NEW MC REAR-TIRE ??????

[FLATSIX]

Hello again,

Due to the car-accident (an AUDI that "kissed" my Lady's back) I have to replace my rear MC tire.

Now I had DUNLOP E406 (the standard) on it, but this is not a WHOW-tire.

I did a search on this forum with the words "rear tires" and I see many with AVON COBRA , a few METZELERS ME 880 - but they seem to be not so great and the DUNLOP ELITE 3.

Is the DUNLOP E3 a good choice for replacement, or are there better rear MC-tires for my lady (no darkside please as I drive in Belgium and here the roads are like in Roman-time - Jules Ceasar)...

[hubcapsc]

I did a search on this forum with the words "rear tires" and I see many with AVON COBRA , a few METZELERS ME 880 - but they seem to be not so great and the DUNLOP ELITE 3.

All three are probably good tires. I've run Avon and Metzeler, and like them. If you look on the
Honda Direct Line site...

http://www.hondadirectlineofshadyside.com/stores/byProduct.asp?prd=Tires&str=2&ID=165045846

... you can see a Bridgestone tire that people like to run on the back...



-Mike

[Tundra]

I know several who run them and love them. I know several (including me) who would never put a Dunlop on anything. Of the ones that run them, no problems noted. I've heard horror stories of the Dunlop's traction and cupping, seem to get good milage.
  The Avon's I like, although I've had my share of problems with them also. (leaking) from tread grooves, on earlier models (Venom). I've not experienced or heard of any problems with the Cobra's. It's really personal preferance, some folks swear buy one tire, someone else the opposite. Many folks run both of those tires here and those that do, love them.
  My favorite rear Valkyrie tire is the Bridgestone Battle-Axe 200, won't get more than 10k, no matter how or were you ride. That's ok, it's less expensive and you gotta do your splines every 10k anyway.

[Jabba]

I am not a Dunlop fan.

I have never run Avons.

I like and trust the Metzelers. 

I'd try a battleaxe though... if I wasn't a darksider now.

Jabba

[Jay]

I run the Battlax on the rear.  A bit over 8,000 miles so far, no complaints.  Avon Cobra on front.  Tuesday evening was caught in a monsoon on the way home, 3 and 4 inches of standing water on the highway in places.  Tires performed great, no problems.

[Red Diamond]

I run Dunlop E3's and have a set of Avon Cobras in waiting, because they were cost effective to buy. Since I have never ridden on the Cobras, I can't give you any info on them, but they are suppose to be improved over the previous Venoms. The Dunlops have served me well, with 14K miles or better, I know and trust them and I don't look for curvy roads, I like scenery and touring.

[Redline +]

I've got 13,000 miles on my Avon Cobras and they are looking good, rear should go another 5,000-6,000. I have no complaints, hold pressure fine, maybe a little noisy.

Redline  

[FLATSIX]

I have read the revieuws at HONDA DIRECT LINE for the BRIDGESTONE BATTLEAXE 200 and indeed many seem to love this tire., but they almost all drive a VTX1800 and not the VALKYRIE!

What are the experiences with those who drive the battleaxe 200.

I see that dimensions are different:  200/60VR16 instead of the standard : 180/70 R16 77H

Does this affect the speedometer? Problems with mounting because bigger tire (200) ?

I will take either the DUNLOP E3 180/70 or the BRIDGESTONE BATTLEAXE 200/60 - but don't know how to choose at this moment?

[wd40]

I've run both the Avon Cobra and Battleaxe in the rear.  My impression is that the Cobra is a harder compound, so will get better wear.  The Battleaxe is much "stickier" so presumably is a softer compound.  SO....
If you are a very aggressive rider, the Battleaxe will give better adhesion on hard take-offs, and seems to give much better performance under very hard braking, where the Cobra tends to lock up easier and break free.   For a more "sedate" rider, the Cobra will perform well, and should last longer.  If you push your bike, I'd go with a Battleaxe.
Both tires I've run are 200 width.

[FLATSIX]

And what about the rpm when running the 200 battleaxe - is there a difference against stock (180)?

