Put away your pitchforks lads. I'm headed down the rabbit hole at an alarming rate trying to decide on tires for my Road King. My front is down to 1mm of tread and has a date code of 0703 so I don't think it owes me a thing!


Got a buddy who runs the Dunlop HD tires on his Twinkie King and another one who just bought Michelin Commander IIs for his Twinkie EG. I'm all back and forth over the damned choice with Metzelers and Avons in the mix with the Dunlops and Michelins. They've all got good reviews, they're all around the same price. Temps are already in the 50's (or your funny degrees) and my arsehole buddy and his kid both went riding last Sunday so the hour is nigh! This isn't the hottest part of the world and the roads are generally pretty decent, though some of the back roads have some rough asphalt. We can get some pretty ugly rain though I try to avoid that foolishness as much as I can! I don't plan to drag floorboards or anything like that so ultra-sticky isn't an absolute requirement.


I'm spinning boys! Help me get my head on straight and get some skins so I don't kiss the biscuit on that bald front tire!

 

The avons have done me well...I ride the in the rain ,slop,sleet and acasonal blast of snow. They stick good all the way to the end. Cold or hot Only one I would not put on are dunlops ever again on anything. Just not a good tire cheap but not good

 

If you are talking the Harley branded Dunlops then I completely agree with you.
Hell I won't even ride a bike with those God awful things on it!!!!!!!!!!
The E3's and American Elites on the other hand are good tires.

I hear great things about Commander II's as well.

 

According to a couple of places that I have talked to the Commander IIs are far and away the most popular. But I can't be sure that's not partly because of out crappy economy. For a few bucks extra you can go from the cheapest ones to the most expensive. I don't want to risk my neck to save the price of a box of beer!

 

FWIW a friend of mine just put some on his bike and he is really happy with them.
He doesn't give a **** about what is popular, only what works.

 

Once I tried a set of Avons, I wouldn't get anything else, but that's a common thing for folks to say about any brand that replaces Harley Dunlops. The ones that get the most complaints are the Dunlops with this kind of tread - not the knobbies, of course. Two of those Dunlops had less than 500 miles on them, just couldn't stand the way they handled. Wasn't the bike, the Avon replacements handle and ride great. Any tire other than these Dunlop models or Chinese made should be an improvement for you. Maybe the Chinese would, but I'd get the original style Dunlops before risking those.

 

My last set of Dunlop Elite 3 served me very well, my new set of American Elite may be even better, and I don't think you can go wrong with either when it comes to performance and wear.

 

I put Michelin Commander II's on my 98 RK as recommended on this and other forums and am well pleased.


Other have recommended Avon Venoms...


YMMV

 

Howdy fellow CGN member, from your herring choking neighbour . In my experience, texashillcountry is on the money. When I replaced my OEM tires with Dunlop E3's, the difference was night and day. Its apparent some folks just view the Dunlop brand as, "the cheap domestic stuff". If you're not into the Euro cachet you'll find the E3's are an excellent tire. They are certainly no compromise for the money, just better value IMHO.

Check out these guys for value:

https://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/cru...otorcycle.html

"It ain't spring yet" !

 

Avon Venoms get my vote. Don't get the mileage, like I did with the Dunlops, but who cares . Didn't stick to the asphalt like the Avons do. IMO
Ride Safe,
Harold