Looking for a tire recommendation 2006 FXDC
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 594
Likes: 5
From: Akron, Ohio
Looking for a tire recommendation 2006 FXDC
Im sure I'll get a million contradictory opinions here, but my 2006 FXDC is in desperate need of new tires. I currently have Metzler ME880 tires, which were better than the stock tires, but I hear a lot of people say that there are much better performing tires. I have a street glide for longer trips, so the FXDC is mostly just for ripping around on the back roads, so performance on all kinds of road conditions (especially loose gravel, and scraped up roads) would be higher on the list than a long lasting tire.
also, I'm still running the stock wheel bearings in both rims. The bike only has 16k miles on it, but it's 11 years old. Should I do bearings while I have the rims off for tires? OEM bearings, or aftermarket?
also, I'm still running the stock wheel bearings in both rims. The bike only has 16k miles on it, but it's 11 years old. Should I do bearings while I have the rims off for tires? OEM bearings, or aftermarket?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Tires? That's easy 
Pirelli Night Dragons, the finest performance oriented tire you can put on a heavy cruiser. Their more rounded profile and composition are exactly what you're looking for.
If you do go with Night Dragons be aware that due to their more performance oriented nature you need to be mindful of your tire pressures. Night Dragons prefer higher PSI's. I was experimenting yesterday out in some twisties with 41 PSI front and 43 PSI rear on the Wide Glide. I liked it, the bike liked it
It's not a bad idea to change out your wheel bearings while you've got the wheels off the bike, the HD wheel bearings are not exactly tier 1
Pirelli Night Dragons, the finest performance oriented tire you can put on a heavy cruiser. Their more rounded profile and composition are exactly what you're looking for.If you do go with Night Dragons be aware that due to their more performance oriented nature you need to be mindful of your tire pressures. Night Dragons prefer higher PSI's. I was experimenting yesterday out in some twisties with 41 PSI front and 43 PSI rear on the Wide Glide. I liked it, the bike liked it
It's not a bad idea to change out your wheel bearings while you've got the wheels off the bike, the HD wheel bearings are not exactly tier 1
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 594
Likes: 5
From: Akron, Ohio
Thanks for the tip, TinCup. Those seems reasonably priced as well.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
You won't be disappointed with the Night Dragons. Just throwing this out there; I use Ride On for dynamic balancing and added puncture protection. No spin balancing, no wheel weights. I swear by that pink stuff And so do many others on the forum. It's the smoothest ride you'll ever have
And so do many others on the forum. It's the smoothest ride you'll ever have
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 309
Likes: 33
From: Littleton, CO
You won't be disappointed with the Night Dragons. Just throwing this out there; I use Ride On for dynamic balancing and added puncture protection. No spin balancing, no wheel weights. I swear by that pink stuff And so do many others on the forum. It's the smoothest ride you'll ever have
And so do many others on the forum. It's the smoothest ride you'll ever have Do you remove and replace your own tyres then with using ride-on? I have never changed tyres myself but thinking I could do them with a cheap tire changer at harbour freight.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: virginia
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Lake City, Florida (Native)
Near 10,000 Miles on my COM II's and Living in FL have been wet tested lots.. No Complaints here on them , although the Night Dragons are also a fine choice ..
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Tourer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 276
Likes: 63
From: Jasper, AL
Avon doesn't make a 160/70-17 in their Cobra line to fit 06-up Dynas. They do have that size in the Storm 3D, which is their sport touring tire. It's even a radial, which to my knowledge is pretty rare for cruiser tires. I've had them on my Street Bob for 4-5000 miles now, and love 'em. They stick in the wet or dry, ride smooth, required little weight to balance, and look like they will outlast the Commander IIs and American Elites that I've used before. They were also less expensive than the CII or AE.
For those of you doubting that a sport touring tire would hold up on a heavy cruiser, the 160/70-17 size is a replacement for the BMW 1200LT, which is an 880lb, 100hp, 130mph machine. The Avon has a 79 load rating (963 lbs) in that size, where the CII is a 73 (805 lbs)
EDIT: I forgot to add, Avon is offering a 15,000 mile treadwear warranty on these tires (as well as the Cobras) if you have them installed by an authorized Avon dealer. http://www.avonmoto.com/warranty/mileage-warranty
Last edited by maydaymike; Jun 13, 2017 at 08:40 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,902
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From: West Tennessee
That's great to hear. I bought mine for mileage since I only got 4500 miles out of the rear Dunlop. Lots of twisty roads with engine braking and acceleration. They were a nightmare in the wet even poking along to stop at a stop sign.