I use Duro tires on my Sportster on my BMWs and on my Ural sidecar outfit. They are inexpensive and durable I get 10,000 miles plus out of a tire. I also use a lot of Chen Chang and Kenda tires. They are good enough for most of my motorcycles except for my 1000cc BMW switch can cruise at 120 miles an hour. When you go motorcycling on a budget expensive tires are not in the mix.
I always replace both at the same time. I've tried Avon and Metzler. I like the Dunlop American Elite. Not too expensive and it performs well in all conditions
My opinion on tires is and please take this with a grain of salt, buy the best you can afford. Years ago I purchased a tire by the manufacturer named Swallow. I thought I was an experienced rider then but the handling characteristics scared me to no end. Enough so forme to discard them. So, no money saved but a valuable lesson leaned 0
I have been riding on the street over 50 years now and I definitely know how critical tires are. However, there are a lot of new riders out there that don't know this or think about it. Thank you for putting this information out there. It's good for safety.
I use OEM Dunlop on my SGS until I have to replace them. Then I go to Dunlop American Elite tires. Outstanding handling and wear. On my 2017 SGS I got 24,000 miles on the OEM Dunlops.
I have done both over the years, but I have always used the original type on my Harley Davidson bikes. Bought all of them new and paid way to much to skimp on tires.
The best decision I made was replacing the stock tires on my fat bob with a set of Mettzler Ultra Marathons. Very smooth, less vibration, and rolling into a curve inspires confidence.
Metzler and Pirelli are made in the same factory. Both brands are amazing and the only tires that I buy. Night and day difference compared to other tires.
Great content! I run Michelin commander 3 on rear and Dunlop American police version on the front. Reason for this I've found over time is the front wears shower than the rear and is better adept to cone courses and drills. The rear will last long and is good for highway riding. On my bike I do both and as soon as my front wears down, I can change both at the same time. It's been working great for years now. The long rides have been comfortable and the drills have been competitive. It's great in the rain as well.
I've got a Metzeler Cruisetec on the front of my Softail Slim. It's such a great tire in terms of bump absorption, handling, feel and outright riding enjoyment. I've got a Cruisetec ordered for the rear but my tire shop hasn't replied to my emails, as if they don't want my business. I might have to got for a ME888 if they can't get hold of a Cruisetec for the rear.
Not riding your motorcycle to increase resale value is tantamount to not screwing your GF so she'll stay tight for the next guy. MPE ( my personal experience ) I ran HD 402 on my 92 Electra Glide & would be lucky to get 5,500 miles out of it while getting 20,000 out of the front. Switched to Dunlop American Élite I get over 12,000. on that rear sneaker if you old a 402 & a élite you can feel how much more tire is there Works for me so I'm staying with it. EVO NATION!
I'm not a fan of Dunlop tires on baggers they ware out way to fast . I've been running pirrelli night dragons on my FXR but have run Metzler's , Avon's, & the Dunlop K591 on my FXR the K591s are killer but are a one season tire . Good job on the tire video it's all correct !
I don't have much of a choice when it comes to my '20 Fat Boy. All two options are expensive 😅 For my Sportster, I love the cheap Shinko 777. With my ADV bike, I spend a little extra for the performance
I ride year round and have been doing it for years. Never skimp on anything concerning your bike. But mostly tires. If your life is depending on something, pay up and get the best you can can.
Hi 👋, 1999 soft tail. Deuce, stock tires ,about 7000 Ml , then went to Dunlop big mistake,less than 3000 ml , I didn’t feel good, so I went Metzler , and Michelin , both gave me good road holding and very good mills, I all way carried a very good tyre pressure gauge in my leather jacket, and it is still in my jacket to this day, at 71 years young, ride safe guys and girls, Phil from the moulin France.
I tend to prefer the Michelin Commander tires on my Street Glide. Perform better and last longer than the OEM Dunlops. Would never skimp on tires. It’s a safety issue!
As an old time truck driver I’ve gotten into the habit of feeling the tire to see how hot it’s getting, but I don’t need my tire thumper with my motorcycle tires since there’s no duals! If it’s getting hot it likely needs more air. When it comes to my bike, an only having two tires to begin with, I inclined not to go with a cheap tire, I’d rather get the best price on an expensive tire. I also like to read other riders reviews of their experience with the tires that I’m considering.
The HD Dunlops on my Sportster were pretty good at first but within a few years they got super hard and the traction went to what seemed like zero. I put Shinko SR777 tires on and they are fantastic. They have a smoother ride and way more grip, even in the wet. They are better than the OEM tires ever were.
If you ride your bagger like a bullet proof 20 yr old on a sport bike, yeah tire selection is important. If youre like me and ride like the old fat daily commuter that i am, just get the OEM tires and worry about other shit. Ha!
I don’t do burnouts so I go with a high millage tire like a Commander 3 or a American Elite by Dunlop. It’s a pain in the ass changing the rear tore so I want to do it as infrequent as possible. Also my experience wto run matched tires. Mismatched tires tend to cause bad handling characteristics. That’s all I have for y’all. I’m out and y’all peace out.
Dunlop tires suck...a lot of riders buy them because they have 'Harley Davidson' stamped on the original replacements; I have always preferred Avons, but am currently using Michelin Commander II's on my custom Softail and really like them.
Your channel rocks man - I love it. Super under-rated. Dunlop American elites for me! I've tried others - and not that I skid out, don't hold the corners, etc - I just don't feel as planted - and I don't know how to explain it. I just feel more secure with the AE's. If I had to pick one - I'd go for performance over longevity - only because what's the point of having a tire that lasts 'forever' if you can't have fun, or you crash and can't use the tire. Tires are a consumable part - so use it as such. If I could split a tire though - I'd say 70% performance - 30% longevity. I want to ride hard - but don't need to replace both every season...
Have these on my fxdf. 50% 2up, rear did 10k, front now 15k and still good. Good on wet too. Just when loaded front is not grippy as should. Will get softer on front next time..
I remember when Royal Enfield were equipped with Avon roadrunner tires. Super expensive tires for a $5,000 motorcycle 🏍️. Much more sporty than what the bike needed the tire was too good for the bike. After all you don't put super sticky race tires on a Volkswagen beetle.
I was out of Yamaha shop looking in a magazine and they had an advertiser who advertised by two back tires get one front one free. I called them up and they said we don't do retail customers. I asked him how many tires I had to buy. I ended up buying a dozen tires with 6 free front tires. I did not buy tires for years.
75 days.... 75 frickin days!!! My Ultra Classic sitting at my local Harley Davidson dealership... Waiting on parts from Harley Davidson... And I'm pissed!!!
Wow, that's rough. Half the riding season is over already, at least for me here in Canada. Truth, I haven't taken my '09 Sportster to a dealership since I bought it. I either do the work myself (the easy stuff) or take it to a local shop where they work on all brands. You've been waiting since what, last March? That's brutal. Almost would've been worth it to cancel the insurance or buy another older bike as a temporary ride. At 60yo, I've learned that each riding season is precious. You don't get them back to do over so you have to make sure to enjoy yourself while you can.
@@bill392y 2015 Ultra Classic Low went to the dealership on April 10... It needed major engine work so I opted to get a stage 4 Screaming Eagle 103ci to 110ci kit . The engine was under warranty so the upgrade was a little out of pocket... I was originally told 45 days for either the rebuild or the upgrades. At about 60 days my local Harley Davidson service manager got Harley Davidson area manager and the Customer Relations Manager involved because I had been waiting so long... I was told that the company that makes the cylinders had fallen behind in production, and i would be bumped to the head of the list to get them. They finally arrived a day after promised and never had a tracking number.. So... now my Ultra is in line for a lift and should finally be home soon... But not before Harley Davidson really pissed me off !!! 68 and retired here in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma... I was so pissed the other day when my service manager called to update me, I told him to take his time because I'm doing research on Indian motorcycles...
I would always buy the best rubber i can afford, here in Ireland it rains alot at times. I recently put a set of Commander 3 tires on my 2003 Fatboy, and the bike handles fantastic.
I'm pretty happy with my factory Michelins, I ended up going back with them front and rear this time around. I am thinking about giving the Shinkos a try, they are softer and wear faster but I like to keep fresh rubber on the bike front and rear.
I have been running Pirelli tires for years I check the psi every time I get ready to ride with the right psi in them per weight of the bike and myself they perform great and the wear is better than any other tire I have ran . Far as price they are adorable
@Peter-nm1ps lasting 7500 miles is a whole lot more difficult when the tires have to withstand the weight of these "slow piece o shlt Harleys" without being hard as rocks
I have an ‘01 Road King Classic. I always use what originally came on the bike from the factory. Dunlop tires have never done me wrong. As the saying goes “ You get what you pay for” !!
I know you did a video like a year ago on this subject and its unrelated to this video but i have to ask you Foo! What cam would you recommend for a 2005 Harley Davidson fxdli?? Finally thinking its time for some more arss👍
S&S 555 is an excellent Dyna cam since it revs out higher, great power and not super loud with valve train noise. If you can deal with some valve train noise I love Wood Cams, they have an aggressive ramp angle and nose off quick which makes them noisy but the trade off is power. TW-6-6 is a great cam in an 88, very versatile for light or heavy bike. So if you load your bike down for a trip you'll still have low end pull and plenty of rev on the big end.
Great timing, I just bought a 2001 FXDL with only 8900 miles and original tires on it. I have been wrestling with what I am going to do for tires. Tempting to ride it some, just what I needed to hear. I will order tires this weekend
Excellent video! Considering all the factors that are detrimental to motorcycle tires and all that's at stake when a failure occurs I place tire condition at the #1 spot on my check list no matter what type of tires, what type or whoever's bike I'm riding. Great info! Thanks!
Great video Gixxerfoo! I use Shinko 777s on my '00 Sportster and Shinko Tour Masters on my '95 Electra Glide. I am very happy with the performance of both tire models. You have to change motorcycle tires all the time anyway (unless you go dark side) so why throw extra money away?
I buy them like 5 months before i think I need them Keep them in the Dark and dry cool place . I know Rubber can break down over years . I use to do 3 tires a year now I do 1 .
I use a Bridgestone Ecopia 205 55 R17 on the rear of my Wide Glide ....Last one gave me over 82k miles .. That's just over 4 year's of riding.. Tubeless.. so plug and play with a roadside puncture !! Superior rain traction ..Cut's my Emergency stopping distance by 35% in all condition's..Increases dirt/gravel road traction ...Disregard's wet road line's and manhole cover's ..I have more then 35 year's on the Darkside..Best single mod i ever made and will never return !! ..Just for Cruiser's though... IMHO
I really miss the old Goodyear run flats, had those on my touring bike in the 80's. Saved me lots of anguish, being and to ride to get them fixed rather than waiting for a tow/fix
Hey Gixxer I've spent lots of cash trying to find awesome tyres just put Bridgestone battle cruise such a huge difference from first ride I'm very impressed changed the whole ride.All the best brother from NZ 🇳🇿
Good solid info, as always. The tires on my old softail were so bad that I was worried about getting caught in the rain with them. I was mostly concerned with the bald 21 on the front, but that rear one was so hard that I actually considered using a sawzall to get it off. I'm getting way too old to be wrestling tires, but I won in the end, and am now sporting a new set of Michelins. New brakes too!
It seems like it makes good sense to change the brake pads as long as you’ve got the wheels off. I just bought my used ‘06 FXDWGI with 11k miles in December ‘21 and the tires were in great shape, but after this year’s riding I plan on doing some engine mods (this is GixerFoo’s fault), brakes, and change the tires. Being new to owning a Harley I figured on taking the wheels in to have the new tires mounted and balanced (if needed) and having the spokes tightened and the wheels trued. Have you had any experience with those balancing beads or liquid that they put in the tire/tube to balance the tire?
@chrish5791 No, I don't have any experience with the balancing stuff inside the tire. I use a static balancer that I bought at Harbor Freight. I forget what I paid for it, but it wasn't very much. It does a good job. Truing spoke wheels is a talent. I would suggest finding someone with experience for that. Not that you couldn't learn how, but can be frustrating and requires a good bit of patience. BTW, that static balancer can also serve as a truing stand with a couple of dial indicators. Ride safe, brother!
@@scottarmstrong1172 , I figured on pulling the wheels and taking them somewhere to get the tires mounted. As for truing I had good friends who worked in a bicycle shop when I returned to college in ‘92 and watching them true and tighten wheels was a wonder. I figured that I’d have this done by the local Harley shop, but one of those friends now owns a bicycle shop, I wonder if he could do the wheels if Harley won’t work on my older Harley wheels? He sells those fat tire bikes so he must be able to true their rims but I don’t know if his truing stand is big enough for a motorcycle wheel. I’ll look up that static balancer from Harbor Freight. If I remember right motorcycle tires have a mark to orientate the tire to the tube hole in the rim and if you get that right the tires don’t need a lot of weight to balance them.
Question posted on a forum: I don't have my manual, what pressure does it call for? (42 / 42 cold for 1 or 2 up in the manual with no regard to ambient) Answers: Never run 42 / I run 38 / I'm a racer, I run XX / The book is wrong / If you add 42 cold, it's going to be XX when hot - thanks for that - Suzuki and Bridgestone did not know that. / etc. So I mention that we need to add inflation to the correct oil, fuel, break in, etc, arguments.
I took the guessing out of it, and just get the original tires. Bias ply Dunlops. I do buy them from a 3rd party (Usually Dennis Kirk), because why pay that Harley Tax if you don't have to... And I do them myself (even balance).
I'm due for tire replacement on my Sport Glide (currently have the OEM Michelins). I really like them, but when I searched the HD OEM replacement, I fell over seeing the price. Almost exactly twice the price of every other name brand/main stream tires I browsed through. That's is so Harley Davidson to do that. Harley can stuff their OEM price gouging tires. Lots of legitimate safe tire replacements out there. I won't buy bargain basement/budget no name tires and will stick to main stream brands. Stay in the genre of your bikes design (touring, cruiser, sport etc.) and save an absolute bundle of money over Harley OEM.
I prefer buying tires that last 3 times as long and ride better. Toyo 195/55r/16 for my ‘12 Glide. Been riding Darkside for 45,000 miles. Never go back.
Gixer is absolutely correct about Heat Cycles, but if you aren't fortunate enough to be able to store your bike indoors, exposure to direct sunlight will also harden (age) your tires! Personally, I have a 96 Twin-Cam Softail that just doesn't look right without HD Badged Wide White Walls. Be safe out there!
I like to wear Michelin Commander tires on my 2009 Ultra Classic. I've always had positive history with these tires. They are smooth riding longer wearing rubber and Michelin is a well known tire. Nothing but the best tires when I ride and specially when my wife and I ride. I've never had issues with the Commander motorcycle tires. Adios
I also think that tires need to be fitted to your driving style. If you ride your Harley aggressively and a lot of twists you probably want some with a little softer rubber and stickier, the downside is that you lose a fair amount of life of the tire. Myself, i am just an average rider so i am 100% ok replacing my stock tires with OEM, i am actually getting 8-10,000 miles on my stock tires.
Multiple bikes, multiple tires. Right now I do have the same brand/model on front and rear of each bike. Dunlops on XR and Kawasaki (just put them on both) Shinko on DWG........always get tires with tread crossing center of tire, if not and you keep proper air pressure the center will still wear out cause they make it thin, sell more tires I don't care about keeping same brand front and rear. I keep rear tire 5lbs low on DWG, cost me a little mpg, more comfortable ride, tire last longer......I believe part of the reason it last longer is the air inside heats up when riding which increases psi and wears center of tire. I keep front tire at spec.......At tire change on DWG rear, last yr, there was very little tread left on sides, front this year still had tread on sides......I don't scrape pegs on my Dyna.....well actually none of them , the rest have 40+ lean angle
You must break in new tires carefully. After a hundred miles they should be broken in by then. I had a brand new Ninja 600, beautiful bike, went around a corner too sharp on new tires and contacted sprinkler water runoff. Was only goin 3mph, bike went out from under me. Messed up the bike real good ($3k worth) and broke two ribs. I learned.
I tried a set of Shinkos on my BMW GS because of price and it's dead-easy to pull the rear wheel if needed. I'm in about 2,500 miles and the rear shows squaring, but I was very surprised at how good they are. When the rear goes, I'll buy another one and re-evaluate things when the front is done. If/when I buy that Ultra, I'll probably buy high-mileage tires because changes will be a lot tougher both getting the wheel off and the tire off the rim.
I hear you about the age of a tire but I found some mishelyne's and I've had them on my front bike for about a year and they're twelve years old and they are like new I mean visually they're like new.. no cracks.. they're not heavily Warren I think I was giving the tire and the rims so I just stuck it on myself tail I had to put new bearings in it cuz I didn't know about the bearings.... I keep an eye on the tire but it seems to work fine I'm really sold on the Michelin I've never been I've never afforded one of the high-end tires like that I've been in o&r use Dunlap for a shinko Kenda... So what I'm saying is I'm impressed with that Michelin tire... It's just a 130 90 16....
Tires! About 2k miles ago I had a set of American Elites, factory sized on my 2015 fltruse and they felt great. About a month ago I got a jag on to do a 180x15x55 fat tire setup. Front and rear pressure is set at 40 lbs. since the rear tire is a 65 and the front tire is a 55 profile would that effect the handling? Oh, the rear is still the Elite and the front is a Pirelli.
I'm glad to touched on shelf life. What is the actual shelf life, I was told 6 years. My recent purchase of a 1999 Heritage Softail the tires were 11 years old but good tread and no dry rot anywhere so I ran 'em. After 2000 miles the rear went bald. Replaced it and will replace the front very soon. Thanks for the cool info.
What is a good bagger tire, that can handle switchbacks, touring and weather well? I'm on stock Dunlop still at 10k. Would like some good input on touring tires that grip and wear well. Added to the tire, what mileage can an average rider expect from the tire(s) recommended?
Gixxer….. we’re talking about pressures that are constantly changing with air temperature? So if I put 36 pounds in my front tire in the shade, then move my motorcycle into a sunny place with direct sunlight on a warm day give that tire about an hour and I can guarantee you you won’t have 36 pounds anymore, you’ll have 40 to 41 pounds in that tire. And as soon as you ride it down the street a mile or two you’ll have more pressure in that tire than that? So my question here would be how in the world do we figure out how much air to put in at a given ambient temperature when that ambient temperature changes all the time?
You get hd minimum ride with the Shinko s99 series with the addition of Kevlar belts added in. For less money. But the highest praise I have heard are for the metzler cruisetech on the baggers. I don’t know what to pick this next time lol.
I remember an old racers trick was to put tires on the roof and let the sun bakes them so they got hard for traction. What you can do for 300 or 400 lb motorcycle is one thing what you do for a 900 to 1000 lb motorcycle is something else. It would be stupid to put a 2-ply lightweight tire on a Harley dresser but on a little 250 single it's not so bad
@@mosswelding1 I believe that this old racers trick is for dirt track racing I read it in a magazine about it. An old flat track racer was talking about it so it may not be permanent to other genres of the sport.
Great Video! I bought tires online and then got sick with Covid. It took a year and a half to pick back up where I left off and got my new tires mounted. The tires were actually 3 years old! They were cracked and not usable and since it had been longer than a year, they would not warranty them. So check all tires for the build year also.
Thanks for once again putting out great info. I've always tried to buy the best tires and brakes available. On my bikes and 4 wheel vehicles. These are two things that I do not take chances with.
Yup I've road for fifty years also and we're talk'n up here on west coast Vancouver Island BC Canada in the winter , all I can say is change your tires every fall !!!
Depends on which bike and the worest weather i will ride in. My sporty was running night dragon gt when i was daily riding to and from work rain hail or shine. Now that i am not but wanting to get the best mileage i have swapped to commander 3 on both softail and sporty. Expensive maybe but if i am getting the mileage it means less down time and more riding time. Only time will tell with these tyres
I run a Metzeler 888 on the rear and a Dunlop American Elite on the front. I usedto run Metzeler in the front also, but a few years ago i couldnt get one and my mechanic recommended the American Elite for the front. Handles better in the rain with the A E on the front than it did with the Metzeler. But i still love the handling and the wear of the Metzeler on the rear
Metzler 888 Marathon tires are the best hands down. Been running them for years on my 08 softail custom and they are the best handling tire in all types of weather.
I just go with the stock tires and have always had good luck. One time I had a tire that looked good but was dry rotted on the sides and I replaced it. Never had that happen before.
Great subject, thanks , I installed a aftermarket to monitoring system to my 2012 SG, I set my big psi at factory while cold as factor manual states , I was surprised on how much the tire pressure increase as you drive as much as 4-5 psi in hoot weather , on cold it still increases a few Psi , what is your thought on this ?I am not sure riders understand this and why you psi is checked cold . Before you ride
Have you ever seen a front motorcycle tire, wear uneven? Literally one side is noticeably worn thinner than other. First for me on a standard street bike. This was on my ‘17 fat boy S. Also, bought a tire, tread pattern in my opinion is reversed. The “V” shape for displacing water, is backwards from what it should be with “directional mounting” arrow facing forwards. This is a Shinko 011 Verge front tire. Bossman says the 5 year old Chinese kid stamping the arrow put the tire in the press backwards😂 Thoughts? And thanks in advance.
I bought my RoadKing in the summer of 2022. It's a 2015 and the tires looked good. When I looked closer they were the original tires, 7 years old. The Bike had 9000 miles.
High end tires no matter how much as long as it exceeds manufacturer recommendations and fitment. Great video, I’m looking at getting a Heritage classic but don’t want laced wheels. What do you recommend?
Do prefer buying expensive tires one at a time or getting fresh rubber with two more inexpensive tires?
I use Duro tires on my Sportster on my BMWs and on my Ural sidecar outfit. They are inexpensive and durable I get 10,000 miles plus out of a tire. I also use a lot of Chen Chang and Kenda tires. They are good enough for most of my motorcycles except for my 1000cc BMW switch can cruise at 120 miles an hour. When you go motorcycling on a budget expensive tires are not in the mix.
I always replace both at the same time. I've tried Avon and Metzler. I like the Dunlop American Elite. Not too expensive and it performs well in all conditions
Fresh rubber. Always but a set of Shinkos when my rear wears out.
Expensive. Tire changing is not that fun, so if tire costs little extra and lasts little longer, i'll take that.
My opinion on tires is and please take this with a grain of salt, buy the best you can afford. Years ago I purchased a tire by the manufacturer named Swallow. I thought I was an experienced rider then but the handling characteristics scared me to no end. Enough so forme to discard them. So, no money saved but a valuable lesson leaned 0
I have been riding on the street over 50 years now and I definitely know how critical tires are. However, there are a lot of new riders out there that don't know this or think about it. Thank you for putting this information out there. It's good for safety.
I use OEM Dunlop on my SGS until I have to replace them. Then I go to Dunlop American Elite tires. Outstanding handling and wear. On my 2017 SGS I got 24,000 miles on the OEM Dunlops.
Love these tires too!
I have done both over the years, but I have always used the original type on my Harley Davidson bikes. Bought all of them new and paid way to much to skimp on tires.
The best decision I made was replacing the stock tires on my fat bob with a set of Mettzler Ultra Marathons. Very smooth, less vibration, and rolling into a curve inspires confidence.
I've heard a lot of good things about Metzler, haven't run them myself though.
Metzler and Pirelli are made in the same factory. Both brands are amazing and the only tires that I buy. Night and day difference compared to other tires.
Pot on
@@peted2770👍🏼
@@GixxerFoo, Metzler… the best! No more swerving on raingrooves…
Great content! I run Michelin commander 3 on rear and Dunlop American police version on the front. Reason for this I've found over time is the front wears shower than the rear and is better adept to cone courses and drills. The rear will last long and is good for highway riding. On my bike I do both and as soon as my front wears down, I can change both at the same time. It's been working great for years now. The long rides have been comfortable and the drills have been competitive. It's great in the rain as well.
That's actually a good idea. I may try that. I've always just went with Commander II's
Great video and advice! I’ve been running Metzler 888 Marathon tires for several years. Love them! Get great mileage out of them. Handle well too.
I've got a Metzeler Cruisetec on the front of my Softail Slim. It's such a great tire in terms of bump absorption, handling, feel and outright riding enjoyment. I've got a Cruisetec ordered for the rear but my tire shop hasn't replied to my emails, as if they don't want my business. I might have to got for a ME888 if they can't get hold of a Cruisetec for the rear.
Dunlop American elite best tire for Harley also made in USA. All other mc tires are made overseas
Not riding your motorcycle to increase resale value is tantamount to not screwing your GF so she'll stay tight for the next guy. MPE ( my personal experience ) I ran HD 402 on my 92 Electra Glide & would be lucky to get 5,500 miles out of it while getting 20,000 out of the front. Switched to Dunlop American Élite I get over 12,000. on that rear sneaker if you old a 402 & a élite you can feel how much more tire is there Works for me so I'm staying with it. EVO NATION!
I'm not a fan of Dunlop tires on baggers they ware out way to fast . I've been running pirrelli night dragons on my FXR but have run Metzler's , Avon's, & the Dunlop K591 on my FXR the K591s are killer but are a one season tire . Good job on the tire video it's all correct !
I don't have much of a choice when it comes to my '20 Fat Boy. All two options are expensive 😅 For my Sportster, I love the cheap Shinko 777. With my ADV bike, I spend a little extra for the performance
I ride year round and have been doing it for years. Never skimp on anything concerning your bike. But mostly tires. If your life is depending on something, pay up and get the best you can can.
harley came with dunlaps, have had nothing but great performance I.M.O. have never looked nor considered changing brands.
Hi 👋, 1999 soft tail. Deuce, stock tires ,about 7000 Ml , then went to Dunlop big mistake,less than 3000 ml , I didn’t feel good, so I went Metzler , and Michelin , both gave me good road holding and very good mills, I all way carried a very good tyre pressure gauge in my leather jacket, and it is still in my jacket to this day, at 71 years young, ride safe guys and girls, Phil from the moulin France.
I tend to prefer the Michelin Commander tires on my Street Glide. Perform better and last longer than the OEM Dunlops. Would never skimp on tires. It’s a safety issue!
As an old time truck driver I’ve gotten into the habit of feeling the tire to see how hot it’s getting, but I don’t need my tire thumper with my motorcycle tires since there’s no duals! If it’s getting hot it likely needs more air. When it comes to my bike, an only having two tires to begin with, I inclined not to go with a cheap tire, I’d rather get the best price on an expensive tire. I also like to read other riders reviews of their experience with the tires that I’m considering.
The HD Dunlops on my Sportster were pretty good at first but within a few years they got super hard and the traction went to what seemed like zero. I put Shinko SR777 tires on and they are fantastic. They have a smoother ride and way more grip, even in the wet. They are better than the OEM tires ever were.
Same. My OEM Dunlop were good the 1st year. Hated them and didn't trust them after that.
I got the 777 on my dyna. Some people don’t like them but I love them smooth ride and I’m not a aggressive rider so they are holding up amazing.
If you ride your bagger like a bullet proof 20 yr old on a sport bike, yeah tire selection is important. If youre like me and ride like the old fat daily commuter that i am, just get the OEM tires and worry about other shit. Ha!
Tires are one thing I don't skimp on! Safety is paramount and I have been buying Michelin and have been happy!
I prefer Michelin Commanders or American Elites on my Road Glide.
I am running Avon Cobra Chrome II tires on my 2007 Fatboy.
I don’t do burnouts so I go with a high millage tire like a Commander 3 or a American Elite by Dunlop. It’s a pain in the ass changing the rear tore so I want to do it as infrequent as possible.
Also my experience wto run matched tires. Mismatched tires tend to cause bad handling characteristics.
That’s all I have for y’all. I’m out and y’all peace out.
Thanks for the reminder! Love the tips and all the information you put out. Always look forward to your Friday posts.
Dunlop tires suck...a lot of riders buy them because they have 'Harley Davidson' stamped on the original replacements; I have always preferred Avons, but am currently using Michelin Commander II's on my custom Softail and really like them.
Your channel rocks man - I love it. Super under-rated. Dunlop American elites for me! I've tried others - and not that I skid out, don't hold the corners, etc - I just don't feel as planted - and I don't know how to explain it. I just feel more secure with the AE's. If I had to pick one - I'd go for performance over longevity - only because what's the point of having a tire that lasts 'forever' if you can't have fun, or you crash and can't use the tire. Tires are a consumable part - so use it as such. If I could split a tire though - I'd say 70% performance - 30% longevity. I want to ride hard - but don't need to replace both every season...
Avon cobra chrome for a Harley davidson sportster any good from uk ?
I've had Avon tires but no those new ones!
Have these on my fxdf. 50% 2up, rear did 10k, front now 15k and still good. Good on wet too. Just when loaded front is not grippy as should. Will get softer on front next time..
I remember when Royal Enfield were equipped with Avon roadrunner tires. Super expensive tires for a $5,000 motorcycle 🏍️. Much more sporty than what the bike needed the tire was too good for the bike. After all you don't put super sticky race tires on a Volkswagen beetle.
I was out of Yamaha shop looking in a magazine and they had an advertiser who advertised by two back tires get one front one free. I called them up and they said we don't do retail customers. I asked him how many tires I had to buy. I ended up buying a dozen tires with 6 free front tires. I did not buy tires for years.
75 days.... 75 frickin days!!!
My Ultra Classic sitting at my local Harley Davidson dealership...
Waiting on parts from Harley Davidson...
And I'm pissed!!!
Wow, that's rough. Half the riding season is over already, at least for me here in Canada. Truth, I haven't taken my '09 Sportster to a dealership since I bought it. I either do the work myself (the easy stuff) or take it to a local shop where they work on all brands. You've been waiting since what, last March? That's brutal. Almost would've been worth it to cancel the insurance or buy another older bike as a temporary ride. At 60yo, I've learned that each riding season is precious. You don't get them back to do over so you have to make sure to enjoy yourself while you can.
