Looking to replace my schmidlaps on my 2005 Road King Classic, The Dunlops (specifically the rear) don't last more than 13k miles. Yeah, Yeah, I know most of you would be thrilled to get such mileage out of a rear tire. My buds have black walled METZLERS and get 25k out of them. I really would like to keep the "gangster wide white walls" if I can. Avon makes them, Metzler does not. Has anybody got any information on the AVON tires as to wear statistics etc. Thanks

 

I don't have experience with this specific tire...but I ran a set of Avon Venoms on a Suzuki Intruder. I think I got over 15,000 from them (well..the rear)

They were very sticky. They provided FAR GREATER traction than the marathons I'd used prior.
However, on my Eglide - I'm going back to the Marathons when these dunlops wear out.
I think the type of ride and the way you ride will best determine the tire you use.
the soft feel and traction for a higher torque bike was suited by the use of the Avon Venoms. The eglide and softail I've owned don't hold a candle to the 1400 intruder so I'd never consider the avons for my bike now..they'r just too soft. I want a harder tire..

 

All I run is Avons on both my bikes. On my RG, I got 12k out of my last rear tire and I am on 20k on my front tire and the front still easy has 5k+ to go.

 

avon may not be for you if all you want is long life,I got 9k on the stock tire,around 8k on the avon,now I have a Metzler with about 7k and still looks good,but I dont like the Metzler after running the avon,the avons stick to the road,the dunlops suck,the Metzler sucks for grip compared to the avon,I want my tires to grip more then I want them to last 100k

 

it's too bad that dunlop doesn't make a wide white wall for you guys in the elite 3. they are an amazing tire. it looks like the elite 3 is a very popular tire, if you can handle a blackwall. lots more grip, wear, and handling with the e3. and they don't get your bike to riding like it's drunk when riding on rain grooves. a huge improvement it made on my streetglide.

 

+1 on that! I'm on my second set of the Dunlop E-3's, and I got rid of the wide WW just cause I got so tired of having to keep em clean. Couldn't agree more with EMWolb

 

I am going to Avon Venom-X as soon as my stock Dunlops wear out. I too want to keep the WWW and the Avon 150/80B16 is both the widest tire in a WWW you can fit (6.2" vs 5.51" for stock MU85B16 and 6.1" for E3 160/80B16) and it is a 77V load rating. If the mileage is just decent, with the handling I read about, and the extra width, I will have found my WWW tire.

BTW, here is some width info on several 150/80B16 tires

Dunlop 150/80/1671h is 25.25 dia,6.25" width (not in WWW)
Metzeler 150/80/16 71h is 25.45" dia, 5.85" width
Avon Venom AM42 150/80/16 77V is 25.20" dia, 6.20" width (note higher load rating)

 

I'm running Avons on my 07 RK (WWW) and very pleased. Almost 12K so far and at least another 2-3K left. Admittedly, I'm easy on tires at 165 lbs. and rarely 2-up.

 

Having owned Harleys since the 70s I find I always go back to Avons. But what do you want? Mileage or grip - by definition you cannot have both. As time and technology improves tyre design those two never seem to converge. I don't see there will ever be a time when the best gripping tyre gives the best mileage, so make a choice!

I like to start each riding season on good rubber, so never run my tyres right down to the last mile. My last set of Avon Venoms did around 10k miles, with plenty spare. With 13 inch front discs and 6-pot callipers the front takes a hammering, so I normally change both together.

If you want the very best performance and grip, go with Avons!