ide-size customs, everyday cruisers, V-twin classics–Metzeler has the upgrade tires for them all. Make no mistake about it, either. Switching to Metzeler is a definite upgrade. Ask just about any pro builder, and he’ll tell you why. Builders like Eddie Trotta, OCC, Von Dutch, Kendall Johnson and The Indian Larry Legacy all swear by Metzeler.
     Metzeler tires have a distinctive appearance and back it up with the unmistakable feel of high performance. A Metzeler Upgrade doesn’t just look the part. When it comes to how a tire works on a V-twin–the handling, the traction, the braking, even the mileage it’ll deliver, Metzeler excels in all areas. A Metzeler Upgrade maximizes the riding experience with feedback, feel, comfort and confidence to spare.
     All this is the direct result of Metzeler’s extensive R&D and testing. Every new tire design goes through 200 hours of lab testing and 6,000 hours of road testing for an unbelievable 160,000 total miles covered. There are 300 separate tire-behavior tests for things like high-speed stability, cornering feel, braking power, coast-down, de-acceleration and the list goes on. Metzeler flies its testing team, all professional roadracers, to the U.S. to test the tires on American bikes on American roads. Testing is done at all speeds, over every possible road surface and in all weather conditions. The bikes and their tires are pushed to the limit to make sure a rider will get the most out of his Metzelers. Only after passing this rigorous evaluation with flying colors is a Metzeler tire released for production.
     There’s a Metzeler ME880 upgrade for just about every application you can name, too–stock and modified. For the new Screaming Eagle V-Rods there’s a 240 rear and a 260 Stage 1 Upgrade. For the Softails there’s another great Stage 1 Upgrade, a 210 rear and there are even 17-inch sizes to put a 160 or a 170 rear Stage I Upgrade under a Dyna. The ME880 Upgrades cover the field; Wide Glides, Low Riders, Street Bobs, Super Glides–there’s an ME880 Upgrade for them all.
     With Metzeler’s high-quality construction and materials riders get an exceptional tire with precise handling characteristics. And Metzelers are legendary for their confidence inspiring wet grip. An Advanced Silica Compound combined with the tread pattern of the ME880 Upgrade significantly increases wet-weather traction. Plus, Metzelers are built to last. That same Advanced Silica Compound that’s so good for traction also reduces rolling resistance, which increases mileage. It’s the best of all possible worlds; the Advanced Silica Compound allows softer compounds to enhance ride and traction, yet it still delivers high mileage. Riders routinely get 2,000 or more miles out of a Metzeler Upgrade than they’ll get with an OE replacement.
     Custom builders love Metzelers, too. Metzeler’s Zero-Degree Steel Belt Technology lets builders mount the fenders in close for a clean look without worrying about tire-clearance problems. The Zero-Degree Steel Belt not only creates a more stable contact patch, aids traction and extends tire life; it also resists centrifugal growth and tire deformation. There are plenty of ME880’s featuring the Zero-Degree Steel Belt, too, including all the popular custom-bike 240, 260, 280, 300 and the 21-in. 260 sizes.
     “Upgrade your ride” isn’t just an empty phrase. Switching to Metzeler really does make a difference. You can see it, you can feel it and it’s all available through Drag Specialties.