Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[2006cvo]

i am looking for the best durable tire. cost is no issue

[Twolanerider]

Many might wish to vote Metzler.  In the Dunlops you wondering about the E III or the stocker?  What about radials?  Willing to make that change?  What ab.....   

Ok, so maybe it's more than just Dunlop or Avon.

[bisounours]

Good morning 2006cvo,

I send you the  from FRANCE.

It'll be nice for the other members if you present you in the thread "New Member Introduction"
with a pic of your bike 

Best regards

   Jacques

[jeffj]

Hearing a rumor  that the MoCo may start to use Michelin as a OE tire for some 2008 models 
As most of you know the Dunlop Tire has been the MoCo choice of tire for Many Years
Not sure if the reason the MoCo is looking at Michelin is for the 3 month strike in 4th qtr. 2006 or what?
Again it is a rumor and I guess we will wait and see if Michelin is available on 2008 models


jeffj

[iski]

2006cvo - might want to give Metzler a try.  Tire discussions can get as involved as pipe discussions - depends on riding styles, personal preferences, etc. Trade offs are traction (softer) for longer tire life (harder), but it gets more involved fast when tread patterns and tread depth are considered.

Heard the same thing re:Michelin on some 2008 HD's.  Guess we will know soon enough.  The Goodyear (Dunlop) strike emphaiszes the pitfalls of having only one supplier for a critical item. 

[IronButt]

I have to go with the group on this one.

The Metzler ME880 is very durable and has many advantages over the dunslop oops Dunlop (I am referring to the stock HD DUNLOP)

1st is hands down better compound for allaround use.

2nd Tread pattern and this is why I will not ride DLs.

Here is why. The center rib or band is where we spend 90% of our time.
The Dl has a two rib enclosed design.
The MZ has a semi solid with groves leading outward toward the shoulder of the tires.
This is a crucial factor for rain. The water will get trapped in the enclosed rib design of the DL and this contributes to Hydroplaning at highway speeds.
The ME880 semi solid center sheds water away from center and shoots it out the shoulder.

The above is industry standard jargan. In my humble opinion.. A small center enclosed center rib design on a 8" car tire is OK! On a MC tire with a contact patch of 1 or 2 inches the center rib design is not as effective as one that channels water to the shoulder.

The DLs 2 rib center design also tracks poorly on grooved pavement because the 2 narrow center ribs grip the edges or the groves, thusly pulling or pushing the tire and you,
The ME880 is semi solid and does not promote this behavior.

FYI Metzler is a sub company of Pirelli
 
This is DUNLOP ELITE not the Dunlop that MOCO puts on your ride stock. THIS IS WHAT THEY SPEC OUT FOR THE BIKES BUT NOT WHAT THEY INSTALL! If they installed this tire like they advertise I might not swap them out.
You will see there are no dual enclosed center ribs also it says HD on the side wall, I have never seen this tire on an FLHTCUSE/CUI or any HD Touring bike!

ps most or my diatribe centers around rain, I ride in it. It is hard to avoid when you tour across country.

Funny story; On the 2004 ride Across America we stopped in NB we had some extra time so we went to wash the bikes. I pulled straight in to the bay, whipped out my quarters, cranked up the wand and prepared to get to work. Suddenly I hear shouting and looked up to see one of the riders waving his arms shouting stop! I asked what? He said you should not wash a hot bike! let it cool off! Puzzled I thought about it and then asked him. Do you pull your hot bike over on the shoulder and cool it off before driving it in the rain? 
 

Take care, ride safe.

[IronButt]

The stock dunlop with the enclosed center rib design.

[IronButt]

 

ME880

[bisounours]

For the poll, is it AVION or AVON ?   

Jacques

[Twolanerider]

For the poll, is it AVION or AVON ?   

Jacques

Maybe it's a flying tire?


(nope, that wouldn't be right either)


Jacques, the tire is Avon.

[IronButt]

The stock dunlop with the enclosed center rib design.

Learned someting today.. The rear tire is a Dunlop Eleite and the front is the one I dis like.

Why dont theu put the same tread design on both tires? 

[IronButt]

I rode with JC this weekend and he said my profile name SJPZZZ was not to easy to say or remember. So I have switched to my given and earned road name IronButt.

[Twolanerider]

I rode with JC this weekend and he said my profile name SJPZZZ was not to easy to say or remember. So I have switched to my given and earned road name IronButt.

But it was individual and unique.

[Boatman]

I have the ME 880's and am very happy compared to the stock tires.  I also wouldn't be afraid to use the Elite 3's..  Just don't like the characteristics of the stock tire down to the ribs on the side.

[Tros]

That's the D401



It came stock on the back of my FL Softail.  The front is the D402F which is the "enclosed" design.  Both are HD branded. 

[N.J. BKVII]

I have the original Dunlop PT's on my bike, over 6K miles and they really don't seem to show much wear.  The only issue I have is a very slow air loss in the back tire.  I have to do the soapy water test to see if its the stem or not.  My question is what tire is more performance oriented?  Past experience would lead me to believe a tire that tends to wear faster is prone to grip the road better but not great in the wet weather.  I ride in the rain so where is the happy medium?

[IronButt]

I have the original Dunlop PT's on my bike, over 6K miles and they really don't seem to show much wear.  The only issue I have is a very slow air loss in the back tire.  I have to do the soapy water test to see if its the stem or not.  My question is what tire is more performance oriented?  Past experience would lead me to believe a tire that tends to wear faster is prone to grip the road better but not great in the wet weather.  I ride in the rain so where is the happy medium?

Like you I came from rice, had some for dinner, anyway I bought my first HD and rode it with the stock Dunlops. After about 2 or 3K miles i was compairing the handling with some friends. My issues were put to rest with changing to the ME880. I got 10K on my first rear (still on the bike when I sold it) and 11.5 on the second and had 9k+ on the one I replaced to make my trade in. It was an 04 with 100 Tq and 98 HP. In my humble opinion when a tire hooks up it doesn't loose as much tread as one that breaks loose because it is too hard. So the softer tire launches better and delivers 10K + miles is ok in my book and on my bike. I spoke with someone this weekend that just bought his first set, I just met him, he said he wishes he would have changed them much sooner.

If you have read this post you will know that I discovered that HD is using 2 different tread designs, 1 for the front and 1 for the rear. My biggest complaint was wet pavement and grooved pavement and grated bridges. If the front tread is gripping the road different than the rear, it now makes sense to me why the bike feels unstable under these conditions. Also the stock front tread locks water in.

I Had stock tires on my current bike until last month, I had them changed with only 2500 miles on them. During that 2500 miles I did not feel comfortable. Now on this last trip to FB I was dragging my boots and boards and never felt unstable on the ME880s. I am cheap but I will never take delivery of another bike with the current stock tires.

Ask anyone from the Fort Bragg run how I ride, I don't spare the rear or slack in the corners and I will get 10K plus on this tire. When I changed the one with 11.5K it just got to the wear indicator.

Good luck with your choice,
My choice ME880s

http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/en_85/tires/template_categorie.jhtml?catid=85SPCC&productid=16143&product_list=catid%3D85SPCC%26productid%3D16143

IronButt