New front tire. Yes, another tire thread.

[fudgie]

I'm about due for another front tire. I currently have a Metz on the front and is on its 2nd or early 3rd rear tire. This is the second Metz front i've owned and have liked it. It has felt squirrly in turns on them tar snakes in 90 deg or 70 deg weather the last year. I was wondering about my other front tire options. I have a CT on the back. I don't want Avons.    I saw a Bridgestone at the B/G ride that had some deep meat on it. Anyone know how this tire performs? 

[BF]

Elite III's.....you'll never know squirrely again.   

[Dave Weaver]

Dunlop's new tire, Elite III I think, has a tread pattern like the Avon's.

[PAVALKER]

I had bad experience with my first and last set of Dunlop E3's.  The front tire is much bigger in profile than other brands, even tho the size is stamped the same.  It was a bad tire, did not feel comfortable and had caused front end issues.  Don't think I would ever go with an E3 again..... front and rear tire both wore out at 8k max.

[Ricky-D]

i've  got an Elite III on now with a CT and am unhappy with the Dunlop tire. There is a flaw in the cord construction and it makes the tire run bouncy at low speed. Adjusting the air pressure helps some but not at all speeds. I can't hardly wait for it to wear out so I can put a new front tire on, it's that much of a pisser.  It'll be the last Dunlop I will buy.

[JimC]

I have an elite 3 on mine with only 1,800 miles on it and I have the same bouncing issue that Ricky-D has. I am going to try some Dyna beads first, but I really do not think that will solve the problem, I firmly believe that it is some type of belt separation or out of round issue.

I am already looking for a replacement. There is no way I will put up with it until it wears out. I just bought the bike 3 weeks ago and have only put 600 miles on it, but it is a problem I will not live with.   I did call the bike shop that installed it, and even though they did not come out and say so, the service guy made it sound like I was not the first to have the problem.

My problem is there is so much negative on the Valkyrie boards about virtually all of the tire makers, I don't know what one to buy to replace it. I am not totally against another E3 because all tire makers can have issues once in a while, but the fact that many say they are less than trustworthy in a hard turn worries me. Right now with the bounce I will not lay it into a turn hard enough to test that issue.

The Avon Cobra's seem to have an issue with the tire developing small splits within the tire groove, and  the Dunlops seem to be having the balance problem. I have not heard much grumbling about the Metzler's, but could that be because there are less people out there using them, or are they better?

Jim

[Hoser]

I use BS front and rear, have never had any trouble with them on either bike. get about 20k front, 12 k rear  hoser

[junior]

i also run bridgestones  g701 on the front and the g 702 on the back and am very pleased with the wet handeling

[cutter]

Run a Cobra Venom on the front and E3 on the back. Been working for me. I get 20-23000 rear and 22-25000 on the front of my I/S and that takes me about a year.  One of these days I will try a CT...... 

[Tinman]

My experience so far is nix the the Avons and dunlops and go with Metzlers. They don't last as long but get excellent traction even in wet weather.
My dunlops E3's were out of round front and back and the dealer I bought from replaced them but the replacement ones were also out of round and better. I still could not wait to get them off of the bike.
My Avons I think were a bad set and were squirmy in turns especially hard ones.
I had a car tire for a while and liked it a bunch but was concerned with finding someone to change/repair it while out on long trips.
When it got a rather large nail "almost a rail road spike" I went with the metzlers and have been very happy with them even though they tend to wear out rather quickly in comparison to the other tires. Just my opinion that I like them so much more than the others that they are worth it. I could go back with a car tire and a metz on the front but that would be it.
I don't have any experience with the Bridgestone's.
Hope this helps with your decision.

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Why not try something different?
I run a rear bias ply kenda rear up front.
About $70 from jc whitney.