Anybody out there running the metzeler 880 tires on laced wheels?

I went and got the tires and wheels and put them on the bike, but then started seeing some posts here that said using radial tires with tubes is not good, and some other stuff regarding radials on the rear. Even read about a guy with a death wobble from the rear at 70-80 mph! I'm not a tire expert.

so... experiences? opinions? advice?

 

I've never had a problem at all, the tube is just holding the air in the tire. I don't think shops would install them without problem if it was so unsafe

The dealer was the only place that was weird about mounting tires for me, hut them went on to tell me the stock replacement dunlops were the only good option

 

HD will typically try to talk you out of anythig but Dunlop...at least that has been the experience around the greater NE area HD shops.

I have an 07 SB with spokes and am on my second set of 88o's...absolutley LOVE 'EM!! Made such a difference in handling from the Dunlops I couldn't believe it.

Just have to ensure recommended tire pressures are maintained - they are slightly higher than what the Dunlops run....

 

I'm running the 880 on the front of my FXDL laced wheel no issues at all. When did the 880 become a radial?

 

Runnin metz's and my tubes on my WG rims no problems. Will outperform the dunlops I had on there any day of the week.

 

I am running a 180/55/18 rear and a 120 x21 front on my blackbike wheels and they transformed my bike handling. Best tires I have run so far....

My buddy runs the Avon Venoms on his chopper on laced wheels and he loves them also.

 

Thank everyone for the replies, and based on what I see, the experiences with the 880's are good, that's why I chose the 880s' over the Dunlops.


Well, that's part of the confusion going on with me. At the time I didn't ask the indy that I bought the tires from and had them mounted and balanced about bias vs radial, and I don't know how to tell if they even are radials.

Adding to the confusion is that neither tire is stock for the lowrider, so looking up numbers on the Metzler website doesn't help. I have a front wheel from a heritage and the tire is a MT90B-R16. The rear I decided to go with a 170/60R17, instead of the stock 160 width. The rear does say "tubeless" on the sidewall, but I don't think that means it can't be used with a tube. I would also hope the people at the indy would know better if I was trying to do something that wasn't safe.

Looks like if everything is inflated, adjusted, and aligned properly I won't have any problems.

One more question. Do radials require a special tube? My front has a stock HD tube, but I had the indy put a heavy duty tube in the rear.

Thanks

 

best tires you can put on a HD in my opinion... i run them and always will

 

Thanks Joe, another plus for the 880's.

Well, the little light flickered and finally went on. I have a bias ply on the front, and a radial on the rear.

If it will be an issue I will talk to the indy and see about getting a bias for the rear.

Anyone think the rear radial will be a problem with a tube?

Thanks

 

I am running 880's front and rear and they are leaps and bounds better than my stock dunlops.