Metzler ME880 tires in the rain

[jack]

My V-Max has these tires and although they wear like iron, are a little scary in the rain. Out riding this morning and it began raining lightly. I had the back end try to come around twice when accelerating lightly and again when braking for a stoplight, that I ended up nearly running. Anyone had any experience with the ME 880's in the rain?

Thanks,

Jack.

 

[Ignacio]

Hmmm....let me think. St. Louis to Boston in the remnants of a hurricane last August in the Iron Butt Rally. Set of ME-880's mounted...like many of the other FJRs. Yeah, I have a bit of experience.

They're not nearly as good as a set of Storms or Pilot Road 2s in the rain.....or on dry pavement for that matter. They're more like wearing wooden shoes.

However, if high mileage is important to you....it's the sacrifice one pays.

 

[Grumpy]

My V-Max has these tires and although they wear like iron, are a little scary in the rain. Out riding this morning and it began raining lightly. I had the back end try to come around twice when accelerating lightly and again when braking for a stoplight, that I ended up nearly running. Anyone had any experience with the ME 880's in the rain?Thanks,

Jack.

I'd submit that the operative words are, "it began raining"......lots of stuff that'll make things slick occur when it begins to rain. I've some experience with several ME 880's and won't be running them again unless I've got to do a long distance run that's mostly straight roads. My slipping and sliding experiences involved cold and tar snakes in addition to just beginning to rain. Haulin' Ashe said I was entertaining to watch........but while it was entertaining for him, it puckered every orfice in my body. I'm now a Michelin man!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

In the interest of Due Diligence and Full Disclosure (and since it's not yet Friday); let's remember that MamaYama (really) only authorizes (per manual) two options for replacement tires for the FJR -- Metz.(not ME880) and 'Stone -- as per original fitment.

Now, that may be a conspiracy (or, collusion)? But, the fact remains that MamaYama printed in the manual (and installed on the bike) the tires they want you to use. Now we all know there are different tire brands and choices -- some maybe better -- some maybe worse; but to change the size of the tire (Metz. ME 880) may be going a little too far?

Especially for a place like the FJR Forum -- where FJR owners come for info (mostly good info).

Yes, it's a free country -- and you can put on any tire you want (I've seen car tires on m/cycles) -- but, maybe the FJR Forum shouldn't recco too far away from MamaYama (size, compound, tread design, speed rating, load rating, etc)?

But then -- when King Kenny Roberts was asked if you can mix radial tires with bias ply tires on the same bike, he answered: "If it works, you can."

 

[El Toro]

Well, we know that different people have different expectations, and what works for one person may be thought to be abysmal by another.

I will be ready for tires when I get back from Nova Scotia, and so I asked my dealer if they carried the Diablo Stradas or the PR2s, or maybe the Battelax 016s. He said he could order them and have them in 3 or 4 days. I then asked him what he would recommend. His response was the Metzeler RoadTec Z6s that came on the bike.

FWIW, I do like these tires. I've had them now on several different sport touring type motorcycles and always been happy with their stickiness (wet or dry) and wear characteristics. I may just go ahead and get them once again.

 

[OkieBikerDude]

My '07 A model came with BT020's and I was lucky to get 5k miles front and rear. Switched to Metzler Roadtec P6's and it looks like 8 - 10k miles is possible. I had good luck with the bias ply Metzlers on old BMW's, so I'm not too surprised.

OBD