View Poll Results: What is the best all around tire?
Michelin Commander II
15
50.00%
Avon Cobra
7
23.33%
Metzeler M888 (these replaced the 880)
5
16.67%
Continental ?
0
0%
Pirelli Night Dragon
2
6.67%
Trojan
1
3.33%
Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll
Tires (Again)
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
I have to admit that if you have a touring model with the fairly fat 16" tires, and ride conservatively, the difference between Harley Dunlops and anything else won't be as noticeable, but put anything in the power delivery above a stock 103 and push hard, you should really notice the difference. Any model with skinny front tires, especially 21" and above, should have a very noticeable difference in handling with tires that don't have "Harley" on the sidewall. No motorcycle should wiggle on tar strips. I wish it wasn't so, would be nice to have Harley on the sidewall of a real performance tire. Maybe someday. Meanwhile, I won't sacrifice handling just for the name.
When I had Harley Dunlops on they would slip on every tar snake and bit of road paint that I went over.
When I went to the other tires Dunlop produced (491 Elite II's, Elite 3's, and now American Elite's) all that slipping went away!!
When I was returning home from the last EVO meetup I was in rain for 100 miles and the AMerican Elites didn't slip at all.
The only times I've gotten any of the Elite series of tires to slip was either in the rain when the tire was bald or coming up out of a low water crossing that still has water in it and the algae/slime caused my rear tire to slip when I rolled on the throttle.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
I have to admit that if you have a touring model with the fairly fat 16" tires, and ride conservatively, the difference between Harley Dunlops and anything else won't be as noticeable
Actually it will be very noticeable.
When I had Harley Dunlops on they would slip on every tar snake and bit of road paint that I went over.
When I went to the other tires Dunlop produced (491 Elite II's, Elite 3's, and now American Elite's) all that slipping went away!!
When I was returning home from the last EVO meetup I was in rain for 100 miles and the AMerican Elites didn't slip at all.
The only times I've gotten any of the Elite series of tires to slip was either in the rain when the tire was bald or coming up out of a low water crossing that still has water in it and the algae/slime caused my rear tire to slip when I rolled on the throttle.
When I had Harley Dunlops on they would slip on every tar snake and bit of road paint that I went over.
When I went to the other tires Dunlop produced (491 Elite II's, Elite 3's, and now American Elite's) all that slipping went away!!
When I was returning home from the last EVO meetup I was in rain for 100 miles and the AMerican Elites didn't slip at all.
The only times I've gotten any of the Elite series of tires to slip was either in the rain when the tire was bald or coming up out of a low water crossing that still has water in it and the algae/slime caused my rear tire to slip when I rolled on the throttle.
Our local Dealer annually has a 50% off tire sale. Unless you purchase your OEM replacement tire then, anything but an OEM Harley tire is cheaper too.
The jury is in and the brand that clearly surpasses the OEM Harley/Dunlop brand for price, performance and wear, is the "Anything But".
By most accounts, OEM tires are much like the stock HD front suspension. "Any" alternative seems to be an improvement. The debate is about "how much", not "if".
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,656
Likes: 9,114
From: Snow Hill, NC
The only issues I have had with any tire I have had was, 1-wearing too fast. 2- cupping badly. 3-not tracking that great on tar snakes or groved roads.
I never really felt unsafe with any brand including my D402's. The size on mine is MU85B16 or 90B16.
I hadn't had a D402 on the bike since it was new and I had to put one on short notice and the D402 was all my Indy had. I rode it to Canada and it did fine on the trip.
My favorite is the Bias ply Elite III by far. I have pushed the bike in the twities in the Smoky mountains to where it drags in corners and it never slipped or spun on me except when hitting dirt or a ice spot.
If I had a lighter bike or a bike that required a bigger tire I might have had different opinion...
I honestly think that the riding style, road quality, road conditions and load weight affect the performance and outcomes of any tire.
Fortunately we have choices and that is what make it great...
Ride on Homey.
