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[goldfar]

7,300 miles, worn and cupped tires (always have had correct pressure).

The dealer will replace with the Dunlaps that came originally from factory.  Price is a little steep - $216 rear, $200 front - but the killer is $150 labor to do the mounting!  $566 each time I ride 7K miles??!!

Now, it's been a while since I bought bike tires (OK, 1974) but isn't this way too much for a pair of tires??

The guy down the street with a small shop that just sells bike tires will sell me Dunlap Elites, $172 rear, $143 front and a more reasonable $65 labor to mount and balance.

Questions:

Are the Dunlap Elites as good as the factory originals?

Should I stick with the dealer to ensure that the wheels are properly reinstalled?

Are there better tires for this bike?  Avon Cobras??

[Lever]

when my tires wear out  ia'm putting on metz's , had metz on other bikes in the past   and i really like  ride ,  been caught in rainstorms that could drown a frog and the metz's  still gripped well in all kinds of weather and road conditions ....  as far as our stock dunlops goes   they would make a awsome   tire swing  for the kids

[Chains]

Never had an issue with HD Dunlaps, get over 10K rear more on front.  Replacement in Alabama $475.00 installed including tax.  Check around, your dealer is too high.

[1Man1God]

I guess I'm doing something wrong. I'm thinking 7,500 would be good mileage for a back tire. But then I gotta remind myself that I ride my bike everywhere it goes. And my speed is usually higher than 45mph. Ditto on the Metzellers...My second back tire was a Metz 880...luved the traction 'especially' in Torrential Downpoors! My third will be another 880 and probably before Jan.

[VRODDAVE]

The Cost of tires and tire changing:

I feel for ya brother...  I was pretty shocked the last time i priced out the cost of mount and balance.

I have a buddy who is a motorcycle enthusiast club member that invested in a tire changing tool and static balancer setup.

He showed me how to change and balance my own tires.    It was a piece of cake.  saved the $200 they charge at my local dealer.  AND i was shocked to find that my static balance made the bike smoother than it had ever been from the dealer work.   

I kid you not.  if you have any mechanical skills at all,  team up and fund the tools, do it yourself.

[porkypig]

Tried 3 times last night to reply here but some virus ware on the computer kept playing games with me.  I got on average 12,000 on my rear tire on the '05 Heritage over 57,000 miles.  Front one was changed at 35,000!  Now these are wider (much wider) on the rear but I would expect to get at least 10K and possibly more if I don't hotrod the bike.  Tires for the rear I expected to (not quite, but almost) break the bank.  That bike wouldn't look as good with a smaller rear tire at all.  And there is substantial cost for someone to knock it down and reinstall it.  We have a local place that is about 1/2 the stealer's price if I want to remove the wheel from the rear fender myself.  Every little bit of help on $$ helps.  Bite the bullet, get some new rubber and stay safe!!