Tires.....
But currently i am in the Emirates and planning to ride here.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 581
Likes: 28
From: Sunbury, PA
Time for new tires on the streetglide. Looking for recommendations. Oem Dunlops or American elites. I know the tire construction is the same but tread pattern is different. Which does better in the rain? Is there any difference in wear?
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 627
Likes: 324
From: Covington, VA
I've always liked Metzeler tires in the past for great traction and durability. Now I have the Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra in OEM size on my 2005 XL883 and I like everything about them except one. The OEM size is not true. They made my bike stand 1" taller and lean over so far that I was constantly trying to find a parking spot that was inclined enough to make it stand upright like before I installed them. My short legs are now at their limit when I am stopped. I compensated for the parking problem by adding a Bung King kickstand pad which is 1" thick.
I always knew that car tires could vary in overall height in different brands even though the nominal size stamped on the tires were the same, but I did not think about motorcycle tires having this same discrepancy. (Maybe ISO doesn't apply to tires.) Before I buy my next tires, I will be sure to do a side-by-side comparison with these, or I will go back to the Dunlop factory tires that came on the bike.
I always knew that car tires could vary in overall height in different brands even though the nominal size stamped on the tires were the same, but I did not think about motorcycle tires having this same discrepancy. (Maybe ISO doesn't apply to tires.) Before I buy my next tires, I will be sure to do a side-by-side comparison with these, or I will go back to the Dunlop factory tires that came on the bike.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 119
From: Penna.
The stock Dunlops (407/408) on my Ultra are wearing exceptionally well. I'm not an aggressive rider and usually get very good miles out of tires but these are better than any others I have had, Dunlop Elite 3's, AE's, Michelins. I know that they're only available at the dealer but they are wearing well. I have 14,000 miles on the back tire now and it doesn't need replacing. I've only had a couple of tires make it to 15,000 miles and they were worn smooth.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,534
Likes: 8,369
From: Inland NW
Check out the Pirelli Night Dragon GT
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 627
Likes: 324
From: Covington, VA
Looks like my next tires will be Metzeler's again, only not these tall Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra models that are on my bike now - I'll do a side-by-side comparison, regardless of what is stamped on the tires. I wish I could remember the model that I had on Vulcan twenty years ago.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 1,281
From: Ky
2 front to 1 rear?
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 627
Likes: 324
From: Covington, VA
I've always gotten twice the miles out of my front tire than the rear on all of my motorcycles which I thought was normal until my friend has been getting different results with Dunlop and Michelin on his Sportster (about 5000K miles on front and rear). He's trying Pirelli now. However, he has the custom Sportster with the tall, skinny front tire where my standard Sportster has the wider, smaller diameter front tire - very similar to all of my past motorcycle wheel/tire combinations.
Last edited by boomerguy; Oct 26, 2019 at 09:16 PM.