HarleyTechTalk

2013 Dyna Switchback.  Rear tire just about worn out.  Original tire is a Dunlop D401 160/70B17.  I can buy a new Metzeler RoadtecZ6 160/70ZR17 cheap.  I know this is a Radial.  Front tire is still the original Dunlop D402F Bias.

Can you guy see an issue using Radial on the back and Bias on the front???  Thanks for your help.

Check out Perili, good tires at a reasonable price. Frank

Quote from: dubepj on July 11, 2019, 08:00:21 AM
I can buy a new Metzeler RoadtecZ6 160/70ZR17 cheap.

Made in China 

Dunlop, made in USA 

Quote from: dubepj on July 11, 2019, 08:00:21 AM


Can you guy see an issue using Radial on the back and Bias on the front???  Thanks for your help.

My 2008 Softail Custom came standard with a radial rear and bias front.

Bias rear and radial front is apparently a no-no.

I'd check with the MFGR.

I think the radial/bias ply BS only applies to cars with skinny tires.

   Just had a Dunlop was out 5 oz rim was check OK, I guess someone at Dunlop was sleeping or texting on the job.   

I really can't see why it would make any difference.  They used to say not to put a radial and bias ply tire on the same axle of a car, but that is apples and oranges to a bike.  That being said I have always believed bike tires are not matched front to back.  The are usually different construction/tread/size/etc. and the same rear tire has often been used on many different models with many front tires from almost the same size to very skinny front treads.  I had 2 Metzelers long ago and was not impressed, but hey if you can get one cheap, why not??

I don't know what your definition of cheap is but you can get a Dunlop American Elite. This is the same as the Harley Davidson Dunlop that comes on stock touring bikes. The tread pattern is different but the tire compounds are the same. I like it and use it on my Street Glides and my wife's Super Glide. It seems that lots of Independent guys keep them in stock around here. They are slightly more than $100 less than the HD tire. At my dealer, it can be bought and installed for less than the stock HD tire cost alone.

For a MC I think the profile of the tire is more important.

A flat tread pattern causes the center of gravity to shift rapidly when the bike is leaned to turn, this fights the operators lean input and tries to stand up the bike.

I want to be able to ride with no hands and with one finger push on the bars in the direction I wan to go.

When I lean my body I want the bike to predictably drop down to the inside and turn.

When the bike tries to fight my input and stand up is when I have problems. You can't turn a bike without leaning it...

A rear tire with a flat/wide profile shifts the center of gravity and fights when it is leaned to turn.

This also causes a wobbly feel and can actually induce a wobble when running parallel to a ridge in the pavement.

I won't run Metzler tires on anything. I had the sidewall blow out of a fresh Metzler front tire at freeway speeds. A year later, Hippo (RIP Frank) had the same thing happen to him. I don't know where they are made this week, but the ones that failed for Hippo and I were made in Brazil. No more Metzlers for me. Dunlops on my Harleys, Michelins on the other bikes.

Garry

Nothing wrong with Metzler tires if you keep enough air in them!

Most any sidewall failure on a tire is due to overloading/inflation, the rest are road hazard.

Quote from: Garry in AZ on July 12, 2019, 08:49:18 AM
I won't run Metzler tires on anything. I had the sidewall blow out of a fresh Metzler front tire at freeway speeds. A year later, Hippo (RIP Frank) had the same thing happen to him. I don't know where they are made this week, but the ones that failed for Hippo and I were made in Brazil. No more Metzlers for me. Dunlops on my Harleys, Michelins on the other bikes.

Garry

IIRC Metzler moved all their N.A. manufacturing operations to Brazil maybe 10 years ago. Seems like they went downhill after that. Have seen other reports about sidewall failures and chunks of rubber being slung off.

Quote from: IronButt70 on July 12, 2019, 12:50:02 PM

Quote from: Garry in AZ on July 12, 2019, 08:49:18 AM
I won't run Metzler tires on anything. I had the sidewall blow out of a fresh Metzler front tire at freeway speeds. A year later, Hippo (RIP Frank) had the same thing happen to him. I don't know where they are made this week, but the ones that failed for Hippo and I were made in Brazil. No more Metzlers for me. Dunlops on my Harleys, Michelins on the other bikes.

Garry

IIRC Metzler moved all their N.A. manufacturing operations to Brazil maybe 10 years ago. Seems like they went downhill after that. Have seen other reports about sidewall failures and chunks of rubber being slung off.

Now they are in China

My 2014 Victory Cross Country Tour came new with Dunlop E3 radial on the rear and E3 Bias on the front. No issues at all running that combo.

Russ.

