Now THAT'S one pricey bias ply rear tire.

[wildwestrider]

I called Lonestar BMW in Austin Today to get a quote on a rear Metzeler ME880. I was completely floored when they quoted me $280 with me bringing them the wheel. I was thinking that I was going to spend about that much for a Front AND Rear tire together.

A call to Georgetown Honda came up with $209 mounted and balanced..a bargain compared to the BMW store.........but still seemed high compared to the ME880 I bought a year ago for my 05 R1200RT.....Seems to me it was about $165 or a bit more mounted and balanced...............(however.......it is entirely possible my memory is incorrect).

Brian in Austin

[Motomadman]

No I got hosed for about the same here by our local dealer. Seemed to be about a $100 more than last year. Went to Cycle Gear for the front tire and paid much less comparatively. Euro imports are going through the roof due the exchange rate with our sinking dollar.

[Buckelew]

I called Lonestar BMW in Austin Today to get a quote on a rear Metzeler ME880. I was completely floored when they quoted me $280 with me bringing them the wheel. I was thinking that I was going to spend about that much for a Front AND Rear tire together.

A call to Georgetown Honda came up with $209 mounted and balanced..a bargain compared to the BMW store.........but still seemed high compared to the ME880 I bought a year ago for my 05 R1200RT.....Seems to me it was about $165 or a bit more mounted and balanced...............(however.......it is entirely possible my memory is incorrect).

Brian in Austin

if you get a real good happy ending, along with the tire, it's a good deal. otherwise, go see an independent shop and make sure the Metzeler is the VB one.

[wacolt]

I was quoted $400 out-the-door for front and rear Metz mounted, balanced, installed at Lone Star and did not consider that a bad price; I take the LT there for service and have found them to be fair in their prices.

When I brought the Storms down for mounting, they charged $45/each to remove from bike, mount, balance, install. It also coincided with the annual maintenance, but I didn't find the price objectionable.

[katnapinn]

I had LoneStar put a front tire on last month for $168.00 mounted and balanced only because I was in a jam and needed a tire fast. I bought my rear online from Cycle Gear for $161.00 shipped to my door. Then had the local CG store mount and balance it for $22.00 Georgetown Power Sports has great prices also but they where out of both tires that I needed

[ezriderfrank]

Just bought a new set of Metzler 880s from Ironhorse in tucson for $295 plus $15 to ship to new mexico. Talked to service there and they wanted $175 to mount and balance. No thank you. !!!

ezriderfrank :bmw:

[wildwestrider]

if you get a real good happy ending, along with the tire, it's a good deal. otherwise, go see an independent shop and make sure the Metzeler is the VB one.

What is "the VB one"?

Brian

[DanMartin]

What is "the VB one"?

Brian
You need to make sure of two things.

VB not VR and load rating of 79

V=speed rating,B=bias ply,R=Radial ply


Ask around the Austin area. Somebody has the Harbor Freight changer/Marc Parnes balancer. Buy tires online and mount them yourself. I am doing a set this afternoon for a houston area rider. Takes about an hour.

dan

[rkimmel2]

I used to run Kenda Challengers on my K100-RT, a pretty heavy bike in its own right. Saved a lot of money and they were great. Are there really no Asian tires of high quality like the Kenda that will work on the LT?

[RonKMiller]

I used to run Kenda Challengers on my K100-RT, a pretty heavy bike in its own right. Saved a lot of money and they were great. Are there really no Asian tires of high quality like the Kenda that will work on the LT?

Nope! (Unless you consider Bridgestone's "asian".)

[jzeiler]

Just in case any one is interested I just received a set of ME880s and the wholesale invoice was left in one of the tires. Rear was 168.04 and the front was 96.01. ( I wish I had only paid that much, but hey they gotta make a living too ).

There must only be one jobber that supplies them wholesale because it doesn't matter who I order from (AMT, Ron Ayers, SWmoto) they all are marked from the same warehouse.

[wildwestrider]

You need to make sure of two things.

