Best tire prices on the planet?

[ukrmh]

I ride a 2010 Ultra with 12K miles.  I has original tires, and I wanted to replace the rear tire, as it was almost worn out.
I recently relocated from Kansas City to Northern CA where I know prices are higher.  Or are they?

A new Dunlop wide rear tire for my bike retails for $287!  I am used to paying that for a set of 4 tires on my small car, but welcome to the Harley world, huh!
KC Harley dealers quoted $320-450 installed.  A couple of dealers in the South Bay area wanted $410-450 installed.  All these quotes were out-the-door, with taxes, recycling fees, labor, balancing, etc.  I have a cast wheel, so I did not need a tube.  I was saving my retirement dollars for a new rear tire, knowing the inevitable would be coming soon.

Last month, while riding near Lathrop, CA, I stopped at Eagles Nest HD for a breather.  Nice guys, nice dealer, etc.  I strolled over to the parts counter and asked the inevitable “tire” question.  They quoted $225, otd!  Now, my hearing is bad (Vietnam vet, lots of rocket noise, etc), so I asked them to repeat it.  Same price!  Still not trusting my ears, I asked for it in writing.  They provided it, and even brought out the tire I was about to purchase.  Genuine HD Dunlop OEM thin ww, matching size, and build date of 32nd week of 2011.  I was astonished!  I agreed to their price right then, before they changed their mind!  They mounted and balanced it in one hour, and there was no “up charge” shock when I paid the bill.  $225, otd, including everything!  I probably could have gotten another 1-2K out of the old tire, and that was my plan before encountering this deal.  I am going back in a few thousand miles to have the front tire replaced at a similar low price.  No, I don’t own stock in this dealership, nor does my brother-in-law work there or own the place. 

This tire is selling for over $200 alone on ebay and other internet sites; however, you really never know what you are getting on the internet.  And, if I arranged for an indy shop to install a tire I carried in, it would have cost an extra $100 or so.  I was delighted with ENHD, and if in the area, suggest you ride there.  Only downside: they are closed on Wednesday!

Bob

[PoorUB]

All I can say is strange!!
Strange for a HD dealer to discount a tire, and stranger yet to mount and balance it for free! Here that would have been a $350 bill. A friend on mine took his 2011 Ultra and his wife's late model SofTail in for a tire change, font and back, both bikes and the bill was just shy of $1,000! Tires from the dealer for a 2009+ Glide will generaly run about $450 for the pair, plus mount and balance. The local dealer here charges 1 hour labor for each tire, even though it takes maybe 20-30 minutes. I watched one of the dealer techs run a bike in and do both front and back tires in about 45 minutes, on a late model Glide.

[bigbearkiller]

 RE TIRE DUH.....buy a tire on line and do it yourself.....It's work but easy enough to do yourself.You have a lifetime to do it.Get a manual and a lift.

[mayor]

All I can say is strange!!
Strange for a HD dealer to discount a tire

there's a local dealer to me that always runs a discount on tires.  I bought the front tire for my '09 bagger for $103, and it lists for around $180 now.

[PoorUB]

All I can say is strange!!
Strange for a HD dealer to discount a tire

there's a local dealer to me that always runs a discount on tires.  I bought the front tire for my '09 bagger for $103, and it lists for around $180 now.

Sure, but then do they mount it for free??

[mayor]

No, I think they charge around $25 off the bike and $75 on. I get my tire changing done by my local import shop ( off the bike), so I'm not sure.

[kik]

Last tire I had mounted at the dealer was in 09' Rear tire FLHTC out the door $180. Same dealer gave me a price of $280 for the tire no mounting included 2 weeks ago. But I found an indi that will replace the rear for $257 out the door.

[ukrmh]

I found the invoice for this tire with the installation, and it broke down as follows:   Tire was $119, labor $85, and the remaining $21 was tax, recycle fees and weights at Eagles Nest HD in Latrop, CA. 

I wonder what I would have been charged if I had a flat and had to be towed in there for a new rear tire??  I'll never  know, I guess.

Keep in mind, this was an original OEM fresh Dunlop thin ww HD tire-exactly like the one that came with the bike new.

I was driving near there last week and decided to try to buy another rear tire as a spare for $119.   They would not do that price unless they also did the install.  Tire price only was $225 if I carried it out.  I guess I understand their position on that.  I live about 75 miles from them, and thought it would be comforting to have another brand new rear spare in case of a flat tire, and then the inability of getting my bike back up to the Lathrop dealer for a new one.  Still, $225 for this OEM tire (only) is a good price compared to what other dealers are quoting in the South Bay area of San Francisco.
Ride Safe!
Bob

[tbird]

Could be new take-offs. I made the local dealer take off the butt ugly whitewalls on my last new bagger. They charged me labor but I was happy to get rid of them. That maybe why the price is only when installed? Kind of like a new-used tire.

[IndyHarley]

I just had installed a rear tire on my 08 Ultra at a dealer for $220.

[flhr]

Take the wheels off, go to cycle gear. I had them mount and balance front and rear 330.00 Harley branded Dunlops.

[PoorUB]

Take the wheels off, go to cycle gear. I had them mount and balance front and rear 330.00 Harley branded Dunlops.

402 or 407/408??

[flhr]

402s

[PoorUB]

402s

That is about right for the 402s. $125-$140 each for the tires, a little for freight and $25 each to mount.

[Rags722]

You guys are doing nothing to cheer me up.  Ever since I dropped mine in a turn last year I'm getting less and less confident to take a turn at any speed and figure I'll blame part of it on my mind and the other part on the fact the front tire has close to 30K miles on it ( but still has tread) and the back close to 15K.  Yup, the back is an E-3, but with my lack of trust in turns the chicken strip is getting wider and wider, and when I do lean I have to fight it to get up off the chicken strip and then it wants to lean w-a-y to far over.  Also taking away from my faith is the plug in the rear tire and the fact I ran it almost flat for a mile or so while I was trying to figure out what the funny whooshing noise was ( damned E-3's have some strong sidewalls - never even felt like a tire was going down).  In any case, I'm about to plunk down my money and put on new sneakers front and back to see if that gives me any confidence back.

[Barney Biker]

New tires will work wonders on your confidence.

Barney

[04Glider2]

Cheapest way in N Cal is to buy tires online and take the wheel off and go to "Cycle Gear" to have it mounted and balanced.
But I use a local indy that has resonable prices on tires and has them in stock. (Avon Venom for me) Carry in the wheels and I leave happy and keep some money flowing to the local guy.
If the locals can't stay in business we will all pay more later. Find them with a "Google Search" if you don't know who they are.