Tires, a better choice?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,709
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From: Snow Hill, NC
Elite III for me on my 07. FLHTC. The American Elite was good as well but no better to me than the Elite III. MU90B16 . The price was better as well. Bought the last time so 8 hav3 a spare in the attic.
Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4,576
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From: Viet Vet, crossroads
Interesting. I have been running ME888 on Guzzi and my ElectraGlides for a few hundred thousand miles. On my Guzzi's ,with a bike weight of 650 pounds, I ran them at 36 PSI front and 40 PSI rear. Got over 15k miles on them usually. On my ElectraGlides, After Dunlop stopped making the 491 in my sizes, I went back to Metzler. On my ElectraGlides I run 40 PSI in the front, and 44 in the rear. I get over 12k out of a rear tire. 22k on he front.
Never had them come apart on me. What PSI were you running? I push my ElectraGlides hard at times. And when traveling, between my and my traveling stuff, I add about 350 pounds of stuff on the bike. So rolling travel weight is over 1100 pounds. I've never had a ME888 fail. The locals that have told me about their ME888 failures, allowed me to check their tire pressures after the bike had bee sitting overnight, and we found that they were 8-10 pounds under where they stated they wanted to be. Both admitted that the rarely check tire pressure. Unscientific, but good enough for me.
Never had them come apart on me. What PSI were you running? I push my ElectraGlides hard at times. And when traveling, between my and my traveling stuff, I add about 350 pounds of stuff on the bike. So rolling travel weight is over 1100 pounds. I've never had a ME888 fail. The locals that have told me about their ME888 failures, allowed me to check their tire pressures after the bike had bee sitting overnight, and we found that they were 8-10 pounds under where they stated they wanted to be. Both admitted that the rarely check tire pressure. Unscientific, but good enough for me.
Both times they came apart I did not know it, they just were throwing chunks of tread off like a truck tire.
I noticed the problem with the next aircheck.
I forget the air P. but it was near the high side as I was heavy and 85MPH most the time out west.
Like i said-the net can be wrong, can be right.
It has happened to a lot of people.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs
I have an 01 Road King I got a couple years ago and it had the stock Dunlops on it and were worn. So I changed them out with the same and 5000 miles of very conservative riding they look like it time for a change. The front tire is ok for the season but the rear is down to 2/32 the front is at 4/32. I know Dunlops are soft but new they seem not to have much tread depth. I had no issues with their ride or performance but being older I dont ride hard anymore. Is there a better choice out there that most agree on that would give me more miles?
All I have ever run are 402s I have considered E3, they were the internet rage a 10 years ago.
Also I think Dunlop is the only American bike tire. Not sure.
I think tire mileage is a lot like the gas mileage thread we just had.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Jun 1, 2018 at 08:32 PM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 269
Likes: 59
From: Akron ohio
I'm very happy with the American Elite's. Not sure you would be though since they are basically the same tire as OEM without that very expensive HD logo on it. Not sure why the Dunlops didn't last for you, they usually do better than the mileage you got. Any chance they were under inflated?
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Jun 1, 2018 at 08:31 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 218
Likes: 15
From: CT
Metzler is a good tire, guess any can have issues, running 85mph, two up loaded to the *****, hours on end in high heat an kill any mc tire. When you go to the "dark side" you may want an 10 ply truck tire LMAO.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 671
Likes: 168
From: Ontario, Canada
I have an 01 Road King I got a couple years ago and it had the stock Dunlops on it and were worn. So I changed them out with the same and 5000 miles of very conservative riding they look like it time for a change. The front tire is ok for the season but the rear is down to 2/32 the front is at 4/32. I know Dunlops are soft but new they seem not to have much tread depth. I had no issues with their ride or performance but being older I dont ride hard anymore. Is there a better choice out there that most agree on that would give me more miles?
I swapped the OE Dunlops in the same size as you for the American Elite and I've been happy so far. Much improved handling over the OE, especially in the rain. Only a few thousand miles on them though so I can't speak for longevity.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 532
Likes: 211
From: Armstrong, BC
Interesting. I have been running ME888 on Guzzi and my ElectraGlides for a few hundred thousand miles. On my Guzzi's ,with a bike weight of 650 pounds, I ran them at 36 PSI front and 40 PSI rear. Got over 15k miles on them usually. On my ElectraGlides, After Dunlop stopped making the 491 in my sizes, I went back to Metzler. On my ElectraGlides I run 40 PSI in the front, and 44 in the rear. I get over 12k out of a rear tire. 22k on he front.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 718
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From: Ozarks
It's hard to make comparisons from different era bikes. 09 and later are getting better mileage than us with the narrower tires.
On my 07 Road King the E3's get a couple thousand more miles but still fall well short of 10k. The old Dunlops were getting 5k max on the rear.
99% 2 up riding. I'm pushing 275lbs and the wife is around 115lbs
On my 07 Road King the E3's get a couple thousand more miles but still fall well short of 10k. The old Dunlops were getting 5k max on the rear.
99% 2 up riding. I'm pushing 275lbs and the wife is around 115lbs
Last edited by Gozzie; Jun 1, 2018 at 11:42 AM.
Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4,576
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From: Viet Vet, crossroads
Never a problem
I did the same with Michelin Commanders and AVON Cobras ..No problems
There is no reason why their tire should come apart, except it is a faulty tire and made for old farts that do the 45 MPH putter putt putt .
There is no reason why their tire should come apart, except it is a faulty tire and made for old farts that do the 45 MPH putter putt putt .