changing from BT020 to Metzler 880?

[zimbazi]

I have read too much at this site to remember it all....
I own the 2006 LT..Yes the fastest Ocean BLue !
Asking for some advice on changing from the stock tires to metlzer 880.
Remember something about a spacer?
My bike only has 7,400 miles and the front tire is past the wear limits.
Today the back tire went flat..Big nail ! Pluged it to get home.
The back tire is about 80% gone but do not want to drive the pluged tire.
I have a big trip plan in two weeks planning on about 4k miles.
Most of you except for DaveDragon are getting long milage on the metlzers.
I have experienced the Metlzers on my Ultra Classic Harley (crap of a bike).
They are loud tires from my experince.


So, do I need a spacer to change BT020 to Metlzer 880?
OR is there a spacer I need to remove for clearance?
Plan on mounting Metlzer this weekend ......
Also plan on getting those MC945 angle valve stems?

Please HELP?

[dshealey]

I have read too much at this site to remember it all....
I own the 2006 LT..Yes the fastest Ocean BLue !
Asking for some advice on changing from the stock tires to metlzer 880.
Remember something about a spacer?
My bike only has 7,400 miles and the front tire is past the wear limits.
Today the back tire went flat..Big nail ! Pluged it to get home.
The back tire is about 80% gone but do not want to drive the pluged tire.
I have a big trip plan in two weeks planning on about 4k miles.
Most of you except for DaveDragon are getting long milage on the metlzers.
I have experienced the Metlzers on my Ultra Classic Harley (crap of a bike).
They are loud tires from my experince.


So, do I need a spacer to change BT020 to Metlzer 880?
OR is there a spacer I need to remove for clearance?
Plan on mounting Metlzer this weekend ......
Also plan on getting those MC945 angle valve stems?

Please HELP?

I believe the only tire that required the additional spacer was Dunlop D205. You do not need to do anything changing between Metzeler and Bridgestone.

[rglassma]

I have heard many issues with slippage in wet conditions on the Metzlers. I would not switch from the BT020. They are a softer compound and grip better.

I have found if you keep the pressure at or slightly above 42 psi front and at or slightly above 48 psi rear, you will get better wear out of your bridgestones.

[TMH]

I have heard many issues with slippage in wet conditions on the Metzlers. I would not switch from the BT020. They are a softer compound and grip better.

I have found if you keep the pressure at or slightly above 42 psi front and at or slightly above 48 psi rear, you will get better wear out of your bridgestones.
My Metz 880's were in great shape when I bought my '02 (used). Almost dropped her on the way home from the dealer when I was running through some curves and it was "spitting" rain (not heavy, only enough to make the ground wet). We have been having so much rain this year that our roads are generally clean (don't have oil coming up to the surface after light rains anymore - It is all washed away).

Well I didn't know whether it was just a characteristic of the K12LT or something else, until I searched this Board. I ended up taking the bike in the following weekend, and having my wrench trash the 880's and replace them with BT020's. Never had a slip since.

Some folks here like the 880's very much, and don't have any slippage problems. Plus they should give you more miles before replacement. But to me control on the road is paramount, so I'll take the mileage hit for the better grip of the BS 020's.

Also per the wisdom of this Board, I run my pressures at 42F/48R.

Tom

[CARNEYM]

I went through 2 sets of BT020 and 1 set of Avons, they worked well until around 3000 miles and they start going down fast. The front end would start shaking so bad on every set that I was scared to take my hands off the bars. I got the 880 last time, and for me the bike never handled so well, it tracks better and handles better, after 8000 miles, the front tire looks perfect. The rear has about 3 or 4 thousand miles left on it. I don’t ride this bike like the sport bikes I’ve owned, but I don’t baby it either.

[dshealey]

I went through 2 sets of BT020 and 1 set of Avons, they worked well until around 3000 miles and they start going down fast. The front end would start shaking so bad on every set that I was scared to take my hands off the bars. I got the 880 last time, and for me the bike never handled so well, it tracks better and handles better, after 8000 miles, the front tire looks perfect. The rear has about 3 or 4 thousand miles left on it. I don’t ride this bike like the sport bikes I’ve owned, but I don’t baby it either.

Must be something else about your bike, maybe wheel (without tire) balance?

