[Smokeybear]

Hi all, I'll be buying a new rear tire REAL soon, (I can see the belts LOL) and I'm thinking of going to the 200/70/15 metzler 880 or the Avon Venom. Could one or more of you fine fellows that have already went there get some side and rear pics for me? I'd also like to see some pics from those angles of the stock tire size for comparison.
Next question, I have Bridgestone Exedra G703/G702 tires for now, will going with the Metzler or the Avon on the back be OK as long as I stay with the bias ply? Thanks in advance.

 

[61rsss]

I am in the same boat as Smokey (I can't see belts, but I can't see any tread either). I would like to see some pictures, but I would also like to hear about any changes in handling. How does it corner with the wider tires compared to stock?

 

[itstime]

I have the Metzeler 880s on my V Star 1100. Great tires and I went to the larger rear tire 200/70/15. I noticed a little change when cornering, but not enough that it changed the way I ride or handling. I am very happy with the wider tire for looks. Unfortunately, the only photo I have is of the entire side shot of the bike and the tire is "hidden" behind hardbags.
I saw one thread where someone complained that the metzelers are terrible in water but great every other way. I was at Americade and got caught in the SEVERE downpour and rode without any troubles. Was extremely happy with the tire.
The person I ride with has a Warrior and swears by the AVONS. He says all the same things about the tires that I say about the metzelers. We both agree that there is little if any difference in handling.

 

[Sugar Bear]

Ditto

I pretty much agree with all itstime is sayin, I have found that to be true, I flat out love Metz 880, my brother runs Avon Venom on his 1300 Honda and will run nothing else, they (IMHO) are both a great tires.

 

[61rsss]

I used to post to another board when i had a different kind of bike. There were a number of guys there that were adamant that switching from the stock 180 to a 190 made the bike sluggish and cumbersome in corners. It was a sport bike, so things were a little different, but it seemed a bit extreme to me.

I had Metzlers on my last bike and never had a complaint. The bike came with a newish Metz 880 on front (only a 100) and a bald Dunlop on the back. I will get another Metzler for the back, the only question was size. Looks like I will be going with the 200.

I would still like to see some pictures if anybody has them.

 

[Tonydtiger1971]

I would like to see how that looks too.

 

[sledman]

i have a 2003 v-star 1100 classic and thinkin of putting a 200 tire on it also but i see with the stock tire it is pretty close to that drive shaft...how much wider is the 200 tire ?...will there be a rubbing issue when double riding?

 

[61rsss]

A 200 is 30 MM wider than the stock 170. If you go to the Metzler website, you can see their fitment guide and read about some of the testing they have done. They say that it works fine and there are some posters here they say they have had no problems with it.

 

[Fulltilt1]

I read on the Metz website that they don't recommend it as the 4.5" stock rim is narrower than recommended. True there are no problems but the tire shape is pinched and doesn't retain the same design footprint. It also won't end up being a full 200 size in width but somewhere around 190.

 

[itstime]

From their site.

In many cases Metzeler provides you, the consumer, with optional tire choices for your motorcycle. The data below is designed to callout a optional suggested fitment or upgrade for your application. To learn more about these please click on the box to the left marked important upgrade info To see the suggested tire pressure range please click on the box to the left marked recommended tire pressures.
ME 880 Marathon ME 880 Marathon
Front Rear
110/90 - 18 M/C 61H TL ME 880 MARATHON Front - 36 PSI 200/70 B 15 M/C 82H TL ME 880 MARATHON - 40 PSI
Note: Stage 1 upgrade.


They define Stage 1
STAGE 1 UPGRADE:
The Metzeler Stage 1 Upgrade helps you improve the mileage, ride, handling, and looks
without modifying your bike. A true BOLT-ON upgrade for everyone!

Even after reading that it is ok I called Metz before I made the change. The tech people said "it is done all the time and changes nothing with the tire" They said anything bigger than the 200 is not good without a rim change. My local motorcycle shop also said that they do this all the time.


FullTilt, I did notice that on the Metz site, the United States site lists the bigger tire as acceptable but the international site doesn't give any option other than the stock size. Could that be a dragstar vs. v star issue? Not sure, there shouldn't be a difference. The metz tech assured me it was not a big change and wasn't damaging the tireby going to the larger size.

 

[Fulltilt1]

It doesn't damage the tire it just changes the footprint. What I read is it works but recommends a 5.5 inch wide rim.

Metzlers direct reply to the question.

We cannot recommend you fitting a 200 section tyre to a 170 section rim, in our opinion it would not be safe as fitting an oversized tyre to your rim would distort the shape of the tyre (giving it a much smaller footprint) and adversely affect the performance of the tyre.

For 5.5"-9.5" wide rear wheel applications This is from the Metzler catalog.

Because of this you're wasting your money you are only gonna get betweem 180 and 190 in width anyway. Just buy that size tire.

 

[Smokeybear]

From what I've read and what was told to me by the local dealership, even though the tire is 30 mm wider the size of the rim keeps it from actually being that wide when on the rim. It's only a slightly bit wider and slightly larger diameter when mounted. I'm still for going to try it because it's only about $15 more than the stocker and it seems like a nice upgrade.

 

[61rsss]

From what I've read and what was told to me by the local dealership, even though the tire is 30 mm wider the size of the rim keeps it from actually being that wide when on the rim. It's only a slightly bit wider and slightly larger diameter when mounted. I'm still for going to try it because it's only about $15 more than the stocker and it seems like a nice upgrade.

Where are you buying your tire? The difference is much bigger at Dennis Kirk.

 

[Smokeybear]

http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/prod...s-metzeler-me880-marathon-rear-tire-200-70-15

http://www.americanmototire.com/cat...d=389&osCsid=845da576ec254a6559db929cccbe0318

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=157&products_id=759

The $15 difference is with shipping.

 

[61rsss]

Thanks, Smokey. That's alot better than http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/tpl/t...in&catId=&productId=p542114&leafCatId=&mmyId=

 

[Smokeybear]

Well, I got it on today and it handles BETTER! Better than the old bald one anyway. lol. Pics to come tomorrow.

 

[Fulltilt1]

Enjoy the ride!!

 

[Smokeybear]

Here are the pics I promised...

Lighting was good for a good view but man I am impressed with this tire, it handles like a dream now.

 

[61rsss]

Poor customer service!!!!

I ordered the 200 tire from cheap cycle parts. I was disappointed when the tire that showed up was a 150. Not a big deal, mistakes happen. I started by making sure that I ordered the correct size. The confirmation email I received from them and the packing slip both show that I ordered a 200.

Everything else now shows that it was a 150. If you click on the link (posted by Smokeybear) now
http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/prod...s-metzeler-me880-marathon-rear-tire-200-70-15
it will take you to a 150 tire- even though the 200 size is in the address. They will sell me the correct tire, but for an additional $55. Looks like they screwed up and had the wrong price listed and now they are trying to get out of it.

They are telling me that they will refund my money, but it will take more than three weeks from the time they received the tire back to process the refund.

POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!

They made a mistake.
They blame it on me and say that I ordered the wrong size.
They take more than three weeks to issue a refund for their mistake.

I'll say it again: POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!

 

[Fulltilt1]

That's pretty whacked the 150 isn't even the stock tire! I too did a search for OEM parts and came up with the 150 instead of the 170/80-15 stock size.