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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | This is not a darkside thread. I'm leaving soon for a 3000 trip. My rear E3 is not very old and my front it about done. I want to switch to Metzler's but don't have the $$ for both. Any ill handling problems mixing the two? |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| A radial tire of any brand should work with the E3. Metzler is the only company that is a 100% motorcycle tire manufacturer they do not make car tires like the rest of the manufacturers.
You'll find guys here that have run them and didn't like them but thats a hand full compared to the thousands that have. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | Thanks John. I have read the good and bad, mostly good. I've ridden 9000 miles since 2/2/11, so if I don't like Metzler I can go back in a year. I have worn the left side of my front almost bald again. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 228
| I ran a Avon Cobra on the front with a E3 on the rear with no problem. Much better now with Cobras on both ends.....never going back to E3....they are not in the same league as the Cobras. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | savage, what's better about the cobras, mileage, price, handling? (compared to the E3's) |
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Cruiser
Posts: 117
Kansas City, MO | you wont notice the diffrence |
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
Fort Walton Beach, FL | I made the move away from Metzler right when they moved their manufacturing plant to Brazil... Brazilians as a working group do not care much for specs and take any and all short cuts that they can... personal experience taught me that both in Brazil and here in the US. I do not know if Metzler (Germany) has learned this yet and is watching their production more carefully... they went for awhile just broadening what "allowable tolerances" were. I found Avons to be great tires once you got them to balance (dyna beads required)...
It really is a small thing mixing brands... they all say that their tires are designed to work together, etc... GOOD MARKETING. Especially to the same people who believe that the Victory oil and filter are the best for their bike because Victory says so. ETC ETC
Edited by Handyhoward 2011-08-15 7:25 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | Thanks guys. I have a 120/70-21 up front. The Avon is actually a little cheaper online than the Metzler. I'm running dyna beads in the E3 I have on the now. I'll make a decision and order one or the other today. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | CW, I have mixed tires when I had no choice. Ex. I was out of town, got a flat and the brand wanted was not available fir days. That said I believe you should not mix brands. Most companies design tires to run together. For example, I run Metzler RoadTec tires on my Kawi. (I love them) BUT, the tires are designed to be used together. The front tire tread is designed in concert with the back primarily for water dispertion. If you use a different front tire your handling will suffer, especially in the rain. When I look at bike tires I could care less about how many miles I will get on them. What is important to me is the handling both dry and wet. Putting Metzler Roadtec's (Sport Cruising Tires) on my Kawi V twin rather than the Metzler Marathons or stock Dunlops decreased the mileage I get on the tires. (I usually get about 7k a set). But the handling is dramatically different. The bike corners like it is on rails compared to Marathons or the stock Dunlops. I know everyone here seems to be concerned with how long tires last. But I ride hard and love the twisties. So for me it's all about handling. Of course the Vision is a BIG bike, so I have no idea what I will get when the time comes. But I know I'll be stuck with touring tires like the E3's. Based on my experience with Metzler's I will give the Marathons a very hard look.
JMHO of course.
Edited by MaddMAx2u 2011-08-15 9:38 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 228
| Cap'n Nemo - 2011-08-14 8:32 PM
savage, what's better about the cobras, mileage, price, handling? (compared to the E3's)
You will absolutely notice the difference if you pay attention to way your scoot handles, wet or dry, and also reduced noise. My Avons did not cup or wear unevenly front or rear.
The price is a little less than E3s or Metzlers but price is never a consideration when I buy tires. I ride my Vision hard in the twisties (mostly two up) and wear my tires from edge to edge.
I tried Bridgestones (which in my opinion were little more than something to keep the rims from getting beat up), Dunlops, ME 880s, and Avons on my Royal Star Venture and again IMHO the Avons were superior.
Just my opinion. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Ron, since you ride hard, like I do, and use the tire edge to edge I'm guessing you like the Avon's better from a performance view? ie wet conditions, cornering? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 228
| Traction wet and dry is the main reason I use them. To me they feel more "surefooted" when leaned over hard in a corner at speed. The mileage is not quite as good as E3s but mileage is not my main motivation. When I get into a good curvy road I go into "attack" mode and I want to know my tires will not cause any surprises. IMHO |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | thanks savage, certainly worth the consideration. I have 14,000 miles right no on my rear and it is past ready to change out. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | Thanks for all the input. After all that I will be putting another E3 on. I went to the cyclegear store and they are closing that branch next week and cannot order anything. I went down the road to Precision Cycle. The quys were very helpful. They had a 21" Metzler in stock so that made me change my mind again. I have worn through the blad spots of my current E3 and can now see a darker rubber compound where it's worn through.
Turns out the Metzler 880 and the Avon Cobra are both bias ply. The rear tire has too much life on it ti change right now and I don't have the $$. Not many radial 21" tires to choose from.
Their price was about $50 more but well worth it. They do not discount tires but there are no extra charges. $190 in cludes ride in - ride out service.
Saves me spend half a day getting a MC jack and driving back and forth with the wheel in the trunk of my cage.
Next tires will be 2 Avons.
Edited by cw1115 2011-08-20 6:40 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 102
Cedar, Michigan | Handyhoward - 2011-08-15 8:22 AM
I made the move away from Metzler right when they moved their manufacturing plant to Brazil... Brazilians as a working group do not care much for specs and take any and all short cuts that they can... personal experience taught me that both in Brazil and here in the US. I do not know if Metzler (Germany) has learned this yet and is watching their production more carefully... they went for awhile just broadening what "allowable tolerances" were. I found Avons to be great tires once you got them to balance (dyna beads required)...
It really is a small thing mixing brands... they all say that their tires are designed to work together, etc... GOOD MARKETING. Especially to the same people who believe that the Victory oil and filter are the best for their bike because Victory says so. ETC ETC
+1
I wouldn't bet my life on a Metzler, they are NOT what they used to be. |
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Mixing tires
