Also, it was built in Germany

 

Don't know what to say. Much of my year is spent in FL where the asphalt is hotter than hell and hard on tires and I spend about 6-8 weeks a year really abusing the tires, tearing up the twisties in and around the Dragon. With all that abuse I still get 15k on the rear and 20+K on the front with the Metz 880's and both of my last 2 tires were Brazilian.

 

do you use your engine to slow down?

 

Yes, I typically downshift while coming up to a red light and use engine braking to some degree. Now having said that, I drive pretty easy and am not abusing it or doing anything radical - I'm getting old...

 

One more thing, I just got back from New Mexico (~3300 miles total). On the way back, I did two 600 mile back-to-back days in 95 degree heat. Mostly pavement, not asphalt.

 

Have you checked your air gauge to see if it's accurate? It sounds as if you have way too much air pressure. I bought an expensive new air gauge and found that my trusted old one was off about 10 pounds. My last two sets of Metzlers cupped so badly I replaced them with Dunlops. No problems so far.

Good luck

Bubba

 

It's BECAUSE you're under inflated. I had a long chat with a Metzler tech on this. For metric sized (140 etc) rear ME880s, tire pressure should be 46-50 psi. Less pressure dramatically increases wear.

Of course, the dumb sh*ts at my dealer either didn't know this or neglected to tell me this when I bought my tires. I learned the hard way when I contacted Metzler to complain...

By the way, the correct front tire pressure for metric sized front tires is 40-42 psi.

Because dealers were so bad at informing customers about correct pressures, Metzler has a second line of ME 880s sized like OE Dunlops that have different construction and use "stock" Harley tire pressures.

There's a lot of bad information out there. This is direct from Metzler and can be found on their website (though I found their presentation confusing)>

 

Yeah, I thought about a possible bad gauge. I'll compare it with another one that I have.

If it was underinflated, wouldn't I have acupping issue instead of a worn out grove on the tire's centerline? I was running 38 psi and according to Mezeler's web site, for my tire size (205 55 17), it should be 40 psi. So 38 isn't that far off...

 

I'm running the 150/80/16 at 40 psi per the metzler web site .Also just checked 3 different tire guages and they are with in 1 pound of each other.

For bikes with the following rear tire sizes: 170/80-15, 180/70-15, 150/80-16, 160/80-16, 180/60R16, 180/70R16, 200/60R16, 240/50R16, 140/80-17, 160/70-17 D spec, 170/60R17, 210/50R17, 150/70-18, 180/55ZR18, 200/50R18, 210/40R18, 260/40R18, 280/35R18, 300/35R18, 260/35R21.




ME880 (tires as listed above) Solo 2 Up Light 2 Up Heavy
Rear 40 42 42

also from the metzler web site.




ME 880 Marathon ME 880 Marathon
Front Rear
100/90 - 19 M/C 57H TL ME 880 MARATHON Front - 38 PSI 150/80 B 16 M/C 71H TL ME 880 MARATHON - 40 PSI




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
100/90 - 19 M/C 57H TL ME 880 MARATHON Front - 38 PSI 160/80 B 16 M/C 75H TL ME 880 MARATHON - 40 PSI
Note: Stage 1 upgrade.




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Metzeler recommends inflating the ME 880's to near the rated sidewall maximum pressures when cold.

I have found mileage on the rear tire is greatly affected by the type of bike.

The 21" front (and increased rake) on the Softail Custom and the Wide Glides put more of the bike's weight on the rear tire.

I routinely get 6,000 miles out of the rear tire on my Wide Glide, and change out the front tire with every second rear even though there are a lot of miles left on it.

This tire had 6,500 miles on it: