Hi everyone. This is my first post here, and although I’m not a noob to bikes, I am to Harleys. I’ve been riding crotch rockets for years and have decided to make the switch to a Sportster.

I’ve always liked the look, and I now need to use a bike as a commuter instead of a canyon carver. That being said, I searched for “best tires” for a Sportster, but couldn’t find any threads on it.

What’s your opinion on the best tire options for the Sportster? I really need something that lasts a long time, but is also good in rain and sticky for leaning into tight curves.

 

Not sure you can find something with all three attributes in one tire. I've got GT501 Dunlops (3500 miles) now, pretty happy over the D401, although I'm considering the Shinko 777 next go round. The GT501 rear looks like it is showing some wear, so they are definitely a softer compound than the stockers. May only get about 6K or so on the rear. The GT501 is certainly an aggressive looking and surprisingly large for being only the 130/90-16, it's also V rated.

Others like Avon, Michelin, Pirelli. I'm sure you'll get a lot of opinions, a lot like asking about oil.

John