Me 880 rear tire

[clayton]

This post is regaurding the rear tire me 880, I 'm on second rear tire that
has split in th e tire casing not the tread. This tire has eight thousnd miles and is wear nice and even. Tire presure has ben kept at 48psi .

Has anyone else had this same problem with there rear me880 tire? I plan on contacting Metezler about this concern. I had the same concern also with the last rear tire I let the dealer contact Metezler on my behalf.

The BMW dealer told me that Metezler had said the concern was caused by a object damaging the tire.

This time and the last tire has the same failure, also if you look at the tire all the way around there seems to be hair line cracks in the casing and near one of those cracks there is a split and can see the underlying coords .This tire was installed 9-05 and at that time I asked the dealer if tire was old stock. I was told it was a very recent build.

The hole reason for using these tires instead of the Bridgestones is most of
my travel is long distance and I don't want to change tires every 6k miles or so.

[dshealey]

-------------------
The hole reason for using these tires instead of the Bridgestones is most of
my travel is long distance and I don't want to change tires every 6k miles or so.

I don't know how your mileage would be, but with much of my mileage on the grooved concrete CA freeways I got more mileage on the rear BT020 radial than I did the 880 rear. The front 880 would have gone much further though.

My normal mileage on 020s was 12-14K rear, 8-9K front. My rear 880 was at the wear bars in 11K miles. The front probably would have gone to 14K, but I switched to 'Stones when the rear was worn out.

[ranks]

I'm on my third set, and no problems !

First set, flat at about 6K

Next one 12K

This one has 8K on it.

[zippy_gg]

I had 2 sets of 880 installed on my '99 and they last me about 11-12 k miles. I replace both tires at the same time, and I also replace the brake pads all around while I am at it.
Never had problems with the Metz...
I put on a set of BT020s on my '03 and love the handling...:thumb: So far they have less than 4 k miles and plenty of rubber left.

[Ghost55]

Had my rear 880 replaced at 17K, and easily would have gone 20K. Replaced it because I was leaving on a trip. I run 40 front and 46 rear. Replaced the front at 12K, just because of cupping and noise.

[sanjaun2]

Clayton,
I've heard it rains occasionally where you live. I would be running the BT020's if I were you. I just changed out my front with about 12k on it and my rear still has many thousand miles left. Plenty good enough mileage for a "safe" in the rain tire. The secret to higher mileage is to stay off the interstates and take the twisties! Theres a lot of rubber left in those sidewalls! Ken likes that the avon up front, Maybe you should consider that.

[grifscoots]

Might not want to put them on your wheelbarrow.

[RonKMiller]

To find a tire's age, check its long DOT code, found on the side of the tire. At the very end are three numbers which indicate the week and year the tire was made, for example a DOT number ending with 414 means the tire was made the 41st week of the year 1994.

I don't think anyone has come up with a shelf life for tires, but I wouldn't buy one made more than a year ago. The other thing is you might be getting the benefit of better technology that may be incorporated on the same "model" of tire in the newer one.

[Zotter]

1994 or 2004?

[Jerrod Maguire]

I haven't had any problems with my 880 Metzlers.

On the other hand, it's relatively dry out here in Phoenix so I haven't used the tires in the rain as much as many others have and will. Yet, from time to time I have been caught in the rain with the 880's and I've had no problems; I'm very careful though.

[dshealey]

I haven't had any problems with my 880 Metzlers.

On the other hand, it's relatively dry out here in Phoenix so I haven't used the tires in the rain as much as many others have and will. Yet, from time to time I have been caught in the rain with the 880's and I've had no problems; I'm very careful though.

You can be very careful in wet with the 880's, and STILL have an occasional rear slip, depending on roads/surfaces. They WILL slip in circumstances that the 020 won't. I prefer that extra grip to feel a little more confident.

Any tire will slip under certain circumstances, but the 020 has the extra "range" that I vote for over mileage. I even had two 020's blister when at the wear bars (both were due for replacement anyway), but I would chance that before any more wet slips like those I experienced with the 880's. The tire blisters gave me plenty of notice that something was going amiss, a wet slip can put you down instantly.

[Ted]

I'm on my second set of 880's - 17K on the first, and now have 13K on the second - all trouble-free non-slip miles.

Happening twice sure does defy coincidence...do you hit a lot of potholes or store the bike outside?

[meese]

The ME880 that came on my bike new split in the same way. Lots of smaller cracks, and one big one that made me find the nearest dealer and get it replaced. Metzeler also refused to warranty the tire.

Besides the poor wet-weather traction, I just don't like how the ME880s feel. They make the LT seem heavy and sluggish in compared to the BT020s. No thanks.

[tyroneteeth]

Rear on my 05 has 16K and I am trying to figure out when to replace it. Looks like plenty of miles left on it. My friend who has an 06 RT says go with the 880, but reading today makes me question it.

