Tires, who woulda thunk ?

[Winger76]

I have a 96 1500 SE that I had to replace tires on it 3 years ago.
I took it to the local dealer and was recommended Metzeler's.
It is garaged on a stand in the winter season with periodic pressure checks.
Last year I pulled it out and found the front tire sidwall was split on both sides.
After trailering it back to the dealer, they contacted the local Metzeler rep and they offered a 50% replacement cost.
This was only after about 2500 miles.
I wasn't happy about it but went along thinking this was a fluke.
This year I pulled it out and found the rear tire tread was split and delaminating in five places.
Now I'm pissed !
You wouldn't think this would be an issue with high end tires such as these.
Has anyone else had issues with Metzeler quality ?

[Wilcoy02]

No my metzlers have been very good to me. I will look more closely at the tires to be certain.
Hope metzler makes good on your purchase.

[Fatwing Chris]

I had to get a set of tires put on a few years ago on a trip in NC(huge multi-dealer) on my 1500.While I was waiting for the service writer I was eyeing a set of Metzlers on the wall.He come over and said I hope you're not wanting to put them on your Wing and I said I was thinking about trying them.He said he would put them on,but he really didn't want to saying that they just weren't good for the Wing.That was all I needed to hear.Went back to the E3's.

[rono24]

You could not give me another set of metzlers, 3000 miles and broken belt and worn out on the rear of my vtx,put on e3's got 10,000 out rear and 14000 out of front.

[littlebeaver]

If that had happened to me, I would very upset...For sure.. I'd seek the owner and shoot him with my singshot.... Something went wrong with the batch of tires for sure,, maybe the formula was off or it cured wrong at the factory, poor QC..I don't know... But they should make this right for ya..... Too bad you don't have photo's of it .. I'd love to see the split..

[Winger76]

pic of tire

rear tire, like this in 5 places

[littlebeaver]

I would have to throw something,, that's terrible.. I would be raising hell..

[wilmo]

Yours are worse than mine, only mine are Dunlop e3's. I'm changing them out this weekend. I have 6k on the front which is completely weather checked on the sidewalls after less than 2 years. The rear is delaminating at the logo. Starting to lose faith in the manufacturers. Going to Pirelli this time. So it's not just Metzler. Didn't try for a rebate-don't want anymore of their junk tires even if they're free.

[golden highway]

I have the Pirelli's on mine and I didn't like them at first. I think break in was slow because now I like them. I seem to have good traction on all surfaces and seem to be wearing well. Two years and they still look pliable.

[dingdong]

I would be interested to know what the date codes are on those tires?????

[Fatwing Chris]

pic of tire

bike tire.JPG

I've had that type of splitting on the old Elite II's back in the day,but I've always worn out the E3's before any splitting.Not saying they wore out fast,just that I've never had any quality issues with them.

[james1vers1]

Wow, I was just about to get another set of Metzelers. Think I may check out the E3s. Whatever I get, I will be on watch for defects. Thanks for helping me to be safer.

[WingAdmin]

Wow, I was just about to get another set of Metzelers. Think I may check out the E3s. Whatever I get, I will be on watch for defects. Thanks for helping me to be safer.

Have a look at the Avon Venoms. I'm on my third set now, and I love them. See: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=17461&view=unread#unread

[Dusty Boots]

Unfortunately, the Metzlers seem to have a lot of problems when mounted to the 1500. Most likely because of their rather low load rating of lower 8XX lbs, whereas the Dunlop E3 are rated at 998lbs for the rear

[james1vers1]

Thanks for the Avon lead. It seems like a good choice. The metzeler on the front is still like new, will my 1500 wing handle ok with unmatched tires, or replace front as well?

[wilmo]

Wow, I was just about to get another set of Metzelers. Think I may check out the E3s. Whatever I get, I will be on watch for defects. Thanks for helping me to be safer.

As my earlier post in this thread pointed out, the E3's have quality problems, too. I have a 'newer', date code 2310, that is splitting the sidewall right where the logo is at the E. The front, date code 4311, is completely weatherchecked ont the sidewalls. That tire was only installed Aug '12 and has maybe 6k miles on it. Can't trust either one so they're going to garbage with more than half the tread left on them. The bike does get stored properly and covered but under normal circumstances, like riding season, it's exposed because I ride it. I don't believe 1 year of 'exposure' will rot a tire. and if it does then that tire is garbage to begin with. Just sayin, investigate first. I'll never have Dunlops again based on my actual experience, not others' opinions.
I have been riding on Pirellis on my other bike for years and they have never done what the Dunlops have. The tires on that bike are older than the Dunlops and don't have any mfg issues or cracking. It goes through the same life as the wing.
I used to think the Avons and Shinkos were just b grade tires compared to the bigger names, like Dunlop. I'm now rearranging my thinking as Dunlop has proven to me to be a b or c grade manufacturer, just with a famous name.

