Harley Davidson Forums

prodaytrader · Aug 16th, 2009, 06:49 PM

Time for new tires. My brother in law says he knows of a better brand of tire then Dunlop, but hasn't told me yet since he doesn't have access to his bike at the moment. I wanted to get some opinions on what tire to go with. I can post the existing tire info if needed but they are OEM Dunlops on a 16 inch stock spoked rim. I'm pretty sure I would need a new wheel if I wanted a fatter rear tire, but is there any chance I can go bigger or better then the OEM standard Dunlops? What size tire and brand would work best for me? Road King Classic '03.

I lucked out and met a kid in the neighborhood today that is a 2nd year student at MTI bike school. He tells me that not only does he know a guy that can get me a deal on any tire I want, but his class will mount them for free. I guess as long as an instructor is in the area I don't have too much of a problem with them doing the work. I know Harley has a standard garage rate of 90 bucks an hour so getting someone else to do the work seems like a heck of a deal especially at free. Think I would be ok with these kids doing the work or would I be better off having Harley do it? My in law says I should go ahead and have them install chrome front forks while they have the tire off. Sound reasonable as well?

TQuentin1 · Aug 16th, 2009, 09:51 PM

Check it out:

Tire POLL - Harley Davidson Community (Tire POLL)

Dunlop Tire Problems - Harley Davidson Community (Dunlop Tire Problems)

Dunlop Warranty - Harley Davidson Community (Dunlop Warranty)

TQ

HD-Enthusiast · Aug 16th, 2009, 10:21 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by smitty901 View Post

Dunlop is about if not the best in over all wear and proformance for street use.

I respectfully dis-agree with you.....I have used about every tire there is for bikes....Dunlops arent the worst but they are far from the top....given the choice of a free Dunlop or paying $150 for an AVON,I would go with the AVON...that said,it really depends on how/where you ride...Dunlops dont begin to handle the twisties like an AVON or Metzeler...highway/city riding you probably wont notice any difference..also,I got about 8k out of my last (rear) Dunlop before it was slick...got 6k + on my AVONS with hardly any noticable wear...

HD-Enthusiast · Aug 17th, 2009, 12:26 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by RichardS View Post

I've always viewed Dunlops as a great long distance tire, as in getting a lot of mileage out of them. For example, the rear on my Ultra (which of course came stock with the usual Dunlops) got a flat tire around 10K, and it got replaced. The bike now has just over 18K on the clock, and the back tire which now has 8K on it, looks NEW, and the front tire, still the ORIGINAL tire with 18K on it, looks pretty good, and I feel confident riding it.

In my book, that's a long wearing tire.

Now on my 93 FXRS, when I bought it last year, the tires were Avons, and the tread looked ok, but they showed dry-rot, so I replaced them both....(with Avon Venoms)....we'll see how they wear.

The '86 FXR I just bought had Avons...same deal....tread looked good, (actually, VERY good), but the back had some dry rot and the front dry rot was very severe, so I had the dealer put Michelins on, just to try something different. Haven't gotten the bike back yet, but should have it by the end of the week....I'll let you guys know how they ride and wear as time goes on.

The 'Tire debate' will never be won by either side....my advise is to buy a quality name brand tire...whatever anyone chooses,I wish them the best...

RetiredJake · Aug 17th, 2009, 09:06 AM

On my '08 Ultra, got a little over 13K on the last rear tire, have almost 25K on the front, and it looks like it will make 30K easy. These are the stock Dunlops. I agree that we will always disagree, but I like them.

jody7734 · Aug 17th, 2009, 04:43 PM

I've always been a metzler fan. I hope they put out wide white walls for the '09s soon.

prodaytrader · Aug 17th, 2009, 04:51 PM

OK so bad question of which brand I guess. Seems there are different opinions on that. What about sizing? Am I limited by what the wheel is or do I have different choices there? I'll go ahead and post what is on the OEM tire (Front - Dunlop 402F MT 90B16 M/C 72H) (Back - Dunlop 402 90B16 M/C 74H)

I am clueless about bike tires, but from this info can you tell if I can go any wider on the rear tire or do I need a different rim as well?

Mr. Westfield · Aug 18th, 2009, 08:31 PM

My experiance wit Dunlops is that they rot out before they wear out.

A bit too hard for my liking.

I am putting a set of Metzlers on next week. Marathon 880's.

You just can't go wrong with them!

jaceddie · Aug 18th, 2009, 09:31 PM

I got around 15k on the rear and 30k on the front with the D402's on my 04 Ultra. I bought a 09 Ultra in January and already had to change the front D407f at 11k because of cupping. It had plenty of tread left, but was cupped too bad. The back D407 looks to make around 15k though. Smitty901: Why flip the rotors? Am I missing something?

glider · Aug 18th, 2009, 09:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jaceddie View Post

Smitty901: Why flip the rotors? Am I missing something?

That was Harleys cure for noisy front brakes . The one marked left goes to the right and visa versa.

