Tire Question

[David246]

I'm a newbie here with a question on tires. Has anyone tried or thought about trying the BT21 tire, because I am tired of my ME880's with only 4000 miles, howling. And the rear tire is cupping.

[jackd]

I'm a newbie here with a question on tires. Has anyone tried or thought about trying the BT21 tire, because I am tired of my ME880's with only 4000 miles, howling. And the rear tire is cupping.

Welcome David... your first post!

I don't think any BT021 tire is load rated for the LT.. If your replacing tires be very careful what you put on. There are many tires that have the same 'size' but they are dangerous installed on the LT because they are not rated to carry the weight required in our application.

[billybiker]

Bridgestone do do a tyre for the LT. If you search the forum you will get all the details. I've tried both and I think the Me880s are harder than the Bridgestone so in a nushell you get better handling with the Bridgestone but more mileage on the Metz.

[ErnieA]

I kinda gave up on the ME880 a year ago after putting 80k on them. I got around most of the "cupping" issue with higher tire pressures, but the handling suffered (especially front end push). Right now I'm experimenting with the Avon front and Bridgstone rear. I posted this (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=166061#poststop) on the NWet site.

Good luck and welcome to this forum. You know you are welcomed if Messenger13 (http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=373&c=searchresults&searchid=294) hasn't flamed you. Just kidding Joe. Really...;)

[BecketMa]

So far, no BT21s for LTs.

To find their MC site, I google for their Go Kart site.

Bob

[zippy_gg]

I'm a newbie here with a question on tires. Has anyone tried or thought about trying the BT21 tire, because I am tired of my ME880's with only 4000 miles, howling. And the rear tire is cupping.David, what tire pressure are you using? Many of us use 42 front, 48 rear or higher. This will make a difference.

[David246]

thanks for the info I did see that avon storms were load rated for the lt. also this site helped me fix my rear brake squeak with a ebc rotor :)

[David246]

at first I ran 36/42 but by the time found out 42/48 It was to late.I also have the front end wobble at 40 on with hands off bars .maybe when I get a set of avon storms it will be gone

[jackd]

at first I ran 36/42 but by the time found out 42/48 It was to late.I also have the front end wobble at 40 on with hands off bars .maybe when I get a set of avon storms it will be gone

A new set of tires will help.. but the balance must be perfect to fix the hands off wobble.. I'm thinking of balancing my own from now on. The last front I put on I got a wobble with hands off at 40 with the new tire.. the old tire the day before did not have it and the tire changer computer showed perfect.. I watched it..

Of course YMMV..

[tomandmelanie]

If you go to;

http://www.motorcycle-karttires.com/tires.aspx?LookupID=1

You can get the tire rating and details on the Bridgestone tires. The BT-021 160/70 a radial has a max load of 805 lbs. The BT-020 a bias ply 160/70 has a max load of 963 lbs like the ME880's 160/70.

Like you I think the ME 880's suck however the 020 M is more of the same. Until something changes and a radial with the correct ratings come out we are stuck with tractor tires that howl like the bike is falling apart. I am personally very concerned about tread separation with a tire rated 150 lbs under manufacturer spec. If I didn't ride two up I would take the chance but it's not worth it with my wife on the bike.

[PATTERSON]

I kinda gave up on the ME880 a year ago after putting 80k on them. I got around most of the "cupping" issue with higher tire pressures, but the handling suffered (especially front end push). Right now I'm experimenting with the Avon front and Bridgstone rear. I posted this (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=166061#poststop) on the NWet site.

Good luck and welcome to this forum. You know you are welcomed if Messenger13 (http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=373&c=searchresults&searchid=294) hasn't flamed you. Just kidding Joe. Really...;)


80K?? Really....................... 80K? You sure you meant to put that zero in there?? 80K is 80,000 miles...... I'm not sure I wanna bite off on that one. 80K?? :rotf: :histerica :rotf: :histerica

Pat

[David246]

today I Installed both front and rear avon storms. mounted and balanced them myself with marcparnes. wobble is competely gone. 42 f/r max cold pressure.I didnt feel any rear tire wiggel .tires felt good in turns and felt less harsh on bumbs. I like them!!!!!

[tomandmelanie]

Let us know how well they wear. If you google the tire I see Honda VFR's are getting about eight thousand miles on a set. I would be happy with that on the LT but I have to wonder if the extra weight of the LT is going to cut into the mileage. According to the Avon specs on the tire both the front and rear of the Avon have the correct weight load.
I'm just about to go looking for new tires, my last set of ME880's only lasted for 10K and they howl like dogs.

[stevea2980]

Note to tire buyers on the BT-021

The front BT-021 tire has the same load rating of the BT-020 (520 Lbs I think) but the back tire is NOT.

I will be running both of these in about one week.

Later

Stevea2980

[TPE3B]

Hm... i guess i'm just lucky with my set of Metzlers - got 12K on the rear, and the front still looks OK at 15K. I ride a lot on twisty roads. Pressure is forum-recommended 42/48

[ATFLT]

I must be lucky with my 880's as well. I have more than 13,000 miles on the set. The rear looks good for another 2-3,000 miles. The front looks good for another 5-6,000 miles. I haven't noticed any major howl from the tires. I run them about 42-50. They handle as well as the original Excedra radials and the Dunlop 205's I ran. I don't have a lot of curves to hit around here but there are some and the 880's do fine as far as I push the bike.

I like the 880 rear so well that I have the same tire on both my ST1100's. I don't notice any howl from their tires either.

I also have the 880's on my ST1300. Those tires are radials. I didn't notice any howl with the back tire. The front tire definately howls some. It seemed to break in and quiet down. Now it only makes a lot of noise when I hit some curves after a good amount of straight line riding. After some curves it quiets down on the curves as well but always comes back.