Hey bud,

How's it going? Yeah, some car tires may last 5 times longer than a crappy MC tire but not 5 times longer than the stock 407.
I just replaced mine after 11,175 miles. Not bad, uh? I had a new American Elite mounted Saturday.
No way a CT will last 55K miles on my bike, I can see 25K-30K but not more. The roads in PA are tough on tires.
You're a darksider?

Happy 4th of July.

 

Not yet.. I won't need a new rear tire til next season but keeping options open. The american elite is on the short list..

 

It's too early for me to say anything about the American Elite. We'll see. I got it from Jake Wilson in September last year, when they were still accepting $20 off coupons on tires. Not anymore.
I paid $132.99 with free shipping so I couldn't pass.

If I was going to the darkside, I'd consider the General Altimax but the narrowest size is 205/60-16 and I don't think it'll fit.
I don't want a Dunlop SP5000 nor a Bridgestone. I've had bad experiences with these 2 tires on a car.
Plus I haven't found a mechanic here accepting to mount a CT on a bike so I'm still a "lightsider". I'd like to try though. I'm not prejudiced. <g>

 

It will fit. A forum member (kingkingking) is running a 200 metzler on his stock 16" rim. I just ask him the other day how it was doing. He said he's going back to a 180 when it wears out. Read his answer to my question in this thread:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...s-trouble.html

 

I believe the american elite is the exact same tire as the h-d badged tire. Should work out well.

 

I went with a 195/60/16 car tire on my 09' RK and it is .59" wider than the 180, leaving approx. 1/4" on each side. All the other dimensions are the same, keeping the speedometer reading the same.

 

I have plenty of time to change my mind but next spring when I'm due for a tire, I'm thinking dark side. Just have to see if the local indy/trike builder will mount it for me ???

 

I was fortunate; a local HD shop did the mount for me. I do know the owner, being best friends with his son all through high school might have had something to do with it.

You can use the conversion comparison below to make sure you use something as close as stock as possible:

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.dos