I need 4 tires! ...two for my 1998 XLH1200 Sporty, and two for my 2002 Deuce. The Deuce comes first – its tires have the least tread and the most years. A few days ago I was nearly passed by my rear wheel in a panic stop – at least, that’s how it felt.

For two tires and a tube, I'm looking at:
$295.98 Pirelli Night Dragon
$303.98 Michelin Commander II
$313.98 Metzeler ME888
$357.98 Avon Cobra

Traction is most important to me -- cornering, wet pavement.
Longevity is next.
Price is the least important – there isn’t really that much difference.

I mostly ride solo, but we're two up fairly often. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience and opinions of these tires. We want to make a couple-day trip soon, and I really want new tires first.

Paul in East Troy WI

 

I have a Deuce rear wheel in my old Glide and have ridden Harleys for umpteen years. My preferred choice is Avon. They do Cobras for both wheels on your Sporty and Deuce front wheel, a Storm for your Deuce rear. I have Cobra front and Storm rear on my Glide.

 

avons are really good,i have always run a cobra on the front and various brands on the rear, i never like the tread pattern on the avon i ran on the rear but it was a great tyre and excellent in the wet, i have a metzler 888 on a the moment,best tread pattern but in the week i have had it on in the wet it spun up off from the lights and got a bit sideways on a corner all within 5 minutes,now i am not sure if it was the tyre or traces of lubricant on tyre from fitting,hairy!! i put the metzler on as a replacement for the pirelli,night dragon,now that was excellent tyre,loved it
they say the pirelli and metzler coe out of the same factory

 

I was under the impression that Pirelli are owned by Metzeler these days, but in fact it is the other way around, according to Wikipedia. Pirelli bought Metzeler in 1986. According to their own website Pirelli have factories in 13 countries, so it makes sense that some of those probably manufacture both brands.

Avon have recently replaced their Storm 2 with a Storm 3, so having mentioned I have one on my Glide, a Storm 2, I'm in the process of fitting Storm 3s to both my SuperLow and Firebolt. Can't have too much of a good thing!