'm tired of thinking about it! It's ridiculous.

 

Big Lenny

 

+1 on the Pirelli,not because of my experience but because of yours. All the brands you mentioned are good brands,or the companies wouldn't still be around making those tires. Don't worry be happy and buy what you know and like. Ris ride ride.

[BigLenny]

Well, I decided to stay with the Pirelli's. I mounted them Wednesday night. Ima get out tomorrow and put some miles on them to get them scuffed in.

 

I'm heading out a week from today to Orlando for a national sales convention I have to attend from the 11th-17th. I'm going to trailer my bike to the convention, and along the way, I'm going to stop in and experience the first day of Daytona Bike Week. Then, after the conference is over, I'm flying my wife down to meet me in Orlando. We're gonna park the truck and trailer at my brothers place in Zephyrhills (north of Tampa), and ride the 7 hours down to Key West. We're gonna stay in the keys for a few days, then ride back to Zehyrhills, put the bike on the trailer, and drive north to Robbinsville, NC to meet up with my 2 cousins who are going to be riding the Tail of the Dragon and all of that area in the Smokys for a couple days before heading back home. Gonna be a packed 2 weeks.

[Sylvester]

I believe that you did the right thing, Stay with what works for you.

 

 

Well, I decided to stay with the Pirelli's. I mounted them Wednesday night. Ima get out tomorrow and put some miles on them to get them scuffed in.

 

I'm heading out a week from today to Orlando for a national sales convention I have to attend from the 11th-17th. I'm going to trailer my bike to the convention, and along the way, I'm going to stop in and experience the first day of Daytona Bike Week. Then, after the conference is over, I'm flying my wife down to meet me in Orlando. We're gonna park the truck and trailer at my brothers place in Zephyrhills (north of Tampa), and ride the 7 hours down to Key West. We're gonna stay in the keys for a few days, then ride back to Zehyrhills, put the bike on the trailer, and drive north to Robbinsville, NC to meet up with my 2 cousins who are going to be riding the Tail of the Dragon and all of that area in the Smokys for a couple days before heading back home. Gonna be a packed 2 weeks.