Tires.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Illinois
Tires.
Ok, it is time for me to ask, then to sit back, read and learn. I thought before I started this thread that it may turn out much like an "OIL THREAD" but then the more I thought the more I realized that maybe not! I think with tires we all can see them in service much unlike oil. We can see and track wear, we can give opinions about tires under certain riding conditions and how they work in adverse tire conditions. I am toying with the idea of new tires as my final thing to do before I put it back on the road, full time service for the upcomming spring, summer and fall riding year. I just got this bike in Oct of last year. I have been down for 7 or 8 years prior to that due to "life and priorities" that came up in my life. In any case in years gone by I swore by Goodyear bike tires. I have to be honest, since I got back up and running and visiting here on this site I have not heard the word Goodyear 1 time while discussing any kind of tire, riding or condition issues. So, whats out there? What are the best tires on the market today for todays motorcycles? If anyone wants to know I will always be running 16's on my Deluxe and I will always have WWWT's to, for me, I just love all that rubber out there in front of me. I think the Deluxe is made for 16's if ever there was a bike made for tires. Please don't jump me by those with the 18's and on up. I think what some people have done here with thier bikes, tires and wheels other then 16's and thier bikes look SMOKIN HOT! You also have TONS of more choices for wheels with the bigger tires too. It's just me, a personal thing for me and how I like those 16's, it has NOTHING to do with one looking better then the other. BUT, I would be interested in hearing about tires all around performance, how they hold up, ride noise, in the rain, tub tires, tubless and so on.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Rhode island
Well I can only speak for dunlops for now. I have no complaints about them, Ive been stuck in huge downpours on highway and back roads and they held up fine. That being said I'm moving to Metz because of size.
As long as you have stock spoke wheels you'll need tubes.
Also I've heard (not only)you say that you love all tire on the road with a 16" . I don't get that won't a 21/120 have more tire on the road? It is just as wide and has a bigger circumference
As long as you have stock spoke wheels you'll need tubes.
Also I've heard (not only)you say that you love all tire on the road with a 16" . I don't get that won't a 21/120 have more tire on the road? It is just as wide and has a bigger circumference
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 884
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From: n
Here's my experience with tires:
I have ran mostly Dunlops and I have no complaints about handling. I wish the wear was a little better. On a Road King and the Heritage I have now I get a little over 5K out of a rear tire and around 20K for a front.
I ran Metzler 880s on the rear of the Heritage and got about 6k. The price was better than the Dunlops. I didn't see the big handling difference other guys rave about. The indie guy I go to bitched about mounting them on a laced wheel. He said they were hard to get on-maybe him or his equipment. I had never heard that from anyone else.
I had Avon Venoms on a Super Glide. They handled really well and were a clear improvement from the Dunlops. I don't remember the mileage and I got rid of the bike before they wore out.
It's about time for a front and rear on the Heritage and I have been thinking about trying some Michelins just for grins. I can't say that I would swear by anyone brand. If I find a tire that'll last 10k on the back, that will be the one would recommend. I'll be watching this thread too.
I have ran mostly Dunlops and I have no complaints about handling. I wish the wear was a little better. On a Road King and the Heritage I have now I get a little over 5K out of a rear tire and around 20K for a front.
I ran Metzler 880s on the rear of the Heritage and got about 6k. The price was better than the Dunlops. I didn't see the big handling difference other guys rave about. The indie guy I go to bitched about mounting them on a laced wheel. He said they were hard to get on-maybe him or his equipment. I had never heard that from anyone else.
I had Avon Venoms on a Super Glide. They handled really well and were a clear improvement from the Dunlops. I don't remember the mileage and I got rid of the bike before they wore out.
It's about time for a front and rear on the Heritage and I have been thinking about trying some Michelins just for grins. I can't say that I would swear by anyone brand. If I find a tire that'll last 10k on the back, that will be the one would recommend. I'll be watching this thread too.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Illinois
Clarify,,,, as far as "all that rubber out ther in front of me" I mean as far as short, fat and the stocky tires out there, the look of the fat tire not so much as the performance of the tire or what is actually out there on the road. It's the look of the 16's I like out there not what is out there on the road or how one performs over the other. I hope I made it clear in my 1st post, it has nothing to do with the look of what others have done with differant size tires on thier bikes. It only has to do with the 16's, how they perform and the best bang for the buck when buying stock size 16" tires.
Last edited by tbonetony06; Jan 28, 2012 at 10:32 AM.
Supporter
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Hoboken, NJ
My Train came with the stock HD Dunlops and I found that they wore quickly. Handling was good.
Since switching to Metzler 880's, I notice a slightly "stickier" feeling to the bike, especially from the front. They were also cheaper (believe it or not) than replacement Dunlops and WAY cheaper than Avons.
Since switching to Metzler 880's, I notice a slightly "stickier" feeling to the bike, especially from the front. They were also cheaper (believe it or not) than replacement Dunlops and WAY cheaper than Avons.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,855
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From: North Carolina
Tony, I can't really speak from much experience, but more from what I've researched recently because I too have been out of the saddle for far to long. 
My list came down to these three, Metzeler, Avon and Pirelli. Not in any particular order, but I would start my search with these 3. I'm guessing the 3 make 16s.
Being that I'm going with the 18 and 21 setup I had trouble finding the size I wanted in the rear and had to have Diamondback add the whitewalls to the set of Avons I went with. I only went with Avon because of their availability. My top choice was the Metzeler but they weren't available until mid to late February in my sizes.
Nothing at all wrong with going with the 16s. I too love the look of the Deluxe with the big fat tires! So my current build made for a difficult decision for me but I figure I can always go back one day or my hope is to just add another bike to the stable so I can have the best of both worlds!
My list came down to these three, Metzeler, Avon and Pirelli. Not in any particular order, but I would start my search with these 3. I'm guessing the 3 make 16s.
Being that I'm going with the 18 and 21 setup I had trouble finding the size I wanted in the rear and had to have Diamondback add the whitewalls to the set of Avons I went with. I only went with Avon because of their availability. My top choice was the Metzeler but they weren't available until mid to late February in my sizes.
Nothing at all wrong with going with the 16s. I too love the look of the Deluxe with the big fat tires! So my current build made for a difficult decision for me but I figure I can always go back one day or my hope is to just add another bike to the stable so I can have the best of both worlds!
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O.k. I'll bring it up early in the thread only cause I myself at 8500mi on a worn stock Dunlop am 60% thinking about the Darkside(Car Tire). I've got 2ea buddies, both on Valkerye's that love them and all I've read about them seems positive by the people that actually have tried them. There's alot of negative also but mostly by people that have never tried them. Cost, milage, Looks, History, Wet weather traction, Lean angle well that's debatable maybe. So let the informed flaming begin!!!
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 884
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From: n
I personally wouldn't do the Darkside thing just because of the looks. There was a guy on this forum who put a camera on the rear tire. It looked to me like the whole lean angle thing was not an issue and that was his point. Maybe on some kind of rat bike or an old chopped 750-4 Honda but not on a Deluxe. Kinda takes the whole "Deluxe" out of it to me.
Last edited by fdb2007; Jan 28, 2012 at 04:12 PM.