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[weamdog]

Has anybody else tried this tire on an '09 ultra?  I've been experiencing a high speed wobble and i think the only thing that hasn't been checked on the bike is this new tire i installed.  I noticed it has an 853 max load where as the stock tire has a 937 and the dealer seems to think that the only thing left is a sidewall problem (they have checked everything else on the bike and have even torqued the steering head to the upper limit).  At 60mph you can move slightly in the seat and get s short wobble.  at 70 it may do it itself and last for a second, at 80 it will do it by itself and won't stop until you slow down.  i've noticed that it doesn't do it as much under 70 degrees.  at this point it looks like my only choice is to go with the stock dunlop which did cup for me a little bit, but no where near as bad as the front.

mark

[Hoist!]

Has anybody else tried this tire on an '09 ultra?  I've been experiencing a high speed wobble and i think the only thing that hasn't been checked on the bike is this new tire i installed.  I noticed it has an 853 max load where as the stock tire has a 937 and the dealer seems to think that the only thing left is a sidewall problem (they have checked everything else on the bike and have even torqued the steering head to the upper limit).  At 60mph you can move slightly in the seat and get s short wobble.  at 70 it may do it itself and last for a second, at 80 it will do it by itself and won't stop until you slow down.  i've noticed that it doesn't do it as much under 70 degrees.  at this point it looks like my only choice is to go with the stock dunlop which did cup for me a little bit, but no where near as bad as the front.

mark

I wouldn't use anything lower than a 78 weight rating on them bikes!

Hoist!

[Gone Fishin']

In my mind, your dealer should change the tire and let you see for yourself, if it helps. They should be as concerned as you are and should not spare the cost in sorting things out. If it does not work for you, call H-D service, since a high speed wobble should not occur on a bike with the new touring frame.

Ride safely,
Louis

Has anybody else tried this tire on an '09 ultra?  I've been experiencing a high speed wobble and i think the only thing that hasn't been checked on the bike is this new tire i installed.  I noticed it has an 853 max load where as the stock tire has a 937 and the dealer seems to think that the only thing left is a sidewall problem (they have checked everything else on the bike and have even torqued the steering head to the upper limit).  At 60mph you can move slightly in the seat and get s short wobble.  at 70 it may do it itself and last for a second, at 80 it will do it by itself and won't stop until you slow down.  i've noticed that it doesn't do it as much under 70 degrees.  at this point it looks like my only choice is to go with the stock dunlop which did cup for me a little bit, but no where near as bad as the front.

mark

[weamdog]

In my mind, your dealer should change the tire and let you see for yourself, if it helps. They should be as concerned as you are and should not spare the cost in sorting things out. If it does not work for you, call H-D service, since a high speed wobble should not occur on a bike with the new touring frame.

Ride safely,
Louis

i was pissed at the dealer where i bought the bike for not replacing the POS tires to begin with so i went to elsewhere to get the metzelers installed.  now i'm back at a different (better) dealer and they will replace it, but since i didn't buy the tire there it would come out of my pocket.  the other place said they would replace the tire for me, but i'm kinda getting tired of my bike being in the shop all the time and just wanted to get some other thoughts before i have to haul it off to a different place.

[weamdog]

I wouldn't use anything lower than a 78 weight rating on them bikes!

Hoist!

I think i'm with you here, just don't have anything to back it up yet.  even though they are rated at 853lbs i'm thinking that at speed with wind drag on a bike weighing over 900lbs wet with a 180lb rider that most of the weight is going to be on that rear tire.

Anyways, just wanted to start a thread so that others will be aware that there may be a problem with one of the two alternative tires for this wheel (the other being a 180).  Next week when i put a stock tire back on I will update the thread confirming whether or not this tire should not be used on this bike.

[aka_Matt]

 what 17" wheel r u using for that tire??

[weamdog]

what 17" wheel r u using for that tire??

i'm using the stock wheel.

[hd-dude]

i'm using the stock wheel.

Stock rim on the 09 is a 16"
Stock Tire is a 180/65B16 81H

[Diamondback]

 

Must be a weight issue regareding the sidewalls.  Were the Metzler's replacements for a lighter sport bike???

Other than sidewall strength, radials should be as stalble as the Gold Wing has used radials for years.

 

 

[weamdog]

Stock rim on the 09 is a 16"
Stock Tire is a 180/65B16 81H

i stand corrected.  was thinking front  
that changes everything because that tire is weighted higher than the stock tire, hmmmm.

[Diamondback]

 

Doesn't seem to make sense.

Might call Metzler.  It's possible it is merely a bad tire.

Even the expensive Michelin PS2's for the high end sports cars are bad out of the box.

 

[grc]

I'm confused.  Did the bike have this problem before installing the Metzler?  If the answer is no, then the solution should be fairly obvious. 

BTW, any tire that doesn't at least meet the same load rating as the stock rubber shouldn't be considered a good alternative.  Eliminate the designed in safety margins at your own risk.

Jerry

[Diamondback]

 

I checked on Metzler's web page.  The only thing they make a comment about is the tires should have at least 48 lbs front and rear to be stable.

Lower pressures can cause wobble and instability.  I ran Metzler's on my 07 and ran 50psi to get the best ride.

http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/web/products/tire_pressures/default.page

The weight of the bike should not be the issue.

 

[weamdog]

I checked on Metzler's web page.  The only thing they make a comment about is the tires should have at least 48 lbs front and rear to be stable.

Lower pressures can cause wobble and instability.  I ran Metzler's on my 07 and ran 50psi to get the best ride.

http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/web/products/tire_pressures/default.page

The weight of the bike should not be the issue.

 

The tire is currently at 45lbs solo with no tour pack and still doing it.  I believe the side of the tire says 42lbs.

[weamdog]

I'm confused.  Did the bike have this problem before installing the Metzler?  If the answer is no, then the solution should be fairly obvious. 

BTW, any tire that doesn't at least meet the same load rating as the stock rubber shouldn't be considered a good alternative.  Eliminate the designed in safety margins at your own risk.

Jerry

I misread the load rating when i was looking at the 17".  The 16" is actually rated high than the stock dunlop.  The problem i'm having is i had to ride across the country on severely cupped tires in order to try to get my dealer to replace them (didn't have any luck on the road).  The front tire was so bad that it probably had something to do with my radio dying (had to replace it).  I limped across the country at a speed lower then what i'm noticing this wobble so i have no idea if this just started happening since the new tires were installed or if i was just going to slow to notice and the bouncing messed something else up.  Harley has gone over the entire bike so the only thing that could be left is the tires.  It's just frustrating since i had the tires installed elsewhere.