Yes, ran mine for over 6 months with a radial on the rear and bias on the front.  No issues to be noted.  However, it sure did ride nicer when I put the radial on front as well.

Quote from: Coyote on July 11, 2019, 09:08:26 AM

Quote from: dubepj on July 11, 2019, 08:00:21 AM
I can buy a new Metzeler RoadtecZ6 160/70ZR17 cheap.

Made in China 

Dunlop, made in USA 

I believe only the American Elite model is American made.

Quote from: D.W. on August 04, 2019, 05:20:24 PM

Quote from: Coyote on July 11, 2019, 09:08:26 AM

Quote from: dubepj on July 11, 2019, 08:00:21 AM
I can buy a new Metzeler RoadtecZ6 160/70ZR17 cheap.

Made in China 

Dunlop, made in USA 

I believe only the American Elite model is American made.

Why buy anything else???

Why would you run mis-matched tires? Really, you only have 2.

Quote from: Coyote on August 04, 2019, 07:47:05 PM

Quote from: D.W. on August 04, 2019, 05:20:24 PM

Quote from: Coyote on July 11, 2019, 09:08:26 AM

Quote from: dubepj on July 11, 2019, 08:00:21 AM
I can buy a new Metzeler RoadtecZ6 160/70ZR17 cheap.

Because they're not that great of a tire.


Because the Americans Elites are still not that great of a tire.

Made in China 

Dunlop, made in USA 

I believe only the American Elite model is American made.

Why buy anything else???

Because they're not that great of a tire.

Quote from: D.W. on August 05, 2019, 01:55:17 PM

Quote from: Coyote on August 04, 2019, 07:47:05 PM

Quote from: D.W. on August 04, 2019, 05:20:24 PM

Quote from: Coyote on July 11, 2019, 09:08:26 AM

Quote from: dubepj on July 11, 2019, 08:00:21 AM
I can buy a new Metzeler RoadtecZ6 160/70ZR17 cheap.

Because they're not that great of a tire.


Because the Americans Elites are still not that great of a tire.

Made in China 

Dunlop, made in USA 

I believe only the American Elite model is American made.

Why buy anything else???

Because they're not that great of a tire.

DW, which tire are you talking  about?

Quote from: PoorUB on August 05, 2019, 02:09:48 PM

Quote from: D.W. on August 05, 2019, 01:55:17 PM

Quote from: Coyote on August 04, 2019, 07:47:05 PM

Quote from: D.W. on August 04, 2019, 05:20:24 PM

Quote from: Coyote on July 11, 2019, 09:08:26 AM

Quote from: dubepj on July 11, 2019, 08:00:21 AM
I can buy a new Metzeler RoadtecZ6 160/70ZR17 cheap.

Because they're not that great of a tire.


Because the Americans Elites are still not that great of a tire.

Made in China 

Dunlop, made in USA 

I believe only the American Elite model is American made.

Why buy anything else???

Because they're not that great of a tire.

DW, which tire are you talking  about?

The Dunlop American Elite.

Quote from: IronButt70 on July 12, 2019, 12:50:02 PM

Quote from: Garry in AZ on July 12, 2019, 08:49:18 AM
I won't run Metzler tires on anything. I had the sidewall blow out of a fresh Metzler front tire at freeway speeds. A year later, Hippo (RIP Frank) had the same thing happen to him. I don't know where they are made this week, but the ones that failed for Hippo and I were made in Brazil. No more Metzlers for me. Dunlops on my Harleys, Michelins on the other bikes.

Garry

IIRC Metzler moved all their N.A. manufacturing operations to Brazil maybe 10 years ago. Seems like they went downhill after that. Have seen other reports about sidewall failures and chunks of rubber being slung off.

Probably a US executive made that decision,

Quote from: D.W. on August 05, 2019, 03:36:03 PM

Quote from: PoorUB on August 05, 2019, 02:09:48 PM

Quote from: D.W. on August 05, 2019, 01:55:17 PM
Because they're not that great of a tire.

DW, which tire are you talking  about?

The Dunlop American Elite.

Which tire is a great tire then?

I have been running American Elites since they came out and have zero complaints. They hold the road well, and have good life too.

Quote from: PoorUB on August 05, 2019, 03:55:20 PM
I have been running American Elites since they came out and have zero complaints. They hold the road well, and have good life too.

Yep

Quote from: Coyote on August 05, 2019, 04:13:43 PM

Quote from: PoorUB on August 05, 2019, 03:55:20 PM
I have been running American Elites since they came out and have zero complaints. They hold the road well, and have good life too.

Yep

          I agree   Best mileage I've ever got on my 200/17 rear      Coff 06