Crazy tire idea

[PlaynInPeoria]

I just hit 4500 miles on my 2012 and the tires are toast.  I need to order some tires and am thinking that instead of buying the conventional sport touring PR3 type tire, why not buy a Metzeler ME880 (or the new ME888).  I could get way more miles out of the tire, and the traction control and ABS could save me from any traction issues caused by the lesser performing tire. I would still get a PR3 or the like for the front.  I am an aggressive rider.  Well, I think I am anyway.

Thoughts?

[chap]

Putting cost infront of safety is not a good idea.

[Canuck]

I have an 09, came with bto21 battle, stuck resl good but toast at 5500k,  wore the sides off them, left a ridge diwn the middle. Them ran a set of pirellies, much better, now on my second set of michelin road pilot ii's,  15,000k's.  less sticky, cant lean as far, but thats ok. A set lasts a season now. i ride from the prairies to the rockies, to the appalachians and everything in between. The mich's have been the best. I hear the III's suck. B.

[Rhino]

TC doesn't help in hard cornering and if you are an aggressive rider then you could potentially spin out pushing it in a corner. Same as a sports car. Replace soft rubber tires for harder compound you will not be able to corner as hard. TC and ABS has nothing to do with that. Just saying.

[Conrad]

I just hit 4500 miles on my 2012 and the tires are toast.  I need to order some tires and am thinking that instead of buying the conventional sport touring PR3 type tire, why not buy a Metzeler ME880 (or the new ME888).  I could get way more miles out of the tire, and the traction control and ABS could save me from any traction issues caused by the lesser performing tire. I would still get a PR3 or the like for the front.  I am an aggressive rider.  Well, I think I am anyway.

Thoughts?

Good luck with that.

[PlaynInPeoria]

Point taken. 

Thanks

[B.D.F.]

If it works for you that is great but I would point out that traction control cannot 'fix' or compensate for a tire with less grip. In other words, traction control and / or any other type of mechanical trickery cannot make a tire with poor grip a better gripping tire. All traction control will do is lessen the power being delivered to the rear tire in the event of forward tire spin, not sideways grip as in going around a curve with the bike leaned over. Tires with poor grip will still have poor grip regardless of the presence of traction control, at least as far as low siding goes.

Trading off a softer, grippier tire for a harder, more durable tire is perfectly acceptable I think as long as the rider realizes what he / she is doing and what the results will be. That is why we have sport touring tires in the first place; the grippiest tires are sport bike tires but they wear so quickly that most ST riders do not use them. Going still further to a harder tire will have the same results- less performance and greater mileage (and often the tire is less expensive also). If the tire fits the rim, and you use it within its weight and speed limitations, nothing wrong with using any tire you want on your motorcycle IMO.

Brian

I just hit 4500 miles on my 2012 and the tires are toast.  I need to order some tires and am thinking that instead of buying the conventional sport touring PR3 type tire, why not buy a Metzeler ME880 (or the new ME888).  I could get way more miles out of the tire, and the traction control and ABS could save me from any traction issues caused by the lesser performing tire. I would still get a PR3 or the like for the front.  I am an aggressive rider.  Well, I think I am anyway.

Thoughts?

[gPink]

I hear some folks are using car tires.

[B.D.F.]

Interesting. What an interesting idea.

How does that work out, overall?

Brian

I hear some folks are using car tires.

[Rhino]

 

[gPink]

That depends on your definition of 'work' is. There are those that might think this works:

[Sgt Mac]

I must be missing something, I couldn't find a size on the Metzeler site that fits......I did find that the ME880 comes in white wall.

[PlaynInPeoria]

No darkside for me, thanks.

I got 10k out of an ME880.  Honestly I never even looked at sizes for the ME888. It's marketed as a cruiser tire, I had no idea.   That would be the closest I will ever get to a cruiser, that's for sure.

[Rhino]

Used to get about 18K out of Avon Venom's on my Honda Valkyrie.

[maxtog]

That depends on your definition of 'work' is. There are those that might think this works:

[photo of slow, loud, stupid harley-type bike with car tire and sparks flying from trying to corner at maybe 20 miles an hour, complete with tassels]

The sad part is the owner probably had someone take that photo and is proud to have posted it.

[texrider]

Takes all kinds. 

[Broz]

When you find the answer to the tire dilemma please let me know. I wore the OEM Bridgestones to the steel belt by 3000 miles put on a set of PR 2's and they are worn out and my odometer is only at 5500 miles. If I wanted to wear the PR 2's to the belt I might get another 200 miles but I wont push it. I already have the replacement in the garage.   

[Cuda]

Michelin Commander II Cruiser Rear Tire
200 55 17 Radial    They say grips well lasts a long time 2 compound tire,  next year I plan on putting one on I have lots of miles left on my P3 190 50 and a new 190 55 waiting to go on.

Are you guys doing burn outs ? only 3,000 miles and cords ?

[TRBN]

Interesting:
http://www.avontyres.com/motorcycle/storm-3d-x-m

[koval68]

I just hit 4500 miles on my 2012 and the tires are toast.  I need to order some tires and am thinking that instead of buying the conventional sport touring PR3 type tire, why not buy a Metzeler ME880 (or the new ME888).  I could get way more miles out of the tire, and the traction control and ABS could save me from any traction issues caused by the lesser performing tire. I would still get a PR3 or the like for the front.  I am an aggressive rider.  Well, I think I am anyway.

Thoughts?

You're putting a lot of faith, and possibly your life, in something, that you have little to no control over.....! Time to refocus my friend, before it's too late!