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[JKM]

what options are available for replacement tires for the 2008 SERK  Appears the rear is an odd size and wondering what others have done
Front 130/70/18
Rear  170/60/17

[grc]

There doesn't seem to be a lot of choices for that rear 170/60R17  78H tire.  All I've seen is the standard Dunlop, and a Metzler ME880, mfg # 1862200.  The reason there are so few choices is that most of the 170/60R17 tires on the market were designed for much lighter sport bikes, so they don't have a high enough load rating for a Harley RK.

Here is one link to the Metzler:

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/217-017

Jerry

[JKM]

from my research it appears the only rear tire available is the Dunlop D408F (dealer only) and the Metzeler ME 880.  What are others doing for replacements on the 2007-2008 SERK

[j f go]

I've been running Avon ( AV65 ) Storm 3D X-M 170/60ZR-17 on the rear and which ever one matches that for the front. They don't give you hi-mileage but I really like the grip to the road. I get them from Dennis Kirk. Good luck and hope this helps.

[JKM]

The Avon rear tire has a load index of 72, which is 783lbs.  The stock dunlop D407 and the ME 880 both have a load index of 78, which is 937lbs.   Difference is about 154lbs, which is quite material.  My guess is if you ride solo then likely not an issue, but if two-up with gear the load rating of the Avon may fall short

[grc]

JKM, it appears you, unlike many others who pose questions like the one in your original post, fully understand the folly of installing tires that do not meet the minimum requirements established by the manufacturer of the bike, so I have to ask why you posed the question.  You already know which tires are readily available that actually meet the OE requirements, so unless you want to change the stock rims to a size that allows more choices, it comes down to choosing between Dunlop/Harley and Metzler ME880.  The folks with the 18" rims on CVO Street Glides and Road Glide Customs have been living with the same situation for many years now, and only recently has a non-Harley branded alternative become available.  The choices are still very limited however.  That's what happens when the company selling the bikes purposely tries to establish a monopoly when they specify rim sizes that no one makes an appropriate tire for, and then contracts to have an exclusive tire made just for them.

Jerry

[JKM]

Thanks Jerry, I was just inquiring to see if anyone found any other alternatives.  I will probably go with the ME880 as the OEM Dunlops will be a crazy price at the dealers here in Canada.

[Black Diamond]

I tried a set of ME880.  Within 8000 miles I had large chunks of rubber coming off exposing the core.  FYI.

I'm running an Elite 3 front and OEM on rear.  Best combo I've found to date.

JW

[RayG]

Like Jerry said the Moco created a monopoly system and choices are very limited.  I tried the Metzler's, one front & two rears for one summer, minimal mileage and the grip was not superior by any means.  The only thing I liked about the Metzler's was how easy the rear tire was to mount on my manual tire changer compared to always wrestling to center the stiffer Dunlop's.  I have Kiro's 2013 CVO Ultra stored in my garage and he has 8,800 miles on his original OEM Dunlop's and they look great.  My 08 FLHRSE4 has the OEM brand of Dunlop's but both the front and the rear need to be replaced with 4,300 miles on them.  You can visibly see where the chicken strip differs dramatically with each bike.  Obviously the lighter the bike the easier it is to push it hard in & out of corners.  I balance my wheels & tires, check & adjust the air pressure & Bitubo shocks for solo & 2 up.  I did the laser alignment and the bike corners like my FJR.  I stopped doing burn outs years ago after a long process to replace the non OEM belt with the 30 tooth sprocket change.  I ride the SERK much harder than it was designed for, just an opinion, since I don't have anyone that wants to ride with me.  I came up with the conclusion that if you ride very aggressively that is one of many prices to pay owning the Harley.  If you ride your touring or even a cruiser bike like a sports bike chit will happen.  My previous dental hygienist & her husband teach racing classes at the Loudon NASCAR track and his Ducati will use 4 to 6 tires on a weekend and she will use 3 to 4.  Of course they are sponsored so they can have it.   

