Got my new American Elites put on last week. Went out for a little ride this afternoon and got caught in the rain. Actually kinda glad because I wanted to see how the new tires would be on wet roads. It rained pretty hard through a twisty stretch of road and I took it easy because I'm never sure just how aggressive you can lean on a wet road. Bike handled fine, but I was far from pushing it. A little later on a nice straight stretch going up a hill at about 60 in 4th gear, I rolled on the throttle pretty hard, you know cause it's fun. Well the rear tire actually broke loose and the *** end got squirrelly. Let off and it settled down. Makes me wonder if I'm gonna have to baby these tires in the rain, or maybe just not whack the gas like a jackass.
What's everyone else's experience with these tires in the rain? How are the limits of leaning in the Twisties?

 

I always take it easy with new tires for at least 200 miles. I could imagine new tires in the rain. I had the American Elite and they felt very stable in the rain and dry. I will go with them again when I wear these OEM out.

 

Last summer I rode from Jackson, Miss. to North Carolina on a new set of Elites and it basically rained the entire trip. It was mostly interstate miles and we ran 65-70 in the rain. I was pleasantly surprised at the way the Elites handled.

 

Same with me...great tire in the rain by personal experience unfortunately...lol. Almost half the cost of a same size metzler for me - 240x40-18 and I get about the same mileage.

 

American Elites are just fine in the rain.
Rode from Missouri to Sturgis on my previous Street Glide, and it rained at least once every day.
Sometimes it was coming down pretty good, and I had no issues with the tires at all.

Will be getting a set of Elites installed on my Ultra soon.

 

Good to know. I ordered them based on all of the positive reviews. I have between 100-200 miles on them I figured they would have been safely scuffed in by now, but who knows. The hill where I broke it loose does get a lot of truck traffic; maybe it was particularly slick from diesel drippings, not sure. I guess the bottom line is the tires will be good as long as I remember some common sense.

 

I experienced a little but of squirrely behavior out of them when I first put them on. I just road about 500 miles in the rain last week and the tires performed very well. For whatever reason, it just takes a little bit to break this tire in.

 

Maybe the harder "center-of-tire" compound on these dual-compound tires takes a little longer to break in. Mine have been fine in the rain so far.

OP: what tire pressure are you running? Higher inflation pressure can make tires more prone to breaking loose in the wet.

 

[QUOTE=rv7garage;15193139]Maybe the harder "center-of-tire" compound on these dual-compound tires takes a little longer to break in. Mine have been fine in the rain so far.

OP: what tire pressure are you running? Higher inflation pressure can make tires more prone to breaking loose in the wet.]
I wondered the same thing about the multi tread center patch. I'm running 40 rear/36 front as per Dunlop's recommenation. Assuming my tire gauge is accurate, of course.

 

Gotcha. I run a little less pressure in the rear, 35 psi or so and like it. I never inflate solely based on the mfr recommendations; I try to find what's comfortable for ME.

Try experimenting with pressures. Take it down to 35 psi in the rear (wont hurt a thing), and then go for a ride and feel the difference.

Good luck!