In over 120,000 miles I never had ONE head shake, and that was on many sets of tires, four brands and combinations. I even got brave ONCE and tried the "5-40 MPH "bump the bars" to get a head shake, did not happen.

There have been some discussions of front head shake, but MOST of us have never experienced it, so there must be some parameter that exists on a small number of bikes that is not present on the great majority. It is evidently NOT just tire brand related.

[Zotter]

I've never had anything but the Metzlers on my LT. Just put a new front on yesterday (15K on the old one). New rear last fall ('bout 12k).

Granted, Wyoming ain't exactly known for it's 'dampish' conditions - not like Seattle or other moldy places <g> - but we do get rain, snow, hail, sleet and other precpitation on occasion. Come cement growing season (lawn sprinklers over spraying onto pavement), there's plenty of wet around to get through.

I rode from Indianapolis to Cheyenne in the rain when I bought the thing. 2 days of ::swish:: great time, chilly, but fun and no slippage noted.

Never, ever have I had any kind of 'slippage' or other wet traction problems with a Metzler. Not saying it can't happen - just ain't never happened to me.

Now sand - that's a whole 'nuther issue. But, to be expected.

I run 42 psi front, 48 rear. Never got the 'roar' - but did get some noise in turns. Didn't see the feathering on the front until it was off the rim. Maybe cuze the pressure was at ambian it was more visible.

I like my Metzlers. Unless there's some complelling reason offered - I don't plan to change. The wear on these babies is fine, the prices and availability is good and they flat out work for me.

But then, I know folks that like Scotch too - no accounting for tastes, eh?

[Ranger6]

Don't know how much this means if anything, but the last time I was at my dealer about a month ago, he asked me if I was interested in participating in a Bridgestone tire research project for the LT in the coming months. After explaining that they would remove my tires, install the 'stones and ask me to ride normally for several thousand miles, return and they would reinstall my tires and I would then be asked to answer a few questions about the experience. Now, this could mean one of two things one of which I hope is the deal. They could be 1.) just doing continous research to determine suitability for the LT and/or the "new" forthcoming LT, or 2.) as I hope bringing a new tire to market for the LT? The dealer didn't have any detailed information to answer that, but I told him I would like to participate and am still waiting for the call...not holding my breath mind you. ;)

[ranks]

To each their own.

Never had BT020 on the LT, but had and hated them on an FZ1.

I have only had slippage on paint, and I have dragged pegs, centerstand, and even a bit of fairing once, so I don't necessarily baby it.

When it starts to rain/sprinkle, and its been dry awhile, oil comes up, its slick.
Wet leaves, sand, and diesel are slick too.

In those conditions I pretty much drive the speed limit.

I LOVE the mileage on the 880's

[airborneod]

I've got the 880s on my LT 48 front 52 rear, fourth set on 3 different bikes, ridden cross country in raln, sleet, snow and hale. Outran a tornado in Colorado. I like um!!!

[jzeiler]

I'm an 880's fan as well, but then that is all I have run on the LT. I used to run Continentals on the old Suzuki and loved them. Now have Dunlops on it. But back to the Metzlers. Did do the dragon at the first STC in the rain. Gentle in the turns but aggressive accel in the straights and never a slip.

[Texas42]

I've read about the 880's slipping in wet conditions so I was very timid with them but they were fine; I had none of the problems reported, I've got about 6000 miles on them in 3 months, several long weekend trips and they have been great. I rode 2K on the original set, and 4K on the new ones that I put on. The original set had 11K miles on them before I replaced them, that is twice what I get out of 020's on the Sprint.

I had 020's on my Sprint and I hated them, the front cupped at about 3K, they weren't nearly as sticky as Pilot Roads or even Dunlop D220 ST's. They were OK but I wouldn't rave about them. After using the 880's on the LT I've even thought of trying a Metzler on the Sprint. I go through 4 set's of tires a year on the ST so it is quicker to try different ones.

So for good handling and great wear I'm sticking[SIC] with Metzler ME880's.

[Rush1517]

For all around riding, you cannot beat the Metzlers.

