Avon has recommendations on mixing types:

"Can I mix tyre construction front to rear?

Yes, but only to the combinations below:-

Front - Rear
Radial - Radial
Bias - Radial
X-ply - Radial
Bias - Bias
X-ply - Bias
X-ply - X-ply"

 

Try the Avon Cobras they are great. Stick better than the A/E's and PCII's I had before.

 

Never had an issue with the Metzlers, but I'm not scraping the boards on every twisty either. Longevity on the 888s is fantastic.

 

Have you tried the new Michelin Scorcher's? I switched from the Dunlops. In my opinion, way better traction and cornering. The Dunlop's just couldn't hold the road with my Stage 4.

 

hearing good things about Avons, local Indy says " great choice but plan on replacing every year"

 

That's a silly thing for him to say! Mileage is entirely dependent on a lot of things, such as how many miles you do in a year and how hard you ride. I knew a Policeman some years ago who could only get around 1,000 miles out of a rear tyre on his Police BMW - wasn't his bike and he rode it like there was no tomorrow. He got a lot more miles on his private BMW. Not many of us ride like that and in my case Mrs B wouldn't let me!

I've been riding Harleys since the 1970s, used mostly Avons during that time and have never needed to replace them in just one year. I have however replaced some other brand tyres after just a few weeks, because they were just plain awful and borderline dangerous.

You have nothing to lose by trying a pair of Avons IMHO, in fact a great deal to gain!

 

I put the Michelin on my bike and it rode great. Way better than the original front that I had.