Dunlop Elite 3 Tires

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May 27, 2008 | 08:48 AM

Hog Yild

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Joined: Jul 2006

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From: Virginia

Dunlop Elite 3 Tires

I'm looking to replace my OEM tires on my 2007 Ultra, and would like to have a fatter tire look with a different tread pattern.
Is anyone running the Dunlop Elite 3 tires with a 150/80-16 on the front and a 160/80B16 on the rear with stock rims. Do they fit? If so was there anything that you had to do to make them fit? Any problems running the stock 3" wide rims?

May 27, 2008 | 10:03 AM

Worm

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Joined: May 2008

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RE: Dunlop Elite 3 Tires

Just a word or caution. Unless you have lots of money, stay clear of the Continential "mile-stones". I've had three on my 04 Ultra Classic and the best I've done is 8500 miles on the rear tire. I'm an old time rider, got the high rpm thing out of my system a long time ago. The last tire I put on was a mile stone and rode from baltimore to the grand canyon and back and when washing the bike after getting home, I saw fabric showing through the tire. 6200 miles, two up, and not real heavy. Continental's selling point is high mileage for dressers but I beg to differ. Pressure was kept at 40 pounds but the thing still wore out. Went back to the OEM cause I'm tired of changing tires!!

May 27, 2008 | 10:39 AM

iclick

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Joined: Sep 2005

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From: Baton Rouge, LA

RE: Dunlop Elite 3 Tires

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Hog Yild

I'm looking to replace my OEM tires on my 2007 Ultra, and would like to have a fatter tire look with a different tread pattern.
Is anyone running the Dunlop Elite 3 tires with a 150/80-16 on the front and a 160/80B16 on the rear with stock rims. Do they fit? If so was there anything that you had to do to make them fit? Any problems running the stock 3" wide rims?

I have an E3 on the rear only of my SG and will replace the original D402 front with an E3 when needed. I installed an MU90-16, which is very close to the stock MU85-16 in height and width, but I think fitting the two tires you mentioned on stock rims would be a mistake. The spec for both of these tires is a 3.50" rim, and stock is 3.00". Both tires are about Â½" wider than stock, and just eyeballing my SG I would say that there is probably not Â¼" of clearance to work with on each side. It would be iffy on the front, and probably impossible on the rear without removing the belt guard. Even then it may hit the belt.

As an aside comment, I would like to report that this tire are wearing much better than the two D402's I've had on this bike, which only managed about 10k each. At 4k this tire barely shows any wear at all, and my guess it will make 15k or more. So far traction has been steady and uneventful, which is good, although I did do a slight fishtale once on a painted yellow lane divider in the rain and in a curve. That happened to me once before on a D402, so I think the lesson learned is to just avoid these when the pavement is wet. I would have to say that based on this limited experience it is a winner.

May 27, 2008 | 12:08 PM

ctmedic

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Joined: Sep 2007

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From: Naugatuck, CT

RE: Dunlop Elite 3 Tires

What iclick said. The Elite 3s are slightly wider then the D402s already and come quite close to the belt guard. I just replaced my OEMs with the Elite 3s before doing a 2300 mile jaunt to Myrtle Beach. I ran these tires though most every situation for tires except extreme switchbacks and they are fantastic.

1. Rain (600 miles worth) held the road like glue (one slip on a tight turn just after it started raining)
2. Highway riding (much quieter tire then the D402) with 2 up loaded with luggage with my shocks set at 25lbs great ride
3. Grated bridges and tar snakes (North Carolina must have the patent on this type of road repairs) Not even a noticlable wiggle of the tire
4. Gravel/Sand rode quite nice, though with the increased "stickyness" of these tires more sticks to it after you stop.
5. Tread design (more like a sport bike) but seems like my footprint is wider then on the OEMs as well

I ran mine at 38 front/40 rear. Next run is in a couple weeks when I pull the camper to Americade in New York State

Frank

May 27, 2008 | 12:11 PM

ironhead3fan

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From: Maryland

RE: Dunlop Elite 3 Tires

Any idea of the cost difference if any?

May 27, 2008 | 12:20 PM

Hog Yild

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From: Virginia

RE: Dunlop Elite 3 Tires

From the comments above I'm thinking it's probably not a good Idea to deviate from the recommended tire widths.
I went back and looked at Avon Venom tires. They make a front tire, the MT90B16 74H which works on a 3.00 wide rim and may be just a bit wider at (5.40")than Dunlop OEM , and they make a rear tire, the 150/80B16 77V which will works on a 3.00 wide rim and is 6.20" wide or the 150/80B16 77H at 5.90" wide. All these tires have reinforced sidewalls for added load cap's.
Does anyone have experance with putting the wider 150 on their FLHT?

May 27, 2008 | 12:25 PM

GrandpaSpike

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RE: Dunlop Elite 3 Tires

Quote:

These tires came on my '07 SERK. I like em. Got 10K miles on the back and 15K on the front. Now getting ready for anohter back tire at 20K. They look like they have no tread, but really perform well in all types of weather. Just my$.02 worth.

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