K11LT Tires

[BlackHoof]

Hey all,

I replaced the wrong sized rear tire on my K11LT with the correct sized
Metz ME880 Marathon. Now I am looking for a new front to eliminate the
Mich Macadam 50 which is cupped. The Metz website said to install a
Lazertec 110/80 18. My favorite aftermarket dealer has a Metz ME330
which he sez is a discontinued model which became the Lazertec. Does
anyone have any experience with running the 880 with the 330?

Your comments are appreciated.

[Colt03]

I would check the DOT date on the tire. In addition is your current tire a Michelin Macadam 50 or 50E. The 50's did cup early, the 50E is improved and I usually get 14-15K out of front.

HTH

[BlackHoof]

The Macadam is a 50 E & the cupping isn't very pronounced but it is getting
down to the wear bars, & I'm used to running tires of the same manufacture
if possible.

I will check the DOT date on the 330. The profile of the 330 seems to be
similar to the 880. Any other input???

[wmubrown]

Hey all,

I replaced the wrong sized rear tire on my K11LT with the correct sized
Metz ME880 Marathon. Now I am looking for a new front to eliminate the
Mich Macadam 50 which is cupped. The Metz website said to install a
Lazertec 110/80 18. My favorite aftermarket dealer has a Metz ME330
which he sez is a discontinued model which became the Lazertec. Does
anyone have any experience with running the 880 with the 330?

Your comments are appreciated.

I loved the Laser 33 front ME88 rear combination. When Metzler discontinued these for the ME330 and ME880 it was a BIG mistake. The treads separated on me, they track grooves in the road, just a nasty set of tires. I switched to Macadam 50E's... they are MUCH better tires.

[Ridealot]

Hey all,

I replaced the wrong sized rear tire on my K11LT with the correct sized
Metz ME880 Marathon. Now I am looking for a new front to eliminate the
Mich Macadam 50 which is cupped. The Metz website said to install a
Lazertec 110/80 18. My favorite aftermarket dealer has a Metz ME330
which he sez is a discontinued model which became the Lazertec. Does
anyone have any experience with running the 880 with the 330?

Your comments are appreciated.

I wonder why the Metz site doesn't say to run a 880 on the front? I run the 880's front and back on my K1100LT. The front is a 100/90-18 56H.

[Colt03]

I have over 100,000 miles on the Macadams on my K1100LT, They are great tires, handle well, wear well, and grip in cold and wet. They were such and improvement over the orginal Metzler Me 55 and 33 that I didn't think I would ever run a Metzler again. However it turns out that the Metzler Tourances that I run on my GS are super tires,

YMMV

[BlackHoof]

John,

Thanks for the heads up on the 330, 880 combo. Tread separation doesn't
sound like anything I'd like to experience, especially with my SO onboard.

Tom,

No adverse handling having a 90 series on the front & a 80 series tire on the
rear? If so, I may have to try that combination.

Thanks for tugging my coat, guys.

[Ridealot]

John,

Tom,

No adverse handling having a 90 series on the front & a 80 series tire on the
rear? If so, I may have to try that combination.

Thanks for tugging my coat, guys.

Nope handles just fine. And I have always liked to run tires that are made to run together. Experimenting with different makes of tires to see if they work together just isn't for me.

[wmubrown]

John,

Thanks for the heads up on the 330, 880 combo. Tread separation doesn't
sound like anything I'd like to experience, especially with my SO onboard.

Tom,

No adverse handling having a 90 series on the front & a 80 series tire on the
rear? If so, I may have to try that combination.

Thanks for tugging my coat, guys.

I don't know if it's dangerous or not, but it sure doesn't look good:
http://robietech.com/johnbrown/2004%20branson/Branson2004_42.JPG

There should be no trouble running a 90 front 80 rear comination...

[SIBUD]

I don't know if it's dangerous or not, but it sure doesn't look good:
http://robietech.com/johnbrown/2004%20branson/Branson2004_42.JPG

There should be no trouble running a 90 front 80 rear comination...

Lots of miles left in that tire. Heck, I don't even see the wear bars in the center yet.:laugh

[wmubrown]

Lots of miles left in that tire. Heck, I don't even see the wear bars in the center yet.:laugh

This was one of *THE* worst tires I've ever had on a bike... it tracked every imperfection in the road. I was glad to get rid of it in favor of the Macadam's despite all the tread left on it.

[kenk]

I have over 18k on my front M880 on my K1100LT and it handles very well with absolutely no cupping. It still has about 7-8k left. The bike is what it is....a good handling touring bike. It's not great handling, so I wouldn't waste my money on a tire designed to corner a bike that clearly doesn't have the stock shock package to take advantage of a tad better grip. Even with a better rear shock, you would need to replace the stock front fork springs with stiffer ones to take advantage of the difference. Costly conversation.

I've ridden my K1100LT for all it's 111,000 miles. It's not the great handling bike compared to my Ducati or even my GS. However, it is one of the best bikes ever made for a long 1000 mile day. It was the bike of choice for three Ironbutt wins in a row by Ironbutt riders years ago. No other bike or BMW can make that claim. The M880 is the best tire for this use.

[BlackHoof]

Thanks for all the replies. Like oil threads I'm sure this subject gets old for
some, but may help guys who have succumbed to the "Dark Side" after
umpity ump years on airheads. :thumb