Some of you know that last year, at about 3400 miles on my Breakout, I changed from the factory Dunlop rear tire to a 30% lighter Pirelli Diablo
240/40ZR-18 79V part no. 1682600, and the experiment was a terrific success. It was like the bike got rid of "concrete overshoes" at the rear, and became MUCH more eager to turn without effort.

Yesterday, at about 6600 miles, I again replaced the rear with a brand new but same part number Pirelli, but also replaced the front Dunlop tire with an Avon tire. (Both tires still had a few hundred miles in them, but I like to change out tires BEFORE the reduced tread depth starts to invite more punctures and misbehavior in rain).

The resulting change in the front end was immediately and vividly apparent - sort of like dropping another concrete overshoe. The bike is really nimble now.

The front tire I had installed was an Avon Front AM41 Venom X 120/70H-21 68H Blackwall Tire - 90000000753
Here are its specs:

Dimensions:
Inflated Width/Measuring Rim Width: 4.7"/3.50"
Inflated Diameter: 27.9"
Acceptable Rim Width: 3.00"-3.75"
Deepest Tread Depth: 7/32"
Width of White Stripes: Not applicable
Balance Dot: None
Directional Arrow: Yes
Speed Rating: H-rated for speeds up to 130 MPH

Capacities and Construction:
Load Capacity/Inflation Pressure: 654 lbs/ 42 PSI
Load Range: C
Bias or Radial Ply: Bias
Tread Plies/Material: 4 nylon
Sidewall plies/Material: 4 nylon
DOT approved for road use: Yes
Tube or tubeless: Tubeless

Specs
Aspect Ratio 70
Construction Bias
Position Front
Rim Size 21
Sidewall Blackwall
Speed Rating H
Tire Classification Cruiser/Touring
Tube Type Tube or Tubeless
Units Each
Width 120
Weight 10.6 lbs

Some key measurement differences from the stock Dunlop are:

- 27.9" versus 27.5" inflated diameter
- 7/32" starting tread depth versus 5/32"
- Load capacity of 654 lb versus 598
- Different cross tread profile
- 120mm versus 130mm width
- Weight of 10.6 lb versus 13.07 lb.

Note that both tires, the stock Dunlop and the replacement Avon, are bias ply versus radial, even though HD puts a radial on the rear!

I had some specific reasons for picking this particular tire:

- The 20% lighter weight

- A different profile, because clearly the Dunlop didn't like to change direction much

- More starting tread depth, because it is tread wear depth that necessitates retiring of the tire, not age

- The 0.4" larger diameter was beneficial to me because my breakout has a rear lowering kit, and when I got my "Biker Bar" transport system that allows hauling the bike in my trailer with ZERO tie-downs, my bike was actually too low to clear the Biker Bar even with the Biker Bar set to its lowest height! I had my HD dealership raise the bike as much as the lowering kit allows, and that works, but the extra 0.4/2 = 0.20" rise in the front end with the larger tire diameter will slightly increase the suspension compression when in the Biker Bar, and that's good because it is ok right now but could be better for better peace of mind when bumping along a rough road.

This was a GREAT change, that further improved the bike versus just changing the rear tire. Even my trusted mechanic at the HD dealership remarked on how good the bike felt during the test ride with the new tire.

Another option for others to consider when it's time to replace the front tire.

Jim G

 

Thanks for the info Jim, I was thinking of trying the Pirelli Diablo with my next rear tire change after reading your original post, but seeing that you only got 3200 miles with a few hundred left on it, I think Ill reconsider. That's worse than 5k I got out of the stock Dunlop, which I thought wasn't very good!

 

No kidding, that is some terrible mileage out of a tire. No wonder it weighs less.

 

What sort of mileage are the stock tyres giving then?

 

[QUOTE=youraemoo;14480414]
youraemoo I sent you a pm asking price and pics of the parts you are selling since you no longer have a Breakout. Look forward to hearing back from you.

 

No! My mileage is deceptive.

I live in Austin, Texas, where the heat chews through tires very quickly, even though I am a very conservative rider. Proof: my factory Dunlop rear tire lasted only 3400 miles. The Pirell at 3200 still has about 500 miles in it per estimate of the HD service advisor who measured its tread, and confirmed by my own tread consumption calculations (I check the tread regularly with a digital tread depth gage and record the readings).

Even my FRONT tire was getting pretty low on tread at 6600, with maybe 800 miles left. I changed it at the same time just to turn 2 shop visits into 1 (I had already pre-bought the tire online).

The pavement here in Austin gets truly hot in the heat, and that kills tires quickly. In the months between May and October, I prefer to go for my rides very early in the morning, because the afternoon temperatures are just unbearable (the wind stream at highway speed HEATS you when the temperature is above normal body temperature of 98.6!!).

The other factor is that everyone seems to have noticed that the tread life of the 240 width tires on the Breakout is surprisingly short, even when you ride conservatively. Not sure why that is. The 3400 to 3900 miles I am getting in the Texas heat is notably lower than what I got on my Honda VTX 1800R, a bike that weighed almost 800 lb and that with just a "Stage 1 kit" (intake and exhaust) produced more torque than even my Stage 4 Race kitted Breakout does.

Basically, the Pirelli has the same or better tread life as the Dunlop, but performs way better. Like night and day better. The Pirelli and the Avon both are available at bargain prices online if you take the time to look at more than just a couple of vendor sites. I paid around $170 for the Pirelli 240 rear, and about $158 for the front Avon, both with free shipping.

Jim G

 

I hate mixing brands or models of tires. IMO it looks not too good to have the different tread patterns and other differences there are. Why didn't you get a Pirelli Diablo front?

 

There is no Pirelli Diablo front tire available in the correct size.

Worrying about difference brand and tread on front versus rear may be a little over the top when many Harley models come from the factory with entirely different WHEELS front and rear!

And, looks of tires MIGHT be important, but performance certainly is MORE important!

Jim G

 

I've got 3900 miles on my Dunlop D407. I've still got a lot of tread left. Hoping to get over 5000.

 

You're in Florida I see, which does not get as hot as Central Texas (105 to 108 degree highs in July and August).

But maybe I'm using more of that Stage 4 Race kit than I thought . . .

Jim G