Aug 16th, 2009, 09:51 PM	#2
TQuentin1 Moderators Ride: '03 FLHTCUI (Ultra Classic) Join Date: Apr 4th, 2008 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 4,174	Re: Something better then Dunlop? Check it out: Tire POLL - Harley Davidson Community (Tire POLL) Dunlop Tire Problems - Harley Davidson Community (Dunlop Tire Problems) Dunlop Warranty - Harley Davidson Community (Dunlop Warranty) TQ __________________ Please stop by the "The Self-Help pages." >>Self-Help Information and Tips - Harley Davidson Community Self-Help Threads Information<< click me!

Aug 16th, 2009, 10:21 PM	#3
HD-Enthusiast Warming The Wheels Ride: 2007 DYNA Street Bob Join Date: Aug 7th, 2009 Posts: 53	Re: Something better then Dunlop? Quote: Originally Posted by smitty901 View Post Dunlop is about if not the best in over all wear and proformance for street use. I respectfully dis-agree with you.....I have used about every tire there is for bikes....Dunlops arent the worst but they are far from the top....given the choice of a free Dunlop or paying $150 for an AVON,I would go with the AVON...that said,it really depends on how/where you ride...Dunlops dont begin to handle the twisties like an AVON or Metzeler...highway/city riding you probably wont notice any difference..also,I got about 8k out of my last (rear) Dunlop before it was slick...got 6k + on my AVONS with hardly any noticable wear...

Aug 17th, 2009, 12:26 AM	#4
HD-Enthusiast Warming The Wheels Ride: 2007 DYNA Street Bob Join Date: Aug 7th, 2009 Posts: 53	Re: Something better then Dunlop? Quote: Originally Posted by RichardS View Post I've always viewed Dunlops as a great long distance tire, as in getting a lot of mileage out of them. For example, the rear on my Ultra (which of course came stock with the usual Dunlops) got a flat tire around 10K, and it got replaced. The bike now has just over 18K on the clock, and the back tire which now has 8K on it, looks NEW, and the front tire, still the ORIGINAL tire with 18K on it, looks pretty good, and I feel confident riding it. In my book, that's a long wearing tire. Now on my 93 FXRS, when I bought it last year, the tires were Avons, and the tread looked ok, but they showed dry-rot, so I replaced them both....(with Avon Venoms)....we'll see how they wear. The '86 FXR I just bought had Avons...same deal....tread looked good, (actually, VERY good), but the back had some dry rot and the front dry rot was very severe, so I had the dealer put Michelins on, just to try something different. Haven't gotten the bike back yet, but should have it by the end of the week....I'll let you guys know how they ride and wear as time goes on. The 'Tire debate' will never be won by either side....my advise is to buy a quality name brand tire...whatever anyone chooses,I wish them the best...

Aug 17th, 2009, 09:06 AM	#5
RetiredJake Community Guru Wannabe Ride: FLHTCU Join Date: Apr 19th, 2009 Location: Middle Tennessee Posts: 868 My Mood:	Re: Something better then Dunlop? On my '08 Ultra, got a little over 13K on the last rear tire, have almost 25K on the front, and it looks like it will make 30K easy. These are the stock Dunlops. I agree that we will always disagree, but I like them. __________________ Roaming the country, Tasting the wine, Having fun, Life is good

Aug 17th, 2009, 04:43 PM	#6
jody7734 Play The Throttle Ride: 2009 FLHRC Join Date: Aug 11th, 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 221 My Mood:	Re: Something better then Dunlop? I've always been a metzler fan. I hope they put out wide white walls for the '09s soon.

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Aug 17th, 2009, 04:51 PM	#7
prodaytrader Start The Engine Ride: Harley Road King Classic Join Date: Jul 6th, 2009 Posts: 44 My Mood:	Re: Something better then Dunlop? OK so bad question of which brand I guess. Seems there are different opinions on that. What about sizing? Am I limited by what the wheel is or do I have different choices there? I'll go ahead and post what is on the OEM tire (Front - Dunlop 402F MT 90B16 M/C 72H) (Back - Dunlop 402 90B16 M/C 74H) I am clueless about bike tires, but from this info can you tell if I can go any wider on the rear tire or do I need a different rim as well?

Aug 18th, 2009, 08:31 PM	#8
Mr. Westfield Banned Ride: 1985 FXRT Sport Glide Join Date: Mar 26th, 2009 Posts: 9	Re: Something better then Dunlop? My experiance wit Dunlops is that they rot out before they wear out. A bit too hard for my liking. I am putting a set of Metzlers on next week. Marathon 880's. You just can't go wrong with them!

Aug 18th, 2009, 09:31 PM	#9
jaceddie Community Guru Wannabe Ride: 09 ultra classic Join Date: Aug 4th, 2008 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 1,122 My Mood:	Re: Something better then Dunlop? I got around 15k on the rear and 30k on the front with the D402's on my 04 Ultra. I bought a 09 Ultra in January and already had to change the front D407f at 11k because of cupping. It had plenty of tread left, but was cupped too bad. The back D407 looks to make around 15k though. Smitty901: Why flip the rotors? Am I missing something?

Aug 18th, 2009, 09:34 PM	#10
glider Frozen Account Ride: 07 Road King Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 25,999 My Mood:	Re: Something better then Dunlop? Quote: Originally Posted by jaceddie View Post Smitty901: Why flip the rotors? Am I missing something? That was Harleys cure for noisy front brakes . The one marked left goes to the right and visa versa.

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