Wheels/Tires Questions and discussion about wheels and tires should be posted here.

Tar Snakes

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 5, 2023 | 12:46 PM
  #11  
eighteight's Avatar
eighteight
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 7,444
From: OH
Default

Metzelers since the `80s
No complaints.
Im quite sure there are other good brands , just never felt compelled to experiment.
 
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2023 | 12:46 PM
  #12  
sherob's Avatar
sherob
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 3,608
Likes: 3,886
From: CO
Default

Dunflop's are horrible! Anything is better!

The road outside of my hood before they repaved it 3 months ago... this was an interesting experience during the summer on my bikes... always squirrely.





 
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2023 | 01:36 PM
  #13  
RANGER73's Avatar
RANGER73
Club Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,435
Likes: 7,127
From: Beyond Fucital
Default

Also, I've found the Metzler's grip better on wet surfaces.
The only CON is they're a softer tire, so you won't get the same milage out of them.
But it's worth it.
JMO
 
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2023 | 07:44 PM
  #14  
MLZ's Avatar
MLZ
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100
Likes: 2
From: Utah
Default

Originally Posted by sherob
Dunflop's are horrible! Anything is better!

The road outside of my hood before they repaved it 3 months ago... this was an interesting experience during the summer on my bikes... always squirrely.


That's what I'm talking about. I don't see why road maintenance allows this kind of repair.
 
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2023 | 08:36 PM
  #15  
MedicineBow's Avatar
MedicineBow
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,636
Likes: 11,337
From: Colorado Rockies
Default

Originally Posted by sherob
Dunflop's are horrible! Anything is better!

The road outside of my hood before they repaved it 3 months ago... this was an interesting experience during the summer on my bikes... always squirrely.


If you ever ride 285 through Turkey Creek Canyon, be careful. The snakes have taken out more than one rider.

Speaking of snakes, my ex was riding her Sportster up Deer Creek Canyon and almost ran over a rattle snake. She never saw the snake and I was right behind her.
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2023 | 03:42 AM
  #16  
eighteight's Avatar
eighteight
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 7,444
From: OH
Default

Originally Posted by MLZ
That's what I'm talking about. I don't see why road maintenance allows this kind of repair.
It`s a minor problem called infrastructure vs budget
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2023 | 10:10 AM
  #17  
Old New Rider's Avatar
Old New Rider
Road Warrior
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 543
From: MN
Default

Dunlop American Elite (AE) has cruiser tread similar to Michelin Commander & Metzeler 888 / Cruisetec.

For those that recommend Metzelers, have you ridden on Dunlop AE also? If not, maybe not a fair assessment of the older Dunlop 400 series that have the squirrely block tread, esp. the worst of all series, the 401 cheapo factory installed.
 
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2023 | 04:52 PM
  #18  
euchre98's Avatar
euchre98
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 766
Likes: 238
From: Calvert, MD
Default

You haven't lived until you feel the front tire slide on a tar snake in the apex of a exit ramp.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 7, 2023 | 05:25 PM
  #19  
Y2K's Avatar
Y2K
Grand HDF Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 3,438
From: SW WA.
Default

Originally Posted by RANGER73
Anything's better than Dunlop's.
I run Metzler's, no more crack chasing or tar snake issues.
Metzler 888's on my Electra,great tires IMO, handle great and last much better than the old Metz 800s.
 
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2023 | 05:30 PM
  #20  
Y2K's Avatar
Y2K
Grand HDF Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 3,438
From: SW WA.
Default

Originally Posted by Old New Rider

For those that recommend Metzelers, have you ridden on Dunlop AE also?
I have,much better than the OEM Dungflops for sure but I still give the nod to the Metzelers.
The AE does wear really well but I think the 888 Metzeler handles a little better and also wears really well.
I ride my bike ('19 Electra Glide) pretty hard and live in mountainous country with many twisty roads to play on.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:17 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE