WHAT BRAND OF TIRES
Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: Citizen of the Republic of Texas, now in GA
RE: WHAT BRAND OF TIRES
ORIGINAL: iclick
What is the origin of this information? I haven't heard this one before, and the original 402 on my '07 SG is wearing about like I anticipated, i.e. similar to previous 402's. I purchased 402's for my '96 RK mostly because Metzeler didn't make a NWW in the stock 130x16 size for the rear, and the 140 they did offer didn't fit the bike. As I mentioned before, I never had any issues with 402's, which is another reason I stayed with Dunlop. Now that I have an SG that reportedly will take a Metzeler 140 or 150 I may try one, but only if the price is very close to a 402, and only if there is evidence that it performs better and durability is nearly equal.
All the 402's I purchased for my RK (about eight rears in all) were purchased outside of the HD network, since Dunlops purchased from HD dealers cost considerably more than on-line dealers. I bought three or more on Ebay, usually new-bike take-offs, but that source has largely dried up since people have discovered it and the prices have escalated to a level similar to buying new tires on-line. Why buy a new-bike take-off when a new tire is available for the same price? I now have tire-mounting gear and the last two tires I've purchased I've mounted and balanced myself, with the help of one or more friends, a practice I plan on continuing.
ORIGINAL: vegashd
Everyone keeps missing the main point as to why they do not like there OEM dunlops that cam eon their bike. they are made of DIFFERENT compouns then the 402s you buy over the counter outside of a MOCO part number. If you order the HD 402s from Drag or Bikers choice the compund is COMPLETELY different. This makes for more traction. The OEM tire was designed to get mileage out of it by use of different and usually harder compounds.
Everyone keeps missing the main point as to why they do not like there OEM dunlops that cam eon their bike. they are made of DIFFERENT compouns then the 402s you buy over the counter outside of a MOCO part number. If you order the HD 402s from Drag or Bikers choice the compund is COMPLETELY different. This makes for more traction. The OEM tire was designed to get mileage out of it by use of different and usually harder compounds.
All the 402's I purchased for my RK (about eight rears in all) were purchased outside of the HD network, since Dunlops purchased from HD dealers cost considerably more than on-line dealers. I bought three or more on Ebay, usually new-bike take-offs, but that source has largely dried up since people have discovered it and the prices have escalated to a level similar to buying new tires on-line. Why buy a new-bike take-off when a new tire is available for the same price? I now have tire-mounting gear and the last two tires I've purchased I've mounted and balanced myself, with the help of one or more friends, a practice I plan on continuing.
I can easily understand someone/anyone prefering one tire to another, but I also understand where iclick is coming from. Are preferences becoming myths becoming designated facts? If it is a preference, just say that it is your preference.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: WHAT BRAND OF TIRES
ORIGINAL: tpburly
put me 880 on my ultra 5000milesago, great tires, much better than the dunlops, and seem to be wearing about the same.
put me 880 on my ultra 5000milesago, great tires, much better than the dunlops, and seem to be wearing about the same.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 423
Likes: 1
From:
RE: WHAT BRAND OF TIRES
Thats why I have continued to stick with DUNLOPS!
ORIGINAL: iclick
I'm not arguing with any of you guys who claim Metzelers are better tires, but no one yet has qualified the term "better." IOW, why are they it better? Do they ride smoother? If they handle better as some have claimed, how so? Describe it. Just saying they're "better" doesn't tell me anything, and I'm trying to learn here. Not that it matters a hoot to anybody, but I won't switch 'til I see evidence the tire both performs better and is at least as durable as a 402 under the same conditions. I've ridden quite a few miles on top of Dunlops with few queasy moments (each described earlier) and no accidents. Basically, if it ain't broke, why fix it? And I just want somebody to tell me why I need to fix it.
ORIGINAL: tpburly
put me 880 on my ultra 5000milesago, great tires, much better than the dunlops, and seem to be wearing about the same.
put me 880 on my ultra 5000milesago, great tires, much better than the dunlops, and seem to be wearing about the same.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,341
Likes: 0
From: Dover, Oh
RE: WHAT BRAND OF TIRES
ORIGINAL: Longtimegone
I'd kind of like to know where that statement came from, too. Does not sound right at all.
I can easily understand someone/anyone prefering one tire to another, but I also understand where iclick is coming from. Are preferences becoming myths becoming designated facts? If it is a preference, just say that it is your preference.
ORIGINAL: iclick
What is the origin of this information? I haven't heard this one before, and the original 402 on my '07 SG is wearing about like I anticipated, i.e. similar to previous 402's. I purchased 402's for my '96 RK mostly because Metzeler didn't make a NWW in the stock 130x16 size for the rear, and the 140 they did offer didn't fit the bike. As I mentioned before, I never had any issues with 402's, which is another reason I stayed with Dunlop. Now that I have an SG that reportedly will take a Metzeler 140 or 150 I may try one, but only if the price is very close to a 402, and only if there is evidence that it performs better and durability is nearly equal.
