Dyna Glide Models Super Glide, Super Glide Sport, Super Glide Custom, Dyna Glide Convertible, Super Glide T-Sport, Dyna Glide Police, Dyna Switchback, Low Rider, Street Bob, Fat Bob and Wide Glide.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Replace both?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 28, 2008 | 10:13 PM
  #1  
SC-Longhair's Avatar
SC-Longhair
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
Default Replace both?

I'm pretty sure I know the right answer but...

I definitely need to replace my oem rear dunlop tire. It's got 13k miles and the tread is getting dangerously worn. I'm looking at the ME880 160/70-17. Since my stock front tire seems fine, can I ride it out or do you think it's better to replace both? Will there be any danger riding with different tread types? I've always tried to stick with similar tread on other bikes I've owned.

I know the stock front tire is an MH90-21. In the jpcycles catalog they show an MH90 equalling an 80/90-21. I'd like to think they're correct but want to make sure before purchasing.
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2008 | 11:48 PM
  #2  
kk6pg's Avatar
kk6pg
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,289
Likes: 22
From: Beautiful Downtown Burbank
Default

if you got 13 out of the rear, you're on track to get about 17 or more from the front. Its up to you if you want to change it or not.
It sounds like the J&P tire is the same as the one you have on now. If the total width of the original tire is 3-1/8", then both are the same tire.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2008 | 05:18 AM
  #3  
glide05's Avatar
glide05
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 1
From: MA
Default

The tire differences should not cause an issue.
The ME880 performs much better than the stock dunlop.
If it was me - I'd replace it
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2008 | 06:09 AM
  #4  
murphdog's Avatar
murphdog
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 916
Likes: 3
From: Mauldin, SC
Default

SC, Metzeler makes an MH90 as well. Their 80/90 is a little narrower than their MH90. Take a look at their brochure here:
http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/en_US...IN_UPGRADE.pdf
If you're going to replace the front with a Metzeler, I'd go with the 90/90. It's about a half inch wider than the 80/90. I replaced both tires on an '03 Wide Glide with Metzerers at about 12,000 miles, putting the 90/90 on the front. Handling was much better than with the Dunlops. Nothing wrong with leaving the Dunlop on the front if you want, though.

You can do better than J&P if you want to shop around.

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/
http://www.swmototires.com/
http://www.ronayers.com/
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2008 | 07:45 AM
  #5  
dyna rider's Avatar
dyna rider
Club Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Default New Tires

If your bike will accept a wide rear tire, I would install a Dunlop S.E. 180 tire and run it until you are ready for a new front. They only last 4-6 thousand miles, so you would be ready for both tires about the same time. That is what I did. After that I went to Michelins.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2008 | 07:51 AM
  #6  
SC-Longhair's Avatar
SC-Longhair
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
Default

Originally Posted by dyna rider
If your bike will accept a wide rear tire, I would install a Dunlop S.E. 180 tire and run it until you are ready for a new front. They only last 4-6 thousand miles, so you would be ready for both tires about the same time. That is what I did. After that I went to Michelins.
That seems wasteful to spend +/- $180 on the se180 as an interim tire.
 
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2008 | 08:35 AM
  #7  
SC-Longhair's Avatar
SC-Longhair
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
Default

Originally Posted by murphdog
SC, Metzeler makes an MH90 as well. Their 80/90 is a little narrower than their MH90. Take a look at their brochure here:
http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/en_US...IN_UPGRADE.pdf
If you're going to replace the front with a Metzeler, I'd go with the 90/90. It's about a half inch wider than the 80/90. I replaced both tires on an '03 Wide Glide with Metzerers at about 12,000 miles, putting the 90/90 on the front. Handling was much better than with the Dunlops. Nothing wrong with leaving the Dunlop on the front if you want, though.

You can do better than J&P if you want to shop around.

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/
http://www.swmototires.com/
http://www.ronayers.com/
I know there are better prices than JP offers, but they have some other parts I'm in need of so I won't just be ordering a tire from them. The one other major part I need is only $35.00 (taillight/license plate bracket) and am trying to order enough to get free shipping. Since JP does business in SC (MB bike week), they have to charge sales tax which sucks.

They do have a good price on Thunderheaders which is something I really want, but with Xmas just around the corner, I'm resisting the urge...for now.
 

Last edited by SC-Longhair; Oct 29, 2008 at 08:59 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2008 | 09:05 AM
  #8  
JRK5892's Avatar
JRK5892
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 19,481
Likes: 25
From: Chicago suburbs (Elgin/Schaumburg)
Default

you will be fine with the diff tires back and front... only really makes a huge diff if you are ALWAYS riding in the rain... i say just get the new rear... i replace my front ever 2 - 3 rears
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 29, 2008 | 11:31 AM
  #9  
SC-Longhair's Avatar
SC-Longhair
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
Default

Thinking more about this, you're always going to be buying a rear before a front because the rear takes most of the weight, and is also the part that pushes you forward. I supposed if I was doing more 2-up riding I would have needed a rear much sooner. Actually, I went out riding yesterday to sign an offer on a house and as I rode though my downtown and turned right onto another street there is a coblestone-type crosswalk. I felt my rear slip a bit on the bricks. Was pretty damn interesting. Glad they weren't wet or I'd a been suckin face with the pavement.

I do like the idea of the 180 but just seems like a waste of cash to me.
 
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2008 | 07:27 AM
  #10  
1badcj8's Avatar
1badcj8
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Silver City, NM
Default

Originally Posted by murphdog
SC, Metzeler makes an MH90 as well. Their 80/90 is a little narrower than their MH90. Take a look at their brochure here:
http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/en_US...IN_UPGRADE.pdf
If you're going to replace the front with a Metzeler, I'd go with the 90/90. It's about a half inch wider than the 80/90. I replaced both tires on an '03 Wide Glide with Metzerers at about 12,000 miles, putting the 90/90 on the front. Handling was much better than with the Dunlops. Nothing wrong with leaving the Dunlop on the front if you want, though.

You can do better than J&P if you want to shop around.

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/
http://www.swmototires.com/
http://www.ronayers.com/
murphdog,

I don't see the 90/90 in the brochure, only the MH90. Where did you find it from them? Also you noted that the front was about 1/2" wider than the stock front... What about the rear? What size did you use and is it the 1/2" wider also? That would be perfect if there are no mods needed and good fitment.

Thanks man...
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:56 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE