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Need New Tires

Started by Die Hard, October 16, 2019, 08:06:51 PM

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Die Hard

I was only able to get 5,000 miles on the rear Factory Dunlop and 7,200 miles on an American Elite that I put on next. Now I need to replace both front and rear tires. Yes I am running a S&S 124 in a 2015 Street Glide but I don't do burn outs - mostly highway miles on extended trips but I do ride pretty hard. Is this as good as it gets or is there a brand that will increase my mileage significantly and still maintain good handling?
Life is too short to drink cheap whiskey.

Skin

I really like the Michelin Commander II I have on my RG. I've put a lot of them on many motorcycles over the last few years. This is a post your going to get a boat load of different views and opinions, but the Commanders work very well for me and my riding style. Lots of highway and twisties.

koko3052

You are getting about as good as you're going to get. If you do find a better mileage tire it will be hard rubber & you will sacrifice traction/handling. You may look for something wider that will fit as wider will usually last a bit longer.

Hossamania

I get double that out of stock dunlops and American Elites.
Are you checking air pressure regularly? Is your gauge accurate, have you checked it against other gauges?
If the government gives you everything you want,
it can take away everything you have.

Coyote

I'm lucky to get 7500 on the rear of my 113 (130tq).


You have a 124 and you like the throttle. Sounds about right to me.

boooby1744


Pete_Vit

Quote from: Skin on October 17, 2019, 03:40:55 AM
I really like the Michelin Commander II I have on my RG. I've put a lot of them on many motorcycles over the last few years. This is a post your going to get a boat load of different views and opinions, but the Commanders work very well for me and my riding style. Lots of highway and twisties.
:up:
93 XLH1200 - 96 FXSTS - 2010 Ultra Glide Classic
www.facebook.com/harleypartsch

PoorUB

If the American  Elite is not holding up I  doubt any other tire will be much better.
I am an adult?? When did that happen, and how do I make it stop?!

FXDBI

Go to the Darkside run a car tire!  Bob

fleetmechanic

We've been replacing OEM Dunlops on our escort fleet with American Elites because of the lower cost and availability in the
aftermarket.  I just changed the original back tire on a 2016 FLHTP and it got 21,000 miles out of the OEM D407.
That's definitely a record for us.
We have run car tires on the rear of a couple of sidecar rigs but once the sidecar is removed the handling is squishy and the sidewalls don't like cornering.

FXDBI

Quote from: fleetmechanic on October 17, 2019, 08:51:07 AM
We've been replacing OEM Dunlops on our escort fleet with American Elites because of the lower cost and availability in the
aftermarket.  I just changed the original back tire on a 2016 FLHTP and it got 21,000 miles out of the OEM D407.
That's definitely a record for us.
We have run car tires on the rear of a couple of sidecar rigs but once the sidecar is removed the handling is squishy and the sidewalls don't like cornering.

That's why they use a run flat tire! Lots of very happy darksiders out there.  Facebook has a Darkside group from all around the world. Bob

IronButt70

No one else put you on the road you're on. It's your own asphalt.

smoserx1

QuoteGo to the Darkside run a car tire!  Bob
I was going to say that but was afraid of getting flamed.  If I had a rim that would fit a car tire I would try it in a heartbeat.

mrmike

On my second set of Commanders and I have no complaints, picked up a roofing nail in Laconia this past June so I'll be replacing the rear this winter, not so much because of the plug but because I ended up having to put some Slime into the tire because the plug lost it's seal.


Looks like I'll try a Commander III.

Mike
I'm not leaving til I have a good time

Leed

Quote from: FXDBI on October 17, 2019, 08:56:56 AM
Quote from: fleetmechanic on October 17, 2019, 08:51:07 AM
We've been replacing OEM Dunlops on our escort fleet with American Elites because of the lower cost and availability in the
aftermarket.  I just changed the original back tire on a 2016 FLHTP and it got 21,000 miles out of the OEM D407.
That's definitely a record for us.
We have run car tires on the rear of a couple of sidecar rigs but once the sidecar is removed the handling is squishy and the sidewalls don't like cornering.

When I had my 05 Goldwing I tried a car tire. It wasn't a run flat but once I got the pressure dialed in you really couldn't tell it was a car tire back there.  The only times I could tell was pulling up to a light that was rutted from cars and trucks. The bike wanted to lean in the rut.  The other times I noticed that I had much better traction taking off in the rain and I could really stand on the rear brake without it breaking loose.

That's why they use a run flat tire! Lots of very happy darksiders out there.  Facebook has a Darkside group from all around the world. Bob

smokein

I've had big motors with even more power, ride hard and always always get about double what your reporting. You either need to be much more vigilant about it psi or your roads are terrible.

Pete_Vit

Quote from: smokein on October 20, 2019, 08:04:13 PM
I've had big motors with even more power, ride hard and always always get about double what your reporting. You either need to be much more vigilant about it psi or your roads are terrible.
:agree: back east I used D402's and got decent mileage, as soon as I moved to Arkansas and started riding on the state highways my mileage dropped drastically, seems to be the compound of the roads are different from region to region  :nix:
93 XLH1200 - 96 FXSTS - 2010 Ultra Glide Classic
www.facebook.com/harleypartsch

motorhogman

Quote from: Pete_Vit on October 21, 2019, 05:38:19 AM
Quote from: smokein on October 20, 2019, 08:04:13 PM
I've had big motors with even more power, ride hard and always always get about double what your reporting. You either need to be much more vigilant about it psi or your roads are terrible.
:agree: back east I used D402's and got decent mileage, as soon as I moved to Arkansas and started riding on the state highways my mileage dropped drastically, seems to be the compound of the roads are different from region to region  :nix:

Similar experience when I lived in the NE. D402's rear.. 10,000 mi.. SC 8,000 mi  Fronts seem to still be getting decent mileage though, about 20,000 mi.
where's the points and condenser ?<br />Tom / aka motor

IronButt70

Quote from: mrmike on October 17, 2019, 03:04:10 PM
I ended up having to put some Slime into the tire because the plug lost it's seal.


Looks like I'll try a Commander III.

Mike
The Indy that does my tire changes will not do one that has had slime installed.  What he calls it is not allowed here.  :hyst:
No one else put you on the road you're on. It's your own asphalt.

bigfoot5x

As a Texan riding in mountains occasionally, I have noticed that I get less mileage on tires used for trips to mountainous areas or areas with lots of snow every year. I can definitely tell that highways in New Mexico have a paving that is considerably more coarse than what we have in Texas. I don't know if this is true every where but it has been my observation.

Boe Cole

2011 RGU - Ride in the mountains here in east Tennessee.  Bike came new with Dunlops - started to cup after so many miles.  Switched to Michelin Commanders for two sets.  Was happy with them but the cornering in the mountains (Tail of the Dragon and similar roads - need i say more) caused a lot of wear and the front handle bars started their shaking - again!!!  On the advice of my indy, tried the American Elite.  Am very happy with them.  Hard in the center, soft on the sides.  Have more cornering confidence in them than I had with the Michelin's.  Could be just mental but they ride differently than the Michelin's - not that the Michelin's are not a good tire - they are but I'm preferring the American Elites for my riding style.  Also the new tires have eliminated the typical Road Glide front end shimmy when decelerating. 

In all honesty, I am not aware of any bad tires in the markeplace.  Seems to me that some tires work better on some bikes than others.
We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

Die Hard

Quote from: smokein on October 20, 2019, 08:04:13 PM
I've had big motors with even more power, ride hard and always always get about double what your reporting. You either need to be much more vigilant about it psi or your roads are terrible.

The roads here in Pa are terrible - some of the worst in the country. We have a freeze/thaw pattern here that simply destroys them.
Life is too short to drink cheap whiskey.

scott7d

I see a lot of threads lately with people concerned about tire mileage. I don't understand how tread life can be so different from bike to bike and person to person. I understand there can be slight variance, but several thousands of miles?! I also have a 124" and ride 25k+ a year in about every kind of condition you can think of. I'm not god's gift to riding by any means, but frequently ride in a manner where I'm scraping parts and damned near touching the sides of my wheels to the road. With that, I am getting fantastic tread life out of my American Elites. At minimum, double what you're getting.

This year I've taken more long-distance trips than I ever have previously and have encountered the worst roads I've ever seen in my life. This has affected my tread life minimal to none. There must be an underlying root cause for instances like yours. Otherwise, I would be banging on the door to the warranty department for Dunlop.
Scott Matlock - Bloomington, IN
Iron Butt Rider #72408 - Facebook: The Hoosier Cruiser

egstandard

I always get 9-10K on a rear 402 dunlop. I am going to try the commanders next time though.

calif phil

Quote from: boooby1744 on October 17, 2019, 07:23:17 AM
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Just spent some time talking/riding and with the guys from Michelin.  I got to look at the new Commander III.   He said they will have 20% longer tread life than the commander II and the main take away for me was 50% better traction in the rain compared to the CII.  They come in two different models, touring and cruiser which  is dictated by size.