I never really felt unsafe with any brand including my D402's. The size on mine is MU85B16 or 90B16.
I hadn't had a D402 on the bike since it was new and I had to put one on short notice and the D402 was all my Indy had. I rode it to Canada and it did fine on the trip.
My favorite is the Bias ply Elite III by far. I have pushed the bike in the twities in the Smoky mountains to where it drags in corners and it never slipped or spun on me except when hitting dirt or a ice spot.
If I had a lighter bike or a bike that required a bigger tire I might have had different opinion...
I honestly think that the riding style, road quality, road conditions and load weight affect the performance and outcomes of any tire.
Fortunately we have choices and that is what make it great...
Ride on Homey.
Last edited by Notgrownup; Jan 7, 2017 at 06:41 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,183
Likes: 2,131
From: W. Texas
I have D402s on the EVO. Had the bike apart and needed a tire in a hurry.
Like mentioned it was all my Indy had at the time. No they are not my preference by any means.
I have run these tires before and I run them a little on the low side for air pressure. 33-34 frt and back with just me. Learned this on trip a few years back. Does reduce the mileage tho.
Probably run them this year and switch to Commander II. Had them before and really liked them as well, they get good mileage too.
WP
Like mentioned it was all my Indy had at the time. No they are not my preference by any means.
I have run these tires before and I run them a little on the low side for air pressure. 33-34 frt and back with just me. Learned this on trip a few years back. Does reduce the mileage tho.
Probably run them this year and switch to Commander II. Had them before and really liked them as well, they get good mileage too.
WP
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,183
Likes: 2,131
From: W. Texas
You spin your rear tyres because you have a poor brand!
As for brand, I've been using Avons on my Harleys since the '70s - none nicer! I now have a Cobra front and Storm rear, Venoms for many years prior to them. Why are they so good? Excellent grip in all conditions, including cold and heavy rain - compliant giving improved ride quality and comfort. If you buy them don't foget to check their website, as the routinely recommend higher pressures than stock tyres.
As for brand, I've been using Avons on my Harleys since the '70s - none nicer! I now have a Cobra front and Storm rear, Venoms for many years prior to them. Why are they so good? Excellent grip in all conditions, including cold and heavy rain - compliant giving improved ride quality and comfort. If you buy them don't foget to check their website, as the routinely recommend higher pressures than stock tyres.
WP
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
I don't run Avons on my Ural sidecar rig, though. They make sidecar rated tires for it, but wow, they're expensive, and the pusher tire wears out fast no matter what brand, so I run Korean dual purpose tires on that, less than half the cost. You get weird wiggles with a sidecar anyway, and if you break the rear loose, no big deal.
Someday I'd like to have a Harley sidecar rig, but I still wouldn't use Avons on it - I'd use car tires!
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 167
Likes: 12
From: florida
the michellins are great,been runnin them for the last 5-6 years,almost twice the miles of alot of the major brands..89 flhtc was gettin 9000 on dunlops, 10000 on conti milestones and 15000 on michellins..for the same price as the others!
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I don't run Avons on my Ural sidecar rig, though. They make sidecar rated tires for it, but wow, they're expensive, and the pusher tire wears out fast no matter what brand, so I run Korean dual purpose tires on that, less than half the cost. You get weird wiggles with a sidecar anyway, and if you break the rear loose, no big deal. Someday I'd like to have a Harley sidecar rig, but I still wouldn't use Avons on it - I'd use car tires!
Someday I'd like to have a Harley sidecar rig, but I still wouldn't use Avons on it - I'd use car tires!
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 842
Likes: 47
From: New Hartford CT
I've been running Continental Milestones for several years now. They were a huge improvement over the Dunlops that were on the bike when I bought it ten years ago, so I've stuck with them. After all that I've heard here, both in this thread and others, next time I'm going to try the Avons. Mileage is not really a concern; I'm primarily interested in performance. If the tires ride and handle better, I don't care if they get less miles.