Dunlop tires

[HogMike]

I've wondered about the Elites but I have been running Avons forever and it's hard to switch to try them..

I go the other way, I've heard a lot about Avons, but it's hard to switch away from Elites.

Yeah me too! Can't get away from my elites on all my bikes

[rking1550]

I've wondered about the Elites but I have been running Avons forever and it's hard to switch to try them..

I go the other way, I've heard a lot about Avons, but it's hard to switch away from Elites.

Yeah me too! Can't get away from my elites on all my bikes

I've ran the elites,  tried the American elite. Just tried the Avon Cobra, first time on avon's, so far I'm loving them. They stick well and I feel well connected to the road.
Elites were good
American Elites, didnt care for those.

[Hossamania]

I've wondered about the Elites but I have been running Avons forever and it's hard to switch to try them..

I go the other way, I've heard a lot about Avons, but it's hard to switch away from Elites.

Yeah me too! Can't get away from my elites on all my bikes

I've ran the elites,  tried the American elite. Just tried the Avon Cobra, first time on avon's, so far I'm loving them. They stick well and I feel well connected to the road.
Elites were good
American Elites, didnt care for those.

I should have specified I'm using American Elites.

[fleetmechanic]

We use AEs as the replacement tire on all of our '09-later bikes.  They seem to last as well as the D407s and are much cheaper since they are not an HD dealer only item.  We still put 402s on the '08-earler wheels as they seem to last a little longer than the AEs in that size.

[fbn ent]

The MoCo got smart with the 407s and told Dunlop they had to be only available through the Dealer. Dunlop got smarter by changing the tread and putting out the American Elite.

[92flhtcu]

and then Harley bitched and got the same recipe, but not tread pattern as the AmElite, hence the 407T

[fbn ent]

Which came first, the AE or the 407? I don't quite get what you are saying. I'm probably just a bit thick....

[PoorUB]

Pretty sure the HD 407 showed up first. It was maybe a year later the American Elites showed up as a replacement tire for the '09+ baggers.

[fbn ent]

That's what I thought 

[fleetmechanic]

The 407s were the first Dunlop OEM tire that didn't seem to make it into the aftermarket after a couple of years like the 402s and other earlier versions always did.  Our guess is that the AE came out as a way to deal with this, slightly different tread and widely available.
Seems odd that they need to compete with each other.

[SixShooter14]

The 407s were the first Dunlop OEM tire that didn't seem to make it into the aftermarket after a couple of years like the 402s and other earlier versions always did.  Our guess is that the AE came out as a way to deal with this, slightly different tread and widely available.
Seems odd that they need to compete with each other.

I'd bet Dunlop doesn't make as much profit from the HD-only 407 as it does the general market AE. So naturally they'd want to hit the market from both sides, dealer-only and general public.

It's weird when you think about it, but does make sense financially.

[dynarat]

my favorite tyre so far are avon cobra for grip not sure on mileage yet but would rather have traction over long lasting

[ScottFree]

I'm on my third AE rear, first AE front on my '04 Road King. First two rears went over 12K miles (were changed  because of upcoming long trips and probably had at least another 1-2K left in them).

In comparison, I'd get about 9-10K from the stock 402, but it would start squaring off around 5K. The AE never squares off like the 402 did. As it wears, its profile flattens out, but it always remains a smooth curve. I guess this is the result of the dual compound.

Just got back from a 2400 mile trip to North Carolina and Georgia. Rain, often heavy, almost every day (arrived at the motel one evening and found two feet of water in the parking lot and the outdoor pool completely submerged). Never had any problems with the AEs feeling secure on the wet stuff. Did you know you can pretty much have the Dragon to yourself when it's raining?

[Norton Commando]

Never had any problems with the AEs feeling secure on the wet stuff. Did you know you can pretty much have the Dragon to yourself when it's raining?

Ha, I bet so, however, I wouldn't want to find out for myself!

Jason 

[Alexintenn]

yes you can LOL  I did it once with a KLR with knobies.  Be willing to bet it was the slowest run ever  done :-)

[Alexintenn]

I just had a set of American Elites mounted on a 2006 Road Glide.  Had an old worn set of Commander 2s that I didn't trust at all that came on the bike.

Tire pressure, manual says 36 / 40?  Does that sound OK for the American Elites?
 

[scott7d]

It's interesting how experiences and views can vary so much. The opinions on American Elites for example. I ride on the walls of those tires and scrape parts to the point where they literally fall off. Never felt like I was going to wash out with Elites, and mileage has been extremely reasonable. And another person said they wouldn't put them on a lawn mower. The internet is both a blessing and a curse.

[jmorton10]

my favorite tyre so far are avon cobra for grip not sure on mileage yet but would rather have traction over long lasting

Same here, Avon Cobras are my favorite too.

~John

[Hossamania]

I just had a set of American Elites mounted on a 2006 Road Glide.  Had an old worn set of Commander 2s that I didn't trust at all that came on the bike.

Tire pressure, manual says 36 / 40?  Does that sound OK for the American Elites?

Those pressures will work fine. I know some say to run them higher, and I have, but now I'm back to 38 lbs each on both my '01 RK and '12 Ultra, and it's a better ride, and better handling. If I lose a thousand miles of wear, I'm ok with it, the last set lasted 20k on the Ultra, well over 12k on the RK.

[PoorUB]

It's interesting how experiences and views can vary so much. The opinions on American Elites for example. I ride on the walls of those tires and scrape parts to the point where they literally fall off. Never felt like I was going to wash out with Elites, and mileage has been extremely reasonable. And another person said they wouldn't put them on a lawn mower. The internet is both a blessing and a curse.

Same here, best tire out there IMO. I drag hard parts in corners from time to time and never any complaint on the AE's giving up on me.

[fbn ent]

I just had a set of American Elites mounted on a 2006 Road Glide.  Had an old worn set of Commander 2s that I didn't trust at all that came on the bike.

Tire pressure, manual says 36 / 40?  Does that sound OK for the American Elites?

Those pressures will work fine. I know some say to run them higher, and I have, but now I'm back to 38 lbs each on both my '01 RK and '12 Ultra, and it's a better ride, and better handling. If I lose a thousand miles of wear, I'm ok with it, the last set lasted 20k on the Ultra, well over 12k on the RK.

36/40 is Dunlop's pressure, but if heavy, you may want to jack them up......Rear 1019# at 42/ Front 639@41