Dunlop Elite 3 Bias Ply or Radial ?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 35
Dunlop Elite 3 Bias Ply or Radial ?
I am purchasing a new set of tires soon. I have always just gone with the stock Dunlop 402's But after reading all the great reviews on the Elite 3's I think I am going to get those this time.
My question is Dunlop sells these tires in a bias ply and a radial version. Which ones would be better and why ? I will be installing these on a 07 Road King with 16 inch wheels. Also a little confused about what size to get to replace my 402's. I know 16 inch but they come in a lot of sizes for 16 inch wheels.
My current tires are front D402F MT 90B16 and rear D402 MU85B16
Thanks
My question is Dunlop sells these tires in a bias ply and a radial version. Which ones would be better and why ? I will be installing these on a 07 Road King with 16 inch wheels. Also a little confused about what size to get to replace my 402's. I know 16 inch but they come in a lot of sizes for 16 inch wheels.
My current tires are front D402F MT 90B16 and rear D402 MU85B16
Thanks
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Lisbon, Me
I am sure someone will correct me if I', wrong, but you have to use the Bias. The radials don't come in your size. There should be the same size for your front available, and I think you should be able to use an MU90 on the rear instead of the 85 you already have.
Supporter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,133
Likes: 147
From: Grays Creek, NC
Good question, i price watch tires on ebay when i get close to needing new tires and already bought a front tire. Just checked and its bias-belted high-mileage premium what ever that means, i'm sure its just bias ply. So now do i have to get a bias rear or should it matter?
Last edited by hd_rolling; Feb 20, 2012 at 06:42 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
some people will say it doesn't matter, but i've always gone with the 'don't mix radial and bias' theory myself. what tire did you find for the front? i've been looking for a decent front tire but couldn't find squat for the front. rear, easy. front, not so much.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Hutchinson,Kansas
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Road Warrior
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 959
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From: Oswego, IL
Well I went and looked first. There are no radial replacements unless you have custom wheels on a touring bike. So bias it is. I had a set on my last bike. A 1990 Yamaha venture and loved them.
I have heard of guys fitting the 160/80B16 on some touring bikes without modifications. I believe these were the 03 to 08 bikes? With the skinnier final drive belt. There is plenty of discussion here in other threads.
If it were me I would order a set today..... I know as soon as I need tires on my 2011 Limited I will be ordering a set of American Elite tires for it.
I have heard of guys fitting the 160/80B16 on some touring bikes without modifications. I believe these were the 03 to 08 bikes? With the skinnier final drive belt. There is plenty of discussion here in other threads.
If it were me I would order a set today..... I know as soon as I need tires on my 2011 Limited I will be ordering a set of American Elite tires for it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 56
From: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Radials
I would go with radials. If bias were so good then cars would be running them instead of exclusively using radials these days right? Also Goldwings comes stock with them and the first set of radials on my '07 Wing went 31,000 miles and the replacement Elite 3 radials I got now have about 10,000 on them and don't look like they've gone around the block. I'm not expecting to get near that on my bias ply on the new FLHR. I ride solo.