Front is 8K and starting some unusual wear and noise, but my friend says its from me braking in the corners (like Fast Freddie taught me). It is my second front - having replaced the first one due to keeping too low a pressure.

Attached a pic of the first front at 7K.

Howdo you decide except by putting on the new shoes and going with it.

[va899]

I think the ME 880 is loosing something in production. The first three sets I had on my 01 went 20-22K with no problems. The 4th rear tire blew a chunk the size of a can of snuff down to the cords. While at CCR this year I talked with two others who had similar problems with chunks of tread coming off the rear tire. I like the wear milage, but my safety will come first. I need to change out my rear tire when I get home Monday because of a small crack in a tread grove which might develope into another chunk out. I think BT020 will be my next tire.

[ruufman58]

Had the same problem.Noticed with about 6500 miles on rear tire after 1200 mile ride two up thru Nevada .Running 42 frt and 48 rear.Still legal tread but I cchanged both when I got home.Ran into couple at Vt national with same problem.Checked date on tire after removal.One year old.

[mwnahas]

I've heard the stories about the me880s slip slide in the rain, but have not experianced that. I had 2 sets of me880s and some real heavy storms on the interstates. With good tread I never felt they were slipping except maybe the occasional wet tar snake. I started this set out with 48/42 psi and the front shows no sigh of feathering at 13K miles. The rear growls in the curves a bit, but kind of getting used to it. :)

I used to own Firestone stock and I will not buy Bridestone, even for a cage but that is me. I've also heard many stories of the BT020s breaking apart so I guess you take your chances with any tire.

[johnrehder]

The ME880's are a harder compound tire and will (given the chance) slip on wet surfaces before the BridgeStones will. The BT020's are a softer compound and provide more grip and flex better so more tire surface is on the ground.
I'm with David on this one, I'd rather sacifice mileage to get a tire that will stay connected more often in adverse conditions.

I've heard the stories about the me880s slip slide in the rain, but have not experianced that. I had 2 sets of me880s and some real heavy storms on the interstates. With good tread I never felt they were slipping except maybe the occasional wet tar snake. I started this set out with 48/42 psi and the front shows no sigh of feathering at 13K miles. The rear growls in the curves a bit, but kind of getting used to it. :)

I used to own Firestone stock and I will not buy Bridestone, even for a cage but that is me. I've also heard many stories of the BT020s breaking apart so I guess you take your chances with any tire.

[tmgs]

This post is regaurding the rear tire me 880, I 'm on second rear tire that
has split in th e tire casing not the tread. This tire has eight thousnd miles and is wear nice and even. Tire presure has ben kept at 48psi .

Has anyone else had this same problem with there rear me880 tire? I plan on contacting Metezler about this concern.

This tire was installed 9-05 and at that time I asked the dealer if tire was old stock. I was told it was a very recent build.



No we have never had one split in the 300k + miles we have been running the me 880's

each tire is dated - you will find this data on the side of the tire.

3403 = the first 2 numbers identify the week (34 th ) and the last 2 the year (2003) in which the tire was produced
there is a pic of where it is located attached to this message

more information on the Metzeler tires can be found here
http://tinyurl.com/2rb5zh
along with thier warranty information at the same site

[alstrickland55]

I am undecided what my next tire will be. I changed to me880 when I had a tread separation on BT

[johnrehder]

Al, Both brands have been known to have separation problems. It's a toss up when it comes to defects for any brand. ME880's like to throw chunks of tread off them on rare occasions. I think it boils down to high mileage (ME880's) or bettter grip and not as much mileage (BT020's). I personnaly have ran both and others have tried many brands. I just love the feel and handling of the BT020 radial tire.

[alstrickland55]

Al, Both brands have been known to have separation problems. It's a toss up when it comes to defects for any brand. ME880's like to throw chunks of tread off them on rare occasions. I think it boils down to high mileage (ME880's) or bettter grip and not as much mileage (BT020's). I personnaly have ran both and others have tried many brands. I just love the feel and handling of the BT020 radial tire.

John, Is one better than the other for two-up riding? Jan and I ride two-up nearly all the time. I probably was too quick to pass judgement on the BT020s. The LT is my first "big' bike (for 20+ years I road a Suzuki GS750). I bought the 2002 with about 7,000 miles on it and had ridden about 1,000 miles when the tread separated on the way up to Brasetown Bald. I thought the bike was falling apart. It stranded us about 100 miles from home on a Sunday afternoon! :(

[Steve_R]

Just sent you a PM. The BT-020 radials will handle two up just fine. I had one BT-020 radial rear give me a problem. And after I thought about it, it was my fault. I ran it about 45 to 50 mph for a days worth of riding with a leaking pressure reading valve cap. The rear end felt squirrelly all day. It only had 6 pounds of pressure in it when I found out what was wrong. That's the only BT-020 I've had an issue with and this is my 6th or 7th set of them.