Dunlop American Elite
 

Put a new set of Dunlop American Elite tires on my Fatboy over the weekend (front MT90-16 rear 150-80-16 stock size for a 2005). My Dealer recommended them over the HD Dunlops that Ive been running since new. Ive gone through 3 rear tires and 2 front and always replaced with the OEM Dunlops. The said I would get a more stable ride, not wiggle on the tar strips and cracks on the freeway at higher speeds and they said I should expect to get more miles out of them than the OEM Dunlops.

They were right the bike tracks much straighter especially at speed than ever before with the OEM Dunlops. Good looking tire too, has an American Flag on the side walls and larger branding info.

Got a good deal on them, $ 50 gift card for buying 2 the front was $ 144.95 and the Rear was $ 168, I R&R the wheels and took them in and they mounted and balanced them free. So about $ 300 out of pocket and $50 gift card. First time Ive ever got a set of tires for this bike for about $250. Im usually at least $ 100-150 more for a set of tires.

So far in the first 200 miles very happy with the choice.

Free mount and balance??? I wish that dealer was in Illinois! They are great tires, big improvement over the 402s. My Ultra takes a mu85-16 on the rear,which is quite a bit fatter than the mt90. The AE mt90-16 front is also a lot fatter than the stock 402.

I'm on my second Elite and it's a good tire, wet or dry. I got about 10k miles on the first one. If you're running the Elite on the rear, I don't recommend running a 402 on the front. On my bike at least it made it squirrelly in high wind and turbulence. Kind if a battle actually. Next front tire will be another 401..

Only bike tires I have ever had on my 2 Road Glides were the stock Dunlops and the American Elites. I honestly couldn't tell any difference in the handling or the tracking of the bikes, no complaints with either tire. But the Elites definitely last longer in my experience.

I'm about to need one soon for my Breakout. I may look into these Elites.

I was looking at them as well, my OEM dunlops run about 6k miles on the back tire, was wondering how those compared in the longevity department.

That (IS) a good deal
Our local dealer quoted me $795 for 2 402's OTD .
$65 to Mnt & Bal ONE . . . that's if I bring them the wheel.
(And that's buying the tire for $50 more than ANYONE else
from them)

Rip-Off artists !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is a total rip off. Cycle Gear Shops mount and balance for $ 25 if you buy the tire from them and $ 50 if you bring your own tire. They have them available to order on line for $ 139 front and 158 rear with free delivery to the store. So both would be less than $350 mounted and balanced and they are available on line for less.
Ive never heard of that much $ to just mount and balance, for $ 695 you are paying a premium even if you buy the tires from them and they do all the work, ride the bike in and they remove the wheels and mount and balance the tires.

My local HD Dealer is too high labor if they remove the wheels, about $ 200 labor. But their tire prices are competitive on the tires and if you buy the tire from them they mount and balance free as long as you bring in the wheels.

Ill know in about 6 -9 months how they last. But the guys at my Dealer and at a Indy shop Ive used both say the Elites will out last the OEM Dunlops. They both said at least 10,000 on the rear and 15,000+ on the front. I hope so because I also have only got 6,000-7,000 on a rear and a little over 10,000 on the front with the OEM

15k+ on the front?? A standard 401 will easily go 20k, so that doesn't sound right..

They also don't have those annoying ribs that you can't get clean!!

On my fronts Ive always had cupping after so I change them out. I dont know if it is because I ride a lot of higher speed canyon roads over freeway miles but that is what i have averaged.

The cupping is due to balance or lack thereof..

Edit: If you're constantly riding a lot of windy roads, that may also cause some cupping. I did get a little cupping myself after riding several thousand miles of mountain roads.

that's about the same quote I got from a local Indy here,for my pair of Elites,and I told them I'd be using Ride0n,so they didn't have to balance them. I hung up the phone,wondering what they were smoking that day!
I bought a tire changer for $60,and changed them myself,with a little help from my girlfriend.

I also use the American Elites on my 07 Fatboy. On my last set, I got a little over 10,000 miles on the rear and about 18,000 on the front. Could have gotten more but why push it.


SUP

Yes probably 30-50% of my riding is windy higher speed canyon roads in the So Cal mountains. A lot of floorboard scraping, replaced 1 set of floor pans and getting close to another. The road surfaces are often rough asphalt and I think that takes its toll on the sides of the tires, my bike has always been smooth on freeways so I dont think Ive had a balance issue.