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[JWKHD1]

On July 3 2009 I installed a Metzeler 160-60R/18 tire on the rear of my '05 Road Glide.The front is a Metzeler 120/70/21.Air pressure in rear is 48psi,front 50 psi.At speeds over 60 to 65 mph the bike feels like I'm riding on marbles.It's not a drastic wobble just a wierd wiggly feeling.previous rear tire was a Metzeler 150/70/18 .Any ideas? Thanks,Wayne

[aka_Matt]

50psi in the front is way too high, metz' max is 42 for that tire... just curious, but what width is the rear rim? a 160/60 should be on a 4.5" or 5" rim...

[grc]

Which model Metzeler, ME880 or ?  And what type of construction, bias, belted-bias, radial?  And the most important question, are the front and rear the same type of construction?  What I'm getting at is that it appears from your post the rear is a radial, and the front is plain bias.  Mixing types can cause all sorts of handling issues.  It also appears you may be running way too much air pressure in the front, should be 38-42 psi per Metzeler.  (Rear 44-50)

Jerry

[JWKHD1]

Which model Metzeler, ME880 or ?  And what type of construction, bias, belted-bias, radial?  And the most important question, are the front and rear the same type of construction?  What I'm getting at is that it appears from your post the rear is a radial, and the front is plain bias.  Mixing types can cause all sorts of handling issues.  It also appears you may be running way too much air pressure in the front, should be 38-42 psi per Metzeler.  (Rear 44-50)

Jerry

You are both correct.I just checked the front tire it's 42 psi.slight case of brain fade.Rear is a 160/60R18.Metzeler states in their catalog that radial rear is ok with bias front.Tire is mounted on a Renegade Phoenix 4.25x18 rim.This is the recommended size on page 27 of the 2009 Metzeler catalog.My indy called Metzeler and told me to check crown and runout on rear tire.That's my next step.I read a posting somewhere about a similar problem but I can't remember where.(hell,i cant remember my air pressure w/o checking)

[LarryB]

the radial/bias combo has come up lately, and not all with good results.
maybe......you were riding on .......marbles?

[Screamin]

Several years ago I put a metz. on the back while keeping stock dunlop on the front. Scarred the chit outta me for awhile. After several hundred miles +/- it was fine.

[Hoist!]

Way too much confusion being generated here regarding these tires.

The SERK3/4 uses RADIALS. The SESG and SERG DO NOT!!! It's very simple! AND DO NOT MIX A BIAS PLY TIRE WITH A RADIAL!!! EVER!!!

Hoist!

[JWKHD1]

Put the bike on table lift and set up dial indicator on sidewalls.Runout was .050 on both sides.Through 1/2 a revolution the tire hit the belt guard.The other 1/2 it cleared.Ben from C&D Chopper where the tire was purchased called Drag who inturn called Metzeler.Metzeler's initial response was "He's has the wrong size rim .Put a 150 on and it will be fine" The rim is a Renegade Phoenix 4.25.This is the specified rim in Metzeler's catalogue.Drag at the present time has no 150/70-18 ME880 tires available!Ben's Drag rep called his dealers and found one in Pittsfield Mass.They shipped the tire to Ben and we installed it Thursday.It is the 70 weight rated not the new 76 rated tire.Took the bike to the interstate and had no handling problems at all.The 160 is going back for inspection.Stay tuned for the results.
                                                                                                                       Wayne