The mileage alone makes them worth it. I've heard they are slippery when wet, but I have never experienced that. I don't ride in the rain much because 1. I don't like it - and 2. I don't usually have to. When I have been caught in the rain, they seemed fine to me. I back off the speed, but it wouldn't matter what tires I had, I would still do that.

The only time I've put a crease in my seat was in a curve on very hot tar snakes, but there isn't a tire made that wouldn't do that. It's not really the tire in that case as much as it is the weight of the bike.

Good Luck!!

[paulcbrowne]

I just removed a set of half-worn Metzeler 880s and put on Bridgestone BT020s. The Metzelers were very good in the rain until they wore down after 4k miles. They had become quite noisy due to the way the tread blocks wear, but that's not uncommon with any tire, just seemed a bit worse with the Metzelers. The worst aspect with the Metzelers was they way they followed any crack or groove in the direction of travel. Or Virginia roads have deteriorated greatly in the four years under our last governor. It was downright scary at time with the Metzelers almost grabbing at any of the cracks, grooves or ridges. No similar problem with the Bridgestones I had mounted before or the new one I've just mounted. I wish they they wore longer, but I'll gladly trade mileage for wet and dry traction any day.

[waycoa]

Nothing to scary that haven't experienced on other models/brands. Rode through a diesel fuel spill the other day and spun the rear a bit getting it off; so that was sort of fun. Mileage seems a bit better than average. This is my first set of 880's. Previously had great mileage with bridgestone rear. Not sure whether 880's have 5 or 6 K just now ... they're not bad and still looking good.

[Tallyho]

It's worth trying the 880s. Then you will know for sure. In the end, you should have no doubts about the tires beneath you. I always did with the 880s after several incidence of slippage on the rear. I have great confidence in the Battleaxe and like the sticky nature of the tire. My riding is usually two-up and pretty conservative. Again, you will buy several sets of tires over the course of your LT ownership, why not discover the differences and your preference from actual experience? ;)

[jkersh1]

Paul Glaves recently pretty well summed it up in this thread on the BMWMOA forum:

"Bias ply ME 880s
Decent life, good grip, OK wet!"


http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9843

[Reid]

I'm all for the 880 also. Tire life is big and I've experienced minimal slippage in wet conditions....totally confident 99% of the time. Wet is when I'm concerned, but I'm just a bit more careful then as I'd be on any tire in the rain.

Rei

[johnk12lt]

My 02 LT was delivered with ME880's. At 11k I switched to BT020's. After 8k on the 020's I went back to the 880's. The 880's are noisy, but are definitely the milage Kings. I never had major issues with tar snakes or traction with the 880's as some report and I have been known to ride aggressively at times.

[dshealey]

My 02 LT was delivered with ME880's. At 11k I switched to BT020's. After 8k on the 020's I went back to the 880's. The 880's are noisy, but are definitely the milage Kings. I never had major issues with tar snakes or traction with the 880's as some report and I have been known to ride aggressively at times.

I never rode aggressivly in wet either. I had a wet slip accident in the 1960's, wet pavement still has me highly aware and careful. I don't avoid wet riding though. Even at that I had 5 wet slips with a rear 880 that puckered me badly. After at least 8 rear radial 020's with no slips, that is proof enough for me!

Don't know if Metzeler has made any formulation changes since my first (and last) 880s in 2001, but unless I was sure they had made changes for better wet grip I would never put one on an LT again. To paraphrase the old saying: "Scare me once, shame on you, scare me twice, shame on me!"

I prefer wet grip WAY over mileage. I would accept 50% mileage to get better wet grip, but surprisingly the rear 020's actually gave me better mileage than the rear 880 did! Sure could not say that about the fronts though.

For those that have not had any slips with 880s, remember, it only takes ONE. Hope they don't surprise you at the worst possible time.

There is no perfect tire though, I had two rear 020 blisters, but both times I had ridden them longer than I should have. Each time I either had a replacement in the garage waiting on time to replace it, or was waiting on the tire to be delivered. Would not run 020s down to the wear bars again! I would rather take a chance on a blistered 020 though rather than chance wet riding on a rear 880! With the blistered tires, I got plenty of warning that something was amiss, but rode them home both times. A wet slip at the wrong time could be disastrous immediately. I have had enough disasters, sure not going to take a chance on a wet slick tire causing another one.