What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

jefft1400 · Post by **jefft1400** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:34 pm

I am looking to replace my tires on my 2002 Honda Goldwing, I am getting different stories about different brands. I put Metzlers on my V-Star and loved them, but I am being told that they are not a good tire for the Goldwing. I am wondering who's make of tires to use?

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torino73 · Post by **torino73** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:57 pm

I run Metzlers and am happy with them. I don't like dunlops , we all have our preferences.

jefft1400 · Post by **jefft1400** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 2:23 pm

How many miles are you going to get out of the metzlers, with being a very soft compound

flaxman · Post by **flaxman** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 7:51 am

jeff, I put a ME880 on my front last week, it feels really good, had METZ on my VOLUSIA also, from what I checked out, it should at least last as long as anything ELSE out there for MC tire... my past fronts were elite3, then I went back to D250, was never really happy with the dunlops.

anyway, out a couple nights ago to "scrub in" the new front, so far so good!,got the nimbleness back that was lacking.
SCOTT

Timma04 · Post by **Timma04** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:52 am

Dunlop E3's dude- they rock!

Viking · Post by **Viking** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:33 am

The best mileage/handling brands have been said to be:

Dunlop D250
Dunlop Elite 3
Goodyear Excedra 704 and 709 and
Avon Cobra.

The hardest, and so, the poorest rain tires:

Conti Motion

And the stickiest, but fastest to wear out

Metzler ME880.

And all this is worth exactly what you paid for it,

The GL1800 is a VERY heavy motorcycle and so is probably gonna wear tires out faster than a lighter, differently balanced bike. I got 15K miles from the OE tires, which were Dunlop D250s on my bike, and I consider any improvement over that to be a bonus.

Sally · Post by **Sally** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 6:40 pm

I didn't like the dunlops on my 02.I run Metzler.ME880 I like them but my riding style maybe different than yours.Sally

jefft1400 · Post by **jefft1400** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:31 am

Sally wrote:I didn't like the dunlops on my 02.I run Metzler.ME880 I like them but my riding style maybe different than yours.Sally

What air pressures are you running on you ME880?

jefft1400 · Post by **jefft1400** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:33 am

flaxman wrote:jeff, I put a ME880 on my front last week, it feels really good, had METZ on my VOLUSIA also, from what I checked out, it should at least last as long as anything ELSE out there for MC tire... my past fronts were elite3, then I went back to D250, was never really happy with the dunlops.

anyway, out a couple nights ago to "scrub in" the new front, so far so good!,got the nimbleness back that was lacking.
SCOTT

What air pressure are you running on your ME880?

Sally · Post by **Sally** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:42 pm

I run 38 psi front and 41 psi rear..Sally

yechave · Post by **yechave** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:47 pm

Bridgestone has a new set made just for the GL1800. You can find video on that on You Tube, or information is available from Wingstuff.

snackpak · Post by **snackpak** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:21 am

Bridgestones, Thats what I changed to after the originals wore out.

yechave · Post by **yechave** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:30 am

I had a set of Metzlers on a BMW LT. They did not make the noise I get from Dunplaps on the Wing. Those now have 10k miles.

I will be switching to the Bridgestones in July.

We ride mostly two up, pressure at 37/41.

Another local rider that does very long trips is using a Perelli run flat from a sports car. No info to offer on that tire.

2008retiredplb · Post by **2008retiredplb** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:32 pm

I have owned a 2001 and now own a 2009.
On my 2001 I ran Dunlop Elite 3's and got fair mileage (17K). I did not like the traction I had when they got closer to being replaced. On my 2009 I got 20K on the factory Dunlop D250's and am now riding with Bridgstone's. I run 38-40 front and 41 rear but I also have Centramatic Wheel Balancers installed. I installed them at 6600 miles on my 2009 with the D250's and that is the reason I got 20K mile on them. They even had at least 2K left on them, but I was on a 3 week and 3700 mile trip when I replaced them.
I like the traction with the Bridgstone's but do not know what mileage I will get with them. So far I have 8K on them and they almost look new. I feel it is the Balancers that are making the difference both in tire mileage and ride. Best investment I have put on the bike. I ride single about 60% to 70% of the time but pull a trailer 20% of the time, mostly when two up.

