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If you have a Harley Davidson Touring bike you probably will be in the market for tires at some point or another. More often than not the people who buy one of the touring models do so because they plan to ride a lot. Touring bikes often get more miles driven then a lot of other motorcycle and will likely go through tires more frequently. It's good to know that there are plenty of options out there when you are shopping for tires.

As with any motorcycle, you should never take a chance with worn or cheap tires on your Harley Davidson. Since a motorcycle has only two wheels instead of a car or truck's four, each tire represents a larger percentage of the stability. One of the reasons motorcycles are as maneuverable as they are is that they are inherently less stable than four wheeled vehicles. That also means that the tires are even more important for stability. For so many reasons, your tires are one of the most important pieces of safety equipment on your Harley Davidson. So, keeping quality tires on your bike is one of the best ways to insure both your motorcycle and your body against damage from crashes.

Avon Venom Tires

The Venom series from Avon are built specifically for cruising and touring bikes. The tread pattern is intended to facilitate a quiet ride and the tires are meant to run cooler and last longer than traditional motorcycle tires.

Bridgestone Exedra Touring Motorcycle Tires

Bridgestone makes a whole line of tires just for touring motorcycles. They are built not only to sustain the types of loads required by touring bikes, but from a special tread compound that maximizes both handling and wear mileage.

Continental Tour Tires

There are a number of different tires from Continental that are designed as tour tires. One is the Tour Ride series which are built to provide consistent handling under various road conditions. They also feature construct that is meant to maximize the longevity of the tire.

Dunlop D402 Harley Davidson Touring Motorcycle Tire

A three ply polyester casing over two fiberglass belts creates both enhanced load carrying capability and greater stability. Your Harley Davidson Touring bike is bigger than most motorcycles, so this extra strength is a great thing.

Metzeler ME880 XXL Tire

These tires are specifically built for the larger loads and special handling characteristics of larger cruiser bikes. That makes them another excellent choice.

Whatever option you choose, remember that there are a lot of different Harley Davidson touring bike models and model years. While each of these should be able to fit your bike, it's not guaranteed. Also, never ride your Harley Davidson (or any motorcycle for that matter) on tires that are not structurally sound. Insufficient tread and tire superstructure threaten the safety of your tires. That, in turn, threatens your safety on the motorcycle. It's just not worth it for the small investment that a good set of tires represent.

 

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Mike Milsted (Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:28:03 -0800): Are there specific recommendations for cold weather riding tires.

Robert Sonder (Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:12:21 -0800): A softer rubber will work better,,,,,,,, but,,,,,, they do not wear as long.. Traction,,,, you give it a 11 out of 10....

Rick Havern (Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:52:44 -0800): I've run Avon Venom X tires since 2000 on my 95 Dyna Wide Glide & 05 Road King Classic. Handling beats Dunlop hands down & mileage is slightly better if you keep pressure at Avon specs, not HD.

Alfred J DelCiampo (Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:23:25 -0800): I run Metzelers ME880's on my Victory cruiser and Dulops D402's on the Ultra-Classic. both provide great wear and handling characteristics. Had to lock-up those Metzlers on a wet road and was glad we had a quality tire.

James H Mendez (Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:54:14 -0700): what does everyone think of the avon cobra? ai am putting it on a street glide, what's the dif, between the venom and cobra?

Sinos Bartholomew (Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:43:09 -0700): Metzler is on my shopping list for tyre replacement on my HD-Road King..

Sam Williams (Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:03:23 -0700): I'm a big fan of Dunlops American Elite series. It seems to be just made for touring bikes. I had a 3 1/2 bolt go thruogh my rear tire and the American Elite held air. I didn't know the bolt was in the tire until I had my bike on my lift checking air pressure before a long trip. I have the tire in my garage to remind me of how safe the Dunlop American Elite is. Not to mention it can get close to 20k miles before needing a new one.

Randy Govertsen (Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:35:19 -0700): This "review" sounds like the author went to all the manufacturers.. copied and pasted what each said about their tires and took credit for a "review" article. There is very little outside of the comments that reflect how each tire handles in different circumstances, how long they "typically" last or what was thought about them.. bummer!