Which tyres for ETZ 250?

[arny]

I was wondering if someone had some advice...

Based on availability, price and what I could gather on the net (This for example), I'm interested in these models:

- Mitas H-03 - very inexpensive, and the profile is supposed to be suitable also for rough roads, but how good are they on wet?

- Metzeler ME 22 - also very affordable, Metzeler itself recommends them for ETZ 250. They're supposed to be good on wet road, but I was wondering how good are they on rough roads?

- Dunlop K82 - they have a very retro look, but they seem to be the best of all on asphalt. They are most expensive though. How good are on wet and how good on rough roads?

Heidenau K33/K34 i Metzeler Perfect ME 77 priced somewhere between ME 22 and K82; haven't seen any reviews on the net, are they any good?

Various "City" models do not interest me - they all seem to slick for my taste, and I believe old MZ-s should always be able to run on unpaved roads. Therefore I'm interested that tyres have at least some off-road ability.

Most of the time though, the bike will be ridden in town, and for me the most important thing is how well the tyres handle on wet asphalt.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

[Puffs]

A https://www.metzeler.com/en-ww/products ... fect-me-77 rear Is what I bought the last time (for my ETZ 251).

[parrbd]

http://www.motorcycletyresplus.com.au/m ... ront-rear/ These were good for me.

[DAVID THOMPSON]

Kenda tires can be found in the USA i use them on my 2002 rt125 hard to find the heidenau tires that came on it new

dave

[arny]

Thank you for the advice!

Those Kenda tyres look like they should be good on wet and unpaved roads... unfortunately I don't think they are obtainable here where I live...

A https://www.metzeler.com/en-ww/products ... fect-me-77 rear Is what I bought the last time (for my ETZ 251).

They do seem quite convincing... Are you satisfied with them?

Another question while I'm at it... I've read many times that front 2.75" tyres are probably too narrow for the bike and 3.00" would be better. As the front wheel width accepts 3.00" tyres, would you also recommend that size?

And what about alternative metric sizes (like 90/90, 100/90 etc?) Has anyone tried some of them?

[Blurredman]

Hi.

I use a website called oponeo and literally just buy the cheapest they have

I have tried the Heindenau k33's however and would say they are good. I have also tried the h03- which is what I have at the minute on my bikes. They are also good. But then- my bar is set pretty low- and for something cheap, anything is 'good' I didn't even find any issues with using the original Pneaumant tyres that came with both of my MZ's when I bought them!!! They were 27 years old- but.. Not bad


I would say however, that although the 250 manual states 2.50" at the front, 2.75 or 3" does 'look' better. However you probably get a little less initial lean power. Not that i've ever really noticed though..

Depending on availability I go for 2.75" or 3" at the front. And 3.5" at the back and the same in the alternative measurement standard. Heck- the front can hold 4".. I've done that!!

[Puffs]

On the ME 77: I bought a 110/90-16 rear tire only, while the standard size for my ETZ251 is 3.25"x16". Watch out: my 251 has a 16" rear, the 250 has 18". I haven't done many miles with it yet, but sofar I like the bigger rear tire: road handling seems to have improved, and the bike feels fine. It also gives a little more clearance on the foot pegs, but you have to watch out or you still grind them onto the road. Absolute top speed, with all factors helping a bit, has reduced to about 75mph on the counter, but it still feels like about 130km/h. (For this size the tire height is about 99mm, compared to 82.6mm for the standard tire, resulting in a slightly longer distance travelled per revolution, and the ETZ's take their odometer feed from the rear wheel.) Another important factor is: I like the way it looks.

On off-road ability: in my mind, no standard ETZ is suitable for offroad: the foot pegs are way too weak. And then there is ground clearance, sump protection, exhaust, or in fact any bike with a pressed frame seems unsuitable. But riding on unpaved roads (of which we have quite a few here too) is not offroad, and riding on unpaved roads you can do with any bike, and with any tire. With suitable caution. And yes, I have done it with this ME 77.

But my MZ is for use on the road; twisty country lanes, and nowadays mainly in the sunshine. So to support a suitable lean angle on these roads, I don't want too course a profile, and I do want proper rubber. But beyond that, for a bike like this, virtually any tire will do, you really don't need an expensive special tire, IMHO.

On bigger tires: the biggest advised fit on a 1.85" rim is a 3.50" (or a 4.10" low profile) tire, or a 90mm wide metric. A 2.15" rim should take a tire up to 4.75" (5.10" low profile), or 120mm metric. But watch out: if you fit a wide a tire on a narrow rim, it's a hassle to get it seated properly, without wiggles. The 110mm I bought fits fine; a 110/90 roughly equates to a 4.00" (=102/100 metric) tire. At the front, a much bigger tire might not fit inside the mudguard.

Btw: Haynes say 2.75"x18" for the front, I have always used a 3.00"x18" one.

[arny]

Thanks for your advice.

So it seems the old MZ doesn't really need (or make use of) the more expensive tyres. I think I'll stick with the most affordable options then...

And those are Metzeler ME 22 and Mitas H-03.

The Metzelers seem to be quite good on wet asphalt, and that's quite important to me since I mostly ride in a city. However, I'm still curious how they'd work on unpaved roads.

I don't intend to go for some "serious off-roading" with the MZ, but those bikes are most certainly made for vary bad roads being made for the then communist countries... And I'd like the tyres to be able to withstand some "adventure and exploration". So tyres capable for that would be welcome, and it seems the H-03 are such tyres. But I'm not sure how they'll do for my primary use, the city riding...

[Blurredman]

At the minute, I have a Mitas H3 in both 16 and 18 inch varients on the back of my MZ's. They do look a bit more meaty, and i've no problem with them. I also ride primarily in the city when I'm not on holiday, and i've so far to encounter any problems with traction. However- I'm not particularly a rider who takes it to the edge, when doing 30mph..

K33/K34's and the ME 77's seem to be the popular 'set' that is sold on the Internet for the MZ's, and I still have one on the front of one of the bikes. It's okay, but the tread pattern isn't particularly 'cool'. I think for slight gravel use it would definately be worse than a Mitas H3. Personally- I never was a fan of the road only - almost slick type tyre. I've had MZ's with them on the bike ready, and it didn't really look right. It felt okay though. I wouldn't worry about the Mitas H3 being too much of a trade off for city riding. It's still not an offroad tyre. But if you want an intermediary, another cheap but good tyre I'm using is the Duro HF319.

I will be purchasing another Duro HF319 for the front of one of my MZ's soon. It has a good intermediary of all requirements, but also is cheap.