@@bill392y 2015 Ultra Classic Low went to the dealership on April 10...
It needed major engine work so I opted to get a stage 4 Screaming Eagle 103ci to 110ci kit .
The engine was under warranty so the upgrade was a little out of pocket...
I was originally told 45 days for either the rebuild or the upgrades.
At about 60 days my local Harley Davidson service manager got Harley Davidson area manager and the Customer Relations Manager involved because I had been waiting so long...
I was told that the company that makes the cylinders had fallen behind in production, and i would be bumped to the head of the list to get them.
They finally arrived a day after promised and never had a tracking number..
So... now my Ultra is in line for a lift and should finally be home soon...
But not before Harley Davidson really pissed me off !!!
68 and retired here in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma...
I was so pissed the other day when my service manager called to update me, I told him to take his time because I'm doing research on Indian motorcycles...
I would always buy the best rubber i can afford, here in Ireland it rains alot at times. I recently put a set of Commander 3 tires on my 2003 Fatboy, and the bike handles fantastic.
Most of the time I will change both tires , have been running metzlers on both my bikes, they handle way better than the factory skins
Good info. Found that using Dunlop tires Harley put on bike , wear real Good .
I'm pretty happy with my factory Michelins, I ended up going back with them front and rear this time around. I am thinking about giving the Shinkos a try, they are softer and wear faster but I like to keep fresh rubber on the bike front and rear.
Love my Dunlop American Elites
I like to get the best I can afford at the time. Actually always had good luck with Dunlop factory tires on my Harleys
I have been running Pirelli tires for years I check the psi every time I get ready to ride with the right psi in them per weight of the bike and myself they perform great and the wear is better than any other tire I have ran . Far as price they are adorable
MIchelin made the best of all tires period!
I really like Michelin tires myself!
I put commander 3's on my 03 super glide. I love em.
@Peter-nm1ps lasting 7500 miles is a whole lot more difficult when the tires have to withstand the weight of these "slow piece o shlt Harleys" without being hard as rocks
@@Peter-nm1ps, you sure you weren’t looking in your rear view mirror?
I have an ‘01 Road King Classic. I always use what originally came on the bike from the factory. Dunlop tires have never done me wrong. As the saying goes “ You get what you pay for” !!
I know you did a video like a year ago on this subject and its unrelated to this video but i have to ask you Foo! What cam would you recommend for a 2005 Harley Davidson fxdli?? Finally thinking its time for some more arss👍
S&S 555 is an excellent Dyna cam since it revs out higher, great power and not super loud with valve train noise. If you can deal with some valve train noise I love Wood Cams, they have an aggressive ramp angle and nose off quick which makes them noisy but the trade off is power. TW-6-6 is a great cam in an 88, very versatile for light or heavy bike. So if you load your bike down for a trip you'll still have low end pull and plenty of rev on the big end.
@@GixxerFoo 🙏 🤘As always preciate the input and knowledge Foo!
Great timing, I just bought a 2001 FXDL with only 8900 miles and original tires on it. I have been wrestling with what I am going to do for tires. Tempting to ride it some, just what I needed to hear. I will order tires this weekend
You left out how long is the service live of a tire
5 year shelf life is the limit for me.
I once got some tires put on my truck and they dry rotted 2 years later. So watch out for the year they made.
Excellent video!
Considering all the factors that are detrimental to motorcycle tires and all that's at stake when a failure occurs I place tire condition at the #1 spot on my check list no matter what type of tires, what type or whoever's bike I'm riding.
Great info! Thanks!
Great video Gixxerfoo! I use Shinko 777s on my '00 Sportster and Shinko Tour Masters on my '95 Electra Glide. I am very happy with the performance of both tire models. You have to change motorcycle tires all the time anyway (unless you go dark side) so why throw extra money away?
Some guys from Dunlop wet around at the Americade and they found most of the fights were grossly under-inflated
I buy them like 5 months before i think I need them Keep them in the Dark and dry cool place . I know Rubber can break down over years . I use to do 3 tires a year now I do 1 .
That's a really good idea!
@@GixxerFoo from the 1970s i did my tires with spoons in 2017 I picked up a tire machine I wish I had done that in the 30s lol
I go with stock tires
I've been pretty happy with the stock Michelins on mine bike!
I use a Bridgestone Ecopia 205 55 R17 on the rear of my Wide Glide ....Last one gave me over 82k miles .. That's just over 4 year's of riding.. Tubeless.. so plug and play with a roadside puncture !! Superior rain traction ..Cut's my Emergency stopping distance by 35% in all condition's..Increases dirt/gravel road traction ...Disregard's wet road line's and manhole cover's ..I have more then 35 year's on the Darkside..Best single mod i ever made and will never return !! ..Just for Cruiser's though... IMHO
I really miss the old Goodyear run flats, had those on my touring bike in the 80's. Saved me lots of anguish, being and to ride to get them fixed rather than waiting for a tow/fix
Hey Gixxer I've spent lots of cash trying to find awesome tyres just put Bridgestone battle cruise such a huge difference from first ride I'm very impressed changed the whole ride.All the best brother from NZ 🇳🇿
Good solid info, as always. The tires on my old softail were so bad that I was worried about getting caught in the rain with them. I was mostly concerned with the bald 21 on the front, but that rear one was so hard that I actually considered using a sawzall to get it off. I'm getting way too old to be wrestling tires, but I won in the end, and am now sporting a new set of Michelins. New brakes too!
It seems like it makes good sense to change the brake pads as long as you’ve got the wheels off. I just bought my used ‘06 FXDWGI with 11k miles in December ‘21 and the tires were in great shape, but after this year’s riding I plan on doing some engine mods (this is GixerFoo’s fault), brakes, and change the tires. Being new to owning a Harley I figured on taking the wheels in to have the new tires mounted and balanced (if needed) and having the spokes tightened and the wheels trued. Have you had any experience with those balancing beads or liquid that they put in the tire/tube to balance the tire?
@chrish5791 No, I don't have any experience with the balancing stuff inside the tire. I use a static balancer that I bought at Harbor Freight. I forget what I paid for it, but it wasn't very much. It does a good job. Truing spoke wheels is a talent. I would suggest finding someone with experience for that. Not that you couldn't learn how, but can be frustrating and requires a good bit of patience. BTW, that static balancer can also serve as a truing stand with a couple of dial indicators. Ride safe, brother!
@@scottarmstrong1172 , I figured on pulling the wheels and taking them somewhere to get the tires mounted. As for truing I had good friends who worked in a bicycle shop when I returned to college in ‘92 and watching them true and tighten wheels was a wonder. I figured that I’d have this done by the local Harley shop, but one of those friends now owns a bicycle shop, I wonder if he could do the wheels if Harley won’t work on my older Harley wheels? He sells those fat tire bikes so he must be able to true their rims but I don’t know if his truing stand is big enough for a motorcycle wheel. I’ll look up that static balancer from Harbor Freight. If I remember right motorcycle tires have a mark to orientate the tire to the tube hole in the rim and if you get that right the tires don’t need a lot of weight to balance them.
Question posted on a forum:
I don't have my manual, what pressure does it call for? (42 / 42 cold for 1 or 2 up in the manual with no regard to ambient)
Answers:
Never run 42 / I run 38 / I'm a racer, I run XX / The book is wrong / If you add 42 cold, it's going to be XX when hot - thanks for that - Suzuki and Bridgestone did not know that. / etc.
So I mention that we need to add inflation to the correct oil, fuel, break in, etc, arguments.
I took the guessing out of it, and just get the original tires. Bias ply Dunlops. I do buy them from a 3rd party (Usually Dennis Kirk), because why pay that Harley Tax if you don't have to... And I do them myself (even balance).
I'm due for tire replacement on my Sport Glide (currently have the OEM Michelins). I really like them, but when I searched the HD OEM replacement, I fell over seeing the price. Almost exactly twice the price of every other name brand/main stream tires I browsed through. That's is so Harley Davidson to do that. Harley can stuff their OEM price gouging tires. Lots of legitimate safe tire replacements out there. I won't buy bargain basement/budget no name tires and will stick to main stream brands. Stay in the genre of your bikes design (touring, cruiser, sport etc.) and save an absolute bundle of money over Harley OEM.
I prefer buying tires that last 3 times as long and ride better.
Toyo 195/55r/16 for my ‘12 Glide.
Been riding Darkside for 45,000 miles. Never go back.
Gixer is absolutely correct about Heat Cycles, but if you aren't fortunate enough to be able to store your bike indoors, exposure to direct sunlight will also harden (age) your tires!
Personally, I have a 96 Twin-Cam Softail that just doesn't look right without HD Badged Wide White Walls. Be safe out there!
I like to wear Michelin Commander tires on my 2009 Ultra Classic. I've always had positive history with these tires. They are smooth riding longer wearing rubber and Michelin is a well known tire. Nothing but the best tires when I ride and specially when my wife and I ride. I've never had issues with the Commander motorcycle tires. Adios
I also think that tires need to be fitted to your driving style. If you ride your Harley aggressively and a lot of twists you probably want some with a little softer rubber and stickier, the downside is that you lose a fair amount of life of the tire. Myself, i am just an average rider so i am 100% ok replacing my stock tires with OEM, i am actually getting 8-10,000 miles on my stock tires.
Multiple bikes, multiple tires. Right now I do have the same brand/model on front and rear of each bike. Dunlops on XR and Kawasaki (just put them on both) Shinko on DWG........always get tires with tread crossing center of tire, if not and you keep proper air pressure the center will still wear out cause they make it thin, sell more tires
I don't care about keeping same brand front and rear.
I keep rear tire 5lbs low on DWG, cost me a little mpg, more comfortable ride, tire last longer......I believe part of the reason it last longer is the air inside heats up when riding which increases psi and wears center of tire. I keep front tire at spec.......At tire change on DWG rear, last yr, there was very little tread left on sides, front this year still had tread on sides......I don't scrape pegs on my Dyna.....well actually none of them , the rest have 40+ lean angle
You must break in new tires carefully. After a hundred miles they should be broken in by then. I had a brand new Ninja 600, beautiful bike, went around a corner too sharp on new tires and contacted sprinkler water runoff. Was only goin 3mph, bike went out from under me. Messed up the bike real good ($3k worth) and broke two ribs. I learned.
I tried a set of Shinkos on my BMW GS because of price and it's dead-easy to pull the rear wheel if needed. I'm in about 2,500 miles and the rear shows squaring, but I was very surprised at how good they are. When the rear goes, I'll buy another one and re-evaluate things when the front is done. If/when I buy that Ultra, I'll probably buy high-mileage tires because changes will be a lot tougher both getting the wheel off and the tire off the rim.
My 09 ultra classic came with Dunlop, I got 16 000 km on it. When I changed to the Dunlop American elite I got 27 000 km.
I always get Perellis
I hear you about the age of a tire but I found some mishelyne's and I've had them on my front bike for about a year and they're twelve years old and they are like new I mean visually they're like new.. no cracks.. they're not heavily Warren I think I was giving the tire and the rims so I just stuck it on myself tail I had to put new bearings in it cuz I didn't know about the bearings.... I keep an eye on the tire but it seems to work fine I'm really sold on the Michelin I've never been I've never afforded one of the high-end tires like that I've been in o&r use Dunlap for a shinko Kenda... So what I'm saying is I'm impressed with that Michelin tire... It's just a 130 90 16....
Tires! About 2k miles ago I had a set of American Elites, factory sized on my 2015 fltruse and they felt great. About a month ago I got a jag on to do a 180x15x55 fat tire setup. Front and rear pressure is set at 40 lbs. since the rear tire is a 65 and the front tire is a 55 profile would that effect the handling? Oh, the rear is still the Elite and the front is a Pirelli.