VB not VR and load rating of 79

V=speed rating,B=bias ply,R=Radial ply


Ask around the Austin area. Somebody has the Harbor Freight changer/Marc Parnes balancer. Buy tires online and mount them yourself. I am doing a set this afternoon for a houston area rider. Takes about an hour.

dan

I have the harbor freight tire machine and the Marc Parnes balancer both bought years ago.......but When I moved to Austin, my storage unit was broken into and my new Hammer drill that I bought at HF on sale for $60 to drill my new garage floor for my tire machine was stolen along with just about all my other tools, equipment, home theater system, 30 pound bottle of Freon, Habitat for Humanities home building toolbox I had just put together, antiques, etc...............CRAP........I hate being reminded of that.

Homeowners policy didnt cover it, and the POS policy I bought from Public storage manager (that probably set up the theft) didn't cover me either .........couldn't believe it.

So.........currently..........I am NOT buying another GD Hammer drill,......and Yes,....I am still gunning for the thieves....probably will until my dying day. Cops said it was probably an inside job......Public storage manager sees my cool tools, calls his buddies, lets them in at 3:am and he gets a piece of the action.

Also, I read the thread where many had purchased the HF machine and STILL were unable to get the LTs rear tire on even with the high dollar tire bar (cant remember the name)

So, $18.75 to change the tire plus The claimed $10 profit margin on the tire to get a new tire on my wheel in 20 minutes while I looked at new bikes seemed like a deal.....and yes,...they did charge me tax, disposal and installed a new valve stem.

Brian

[joegottberg]

There must only be one jobber that supplies them wholesale because it doesn't matter who I order from (AMT, Ron Ayers, SWmoto) they all are marked from the same warehouse.

I've noticed that myself. They are all marked the same.

When I've been "lucky" to get a low price, it has been someone sitting on one for a while.

There has to be a better solution than walking or $200.00 tires :(

[justlookin]

Bought both front & rear from Ron Ayers for around 300 with freight..
Went to BMW mechanics (now independent) to get them mounted.
Had been told $50... before when I had been in the shop.
Left the LT with the tires, picked it up the next day... $160 for mount & bal!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
I questioned the bill, but did not go ballistic.. Just not going back..

[Nebish]

I suspect that the cost of road rubber will continue to escalate with $120 per barrel oil ....and rising.

My last Bridgestone Batlax rear tire from SWMoto was about $130, last spring. I believe that the price has not changed since that time but I cannot see how the tire manufacturers can hold their prices much longer.

[zippy_gg]

I suspect that the cost of road rubber will continue to escalate with $120 per barrel oil ....and rising.

My last Bridgestone Batlax rear tire from SWMoto was about $130, last spring. I believe that the price has not changed since that time but I cannot see how the tire manufacturers can hold their prices much longer.And that is why I have brand new BTs on the bike and another brand new set in the garage.

[Dick]

Just in case any one is interested I just received a set of ME880s and the wholesale invoice was left in one of the tires. Rear was 168.04 and the front was 96.01. ( I wish I had only paid that much, but hey they gotta make a living too ).

There must only be one jobber that supplies them wholesale because it doesn't matter who I order from (AMT, Ron Ayers, SWmoto) they all are marked from the same warehouse.
Last I heard, Parts Unlimited wuz a 'heavy' supplier of the Metzler tires, and also several other brands. Not sure if they have a more/or less retrictive quota program for their 'clients, than a previous supplier. I've seen ?Drag Specialties? tire wrap on some inventory shelves also. Just what I heard now - no confirmation beyond the fact that the speaker worked at a BMW shop.

[gbob]

Got a set of Metzlers from Cycle Gear and one had a Drag Specialties and the other had Parts Unlimited wrap ,I think they are one and the same . shipped about $280

Bob G
99LT

[SmokinJoe]

Oil up tire prices up. FWIW I just bought from Motorcycle Superstore, currently has free shipping and 20% off orders 200.00 or more...I got 5% off as follows;
ME 880 Marathon Touring Front Tire
Color - --, Size - 120/70VB-17
SKU# 97389 Shipped $106.99 1 $106.99
Ron Ayers is typically a good starting point.
YOU HAVE TO SHOP!