Is the battleaxe exactly the same in circumference?

[Gear Jammer]

The speedometer runs off a gear on the front wheel.  If you buy the 200/60 tire, then the RPM's will change, but not drastically.  The 200mm tire on rear works great, but you may need to do the "nut cage mod" to prevent rubbing, though I did not with my Cobra.  Dunlops are not on my list of approved tires for front or rear.      I now run Darkside.  

[B]

I like E3s. I don't know how many miles I can put on one. My front hit something at about 11k and gouged it with good trend, requirong me to rplace it. I have 9k+ on the back with good tread still. We'll see if I wear it down before some catastrophe. A catastrophic back bearing failure took out the last back tire.  Staying with E3 despite the 'dunflop' rap.

[Anthony]

I was very pleased with the traction on the metzelers ME880 ,
then went to the dark side on a uniroyal , but
came back to the round tires this spring.

my first choise was the metzeler ME880 200/60 R16,
but it was out of stock , not even a new manufacturing date know by manufacturer Pirelli Germany.

As Inzane France was coming up, I went with a Bridgestone BT 020 R : 200/60 R16 TL 79V
I am pleased with it, have not found any comment so far !

Please not that both the tires in the 200/60 range have less profile depth : +-6,5mm instead of 9mm on the 180/70's.

if memory serves me well, my rpm is now just below 3.400 at 120km/h.
a little higher then with the 180/70.
do note that there is even a difference in circumference between brands; not all 180/70 are exactly the same diameter !

Anthony

[PAVALKER]

I have run Avon (love em and use them now), Metzlers (nice gripping tire, rides and hold great but wears faster IMO), Stocker Dunlops (Ok... but not a fav), Dunlop E3's (Hated em, front was squirmy, both cupped quicker and wore out at the same time about 8 - 9 K at 40/41 PSI each).  I have read on here and the VTXOA message boards about Shinko and got a set of Shinko 757 tires to try out when either bike needs a set (same size for both).  Price was good.  I prefer Avon, but want to try others first hand sometime.

[B]

PaValker - I was running those pressures & was getting cupping... Based on Hondas recommendation for my friends 2000 wing I dropped the pressure up front to 36 Psig & my wear patterns are now perfect. FYI - B

[B]

Anthony ... Any rubbing or mods needed on that 200 series BT? Any improvement in mileage that you've noticed?

[Anthony]

my nutcages were already cut, while running the cartire.

can't really comment on the mileage, not with my right hand playing all the time.

Anthony

[Steve K (IA)]

I have only had Metzlers on my Std and like the way the bike handles.  On my I/S, after the original tires wore out, I put Avons on.  Couldn't trust them (Avons) on wet roads.  Almost went down just trying to slow down on wet Interstate 70.  Went with the E3's.  Got almost 20,000 miles out of the first set, so went that way again.  I trust the E3's 100% in all conditions.  I always keep the pressures at 40 F - 42 R.  One good thing about the E3's, they hold air a lot better than the Avons.  I was constantly adding air to those things.  The E3's.....takes a few months to drop 2lbs of pressure.

[PhredValk]

Only ever had the E3s since I bought the I/S this spring. The original owner put them on last season, and didn't ride much (he says). I've put 7000 miles on them, and except for a little flattening on the rear after a 5000 mile trip to Ontario, they look to last the rest of this season at least. The front has a low speed wobble that I don't like; but can live with for now. I will probably go Double Dark side with a Trippletread on the back and Metzler rear on the front, but the E3s seem to be lasting forever...
Fred.

[FLATSIX]

When I read all the replies and also the things about tires on the Valkyrie on other websites, then my conclusion is:

no AVON : ot good in the rain + last not long
no METZELER: they had problems with 2 layers - the last layer worns out quick and not safe
no BRIDGESTONE BATTLEAXE :  they don't last long - new rubber only 6mm instead of 9mm

DEFINITELY the DUNLOP E3 : no spectacular tire, but with a good life and few problems.

So I go for that last one.