G'day up there ...in US land, . I went thru this delema as well ,, but just say'n I really like the new.. metzler 888 series ,sorta new down here , it really changed the 07 ultra , all round road holding abilities , ,and in the wet felt like it should!!! , not cheap , but can't say on wear yet , but was assured by a convert that ( am small bet here ! ] if I can get 8 to 10 thousand miles , I'll be real happy for that ,,, ...cheers Ryan-o of Adelaide plains OZ

 

Have had the same year bike since new and same experience with stock tires as far as longevity. Two of my favorites have been mentioned, Dunlop E 3's and Metzeler 888. I probably prefer the 888. Many people also like Michelin Commander 2 but I didn't care for them so much in the handling department.

 

I'm very happy with the American Elite's. Not sure you would be though since they are basically the same tire as OEM without that very expensive HD logo on it. Not sure why the Dunlops didn't last for you, they usually do better than the mileage you got. Any chance they were under inflated?

 

Avon Cobras! YES!
I have had two sets of ME 888 come apart on me.
Check the internet-I am not the only one.
Carry on

 

Ditto, on the Cobras

 

Of course, the battle rages to convert to the "Dark Side".
I have read the arguments......perhaps one day I will try it.

 

I buy the cheapest 'name brand' tire available when I need it, whatever has a sale or rebate. Name brand.....if ya get 2 seasons you're lucky.

Also if you engine brake a lot you're chewing up that rear tread faster then you should. YMMV

 

Interesting. I have been running ME888 on Guzzi and my ElectraGlides for a few hundred thousand miles. On my Guzzi's ,with a bike weight of 650 pounds, I ran them at 36 PSI front and 40 PSI rear. Got over 15k miles on them usually. On my ElectraGlides, After Dunlop stopped making the 491 in my sizes, I went back to Metzler. On my ElectraGlides I run 40 PSI in the front, and 44 in the rear. I get over 12k out of a rear tire. 22k on he front.

Never had them come apart on me. What PSI were you running? I push my ElectraGlides hard at times. And when traveling, between my and my traveling stuff, I add about 350 pounds of stuff on the bike. So rolling travel weight is over 1100 pounds. I've never had a ME888 fail. The locals that have told me about their ME888 failures, allowed me to check their tire pressures after the bike had bee sitting overnight, and we found that they were 8-10 pounds under where they stated they wanted to be. Both admitted that the rarely check tire pressure. Unscientific, but good enough for me.