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ME 880's Radial & Bias mixed

R

rhester7

Member
Member
I'm new to this forum. I've been running Dunlop K700 radial on the front of my 99 C10 which has cupped and now needs to be replaced. I've also got a D205 on the rear, which will also need to be replaced soon. I've ordered the ME 880 front tire, which is a radial. Not cheap but I wanted to try something that might get me better mileage. Anyway, I don't think the rear tire is offered as a radial, only bias. Can you or should you mix the two? Or am I better off with something else? Thanks, Rick
 
Rick, I have owned and loved the ME880 Marathon for about the last 12k miles on my 2004 Suxuki Intruder 1500LC. It's a big heavy Japanese cruiser with a 15" rear tire and 16" front tire. I don't know if they are radial or not really, but I love the way they handle. The Intruder is heavy and has good power and torque. Not as much HP as the Conk but a good test of tires because I ride two-up almost all the time. The 880's wear like iron and grip very well in all kinds of weather. If you can get a pair for the Conk, remember they are not sport touring tires, they are touring/cruiser tires. However, I have ground my footboards more than once and my chicken strips are gone on the Intruder. The wife and I (about 500 pounds together with gear) take the big flyover ramps at about 80mph two-up and it's steady as a rock. Zero tire slip. However, this next note is VERY IMPORTANT. READ THE MICHELIN ONLINE MANUAL FOR TIRE PRESSURES. DO NOT USE KAWASAKI RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURES. THEY ARE TOO LOW. Ok, let me explain. Suzuki says 36f 42r for the Intruder. I did that with the 880's and it was sluggish and heavy handling. It kind of sucked. I whined about it on an Intruder web site and shazam - they told me to read the Michelin manual. It says for two-up to go with 42f and 46-50r. That's a lot of air, but the tires LOVE IT. It handles so nimbly in low and high speed settings that they are totally confidence inspiring. And you can get them cheap online. I buy from www.compacc.com, www.motorcyclesuperstore.com and www.chaparralmotorsports.com. Also www.denniskirk.com, who will match prices for anyone else. Good luck, I think you will like them. BTW the Intruder 1500LC with the wife and I weighs about 1150 pounds. The tires can take it. Really. David David in Jax COG# 7898 www.dreamjobresumes.com preparing resumes for COG members and friends I ride a KAWASAKI ZZR1200 - Euro http://www.motorbikestoday.com /reviews/Articles/ZZR1200.htm US http://www.motorcyclistonline. com/roadtests/2002_kawasaki_zz r1200/index.html
 
I've never tried it on bikes, but on some cars, it didn't work. I worked for a tire store (Montgomery Wards) in the early 80's, & people would bring in their bias ply snows to have put on & mix with the radials on the new car. Some cars would drive like a old VW Bus in a windstorm. Others didn't seem to make much difference. Don
 
Welcome Rick Yer Calvin's pal, jyes? I used bias ME880s on my Conc for >80k. But not anymore. Great longevity but wet grip isn't that good. And they really have a heavy feel. 01 Conc, Mijami Floriduh OTP 06: http://tinyurl.com/2vk9o2 route map: http://tinyurl.com/4p7pmd
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Thanks for the input. I have decided not to do the radial/bias mix. I think I will do a different Dunlop tire. Maybe the D205.
 
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