Just replaced my stock Dunlop on my '07 SB. It only had 4k on it but was really flat in the middle. Got the ME880 in a 170 which is 10mm wider...but look at the diff. It looks tiny compared to my old 160 Dunlop.

I measured them. From surface to surface tread pattern the ME880 is actually 1/2 inch wider, but from a top down look the Dunlop is actually 3/4 inch wider. So the ME880 is definitely curved more, a LOT more. Do they flatten out any? Just put it on. But it's not filling up the back like the Dunlop did...thought I was going wider by stepping up to 170. Oh well...another 6-7k and then probably get the HD Dunlop 180.

 

Nope, they don't flatten out, but they handle much better.

 

It really does look like your 160 is a beast next to that 170. Very surprised.

 

Don't fret... I installed a Pirrelli Night Dragon 180 and it was onlyt 5 mm wider than the original 160 but the curvature is so steep I now have huge chicken strips and have still worn the pegs down to the allen bolts.

Ride on brotha knowing your tires are holding the road ten times better than the POS dunlops that came with the bike.

 

Just curious, whats the numbers off of the tire on the left?? And noticed its still on a rim, kinda looks like the tire on the left wont even fit under the fender without help??
And I have 8 thousand miles on my me880 so far,and will go with the SE 180 next time..

 

yeah the metzeler have a skinnier look....try the Avons they are nice and wide.

 

Same boat here, an 04' model and the 150 ME880 looked like the damn front tire when i mounted it!! Lesson learned, just like with Hot Rods, DO YOUR HOMEWORK! I am very happy with the grip. But I am looking forward and planning the next tire I put on the rear, don't go by the number on the tire, dig around and check the specs for the real numbers.

 

I'm with ya totalgearhead. With my '68 Firebird 400 I had to do a lot of research to see what would fit under the wheel wells. Offset, diameter, wall height, everything! A while back I looked through a lot of posts here and many liked the 170 Metz and I can see why...it handles great. But I was looking for great handling and at LEAST the same width as stock. Going down 3/4" width really looks like a big change on a motorcycle tire!

That beast on the left is just the plain old stock Dunlop 160mm tire. The other difference is sidewall height...the Dunlop has a big sidewall, it fills up the wheel well nice, and because the sidewall is high the tread can be flatter across. The ME880 has less than half the sidewall it seams, and therefore the tread has to curve around more to make up for it. Better handling, but not better looks in my opinion. I may try the Avon...was really close between the Avon's and the ME880. I just didn't want to mix models of Avons since they didn't have one model that fit both front and back. Probably not a big deal, so I'll do the research on the Avon vs. the SE180 Dunlop next time.

 

I haven't heard of anyone yet that was unhappy with the handling of the SE 180.Which I hear now is no longer the "Screaming Eagle" Dunlop GT 502 now just the Dunlop GT 502.I think that's a good thing if you don't have to buy it from a Harley shop.

 

ALL of my tires get flatter as they wear down (less curve in the middle of the tire). It's almost like they turn in a drag slick.