[jacksprat54]

I have a '78 wing & have been running Metzlers for 8.5 yrs. I have put 6 rears on; 4 Metz.( me88 & me 880), I've averaged 13,300 out of all but one. It split in the tread after 8,500 mi. Dunlop lasted 6,000,(bought in emergency on road); Durotour was worse, 5,000,(also bought in emergency). Unfortunately Metz. No longer makes the ME880 in my size(130/90-17). I ride heavily loaded & in all types of weather, need a long wearing good traction tire.......HELP!!

[Fatwing Chris]

Wow, I was just about to get another set of Metzelers. Think I may check out the E3s. Whatever I get, I will be on watch for defects. Thanks for helping me to be safer.

As my earlier post in this thread pointed out, the E3's have quality problems, too. I have a 'newer', date code 2310, that is splitting the sidewall right where the logo is at the E. The front, date code 4311, is completely weatherchecked ont the sidewalls. That tire was only installed Aug '12 and has maybe 6k miles on it. Can't trust either one so they're going to garbage with more than half the tread left on them. The bike does get stored properly and covered but under normal circumstances, like riding season, it's exposed because I ride it. I don't believe 1 year of 'exposure' will rot a tire. and if it does then that tire is garbage to begin with. Just sayin, investigate first. I'll never have Dunlops again based on my actual experience, not others' opinions.
I have been riding on Pirellis on my other bike for years and they have never done what the Dunlops have. The tires on that bike are older than the Dunlops and don't have any mfg issues or cracking. It goes through the same life as the wing.
I used to think the Avons and Shinkos were just b grade tires compared to the bigger names, like Dunlop. I'm now rearranging my thinking as Dunlop has proven to me to be a b or c grade manufacturer, just with a famous name.

I've ran a bunch of E3's over the years on the 12,15 and there on the 18 right now.I've never had one that split or looked rotten.Guess maybe I wear them out too fast.
BTW I get pretty good mileage out of them also.

[Winger76]

I would like to thank everyone's input on this issue.
Hopefully the manufacture will see this post and someone will say and employ safety over profits.
It seems every since Metz started manufacturing in Brazil the quality has gone to s#@% !
I also didn't know Metzeler is owned by Pirelli.
Google Metzeler tire quality and see what pops up.
Here is one link of many that I found http://www.vehicletire.com/Complaint/Me ... 0+Marathon
If it doesn't work just copy and paste in your browser.
I'm going to post on here just as a CYA.
There are are many post of sidewalls splitting ( which happened to me ) and tread seperation
I don't know about y'all but I sure don't want to be tooling down the road and end up eating asphalt because someone in the ivory tower says.... Aw these tires are good enough.

[Winger76]

Ding Dong,
Per your request, I was able to get the DOT numbers on the tire.
EB 44 E223 4208
Come to find out this tire was manufactured in '08'.
They are stamped "Made in Germany "
They were sitting in a warehouse somewhere until they were put on my bike in 2011.
Now I'm more than pissed ! seeing they sat for 3 years before they were pawned off on me from the dealer.

[jhngardner367]

The PO of my bike put a Metzler on the front,in 2012. It shows a lot of wear,even though he said it only has 2200 mi.
I checked the date,and it was made in 2009.I've only ridden it about 40 miles,just to transport it,and test ride it,but I plan on putting Avons on,once I have all my "projects/repairs" finished.
I had Metzlers on a Kawasaki KZ 900,I had,and with less than 3000 miles,the front tire blew out,while on my way home( I check the bike before I ride,each time),and cost me repairs,and a week in the hospital.
I'll NEVER use Metzlers,again !

[nitefuzz]

Just had E-3's put on my Wing and have rode about 150 miles on them,............ very happy so far.

[cbx4evr]

Ditto on the Avon Venom recommendation.

[Overdog]

pic of tire

bike tire.JPG

I've had that type of splitting on the old Elite II's back in the day,but I've always worn out the E3's before any splitting.Not saying they wore out fast,just that I've never had any quality issues with them.

With all the tire talk on all the Goldwing forums I hadn't seen too many opinions on the Elite II's. My new-to-me 83 has them and I'm happy with the handling, including rain. Thing is, I don't know how many miles are on them (I estimate they're about half worn out) I've been considering sticking with them when I need new ones....so, my question is: for those who have used Elite II's, what kind of mileage did you get out of them and if you switched to something else, what did you choose?

[Fatwing Chris]

pic of tire

bike tire.JPG

I've had that type of splitting on the old Elite II's back in the day,but I've always worn out the E3's before any splitting.Not saying they wore out fast,just that I've never had any quality issues with them.

With all the tire talk on all the Goldwing forums I hadn't seen too many opinions on the Elite II's. My new-to-me 83 has them and I'm happy with the handling, including rain. Thing is, I don't know how many miles are on them (I estimate they're about half worn out) I've been considering sticking with them when I need new ones....so, my question is: for those who have used Elite II's, what kind of mileage did you get out of them and if you switched to something else, what did you choose?

I quit running them because they weren't available anymore(for my 1200 at least),not because I didn't like them.Went right to the E3's and am still running them.Well that's not totally true either as I just mounted a car tire on mine this year.CT rear and E3 frt.

I didn't know they still made an E II.You might want to check the date code on those tires before you trust them too far.