This is mainly directed at Miles to continue a conversation we had on ADV. I have looked at rear tires and there are none in the correct size for the RIII, 150/80 R17. I know I could go with a 160/70 R17 but they are all dual compound on the rears and I feel that is part of my problem with the cupping, I know keep the tire pressure up. I have not given up on Metzeler yet so I think I am going to try the CRUISETEC front. https://www.metzeler.com/en-us/catalog/product/cruisetec/f150_80-r17/4283100
Since this was mainly "directed at Miles", he would like to respond.
Seriously, give up on the Metzeler.
IME...that's...In My Experience...Metzeler's are the worst tire for wear, and longevity that I have ever experienced, and seen on 1000 other motorcycles.
I would buy the Michelin Commander lll Touring reinforced tire for the front wheel of your Rocket lll. That's what I have on the front wheel of my BattleWing Galactica, and it is wearing exceptionally well. In fact, "IF" this front tire ever does wear down to the point of needing replaced (and we know that is a joke, because all tires wear...eventually), so WHEN this Michelin Commander lll Touring reinforced tire wears down, I will replace it with another brand new Michelin Commander lll Touring reinforced tire.
Now...having looked it up, I see that you would have to go with the 160/70-17, which WILL fit inside that large front fender on your leading Link front end. The 180/65-R16 that is on the front wheel of my bike is wearing quite impressively.
I think it was Nancy Reagan that first said...Just Say No.....to Metzeler tires.
Keeping in mind, as I have no doubt you already know this, there is NO need to go with a Radial tire on the front wheel of a Sidecar Rig, so if a Belted tire is what fits your front wheel, Nancy Reagan also said...Just Do It.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
I don't know where you are looking but I can only get the 160/70 17 Michelin rear in a Commander II or a Commander III Cruiser not a Touring. I still cannot find the actual dimensions of the tire anywhere either and I really do not want to go any lower than I have to. I don't think the rear 16o/70 will be that much lower than the higher profile front 150/80 but I really would like to see some dimensions, every inch of ground clearance on this thing counts. I am actually looking at the Commander II and will probably go that route. I know I have this thing for the Metzelers since they were stock on the Rocket III, mainly though because I ran them for a lot of miles on the front of the R1150 GS rig all over and in all road conditions and they never failed to perform. Fear not, the front ME888 Metzeler that I have on the Rocket III currently has performed miserably along with the one that was on it when I bought the bike so I will not put another one on it.
Needs a picture, strictly to show the clearance on the front now not the crappy looking ME888.
Oh, my eyes.....my eyes.
I should not have clicked on that picture to blow it up. I will now forever have the image of a wasted Metzeler tire burned into my retina.
Oh........the humanity !
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
You are not supposed to look at that beautiful Metzler tire, look at how much room there is in there for a bigger tire.
That is one seriously messed up tire. No wonder you're looking for a different solution. Is that 888 in the picture a 150/80 or a 160/70?
Instead of going upscale, my mind is headed downscale. Like the Shinko 777. Stiff, heavy and hard. Reinforced bias ply, and I don't think it's dual compound, though not sure.
If he goes from a Metzeler 888....to a Shinko 777....what's next, a Yurchenco 666 ?
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
You think that one is messed up you should see the one before it. A Metzeler ME888 and this was with the stock front end. I rode the last 300 or so miles from Utah to home looking like that. Actually I think Richfield, Utah is where I noticed Spat eyeballing it and finally noticed it was a little worn. You would think I would have changed to a different brand then.
My 1150 GS came with a Michelin Anakee 3 that looked a LOT like Dana's tire after about 2k miles. I started running it at 42psi and it never got any worse before I swapped it at 8k.
Of course, the bike weighed 1/2 of the R3 and didn't have a sidecar on it so not exactly apples to pineapples...
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Pretty sure mine was due to tire pressure also. I always ran the ME888 on my R1150 GS rig a little low and never had any issues with it so I thought I would just carry on with that on the R III, I guess that was a bad decision.
