Metz Marathon 880. 200/50

Ouch! Hopefully there won't be too much

 

I've currently got Metzeler marathons on my bike - they were on when I bought it & I've done 5000 miles on it since last Oct & the tyres still have loads of tread on them . The thing I don't like about them is that they don't really grip that well into corners , and I've had a couple of rear end slides , admittedly , both times I was getting a bit carried away & sticking it in a bit hard , but it knocked my confident . Also they are totally crap in the wet & they slip like crazy on painted lines on the road . I guess there is an argument here because they are hard wearing and there is bound to be a compromise with grip but for me personally I'd rather get less mileage & feel confident with the grip so their coming off in the not too distant future & I'm going to try either Bridgestones or Avons

 

I had Metz 880 on my America. I had over 14k on the front when I sold it and about 8k on the rear (the previous tyre was changed due to bad puncture) with plenty of tread left.

I'm not expecting anywhere near the same mileage from the Metz on my Commander. The American forums seem to think about 6k is average for a rear tyre on a Bird. I've got 2k on mine at the moment and a big trip to France coming up so it'll be interesting to see how it wears.

 

I've got 5k out of my rear Metz and also looking for a good replacement for my trip to France on the 26th July (seems to be a lot of Triumphs going to France lately).
Thought I'd at least get France out of the way before having to look for a new tyre, any good alternatives or is it stick with the original Metzelers that come with the TBird.

 

I've put an Avon am26 roadrider on the front as the front tyre needed changing & I never liked it anyway , but the rear Metzeler still had lots of tread left so I thought i'd try just the front , anyways , have just been around France a bit for 2-3 thousand miles & the Avon on the front was briliant , I was going to put a new Avon to match on the back when I got back so it didnt get squared off from motorway miles , but the metzeler appears to have become invincible & still isnt showing signs of wear so I'm waiting for it to get a bit lower before I stick the new rear avon on . Just hope the front holds out lol

 

As you know Daryl I've got Avon AM 26 front and rear and I'm on the second rear so they must be OK. Grip well, wear well - nuff said.

 

I think I'm going to put the rear Avon on shortly as I dont want the front to wear too much & miss out on having decent tyres all round lol , the Metzeler must be made out of iron or something , I'm just a bit wary of it letting go mid corner cos it doesn't grip anywhere near as good as the Avon