Avon Cobra's - Mileage Results

[Ohio HD]

Early last summer I installed two new Avon Cobra tires on my '08 Street Glide, front is 130/90-16 rear is 140/90-16. As I was servicing the bike today, and accessing what I need to get for the season coming, I'll be needing a couple of tires. The rear is at the wear bars, the front isn't that bad, but worn enough I'll replace it. These have 8,138 miles on them. Really not bad in my opinion for the way I ride. his has been what I pretty much expected to get out of them, as I've run them in the past.

What I like so much about these is they still corner very smooth, meaning the rear doesn't wear square like the OEM Dunlop D402's did, and the Michelin Commander II's did. I have enough rubber to ride on yet, but will be planning a new set. I'm tempted to try a set of American Elite's on this bike. I put a set on my '09 Ultra, they ride great, and handle great as well. I may do that and see how they compare to the Cobra's.


Front @ 8,138 miles
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[Ohio HD]

Rear @ 8,138 miles
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[Barrett]

I'm on my second set of Cobra's and I like them.. I don't think I can find a better tire in 16" for my Fatbob.. I would like one a little stickier even if the miles wouldn't be there..

[Ohio HD]

What size rear are you running?

[jrgreene1968]

I'm running them on my Fatboy, love em compared to the metzlers they replaced. What pressure are you running yours at?

[Ohio HD]

I run 42 front, 40 rear.

[fbn ent]

I run them on my '02 FLTR.  I get a few less miles on mine than you do but I run them pretty hard. I did notice the last rear was a little "skittery". I will watch the next one to see if it was just an aberration or not.

[Admiral Akbar]

Roads around here and east to Arkisaw must be bad around here..  I only get about 4200-4500 on a 150/80x16 rear and maybe 6K out of a front..  Had to replace one 2/3 of the way through a trip cuz it didn't look like it would do the rest of the way home.. Stopped at Phil's and got Tweek and Coyote to change the tire for me..   

[Ohio HD]

Yeah you mentioned that you didn't get much mileage from them. Your rear tire is a V rated, so I can see that mileage being pretty normal. I assume your front tire is a 130/90-16, and is H rated, so I can't understand the low mileage.

It's either the roads, or you lock up the brakes a lot!      

[Admiral Akbar]

Yeah you mentioned that you didn't get much mileage from them. Your rear tire is a V rated, so I can see that mileage being pretty normal. I assume your front tire is a 130/90-16, and is H rated, so I can't understand the low mileage.

It's either the roads, or you lock up the brakes a lot!      

It wouldn't surprise me that the V rating is what kills much of the mileage..  One of the things about V rated tires is that they have less rubber..

[Ohio HD]

Yeah you mentioned that you didn't get much mileage from them. Your rear tire is a V rated, so I can see that mileage being pretty normal. I assume your front tire is a 130/90-16, and is H rated, so I can't understand the low mileage.

It's either the roads, or you lock up the brakes a lot!      

It wouldn't surprise me that the V rating is what kills much of the mileage..  One of the things about V rated tires is that they have less rubber..

I didn't realize they had less hide. I knew they have a softer compound, and are rated for higher speeds / temperatures.

[MaxxV4]

Probably have to use less tread if softer. Tall soft tread at the speeds they're intended could get twitchy.

[tommy g]

Two rear Cobras that got 6000 miles, about 12000 on the front and it is still in good shape.

[04 SE Deuce]

Cobra 140/90B16 (77H) tread depth 8.7mm,   150/80B16 (77V) tread depth 7.2mm so there is some of the difference.

One of these day maybe I'll post some of my worn out tire pics.  No issue with wearing anything square but I will say the Cobra's performance doesn't degrade much till really bald.

Brian I'd try a set of AE's if I were you then you'll know.  I think both are good,  probably lean toward AE's on a bagger.   -Rick

[Ohio HD]

Brian I'd try a set of AE's if I were you then you'll know.  I think both are good,  probably lean toward AE's on a bagger.   -Rick

I think I'm going to try a set of the AE Rick. I like Avon tires, and have used up many sets of them in the past, on other bikes. But will try the AE's for a comparison.

[04 SE Deuce]

I'm sure you've seen it...$50 rebate on AE's till April 30th.  -Rick

[Ohio HD]

I'm sure you've seen it...$50 rebate on AE's till April 30th.  -Rick

Thanks Rick.   

I did see it, and posted for others as well.

http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php/topic,80576.msg898947.html#msg898947

[deathwish]

That's pretty good. I have a 113 and a 124 and get just under 6,000 miles if I ride with a gentle hand. They could be gone in 3 if I wanted. No matter how I ride my rears are all cupped out and even the front get cupped. I run 42 in the front and 50 in the rear. Any less and the tires are cupped in no time. It has to do with my riding style, which is to roll the throttle center off. I actually took a 200 mile ride and got aggressive with the throttle on a twisty area (actually all my area is that way), and had 1" long feathers of rubber hanging from the sipes and balded the sides from just cornering. Triangle shaped tread. Motorcycle tires suck. I spend $1000.00 a year just on rears.

[MarcV125]

I tried the cobras once...Got about 4k on the rear..Stuck like hell though and felt very stable in the corners but the Dunlop 407 combo front and rear gives me the best mileage and still handles perfectly fine for me , and im pretty aggressive in the twisties..usually get about 12k on the rear and 7-8 on the front..though the rear always cups around 5k, it doesn't bother me that much and i just stick with it until i reach the wear bars in the center..

marc

[Ohio HD]

So the final miles on the Cobra's was 8,163, just 25 more miles than the pics above.

So I now have about 300 miles on the Dunlop American Elites. First I'll say I have the American Elites on my '09 Ultra, and like them. That is a different bike than the '08 Street Glide. It's heavier, has different tire and wheel sizes, and the suspension is different.

Right out of the gate with the American Elites on the Street Glide I felt a difference. I mean not even out of the driveway, seriously. You notice a slightly sharper radius of the tread. I could feel that in how the bike reacted to weight shift and handlebar input. Not in a bad way, just different. I know my bikes well enough that I feel anything that's different. What I have noticed, the Dunlops do ride slightly better, smoother I guess would be accurate. However the Avons did seem to give a better road feedback to me through the bars. In a corner the Avons just feel like they are hooked to the road. The Dunops are very good, just different. 

I guess we'll see what kind of mileage I get from them. And how they feel after a few thousand miles. But so far I like them on this bike too.

[PoorUB]

Brian I'd try a set of AE's if I were you then you'll know.  I think both are good,  probably lean toward AE's on a bagger.   -Rick

I think I'm going to try a set of the AE Rick. I like Avon tires, and have used up many sets of them in the past, on other bikes. But will try the AE's for a comparison.

I get 17,000+ miles on a rear AE on my 2010 Ultra, and I have been known to leave some rubber on the road once in a while.

[WI Bob]

My brother runs the Avon radials on his 2009 RK. They ride and handle awesome. But 5-6K and they are done.

[Ohio HD]

Brian I'd try a set of AE's if I were you then you'll know.  I think both are good,  probably lean toward AE's on a bagger.   -Rick

I think I'm going to try a set of the AE Rick. I like Avon tires, and have used up many sets of them in the past, on other bikes. But will try the AE's for a comparison.

I get 17,000+ miles on a rear AE on my 2010 Ultra, and I have been known to leave some rubber on the road once in a while.

My riding style in general is hard on tires. On this Street Glide I got just over 15k miles on Michelin Commander II's. Most say they get 20k + miles. I never do burn outs, but the 117 motor will break the rear loose under hard throttle. I'll be surprised if I get over 12k.

[Deye76]

Can't go by internet claims on mileage in deciding what tires to try, to many variables as we all know. While Brian got 15K on Comm II's, mine were all done by 11K. My riding area is a lot different than Brian's. Where his is more straight, mine is hills and curves, where I love to brake hard going in and give it hell coming out. Not the tires fault, so I always suggest go with what works for your situation, and stay on top of air pressure.

[Ohio HD]

Well, I think we all agree that different road types plays a part in tire wear. But I've never ridden on the Internet... 

Changing lean angle continuously may play a part in  tire tread wear, but I suspect that it's mostly cornering, and trip mileage at higher speeds that can take the tire wear up. Where as I ride at nominal speeds of 50 to 65 on back roads, with blasts of speed to 120.

With these Cobra tires on my VN2000 I was getting around 6,000 to 6,500 miles on rear and about 10,000 on the front. These also being V rated Avons in the size the VN2000 used. Most of the miles on that bike were at higher highway speeds. Ohio to west coast and back on several trips and a set of tires each trip.

[Latrobedyna]

Man i have no idea how you folks get such great mileage out of tires 8-15 K? The longest lasting rear tires i have run are the commander II's and i have yet to get past 4500 miles out of them. And i ride a dyna you think it be easier on tires. 

[PoorUB]

Man i have no idea how you folks get such great mileage out of tires 8-15 K? The longest lasting rear tires i have run are the commander II's and i have yet to get past 4500 miles out of them. And i ride a dyna you think it be easier on tires. 

It has to do a lot with riding style, short trips or touring, in town, out of town, road surface.

It is not unusual for me to fire up my Ultra, top of the gas and not stop until I need gas again. I might take off for a "short" run in the evening and run 200 miles without stopping. I have run to Sturgis, bought a t-shirt, then headed back home on the same day, 1,000 miles.  I have headed to Duluth from Fargo, had lunch and turned around and headed home.  Take a quick 1,500 mile run around Lake Superior in two days. You can get good tire mileage if you don't stop for anything!

In town it unusual for me, I don't bar hop, I don't drag race my buddy to the next stop light.

[No Cents]

 I'm really lovin the Pirelli Angel GT tire.
Best tire I've ever had on my bike...hands down.

Ray

[black]

I'm really lovin the Pirelli Angel GT tire.
Best tire I've ever had on my bike...hands down.

Ray

what kind of miles are you gettin

[kd]

 

I'm really lovin the Pirelli Angel GT tire.
Best tire I've ever had on my bike...hands down.

Ray

what kind of miles are you gettin

Now that there is a loaded question.  That back tire only stops spinning at red lights and stop signs.   

added later;  .... or in the barn when Ray's in the house.

[Ohio HD]

So at the beginning of this post are the front and rear Avon Cobra photos at 8,138 miles from my bike. Front still some tread, rear is gone. Below is the front and rear American Elites with 9,412 miles. Front has some miles, rear is gone. Same bike, same general riding style, the Dunlops got me another 1,274 miles. But, they also do not hold the like Avons do. On a bike with much less power, the Dunlops probably would have been a bigger improvement over the Avon's as far as mileage and longevity. But, the Dunlops also would break loose pretty easy under power, where the Avon's don't. For 90% of the riders, the Dunlop American Elites are a better choice on a heavy bike, this being a Street Glide. But when you add more power to the equation, the Avon's are a better tire IMHO. I have the Dunlops on my '09 Ultra, and like them fine there, but it's a stone stock bike.

Avon's are here to stay on this bike.

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[04 SE Deuce]

Brian I've kinda found what you did mileage wise between Cobra and Elite 3 on the front of the Deuce (I know different size and app),  but when I push the bike harder the Cobra will actually return better mileage than the E3...softer/gripier tire doesn't struggle for traction and will out mileage the harder tire in aggressive use.  Proved this back to back more than once.

[Ohio HD]

Sure I could see that Rick, under some variations, the results can change to unexpected. Things I noticed in a short 25 mile ride with the Avon's back on, the ride is not as smooth as the Dunlops, meaning I get more road sensation and feed back with the Avon's. As well I can feel the difference going through the gears hard, the bike has a newfound snap to it when the gear is change under a hard acceleration. This happening in 1st, 2nd and 3rd, as the Dunlop just didn't grip the same as the Avon does. All in all, the Dunlop is a better tire for general riding in my opinion, smoother, higher mileage in most applications.

