I need tires for my 03 Ultra. I'm going to go with the Dunlop American Elite.

Other than the higher load rating are there any advantages to going with the MU over the MT? My wife and I aren't large people so I doubt that we've ever been near max load so I don't think that's an issue.

I know about the possibility of having to trim or remove the belt guard.

 

I went through this on my evo spec'd for MT

i wanted the MU and my local motorcycle specialist tire shop told me "sometimes they fit, sometimes they don;t- it'll cost you $165 to find out"
( some swapped to a narrower belt to make fit- but a belt swap is pricey for labour- the evo belt is 1.5")

so I went with the MT

BUT I thought the MU was spec'd stock for your model year- no?

Mike

 

I'm wondering about these too.My '06 is due for tires,and it calls for an mu85/16 on rear,and a mt90/16 on the front.I bought it with a mt90 on the rear,and don't see a problem,but every listing I look at says an mt90 won't fit??

 

MT is narrower than the MU which is why I wanted the MU for the Evo...that's the fit problem.

Yours would be the reduced capacity of the MT - you need the MU for the heavier bike

Mike

 

If you go to Dunlop website or Dennis Kirk, they both list the specific specs for each tire. I do know the MU has more tread depth new.
I suggest you install the tire size listed by the mfg.

 

I just mounted a Dunlop American Elite size MU on the rear wheel of my '95 Road King. Have mounted MU's on this bike before. Yes, you have to trim the belt guard rubber flap, but no issues with clearance.

 

MT is a 130mm tire, MU is 140.

 

Thanks for the replies. I know that it will fit with a belt guard trim but I'm just wondering what the advantages are. I've seen lots of posts saying that people have done it and that it's tight but works. Just looking for the "why"

 

I recently went from a Dunlop 402 to an American Elite on the rear of my 2000 RK, wide white wall version, MT size. Although the tire itself for both is almost exactly the same I still had to trim the belt guard. The reason it the actual white wall on the Am Elite protrudes much further than on the 402, at least 1/8" if not more on each side. This actually makes the white wall part of the tire wider than at the tread area , if that makes sense, and that's where there was no clearance between the white wall and the belt guard. It wasn't rubbing hard, but nevertheless no clearance. I was super bummed. My options were to ditch the guard altogether, trim it, or go back to the 402. I chose to trim it right along the arc of the white wall. Worked like a charm.

I can tell you I love that tire. I haven't put enough miles on it to tell how it's wearing, but the handling is fantastic and it absorbs small bumps beautifully, it's like a suspension upgrade. And my bike was wandering on pavement seams and tar snakes like crazy, which I presumed to be the front tire which I did not replace, but that Am Elite completely eliminated the wandering, I'm talking 100%. Crazy good.

Good luck, I bet you'll love it.

 

The "why" is because the MU should last longer.