Metzeler 300 tire Facts

rhino17

rhino17

Member
I need some new tires for the K9, and have read that some people's belts rub with the Metzeler and others don't. So I called Metzeler and asked to talk to the person who has the most knowledge with their 300 tire, and talked to Jeff. Here is what he told me.
The Metzeler 300 has not been changed at all since its inception in 2006.
Metzeler has not made any changes based on their tire rubbing the belt on our Big Dogs.
There are no special date codes that will prevent belt rubbing.
Jeff's opinion on why some belts rub and others don't is due to looser tolerances and therefore more variability on custom bikes, compared to high volume motorcycle manufactures.
You should space out the drive pulleys with shims if the belt rubs.
There are not different versions of the tire in regards to the speed rating. They are all the same.
Never sand your tire to prevent the belt from rubbing as this affects the structural integrity of the tire. (I don't think he believed me when I told him that's what we've been doing)
Again, I'm just passing on what a Metzler rep told me. Don't shoot the messenger!
 
JeffM

JeffM

Active Member
I took to my tyre with a sandind disc and lightly sanded it till it had 1mm clearence.
Worked for me.
I did not get much of a run out of the Metzler, I am now running on a pair of Avon shoes.
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
rhino17 said:
Never sand your tire to prevent the belt from rubbing as this affects the structural integrity of the tire.
Click to expand...
For those of us that took a little off the rib on the side of the tire, there's so little that needs to be taken off if any, that there's no way it sacrificed the integrity of the tire, just saying, and not shooting the messenger.
 
pknowles

pknowles

RETIRED
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Took this picture this morning. When I said mine cleared a 16th, it is an estimate, I didn't physically measure it. It has the same clearance all the way round the tire.
 
BigDogBro1

BigDogBro1

Made in the USA
Bro2 and I both have new Metzelers on the rear and they both rub a little at a low speed. We will sand down the edge bead a bit for clearance. I took Bro2'a old Metzeler and cut a V-notch out of the rubbing sidewall area and found that there is about 7/16" deep rubber to the cord layer. His old Metzeler was belt worn down a good 1/8" anyways. We have shaved off the edge to where the width of the flat is around 1/4" wide with an 80 grit belt sander.

Bro2's bike had the left side of the rear tire tread worn down much more than the center and right side. Before I removed the rear wheel I measured the wheel alignment. I found that the previous shop who did the rear tire replacement had the left side adjusted back an additional 3/16". This was probably done to allow additional belt clearance but caused excessive premature tire wear. The adjustments are now done the same on both sides and the belt clears while on the lift/center jack but does slightly touch at very low speed coasting. The belt tracks in the near center of the rear rotor as well.

We do all our own work now and will only shop out major engine and trans work.
 
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1BADK9

1BADK9

Limited Edition Member
New Metzlers on my 07 K9, very tight clearance, I mean like credit card thickness, but it doesn't rub.
 
L

LUPHOLE

Well-Known Member
I put on the metzler the week I headed to Sturgis (the avon was starting to show the dreaded tread separation). the tire rubbed a lot.

I sanded off about 1/8 inch and there was still some rubbing while it was up on the jack.

I then very slightly adjusted the alignment to try to give a little more clearance on the front right of the wheel were the belt was (the alignment was still very close). still some rubbing while up on the jack.

i then checked to make sure the drive sprocket and belt were not damaged or worn (both fine)

i then checked to make sure the drive sprocket was tight---which it was.

next i would rotate the wheel forward and the belt would rub slightly. the belt seemed to migrate to the left of the drive sprocket but not off of it. when i rotate the wheel backward, the belt did not rub at all and it appeared that the belt migrated a bit to the right on the drive sprocket.

after much anxiety and conferring with the experts i said, " screw it i am rolling tomorrow"

it did appear to rub some but 4488 miles later i was back home and it now sits in the garage awaiting my attention.

the tire shows some wear but not too bad. from all of the high speed highway miles it is a little worn in the center.

i am told that the likely culprit is that the transmission is out of alignment. maybe some shims are needed. but it will require taking off the primary and other parts, a number of new seals and supplies, all of which are most likely way over my pay grade.

any suggestions or comments are appreciated.

thanks, chuck
 
05 old dog

05 old dog

Well-Known Member
kind of same subject...at bbb this weekend and tried to find a 300 tire for a buddys mastiff...found the avon tire vendor and asked if he had a 300 he told us he didnt and that avon was getting out of the big tire buisness . i asked what that meant and he said no more tires over 250!
 
JeffM

JeffM

Active Member
05 old dog said:
kind of same subject...at bbb this weekend and tried to find a 300 tire for a buddys mastiff...found the avon tire vendor and asked if he had a 300 he told us he didnt and that avon was getting out of the big tire buisness . i asked what that meant and he said no more tires over 250!
Click to expand...
Thats a bit disturbing, there are a lot of bikes running 300's.
My K9 would look a little silly with a 250 without changing guards.
Hard to get 300's in Australia, when i purchased mine as i passed through our Capital City of Brisbane 2 weeks ago the wholesaler only had 3 Avons, and that was to service all of Queensland (State) for the next month.
 
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