[Durwood]

Sure I could see that Rick, under some variations, the results can change to unexpected. Things I noticed in a short 25 mile ride with the Avon's back on, the ride is not as smooth as the Dunlops, meaning I get more road sensation and feed back with the Avon's. As well I can feel the difference going through the gears hard, the bike has a newfound snap to it when the gear is change under a hard acceleration. This happening in 1st, 2nd and 3rd, as the Dunlop just didn't grip the same as the Avon does. All in all, the Dunlop is a better tire for general riding in my opinion, smoother, higher mileage in most applications.

Bias ply probably, but not radials. The Cobra radial tires on my Roadglide Ultra are much smoother than Dunlop Bias ply tires IMO.

They don't last quite as long but will grip all the way to the cords.

I personally choose performance over longevity, not saying the Dunlop's are bad, I just like the Avon radials better.

[Ohio HD]

Sure I could see that Rick, under some variations, the results can change to unexpected. Things I noticed in a short 25 mile ride with the Avon's back on, the ride is not as smooth as the Dunlops, meaning I get more road sensation and feed back with the Avon's. As well I can feel the difference going through the gears hard, the bike has a newfound snap to it when the gear is change under a hard acceleration. This happening in 1st, 2nd and 3rd, as the Dunlop just didn't grip the same as the Avon does. All in all, the Dunlop is a better tire for general riding in my opinion, smoother, higher mileage in most applications.

Bias ply probably, but not radials. The Cobra radial tires on my Roadglide Ultra are much smoother than Dunlop Bias ply tires IMO.

They don't last quite as long but will grip all the way to the cords.

I personally choose performance over longevity, not saying the Dunlop's are bad, I just like the Avon radials better.

Sure, that's fine, and probable. But it's not an apples to apples comparison. Radials will always ride better than bias ply tire in my experience.

By my preferring Avon is not for the lower mileage that I get from them.     

[Durwood]

Sure I could see that Rick, under some variations, the results can change to unexpected. Things I noticed in a short 25 mile ride with the Avon's back on, the ride is not as smooth as the Dunlops, meaning I get more road sensation and feed back with the Avon's. As well I can feel the difference going through the gears hard, the bike has a newfound snap to it when the gear is change under a hard acceleration. This happening in 1st, 2nd and 3rd, as the Dunlop just didn't grip the same as the Avon does. All in all, the Dunlop is a better tire for general riding in my opinion, smoother, higher mileage in most applications.

Bias ply probably, but not radials. The Cobra radial tires on my Roadglide Ultra are much smoother than Dunlop Bias ply tires IMO.

They don't last quite as long but will grip all the way to the cords.

I personally choose performance over longevity, not saying the Dunlop's are bad, I just like the Avon radials better.

Sure, that's fine, and probable. But it's not an apples to apples comparison. Radials will always ride better than bias ply tire in my experience.

By my preferring Avon is not for the lower mileage that I get from them.     

Exactly. You didn't say for sure in the post as to whether they were bias or not, that's why I replied.

Have a good one.

[HD/Wrench]

after adding the heads to my bike took it out for a spin temp was in the 98 range went for a little ride. On the way back into my drive I smacked it on my concrete for a split second . Then onto the gravel HA HA sticky is best I can do with lower mileage love the way they hook .

[Moparnut72]

I bought a 2006 XL883C a couple of years ago that had Dunlop's on it. I didn't feel comfortable on the bike, admittedly the tires were old and hard. I replaced them with Avon Cobras. What a difference. I recently sold the Sporty and bought a 2006 Softail Deuce. It had a brand new Dunlop on the front and near new one on the back. The handling is not as good as Avon shod Sporty but not bad. Confidence level is just not as good. I know we are talking about two different bikes but both have the 21" front wheel. The Sporty with the Dunlop tended to follow grooves in the road, the Avon hardly at all. The Deuce with the Dunlop does. When these wear out, on go Avon's. I used Avons on my BMW also.
kk