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I asked this question a while back and the members basically said the avon cobras, Michelin Commander II and the dunlops Elite 3 were the best for hard riding in the bends and long distance.
but it all depends on how you ride as the compound is important on how you handle your bike.
I owned a set of Metzlers on my Road King and was very happy with them. I now run stock Dunlops. I'm OK with them, and have about 10k on them with a lot of tread left, but I am paying close attention to this post, to see what the general consensus is. Sounds like the Michellin Commander II is the one that has had the best reviews.
I took a set of MC II's off my FB after 4k miles due to uneven tire wear.. had choppy uneven wear only on the right side of the frt tire. didn't trust the rear after seeing how soft the frt tire was in construction compared to the frt Dunlop so I put a Dunlop on the rear also. bike handles so much better in the turns with the dunlops..
to add, the Michelin pilot was recalled for this same reason, but mich says the tire wear is normal for the commander II's.. f mich..
I switched to Avons 12 years ago , When I need Tires I don't even Look around , I just buy Avons , I Likes-um ,
I get bout 9,000 on the Rear and 12,000 on the front.
Can't speak to bagger tires but my glide eats Dunlops. I put Pirelli Night Dragons on last spring. Love the damn things....way more secure and responsive than the Dunlops. I would have already noticed wear on the Dunlops at 4-5K.....can't even tell the Pirelli's have been on the ground.
I use the D402. I know, everyone hates them. The thing is, I've been riding on them for so long, I'm confident in them. I know what they can and can't do and how far you can push them. I've been seriously considering that taxi tire some people use though. I'm tired of going through a rear tire every 8-10 grand. How some people get 15 or more out of them is beyond me.
Get round ones made out of a rubber compound is my advice. I run Dunlops on my 03 Heritage. Get about 15,000miles on the back 24,000 on the front roughly, safely. Michelins on my 98 Wideglide. So far the Michelins have only 6,000 miles on them. Metzlers never made that on the Wideglide. hate Metzlers. I don't even want someone running Metzlers riding near me.
I had stock Dunlops, then whent through two set of Michelin CII's, and now Metzelers. My FLSTF runs with radials, and without a doubt the 880's are far better tires on my Fatboy both in wear and handling, especially on wet roads. Night and day difference. Will never go back to the CII's.
That said, 5-6 of my riding friends went to the CII's after I did, and they're getting great wear from them and still love them.
Last edited by mmancuso; May 29, 2014 at 07:07 AM.
Have about 350 miles on a new set of Michelin Commander II.
Great handling much better then Dunlops that came with the bike.
Will take time to see how long they last. But with the better handling willing to give up some miles.
Rest assured,you won't give up miles for the handling. 13,000 on a set of Commander ll's,on a Road King. Easily will go 20,000,which is about what I got from Dunlop E3's. But the Michelins out perform the Dunlops in traction,and a much smoother ride. I ride mostly mountain roads,lot of gravel,and the difference in handling was dramatic.
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