I am looking for stickier tires for my Road Glide. I am not concerned with getting mileage. I want better performance.

I have always run American Elites but with the mods I have done on my bike recently, I would like to get more performance oriented tires. Pirelli Night Dragons seem to be popular but I don't think they can handle the weight of a touring bike. Maybe I am wrong. The fronts only look to be rated for 567 pounds. They do make a reinforced rear tire however.

 

I had a set of avon cobra venoms on my ultra, stickiest tires I've had so far. even in the wet they were great. they lasted a season, I didn't take it easy on them.

 

Yup - Avon. Not only better grip and handling in all conditions but also a better quality ride - win-win! Been using them on my Harleys since the '70s and have them on all three of my current V-twins (a mix of Cobras and Storms).

 

If you're not looking for a big name tire and want to save the $ knowing you will run through the tread fairly quick take a look and price out a set of Shinkos.

 

That is the tire!
But they wear pretty good too.
After that, you have to go to a real race tire.
They are good for only a few heat cycles , that would be a lot of tires !

 

I run Avons for this exact reason, they grip really well, wet or dry. I have them on my Heritage and the last set I got 16.5K miles out of the rear tire and 18K out of the front. Rear was 5 years old so time to replace, both. That's the best I've ever gotten out of Avons. I run them on my 07 CVO Road King, as well, and can set my watch to 12K miles on the rear and always replace the front at 10k. I'm sold on these and probably will always be. Price point isn't that bad either.

 

Old fart cruisers that never see the other side of 45MPH will be happy with a low-quality ME888 for a tire..But if you actually pilot your bike, The Avon Cobra is about as good as a driver can get.

 

I agree on the Avon Cobra comments. My GF and I have them on both our Deluxes, and they have a better load rating. I wouldn't get too wrapped up on the load rating.

 

Good advice! Each tyre only supports a part of the total weight of the bike, not all of it! Load ratings for a current RG are 61 or 567 pounds front, 81/1019 rear. Sound familiar?! That's a toal way more than the GVWL.

 

Have you checked into Michelin Pilot Road tires ? I'm on my 4 Rear tire and my second front...On my Dyna. Check the weight range and if they are good the weight, they are a great handling tire. Only last about 4500 miles if you ride them hard, but they are amazing fun.