All the 402's I purchased for my RK (about eight rears in all) were purchased outside of the HD network, since Dunlops purchased from HD dealers cost considerably more than on-line dealers. I bought three or more on Ebay, usually new-bike take-offs, but that source has largely dried up since people have discovered it and the prices have escalated to a level similar to buying new tires on-line. Why buy a new-bike take-off when a new tire is available for the same price? I now have tire-mounting gear and the last two tires I've purchased I've mounted and balanced myself, with the help of one or more friends, a practice I plan on continuing.
ORIGINAL: vegashd
Everyone keeps missing the main point as to why they do not like there OEM dunlops that cam eon their bike. they are made of DIFFERENT compouns then the 402s you buy over the counter outside of a MOCO part number. If you order the HD 402s from Drag or Bikers choice the compund is COMPLETELY different. This makes for more traction. The OEM tire was designed to get mileage out of it by use of different and usually harder compounds.
Everyone keeps missing the main point as to why they do not like there OEM dunlops that cam eon their bike. they are made of DIFFERENT compouns then the 402s you buy over the counter outside of a MOCO part number. If you order the HD 402s from Drag or Bikers choice the compund is COMPLETELY different. This makes for more traction. The OEM tire was designed to get mileage out of it by use of different and usually harder compounds.
All the 402's I purchased for my RK (about eight rears in all) were purchased outside of the HD network, since Dunlops purchased from HD dealers cost considerably more than on-line dealers. I bought three or more on Ebay, usually new-bike take-offs, but that source has largely dried up since people have discovered it and the prices have escalated to a level similar to buying new tires on-line. Why buy a new-bike take-off when a new tire is available for the same price? I now have tire-mounting gear and the last two tires I've purchased I've mounted and balanced myself, with the help of one or more friends, a practice I plan on continuing.
I can easily understand someone/anyone prefering one tire to another, but I also understand where iclick is coming from. Are preferences becoming myths becoming designated facts? If it is a preference, just say that it is your preference.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: WHAT BRAND OF TIRES
ORIGINAL: LAWMAN
Thats why I have continued to stick with DUNLOPS!
Thats why I have continued to stick with DUNLOPS!
ORIGINAL: iclick
Basically, if it ain't broke, why fix it? And I just want somebody to tell me why I need to fix it.
Basically, if it ain't broke, why fix it? And I just want somebody to tell me why I need to fix it.
Disclaimer: Again, I'm not saying Dunlop is the superior or even the equal of the Metzeler 880, but I wonder how substantive these claims of Metzeler superiority are.
Still seeking evidence, I remain, the eternal sceptic...
Bob
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,307
Likes: 9,427
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
RE: WHAT BRAND OF TIRES
I have had good luck with Contenentals, both good mileage and handling. Last set got over 15000 on rear and they are not on strike and are readily available.
http://www.conti-online.com/generato...estone_en.html
http://www.conti-online.com/generato...estone_en.html
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,871
Likes: 4
RE: WHAT BRAND OF TIRES
I don`t know if this is scientific enough for you i put 10,000 miles on stock dunlop, no problem with tires, i switched to met 880 only because they were in stock and i felt all the top brands were comp, as a matter of fact they had avon so i flipped a coin and metz won, i now have 3000 miles on them, and i can tell you they look better they are diffently a softer ride, and they corner better, that said are they made better who knows will i buy them next time yes, so to me the prooof is in the pudding, there is a difference to me in what matters
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 97
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From:
RE: WHAT BRAND OF TIRES
from what I understand from my offroading days... figure it would hold true for motorcycle tires as well. Their are two important compounds in tires, essentially rubber and plastic. High mileage tires have a higher plastic content in them, they don't wear out near as fast and you can get 60,000 miles on a set without a sweat... but get them on wet or ice and your bound for some exciting moments. Typically low profile tires that are z-rated used on most high power to weight ratio cars like vettes foreign sports cars... those tires are usually exceedingly expensive and mostly rubber. You'll get about 20,000 miles on a set and they'll be done, but boy are they sticky. Correlating now to motorcycles metzers probably have a higher rubber to plastic ratio giving them better grip and probably have a softer sidewall making them a bit more absorbing of road vibration. The stock dunlops I figure have a bit more plastic to rubber content I think are great tires for a bit more longevity... ultimately I think the difference is probably negligable... if one is better than the other one... I can't imagine it would be by much.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From:
RE: WHAT BRAND OF TIRES
I'm going with Metz next time just so I can form my own opinion. My HD dealer tells me that I won't like them as much as the Dunlops because they are less stable in slow speed manuevers. He indicated to me that the reason for this is because of the contour of the ME880 vs. the OEM Dunlops. I have no idea if he's right, so I'm going to find out for myself.