I'm glad to touched on shelf life. What is the actual shelf life, I was told 6 years. My recent purchase of a 1999 Heritage Softail the tires were 11 years old but good tread and no dry rot anywhere so I ran 'em. After 2000 miles the rear went bald. Replaced it and will replace the front very soon. Thanks for the cool info.
I’ve found that Dunlops get 6k on my Heritage I switched to Avon tires and get twice the mileage,mostly touring and two up,just my experience
I got 26,000 miles on the OEM Dunlop rear tire. Got 28,000 out of the Dunlop American Elite tire.
What is a good bagger tire, that can handle switchbacks, touring and weather well? I'm on stock Dunlop still at 10k. Would like some good input on touring tires that grip and wear well. Added to the tire, what mileage can an average rider expect from the tire(s) recommended?
I only get Harley Tires. Dunlop makes my tires and I'm good with that. It's a tube tire. 2010 Softail
Gixxer….. we’re talking about pressures that are constantly changing with air temperature? So if I put 36 pounds in my front tire in the shade, then move my motorcycle into a sunny place with direct sunlight on a warm day give that tire about an hour and I can guarantee you you won’t have 36 pounds anymore, you’ll have 40 to 41 pounds in that tire. And as soon as you ride it down the street a mile or two you’ll have more pressure in that tire than that? So my question here would be how in the world do we figure out how much air to put in at a given ambient temperature when that ambient temperature changes all the time?
You get hd minimum ride with the Shinko s99 series with the addition of Kevlar belts added in. For less money. But the highest praise I have heard are for the metzler cruisetech on the baggers. I don’t know what to pick this next time lol.
I remember an old racers trick was to put tires on the roof and let the sun bakes them so they got hard for traction. What you can do for 300 or 400 lb motorcycle is one thing what you do for a 900 to 1000 lb motorcycle is something else. It would be stupid to put a 2-ply lightweight tire on a Harley dresser but on a little 250 single it's not so bad
Not sure but I believe hard tires do not stick well. They last a long time though
@@mosswelding1 I believe that this old racers trick is for dirt track racing I read it in a magazine about it. An old flat track racer was talking about it so it may not be permanent to other genres of the sport.
The weight and speed requirements?!!!!
Fat and slow. You only need one tire for all Harley’s
Great Video! I bought tires online and then got sick with Covid. It took a year and a half to pick back up where I left off and got my new tires mounted. The tires were actually 3 years old! They were cracked and not usable and since it had been longer than a year, they would not warranty them. So check all tires for the build year also.
I have 2013 TRI Glide it runs hot. 350 to 400 degrees . Should I put on a fan cooled oil cooler in it.
Sir ur a wealth of knowledge on HD,s and we appreciate all the research u do for us..Bravo Zulu
Thanks for once again putting out great info. I've always tried to buy the best tires and brakes available. On my bikes and 4 wheel vehicles. These are two things that I do not take chances with.
Yup I've road for fifty years also and we're talk'n up here on west coast Vancouver Island BC Canada in the winter , all I can say is change your tires every fall !!!
Replace your tires every 5 years, whether the tread is worn or not !
Buy the best brand, like Metzler’s. That’s all that is between you and the road.
I. A fan of battlax tires. Ran them on my fatbob and they were perfect. When I get a chance I will out them on my roadking
Depends on which bike and the worest weather i will ride in.
My sporty was running night dragon gt when i was daily riding to and from work rain hail or shine.
Now that i am not but wanting to get the best mileage i have swapped to commander 3 on both softail and sporty. Expensive maybe but if i am getting the mileage it means less down time and more riding time. Only time will tell with these tyres
I put a shinko on the rear of my low rider. Must’ve been a really soft compound. Got 1k miles out of it before it was down to the cords
I run a Metzeler 888 on the rear and a Dunlop American Elite on the front.
I usedto run Metzeler in the front also, but a few years ago i couldnt get one and my mechanic recommended the American Elite for the front.
Handles better in the rain with the A E on the front than it did with the Metzeler.
But i still love the handling and the wear of the Metzeler on the rear
I’ve used Dunlop 400 series tires on every motorcycle I’ve ever had. Never had a bad one.
Metzler 888 Marathon tires are the best hands down. Been running them for years on my 08 softail custom and they are the best handling tire in all types of weather.
I just go with the stock tires and have always had good luck. One time I had a tire that looked good but was dry rotted on the sides and I replaced it. Never had that happen before.
Great subject, thanks , I installed a aftermarket to monitoring system to my 2012 SG, I set my big psi at factory while cold as factor manual states , I was surprised on how much the tire pressure increase as you drive as much as 4-5 psi in hoot weather , on cold it still increases a few Psi , what is your thought on this ?I am not sure riders understand this and why you psi is checked cold . Before you ride
I run higher quality dual compound tires on my 2020 flhtc
Always looking for info and what's the best wet type tire for my Softail 16 in
American Thunder in Kingston will sell you a tire that is over 10 years old. watch it.
Have you ever seen a front motorcycle tire, wear uneven? Literally one side is noticeably worn thinner than other. First for me on a standard street bike. This was on my ‘17 fat boy S.
Also, bought a tire, tread pattern in my opinion is reversed. The “V” shape for displacing water, is backwards from what it should be with “directional mounting” arrow facing forwards. This is a Shinko 011 Verge front tire. Bossman says the 5 year old Chinese kid stamping the arrow put the tire in the press backwards😂
Thoughts? And thanks in advance.
Metzler Touring tires. German made and they ride GREAT!
Some bikes need wide white walls
Make white walls great again!
Dunlop American Elite , 35 lb In Both , Solo , In The South !
I bought my RoadKing in the summer of 2022. It's a 2015 and the tires looked good. When I looked closer they were the original tires, 7 years old. The Bike had 9000 miles.
ALWAYS GREAT CONTENT
Thank you!
What if I have a c loaded tire and my ole lady is 500 lbs the side walls is about to splode and should I just make her get a side car for me
I run Michelin scorcher tires on my Vrod I think you get what you pay for
Excellent information. Thank you! 🙏
High end tires no matter how much as long as it exceeds manufacturer recommendations and fitment. Great video, I’m looking at getting a Heritage classic but don’t want laced wheels. What do you recommend?