New Tires

[DIGGER]

119,000 miles on Dunlop E4 tires.   Honda of Houston cant find Valkyrie E4 rear tire within 300 miles.   The Dunlop E4 is their biggest seller for Valkyries.  Second biggest Valkyrie rear tire is Bridgestone.

What tires you all recommend?

[longrider]

Tire prices here in Canada have gone ridiculous.  I have been running Avon Cobra/Chrome for over 15 years and have been very satisfied.   The Avon Rear is now $390!!!

I purchased a Metzler Cruisetech for exactly $100 less.  I just installed so the jury is out on the mileage but in the test ride of a few miles it seems to handle the same


Warren

[HayHauler]

I just paid $304 for a Metzler ME880.  I can't believe they cost that much....


Hay 
Jimmyt

[mello dude]

New tires prices are shocking now... A survey on Dennis Kirk...
https://www.denniskirk.com/tires-motorcycle-and-dirt-bike/62:11-4:9449-271:24478.attrs

[Joe333x]

I just put on Metzeler ME888s front and rear, I ordered from https://www.americanmototire.com/ they had the best price and both front and rear in stock and shipped very quickly. At the time I ordered, Metzeler was the only option available that you could get both front and rear in the appropriate sizes. I plan to do a Ride Like a Pro class and enjoy riding a motorcycle like its a motorcycle so not comfortable putting on car tires or rear tires on the front although I know many here do. Unfortunately it seems the Valkyries front tire size is shared with no other bike and the rear is shared with maybe a couple since I did notice Pirelli had an option for the rear but not the front ironically named Night Dragon.

[Jess from VA]

I just paid $304 for a Metzler ME880.  I can't believe they cost that much....

Hay 
Jimmyt

I thought the 880s were gone, in favor of the 888s?  (look at the build date code on the tire)

I run the Michelin CrossClimate II (205 60 16) in back, and the Metzler 888 in front.  Nothing but Metzler bike tires for me. 

[DIGGER]

I just paid $304 for a Metzler ME880.  I can't believe they cost that much....

Hay 
Jimmyt

I thought the 880s were gone, in favor of the 888s?  (look at the build date code on the tire)

I run the Michelin CrossClimate II (205 60 16) in back, and the Metzler 888 in front.  Nothing but Metzler bike tires for me. 

[DIGGER]

My dealer is recommending Bridgestone front and rear.   Anybody know anything bad about Bridgestone tires?

[mello dude]

I just put on Metzeler ME888s front and rear, I ordered from https://www.americanmototire.com/ they had the best price and both front and rear in stock and shipped very quickly.

Thanks for the link on Americamototire. 

[Jess from VA]

My dealer is recommending Bridgestone front and rear.   Anybody know anything bad about Bridgestone tires?

I've never run any, but many do, and I don't recall any particular or general complaints about them.

You can always search the web for discussions, but plug the Bridgestone model tires that fit the Valk into your search, they must make them for other bikes.  (and I'd be looking for opinions on other heavy bikes)

[gordonv]

2017 I replace my tires,
Rear Bridgestone Exedra RR 180/70-16, Front Bridgestone G701 150/80-17
Maybe 5K miles on them now, not as much as I would have liked. All kinds of weather, and I have no issues with them.

Only waiting on replacing my rear with the taller Auston Taxi Tire I was able to pick up used (low miles).

Out side of the above, Warren, I was going to go for a nicely side rounded winter car tire from Canadian Tire 205/65 to fit our bike, and see how that was. Only in the low $100 range.

[csj]

Nobody else has mentioned it, so, I've been using the Shinko on the front of the Valkyrie for
going on 12 years.

I've put them on a harley trike that we eventually traded, and a Shinko went on the back
of my veteran wing last year. Handles well.

I'll likely continue with this tire brand on the front of my wife's two trikes.
At least in this part of the world,
Shinko is the best priced, best handling tire I can find.

[h13man]

My dealer is recommending Bridgestone front and rear.   Anybody know anything bad about Bridgestone tires?

No issues. Excellent in "goose drowner" rain. On my 2nd. set. I suggest using "balance beads" as I've got 21,000 mi. and still @ .080 tread left on a front AV72 Avon Cobra. Static balance, 15,000 on a Bridgestone. The BS and the Avon handle the same to me.The AV72 is no longer being made and the Diamond is very pricey when most don't ride like a "banshee" anyway. Yes tires are expensive.

[old2soon]

Nobody else has mentioned it, so, I've been using the Shinko on the front of the Valkyrie for
going on 12 years.

I've put them on a harley trike that we eventually traded, and a Shinko went on the back
of my veteran wing last year. Handles well.

I'll likely continue with this tire brand on the front of my wife's two trikes.
At least in this part of the world,
Shinko is the best priced, best handling tire I can find.

