tires

[deadlyman]

new to the club i have a 1998 valk stnd in florida and recommendations on tires

[salty1]

I like Avon Cobras. 

[Gavin_Sons]

Darkside    use the search, tons of information. Im running a falken ziex 512 and like it  im also running a rear mc tire on the front its a avon roadraider am

[Chrisj CMA]

Where in Florida are you. Im up in the Panhandle.  Fort Walton Beach Honda still has the best prices on Motorcycle tires and their mechanic is trustworthy.

Chrisj

[deadlyman]

orlando

[dreamchaser]

I like Metzler Marathon 880 tires.

[ulflier2001]

On my 98 Tourer I'm running a Metz 880 on the front and on the rear is a Hancook H426,  205/60/16 (darkside), not having to have done the inner nut mod either.  Really like the look and  has a great ride.  Good luck on your choice .

[98valk]

right now I'm running E3 on the rear and a conti-go rear on the front.
I like the combo, much better handling.

some rear tire on the front thds for your enjoyment.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,12541.0.html

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,975.msg13576.html#msg13

dark side thd

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,35341.0/topicseen.html

austone taxi tire thds

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,34474.0/topicseen.html

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,39384.0/topicseen.html

[BF]

I use synthetic.   

Oh....you mean tires?   

I really like my Dunlop Elite 3's.  Had Metzlers on it when I bought it.  Hated them. 

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/fitment-guide/search?type=fitment&make=12&model=453&year=522&submit=

[old2soon]

Very round-black-and absitively posolutely must hold air.  Couldn't help maself-beezelbub made me do it.  We are in at least 2 camps here-motorcycle specific and car tire(darkside)on the rear.  Lotsa cherces pro and con.  Try the search function.  Least whys we aint talkin bout oil-yet!  RIDE SAFE.

[9Ball]

ME880s on the Rocket and VTX....Avon Cobras on the Valk.  Will be switching to Avons on the Rocket next tire change.

[Tundra]

 I've got new Avon Cobra 200/16. (the fat one) with 640 miles on it.
Paid $226.00 on sale with rebate. You can have it for $125.00. You pick it up, I'm in Seminole 2 hours West of you. If your interested PM me.

[deadlyman]

hey Tundra why are you selling it ?

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Lovin my 200/16 Bridgestone Battlaxe 

[old2soon]

I've got new Avon Cobra 200/16. (the fat one) with 640 miles on it.
Paid $226.00 on sale with rebate. You can have it for $125.00. You pick it up, I'm in Seminole 2 hours West of you. If your interested PM me.

Why no like the tire?? RIDE SAFE.

[Farther]

Couldn't help maself-beezelbub made me do it.

Maybe "beezelbub" can teach you to spell! 

[cookiedough]

TIRE preference is like asking a male what kind of women they prefer,  you get all kinds of answers on handling and sizes preferred. 

My opinion, although not worth much, is Metzeler's ME880's overall do not last as long as Avon or Dunlop.  Avon Cobra's stick better and have decent life better than Metzeler's but not as long as tread wear as Dunlop Elite III's will have.  Even an Avon cobra rep at Avon tyre told me he feels the Dunlop elite III's will last longer by a few 1,000 more miles than Avon cobra's, but do not stick to the road as well as Avon's do.  Plus,  I have found the Avon's are cheaper usually than Dunlop's so I went with them.    Some will say differently, but all 3 are decent in my opinion and I would go with whatever one you can get the best deal on if I was you and try them out.  I may if I can find a decent price on Dunlop Elite III's go with them next time to try them out and see if they will last longer but with me putting on 3.5K-4K on average only per year,  every 4 years or so on a set of tires is time to replace anyways.   I would not let a set of tires on a bike longer than 6 years due to dry rot and getting hard even with lower mileage.

Now, if I drove 8-9K or more every year on average,  no question about it,  I would go darkside on rear of which have no opinion on since never used any, and maybe a bias ply on front to last longer than radial tires do.

[old2soon]

Couldn't help maself-beezelbub made me do it.

Maybe "beezelbub" can teach you to spell! 

I r havin 2 much fun as it iz.  What me wurry??  RIDE SAFE.

[5_19]

new to the club i have a 1998 valk stnd in florida and recommendations on tires

Welcome to the club and congratulations on the bike . It didn't take you long to open a can worms  .

Good luck with the tires. I prefer Avon front and Avon or Toyo rear.

[sandy]

Had Metzlers when I bought in '03. Avons since then. Much better handling. I have 17K on the current Cobra rear. I can't wear it out.

[salty1]

Had Metzlers when I bought in '03. Avons since then. Much better handling. I have 17K on the current Cobra rear. I can't wear it out.

Keep trying! 

[F6MoRider]

TIRE preference is like asking a male what kind of women they prefer,  you get all kinds of answers on handling and sizes preferred. 

My opinion, although not worth much, is Metzeler's ME880's overall do not last as long as Avon or Dunlop.  Avon Cobra's stick better and have decent life better than Metzeler's but not as long as tread wear as Dunlop Elite III's will have.  Even an Avon cobra rep at Avon tyre told me he feels the Dunlop elite III's will last longer by a few 1,000 more miles than Avon cobra's, but do not stick to the road as well as Avon's do.  Plus,  I have found the Avon's are cheaper usually than Dunlop's so I went with them.    Some will say differently, but all 3 are decent in my opinion and I would go with whatever one you can get the best deal on if I was you and try them out.  I may if I can find a decent price on Dunlop Elite III's go with them next time to try them out and see if they will last longer but with me putting on 3.5K-4K on average only per year,  every 4 years or so on a set of tires is time to replace anyways.   I would not let a set of tires on a bike longer than 6 years due to dry rot and getting hard even with lower mileage.

Now, if I drove 8-9K or more every year on average,  no question about it,  I would go darkside on rear of which have no opinion on since never used any, and maybe a bias ply on front to last longer than radial tires do.

+1   

Had them all myself, pretty much same analysis.  Read about balancing beads and get your own tire changer (Harbor Freight).  Lots of tire shops won't mount or balance if you don'y buy it there.  Most manufacturer bike stores will at standard labor rates but you'll know they were done right if you do it yourself.