The more load you carry, more highway miles the harder you ride all takes the toll on mileage. I have at least 12-13k on my Avons and they are still good the rear is getting down there and will change it out soon as it's summer and doing long trips soon. A Metz is about the same. I'll take the sfot rubber over the hard tires any day of the week

 

yeah man..8,000 miles is pretty decent for a Metzeler

 

Panky, one of my ridin' buds just had one these put on his 07 Softail
Standard Saturday. It's a new size Dunlop came out with in their
Elite 3 series of tires. His Standard uses 200-55X17 tires and gets
between 10-15k out of Metzlers and Avons so he decided to give
Dunlops another shot.
http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire...merican-elite/

 

I average 12k with the 880 on the RK. Make sure tire has the 77h weight rating vs 71h. On the electra I'm currently running the E3 in 80h and it shows minimal wear at 5k but the 880 is still my favorite tire in wet conditions.

 

I've been running the 880s for a couple of years now. Some wear, but looks like they will last another summer. Certainly better ride than any other tire I've owned.

 

That is a prime example of why I don't like or run the ME tires. 8000 miles and worn out is not all that uncommon for them! I also find that the Michelin tire compound is to hard for me but you will get better milage out of them but they are not very good for wet traction. Dunlops are all I will ever run anymore. I get the milage I expect out of them and I feel they give me the best wet traction out of the bunch.

 

Everybody talks about grip = soft coumpound etc...i have pushed a EIII as hard in the twisties in the NC mountains as hard as the Night Dragon or the Avon Venom or the Commander and grip as nbever been an issue....When i have a new tire on it always feels better than anything else because i just took off a tire that was ready to come off....Also if you ride 5000 miles a year and only have to change a tire once a year then run what you prefer but if you put 20000 miles a year then it's a different story if you have to change your tire 4 times in a year...
Basically though it boils down to running what you feel comfortable running but if you can get 8000 miles out of a ME880. Your bike, your money, your choice.
Ride safe,

 

Picked up an 06 fatboy last week, bike has 7500 they had just replaced the rear and I put on a new front. It was worn to tread wear marks and had cupping. They were the original 402 hd dunlops. I think they mostly rode 2 up. But 7500 is not too good for tires to me. I would like to see around 10k front and rear. I wonder if the solid wheels play a part also?

 

I have stock Dunlops on my Fat Boy.........I'm averaging about 7K per rear........I'm thinking you're doing well at 8-10K.

 

My 200mm always only last about 4,500 miles!