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[mattm]

Ok, I'm just over 6k miles on my 05 glide and my rear tire is starting to look a bit thin.  I want to go with either a Metzeler or an Avon and have cooked up this little chart to help make the choice.  I am also looking for what others have used and their opinions.  I know this has been discussed before, but the older threads lacked specific tire size info.

Manuf     Tire      Size           Load    Dia      Width  Cost @ AMT
Dunlop    D402     MU85B16    77H     25.71   5.51    $97.62             ***stock***
Metzeler  ME880   150/80B16  71H     25.98   6.02    $105.07
Metzeler  ME880   140/90B16  77H     26.18   5.75    $109.90
Avon       AM42    150/80B16  77H     25.2     5.9     $124.00
Avon       AM42    140/90B16  77H     25.6     5.6     $116.90
Avon       AM41    MT90B16    74H     25.1     5.2     $107.50

AMT=http://americanmototire.com

So it looks like the Avon 140/90B16 is the closest to the stock size, but the Avon 150/80 gives me a bit more patch and still gives me the high load rating.  Has anybody used the AM42 150/80B16?  Any fitment issues?  Opinions???

[grc]

Ok, I'm just over 6k miles on my 05 glide and my rear tire is starting to look a bit thin.

[Boatman]

I have the ME880's and like them a lot better than the 402's..  I put the 140 with the 77 load rating on the rear and the 130 on the front.  They handle better, ride better (even though I run 42F and 48R), and they do not track grooves or when changing from different road surfaces/heights.
A couple members have the Elite's after having the ME880's and say they are very close in handling/ride.  One side benefit of the 140 and 130 880 is that your speedo will read closer to actual speed (larger diameter).  I don't know how long the 880's will last, I have put 2600 miles on them thus far.  I have never ridden an Avon.  The only advantage I see of the 402 is that if you travel alot, they are available at any HD dealer where as the Elites, Avons, and 880's are  not..  The main difference of the 880 is that you need to run the higher pressure that is on the sidewall which is higher than from Metzeler's website for good tire wear with that tire.

[mr_magoo]

Watch the load rating on a 150/80 metzler if you ride 2 up or carry a load.  I've been running a 140/90 and it has the same load rating as the stock dunlops.