This is quite weird becaus ME880 is very popular tire in Finland and there hasn´t been many complaints about it. I have several friends using these tires and they have been running them for several years.
I hope that this is just some manufacturing defect that only affects x-number of tires. We better check our tires in case there's any signs of similar behavior.
From a US forum: Hi All
Just got a call today from my HD dealer where I store the bike for the winter. I had requested a new rear tire, going for the 140 Metzeler ME880, to replace the 130 Metz that I ran this past summer. He was questioning me on my sanity. Seems the rear tire was missing chunks of rubber about 3/4" in length in a couple of places.
The missing areas are where the tire starts it's curve from the bottom footprint going up the sidewall. This summer, I put 12,000 miles on the tire, which was new in the spring along with a matching front, both bought from this same dealer, special order. I keep it inflated to 49~50 lbs and check it weekly. The bike is a 97 EGC, I weight 200lbs and mainly ride solo, on good paved roads. There would be 40lbs max in tools and stuff stored, between all the storage boxes.
I noticed an increase in vibration the last month of riding, but dismissed it, since the bike was going in storage soon, and would have the dealer fully check the bike over.
I've heard of Bridgestone radials, blowing chunks of rubber, but I thought it had more to do with the high hp, high speed Ninja type sport bikes.
The dealer suggested that I stick with the factory Dunlops, since these tires are designed especially for HD. I think that is Bull. The dealer is going to hold the tire for me until I have a chance to go there, (couple of weeks). When I do get the tire, I'll post some picts and follow it up with a letter to Metzeler. When they reply, (if), I'll post it......brian
Hopefully it is just a wrong stock. But actually Metz can bear less weight than Dunlop (97H vs 92H).
bartantero kirjoitti:We have experienced some problem with this tire.
In particular rear tire seems to be missing pieces of rubber, or to loose some as "onion" layers
some problem of the some kind was reported also on a front sportster tyre.
we had no official or unofficial answer from the manifacturer by now, and we had to change the tyres on our own.
Ciao
Ciao.
Kappas!
Ite just purin takalokkarin ja aloin ihmetellä "viiltoja" kumissa!!!
Ei nättänyt vulkanisointi tms. ihan homogeeniseltä. Aika samanlaisia kun tossa yhdessä kuvassa!
Aattelin ajokauden aluks käydä näyttämässä Hoghausissa.
Rengas laitettu alle joskus syksy -04,ajettu n. 10.000 km.
Tehtaan tai maahantuojan tulisi tietää asiasta!!!!
hämy kirjoitti:
Kappas!
Ite just purin takalokkarin ja aloin ihmetellä "viiltoja" kumissa!!!
Ei nättänyt vulkanisointi tms. ihan homogeeniseltä. Aika samanlaisia kun tossa yhdessä kuvassa!
Aattelin ajokauden aluks käydä näyttämässä Hoghausissa.
Rengas laitettu alle joskus syksy -04,ajettu n. 10.000 km.
Tehtaan tai maahantuojan tulisi tietää asiasta!!!!
Did I understand it right: you faced the same kind of problem, in both ways?
hämy kirjoitti:
Kappas!
Ite just purin takalokkarin ja aloin ihmetellä "viiltoja" kumissa!!!
Ei nättänyt vulkanisointi tms. ihan homogeeniseltä. Aika samanlaisia kun tossa yhdessä kuvassa!
Aattelin ajokauden aluks käydä näyttämässä Hoghausissa.
Rengas laitettu alle joskus syksy -04,ajettu n. 10.000 km.
Tehtaan tai maahantuojan tulisi tietää asiasta!!!!
Did I understand it right: you faced the same kind of problem, in both ways?
Yes! I did find some "cuts" on my rear tire and also some parts that looked not so homogenous. My tire is not as bad as yours -yet!!
The tire is bought autumn -04 and now 10.000 km ridden.
That seems to be a hazard!!! Maybe i must take my tire sooner to the dealer so that the factory will know this shit sooner!!!
-First i thought to do it in the beginning of the season.
I'm running Metzeler's on my 2004 RKC. My bike is equipped with an S&S 124" engine pushing out close to 150 horses and 217 Nm of torque. I have had no problems with my tyres so far and I'm very pleased with the way they handle and perform. In my earlier life I had Metzelers on two Beemers also with same positive results. As far as I'm concerned I'll stick to Metzelers in the future too.
I suspect that your tyres have some sort of a manufacturing defect that causes these problems. I would contact the shop you bought them from or the importer and discuss the matter. It certainly would be their interest to investigate this matter too.
That seems dangerous!