OK fellow Fat Bob owners I've got a question that I hope some of you will answer. Now I've been searching the post on replacement tires for our bikes and I know of the various options that are out there. However I can't find the information that I'm looking for.

So everybody that has put on new tires loves them but it seems that so many have not even put them through any type of test just put them on and post how much they love their new tires. No follow up responses that tell us how well they really ride, grip, perform and last.

If you’re reading this post and have put something different on your FXDF than the stock Dunlop’s please tell us what tire you have how much better it is in aspects that reflect performance, grip, durability, mileage and any other factor that seems related to this post.

Also what type of balancing system (Dyna beads, Ride-on ECT...)are you using and how well does it really work?

Thanks for taking your time to read my post.

 

I would like to know too, please. I can't find any follow-up info either.

 

I have stayed steady with the stockers. If someone can find a tire that lasts as long as the stockers but offer more grip I would switch otherwise I feel it's like throwing good money out for no reason. JMO

 

I have a SuperGlide so I don't know if I'm allowed to answer. I went from the stock Dunlops to Avons. I ride easy so your mileage may not be the same. I got 18,000 miles out of the Dunlops and I am now at 12,400 miles on the Avons and the rear is very close to the wear bars. As I said I ride easy but there is one corner on my favorite ride that I really like to push the bike through. What I thought was going fast on the Dunlops is a gentle curve on the Avons. I am easily going 30% faster through the corner and feeling in complete control. The big difference is the profile of the rear tire. The Avon seems to have a more curved profile that allows the bike to lean effortlessly from side to side. The Dunlops felt like they had three different edges, right edge, centre edge and left edge. You coud feel the bike shifting off of one edge on to the others. You don't get that with the Avons.

Second part of your question. I put dyna beads in as soon as I got the Avon tires. I will wait until I change the tires before I decide what I do next time but as long as I don't see any damage inside the tire caused by the beads I will be using them again. They have done exactly what they claim to do and I have had no balance problems at all.

All in all the better ride and grip from the Avons more than makes up for the shorter life of the tires. I will be replacing these with another set of Avons.

 

I already have my pegs scraping in turns and my boot heels are wearing @ a 45 deg. angle with my stock tires. Tires and brake pads the same, If I grab my stock brakes the bike will easily go into a skid,I mean how much faster can you slow a wheel down without locking up? Those are two areas I just have never invested in modifying.

 

dyna beads/counterbalance beads. sound great. I got them in my set up. but bike weaves over 60mph with the slightest input to the bars. I hope its the tires. I will be using regulr weights and metzler tires this time.

there is no way to tell if the tire is balanced or not. On the machine it just reads 000. the company sayd to put the beads in and presto... its balanced. I think they might be snake oil. I have read many reports on sportbikes that they are awsome. and also reports that they dont balance proper over 100mph??? still seems ify to me. So im not re installing them this go round

 

From new, the stock tyres on my FB were simply bad. The bike would follow tar-snakes, jerk each time I crossed a lane line, weave around bends, and I had a spill last year for no good reason except the bike lost traction when braking firmly coming up to some traffic and the bike ended up on its side.

I put some Metzelers on and its like night and day. Different bike in terms of handling and none of the weirdness mentioned above.

Remember, this is comparing the stock tyres as new to new Metzelers, not comparing some wore out old tyres to new.

 

When I bought my 2001 FXDXT used it had the wrong size korean tire on it 130? I went with Metzler 880s and have been happy with them, My last rear I went from 150 to 160, My bike sits for months and I heard that the Avons develop flat spots? My buddy had them on his V-star and loved them. I just switched to Dyna beads and My indy checked the wheels prior to install and said 000 accross the board and asked for info on the Dyna beads. I heard that Dunlop has a new tire that is good. I prefer to change tires more often and have better traction.

 

Just changed the front tire on my FXDF from stock to Metzler 880...the stock tire had 2X 3 oz of lead weights on the rim and was cupping; the Metz has 2X 1/4oz to balance...sign of a better quality tire to me. The bike tracks better now; stock rear only has 400mi on it but also has a pile of weight; have Metz replacement on hand...no beads here; weights have always worked for me.

 

I stuck with the stockers... and dyna beads. I'm happy. My bike rides smooth as glass.

I like the tread pattern and life of the stockers. I don't like that I have to buy them from HD, but I've never felt like they underperformed and needed to "upgrade". The dyna beads work, period.