Tyres for the 1200 custom sporty
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 230
From: United States
Tyres for the 1200 custom sporty
Ok, this is the last inspection I think in going to get away with with the hoops I have, Can’t say if there going to pass but just Incase I’m looking for a few suggestions for the hog.
Whats the better rubber for the custom ?, I do a fair bit of 2 up riding with the wife so I’m looking for tires that wear well in the middle and have a bit of grip on the edges.
Not sure that they make them still but metlizzer ( I think that’s how it’s spelt ) made a duel compound tire harder in the middle and slightly softer for cornering.
I used to run French Michelin’s on my R6 that was good for about 3,500 km , but stuck like **** to a blanket.
Just looking for cruising rubber that handles with good feedback.
Thanks in advance.
Wiz 🍻
Whats the better rubber for the custom ?, I do a fair bit of 2 up riding with the wife so I’m looking for tires that wear well in the middle and have a bit of grip on the edges.
Not sure that they make them still but metlizzer ( I think that’s how it’s spelt ) made a duel compound tire harder in the middle and slightly softer for cornering.
I used to run French Michelin’s on my R6 that was good for about 3,500 km , but stuck like **** to a blanket.
Just looking for cruising rubber that handles with good feedback.
Thanks in advance.
Wiz 🍻
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
The brand you refer to is Metzeler, a German brand of quality tyres and along with Michelin make tyres suitable for our Harleys, along with many other high profile brands. Having owned Harleys for over 40 years my preferred brand is Avon, owned by Cooper Tires. Don't be fooled by dual compound tyres, as that is simply one style of construction used by some brands, but is not the only design that suits our bikes. One of our bikes is a SuperLow and use Avons, which I can recommend for your bike. Do check their website for the correct recommended pressures, but regard them (as with any brand of tyre) as a starting point. If you are very light or very heavy, adjust pressures by a little down or up to suit. Also add extra pressure to accommodate your wife. Tyres only wear badly when inflated badly!
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 230
From: United States
The brand you refer to is Metzeler, a German brand of quality tyres and along with Michelin make tyres suitable for our Harleys, along with many other high profile brands. Having owned Harleys for over 40 years my preferred brand is Avon, owned by Cooper Tires. Don't be fooled by dual compound tyres, as that is simply one style of construction used by some brands, but is not the only design that suits our bikes. One of our bikes is a SuperLow and use Avons, which I can recommend for your bike. Do check their website for the correct recommended pressures, but regard them (as with any brand of tyre) as a starting point. If you are very light or very heavy, adjust pressures by a little down or up to suit. Also add extra pressure to accommodate your wife. Tyres only wear badly when inflated badly!
I have about ~ 5,500 on the sporty now and I’d have to say 4000 of them would be 2 up.
Now I won’t go as far as saying that what I’ve got is toast, just getting a little thin and I’m prepping my self for replacement time.
But I will look into the Avon’s you suggest and even shoot them an email as to their thoughts and share that with the group.
Thx again
Wiz 🍻
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Wiz, don't let your tyres get too 'thin' as you will find that the last bit of thread suddenly disappears pretty quickly! That is also when they are most vulnerable to punctures. Fine if most of your riding is fairly local, but if the two of you like longer rides to places you are not familiar with, then fit new tyres soon! You may also find that with new tyres (of most brands) your ride quality is magically improved as well. Happens with every set of new tyres!
On the subject of punctures, our front and rear tyres sometimes seem to plot against us. The sneaky front tyre runs over a tack and flips it up into the path of the rear tyre - the dumb thing promptly runs over it and - hey presto - a tack in a tyre! In over 50 years of riding I've had mostly rear tyre punctures, rarely front ones.
On the subject of punctures, our front and rear tyres sometimes seem to plot against us. The sneaky front tyre runs over a tack and flips it up into the path of the rear tyre - the dumb thing promptly runs over it and - hey presto - a tack in a tyre! In over 50 years of riding I've had mostly rear tyre punctures, rarely front ones.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 430
Likes: 130
From: Harley ville
good point. I was in Hampton beach last year. on a worn tire to get the last of life out of it. course got a puncture. Now have a tire at my house. As always tack attack when the tread is thin. so you are spot on...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 433
From: Arkansas
Personally I like Avon Cobra tires, I ran them on my 01 Sporty 883 and on my 05 Softail Deluxe. These are soft tires and wear fairly quick. I get 15K miles on front and 5-10K miles on the rear.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
I like Avons for grip, ride and not following tar snakes and cracks like the Harley Dunlops on most Sportsters. Some people have reported low mileage with them, others say about the same as most. One thing about Avons, they'll want a bit higher pressure than the manual says for those Dunlops. They have recommended pressures on their website, as Mr Brown said. Even if you get another brand, good to check the manufacturer website, there are others that run higher pressures, too. Avons, and others now, don't have the balancing dots on the tire. If you change your own tires, rotate the unseated tire around the rim until you find the least out of balance spot and seat it there. I do that even when I don't use weights but either balancing beads or RideOn, the liquid stuff. I didn't know my 1200C could grind the rear muffler till I put Avons on it, before that the Dunlop broke loose first. Probably lucky I didn't grind both mufflers when that happened - a few times. 
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Avons let you take off the darned silly chicken spikes that come on the rider's footrests of some bikes.... 
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