Tires
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
Tires
Is there any good reason I can’t run an American Elite in front and a stock Dunlop on the rear of my Ultra? Dealership wants $240 for the stock Dunlop front tire and I can buy an AE for $150ish.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 578
Likes: 522
From: Durango CO
If your front and rear tire don't match tread and brand you may be riding along and suddenly loose control and veer off the road and die.
Or at lest that's what some people say. Even motorcycle tire manufacturers say such things. I have never followed this advice. I would switch brands by replacing the tires as they wear out. One brand in front and one in the rear. I would pay close attention to the handling when riding mismatched tires and never noticed the slightest handling issues. I've been riding cycles for about 40 years and never had an issue with mismatched tires.
Or at lest that's what some people say. Even motorcycle tire manufacturers say such things. I have never followed this advice. I would switch brands by replacing the tires as they wear out. One brand in front and one in the rear. I would pay close attention to the handling when riding mismatched tires and never noticed the slightest handling issues. I've been riding cycles for about 40 years and never had an issue with mismatched tires.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
IMO stock Dunlops are about the worst tire you can put on a bike!!!!!!!!!!!
They slipped on every tar snake and road paint that I've ever ridden them on.
I decided a few years ago that I would never ride a bike with stock Dunlop tires on it again.
That said I'm a huge fan of Dunlops Elite series tires!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In other words instead of just changing the front tire change them both.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,167
From: SE Michigan
The only thing I remember being told is not to mix bias and radial. Don't know if that's good advice or bunk. Looks to me like the AE is a bias tire.
Some D407s (rear tire) are radial.
What year is your bike?
Some D407s (rear tire) are radial.
What year is your bike?
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 521
Likes: 31
From: Nebraska
I'm currently running a AE on the front and stock on the rear.(front stock cupped badly) No problem. On my 16 RGS I ran a stock on front and AE on rear( flat on stock rear). No problem. Tire change is a good time to put a angled valve stem on. I recommend " Curvy Girl" valve stems.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,149
Likes: 2,975
From: WACO
Don't mix. IMHO. Tires are tires. They are made out of rubber. They wear out. We will always be replacing them. I am not of the school that if you mix brands that your bike will spin off into an alternate universe.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,167
From: SE Michigan
I wasn't talking about mixing brands, I was talking about mixing type - bias v radial