I have found the stiffer Dunlop's have more stability when cornering hard even when cupped and that may be due to the much stiffer carcass & sidewall construction.  Don't get me wrong I hate the Dunlop's but at this point the choices are not worth changing.  About 5 years ago I installed new OEM tires for a trip to Deals Gap with my wife, did many of the roads and with 1,800 miles the tires were cupped badly making for a lousy ride home.  Riding style and tire prep may help but there is no way to make an inferior product perform as they should, by that I mean wear at an even rate without the cupping.  I would love to have more options but changing wheel size is more money I don't want to spend on it at this time.  Our road conditions out here are the worst I have ever witnessed and I'm 62, but many have the same conditions to deal with. 

No doubt there are allot of variables that attribute for tire wear, but choices are very limited.   The number one complaint heard from Goldwing riders is premature tire wear, hence the "Dark Side" which is using a car rear tire.  Some have good luck with them but I can't imaging dealing with the change in cornering abilities. 

I know I was no help at all!!!!!  Jerry as usual covers everything so thoroughly it's hard to add anything meaningful but I gave you my perspective.  Counting 3 flats and one tire replaced under warranty I have installed 21 rear tires to get to 85,000 miles. 

Need to order new tires today. 

 

[Chains]

Mt Cheha Harley Davidson in Oxford Alabama sells all Harley Dunlops at cost right now.

Ask fo Danny in service. 1 (256) 832-8888.

[JKM]

seems like love/hate relationship with the ME 880.  Wondering if those with the bad experience with them where using the proper higher tire pressures vs. what HD recommends for the Dunlops

[Black Diamond]

seems like love/hate relationship with the ME 880.  Wondering if those with the bad experience with them where using the proper higher tire pressures vs. what HD recommends for the Dunlops

I ran them at the pressure indicated on the tire.  IIRC it was 50 psi.  I was under-impressed with them.  Getting ready for another OEM rear now.  Got just under 9000 miles out of them...about what I average.  Thought that sucked until I read I'm getting about double RayG.  But I ride rather conservatively.

The Elite 3 radial on front will give around 11-12000 miles.  I like em.

JW

[grc]

The instructions on the Metzler website indicate to run the pressure specified in the manual for the bike, NOT the maximum pressure indicated on the sidewall.  If you search the current Metzler website there are no obvious links to the old air pressure charts that used to show higher than standard pressures that were recommended for "some" older Metzler tires.  Personally, if it were me and the owners manual said 40 psi and the sidewall said 50 psi max, at most I might split the difference and try 45 psi.  But if you run 40 psi and the tire fails, Metzler can't blame your tire pressure if you in fact ran what your bike's manual recommends.  Read the warranty statement and they specifically mention following the inflation pressures recommended by the bike manufacturer.  In fact, go to the site and read the entire warranty.  It's basically a whole bunch of words that absolve them of any responsibility after the first 1/32" of tread wear for any ride and handling related complaints, or abnormal wear.  In other words, pretty much useless for things like cupping and accelerated wear.

http://www.metzeler.com/site/us/tech-and-safety/warranty-info/standard-warranty.html

I'm attaching a chart from Metzler that I saved several years ago for reference.  Note their recommendations where I've added the red arrow.  That would be what applies to the ME880's being discussed here.

Jerry

[JKM]

it appears its almost the same as the factory pressures listed for the rear of a 2008 SERK (170/60/17).  My manual says 38psi for solo and 42psi with passenger for the OEM Dunlop.  Loaded it seems to be the same at 42PSI

[SERK3]

I just installed the third rear Metzler on the rear and second on front of my 07 SERK, The rear had appox. 7,000 miles and still had about 30% tread, Front had appox. 15,000 with about 40% left, Front was about 2 yrs. or older, Getting ready to head down to Leesburg and Tampa, Fl. area so just wanted new rubber on the Scooter.

Run what Metzler recommends not what H-D says, The bike will handle a lot better on dry and wet roads. I have been running Metzlers for several years, On my Low Rider before the SERK with no problems.