Viking · Post by **Viking** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:03 am

I replaced the OEM Dunlop D250 tires, last week, with Avon Cobras. I like the feel and handling just fine. I put in Dyna Beads, and they are really smooth without any other balancing, so Dyna Beads work, or the Cobras are perfectly balanced beforehand (Hawwww, not likely to be that) So, in 15,000 miles, I will be able to update my answer as to a comparison for mileage. One thing of note is that right now, Avon is giving a $40 preloaded Mastercard to anyone who buys their tires between 1st of April and 15th of May, for the Cobras, and for their new tire, from 1st April to end June ($50). Info can be found on the Avon tyres web site here.

http://www.avonmoto.com/

Mike 545 · Post by **Mike 545** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:15 pm

Two questions: What are Centramatic Wheel Balancers, and what are Dyna Beads?

Sally · Post by **Sally** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:20 pm

Well Mike I'll try to explain. Dyna beads are about 1mm in size you put them in your tire through the valve stem.Note Can't use them if you have tpms they plug the sensor. another note you must use super dry air or nitogen your they will clump and throw your balance all off.So any way when the tire turns it send these beads to the light spots it the tire to balance it and they re balance everytime you start turning the wheel. I use them and love them.The centramatic rings bolt to your rim behind the brake rotors and work the same way they have a roller balls in them which get thrown to the outside light spots and balance the tire. these you have installed once and there always there.The beads have to be replaced everytime you change the tire. Hope this helps. Also if you go to dyna beads web site they have a very good viedo how they work.Sally

2008retiredplb · Post by **2008retiredplb** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:54 am

You can get information on the Centramatic Balancers at this website: http://centramatic.com/Page.aspx?page=Honda%20GL%201800

Just to make sure, they are made for Honda GL1800 Goldwing's and some Harley's. Will not fit on GL1500 Goldwing's.
They have sets for both two wheelers and trikes. On the trike, you only have them on the front wheel.

Anyone with a some mechanical ability can install them in an hour or two.

As for my opinion, I would rather have the balancers on the outside of the tire than rolling around the inside. Specially if you have a tire pressure monitoring system.

Mike 545 · Post by **Mike 545** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:52 am

I just ordered a blue 2012. Should I ask them to install the Centramatic Wheel Balancers, before I pick-up the bike?

Sally · Post by **Sally** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:13 pm

I would wait until I needed tires.Sally

2008retiredplb · Post by **2008retiredplb** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:04 pm

Mike 545 wrote:I just ordered a blue 2012. Should I ask them to install the Centramatic Wheel Balancers, before I pick-up the bike?

If it were me, I would either have them install them before I took delivery or install them myself. I would not wait till I needed tires. It could be two or more years if you only ride a few thousand miles each year. You will like them so much you will be glad you put them on before putting many miles on the bike.

Viking · Post by **Viking** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:15 am

themainviking wrote:I replaced the OEM Dunlop D250 tires, last week, with Avon Cobras, after getting 25,000 kms from the OEM tires. I like the feel and handling just fine. I put in Dyna Beads, and they are really smooth without any other balancing. So, in 15,000 miles, I will be able to update my answer as to a comparison for mileage.

Well, the update comes without ever getting near 15,000 miles on these tires. The rear tire delaminated at 13,000 kms (just over 8,000 miles), as I was leaving for a trip (on a Monday morning, with all the motorcycle shops in my town closed Mondays). I have heard about many of these delaminations with the Cobra tires, and now can confirm my experience to add to the stories. In my opinion - DO NOT BUY THESE TIRES till Avon gets their act together. I have to admit that these tires were beautiful to ride on until the delamination began. I noticed a slight vibration as if the road were not quite perfectly smooth, but within 40 miles, this changed considerably to a noticeable vibration which got much worse as I reduced speed. I thought I had run out of air, but upon examining the tire, it was all misshapen and lumpy, so, I found a place to leave the bike, got tools, and removed the wheels to bring home (no shops where the bike is stranded) I am going to replace the Cobras with a set of the OEM Dunlop D250 tires.

DO NOT BUY AVON COBRA TIRES FOR GL1800 MOTORCYCLES

Red Ron · Post by **Red Ron** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 8:04 am

As far as MC tires go, I like Stones.

What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

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Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

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Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing

Re: What tires to put on my 2002 Goldwing