     Had a set front and rear. Then I went D/S and when Phatt Ghurl left here still had a Shinko front. da prez put a new Shinko on the G/W trike for me. All good!  RIDE SAFE.

[HayHauler]

I just paid $304 for a Metzler ME880.  I can't believe they cost that much....

Hay 
Jimmyt

I thought the 880s were gone, in favor of the 888s?  (look at the build date code on the tire)

I run the Michelin CrossClimate II (205 60 16) in back, and the Metzler 888 in front.  Nothing but Metzler bike tires for me. 

Sorry,  it is an 888 and the build date is 3823.

Hay
Jimmyt

[strawbobrob]

Nobody else has mentioned it, so, I've been using the Shinko on the front of the Valkyrie for
going on 12 years.

I've put them on a harley trike that we eventually traded, and a Shinko went on the back
of my veteran wing last year. Handles well.

I'll likely continue with this tire brand on the front of my wife's two trikes.
At least in this part of the world,
Shinko is the best priced, best handling tire I can find.

Can agree on Shinko but with one reservation.  I’ve loved E3s for years on my standard and my interstate. When they went to the E4s I tried them but had much crappier longevity on both bikes. Shinko handle very well but longevity on the rear has been similar to the E4. The Shinko prices are great, but replacing interstate rears is a PITA. Wish I could go back to E3s but I’ll likely continue with Shinko

Interstate rear tire longevity
My last rear E3: 13,000 miles $260
My last E4:         6,000 miles $310
My Shinko:         7,000 miles $135

Not sure where to go from here. Bridgestone has a good rep but apparently they don’t last. I ran Metzlet 880s but they seems stiff and followed freeway grooves. Prolly back to Shinko.

[Jess from VA]

My Michelin Cross Climate 2s in 206 60 16 have very little 'car tire effect' (of wanting to stand the bike up in the leans, like many car tires with stiff sidewalls and/or squared off tread edges will do).  They have tremendous traction and braking on all surfaces.  I have not run one to completion yet, but expect around 30 thousand miles.  For $185.

Of course, you should not go 30K without a rear end service and lube

Every MC rear tire I ever ran got 8-9K max, principally Metzlers (which I always run in front -880s and now 888s).

And man they will throw the water right out the sides.


I'm just saying.....  

Edit: now a 205 width is as small as they get, so there is no narrower 175 or 195 like some car tire guys have chosen... I think to more nearly approximate the size and ride of the OE 180 MC tire.  And they still get high miles.

But you can get a 205 55 (instead of 60) which would be around a half inch shorter than a 60.  Some car tire riders prefer a 55 over a 60.  I'm a short legged 5'9" guy and 60s give me no trouble for both feet down easily.  And I drag my floorboards in leans/hard turns all the time, so I wouldn't want a shorter tire.  But I always wondered if a 55 (shorter tire) meant a shorter and stiffer sidewall that might increase the car tire effect of trying to stand the bike up in leans more than a taller and less stiff sidewall of a 60.  I may be wrong about this and maybe there's no appreciable difference in handling between them.  

[Hook#3287]

Jess, I like that you mention this tire every time someone asks.  It's like you have stock in Michelin.

I'm with ya.  Got 4 of those on my cage and they feel great.

And they look awesome 

All my Valks have Ct that I'll be lucky to wear out and my Wing has a Pirelli run flat in the garage waiting.

If that Michelin was RF, I'd put the Pirelli on hold, but next year, maybe.

[Jess from VA]

It's like you have stock in Michelin.

Ever since I watched my life saving tank badly in 2008, I own no stocks in any company.

I've very likely lost earnings money by not being in the market since then, but I have not lost one dime in my remaining life savings either.  I didn't need more money, but I needed to not lose any more money.

Yeah, I like that tire.  Looking at it, the tread seems a bit squared off, but the proof is in the riding.

I thought run flats had awfully stiff side walls.  Though I certainly like the idea of riding home on a flat, rather than having to crawl around reaming and plugging it and using my little 12volt air pump on the side of the road to get home. (Tools and equipment you carry on the bike, and hope to NEVER use). 

[h13man]

My dealer is recommending Bridgestone front and rear.   Anybody know anything bad about Bridgestone tires?

Highly recommend the 701F/702R. The Max variant, used one on the rear of 05' 1600 Vulcan in the hot summer with no issues.

Well I finally hit the center wear bar on my front AV72 Cobra @ 21,000 with beads. I'm hoping the 701F does as well. 1st. 701F, 15,000 mi. static balance.

[Valker]

I am also running the Michelin CrossClimate2, but I run 205/65-16. I am extremely satisfied so far (about 10,000 miles on the main bike so far).I run 28psi.