130/60R 19 Front tire

[Bobvalk]

Is Dunlop the only company making the correct size OEM tire? When I go to other companies there sizing is close but not the same?

[hubcapsc]

I heard there was a Shinko, maybe a bias ply one...

Everyone's been running 120/70s, so that what I finally
did. There's plenty of good 120/70s... I have Avons on the
bike now, they're great... an AV80 and an AV71...

-Mike

[Dragunslayer]

Is Dunlop the only company making the correct size OEM tire? When I go to other companies there sizing is close but not the same?

Just buy the 120/70-19's like the PR4 trail and never look back.

[_Sheffjs_]

I heard there was a Shinko, maybe a bia ply one...

Everyone's been running 120/70s, so that what I finally
did. There's plenty of good 120/70s... I have Avons on the
bike now, they're great... an AV80 and an AV71...

-Mike

That is what I have as well. So far so good. 

[Shrubbo]

I am actually pretty happy with that Dunlop front. I hated it when I got it because it was all I could get. I hated that it had Harley Davidson embossed on it. I hated it because it was, well a Dunlop.

26000k+ (16000miles) later and the sucker still has a little life in it I am unsure if I want to try anything else. The damn thing isn't worn in the middle either but on the sides and still has a pretty good profile.

I haven't particularly taken it easy either. I have been through 1 set of stainless steel and on my 3rd set of titanium skids on the footpegs. I was even pretty slack with it and let them get down to a pressure I am not even going to admit to

When it is completely knackered I will post up the details but coming from a sport bike that was flat out getting 6k I am kind of happy.

[Bobvalk]

I've only put about a 1000 miles on a used 2014 I just bought. I don't like the Dunlop's that are on the bike, occasionally I'll hit a crack in the road and the tire seems to follow the crack. I have ABS and I don't want to mess that up with an odd sized tire with a different profile. Any abs guys out there who have gone non-oem?

[ledany]

11,200 mls (18000 km) with the PR4 Trail on the front (120/70/19) and the tire is still OK  
I'll change it soon though for winter time, for a METZELER Roadtec 01 like the one I have on the rear. Dunlop tires are crap except the Roadsmart III so it seems.

[Robert]

                                 130/60-19             120/70-19           Difference
Diameter inches (mm)    25.14 (638.6)       25.61 (650.6)      0.47 (12) 1.9%
Width inches (mm)        5.12 (130)            4.72    (120)      -0.39 (-10) -7.7%
Circum. inches (mm)    78.99 (2006.22)       80.47 (2043.92)  1.48 (37.7) 1.9%
Sidewall Height in (mm) 3.07 (78)               3.31 (84)            0.24 (6) 7.7%
Revolutions per mile (km) 802.18 (498.45)   787.38 (489.25)   -14.8 (-9.19) -1.8%

https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=130-60r19-120-70r19


This is a tire comparison in size and you can see the circumference is 1.9% difference. I doubt enough to cause the ABS to not register properly and Im sure that ledney would have said something since his bike has ABS and he has many miles and many different riding conditions that he has experienced.

I have the PR4's and I like them much better than the Dunlops.

[Shrubbo]

I've only put about a 1000 miles on a used 2014 I just bought. I don't like the Dunlop's that are on the bike, occasionally I'll hit a crack in the road and the tire seems to follow the crack. I have ABS and I don't want to mess that up with an odd sized tire with a different profile. Any abs guys out there who have gone non-oem?

A Dunlop D408F on the front and a PR4 GT on the rear. I did the fluids last week and really gave the ABS a serious test a few times. No problems as it has always been.

I love the PR4 GT on the rear. pretty much the same wear I think (Hard to tell really, they seem to catch fire from time to time) as the OEM for A LOT less money and it has about 1000 times the grip in the wet. I could spin the rear up in any gear except 5th at any speed in the wet. It was very entertaining. I was impressed and also a little sad when I got the PR4 GT because no more silly buggers in the wet, but realistically... awesome tire.

The Dunlop D408F I am ultra impressed with the wear and therefore the K's I can get out of it. It has its limits in the wet and the Michellin would flog it I have no doubts but in the dry I have zero worries, the grip is great. No "moments" of concern.

[Bobvalk]

 okay I'm convinced just ordered a pair of Michelin pr4 for Motorcycle Superstore about 350 bucks and not a bad price. Thanks for all the advice, I'll let you know how they ride in a few weeks.

[Shrubbo]

You wont be sad

[Robert]

Have about 12k miles on the front tire and it still has some more tread but its starting to get close. The thing I did notice is a little more road noise out of it but the bike still handles very well with them.

[headpeon]

I only got a little over 8K on my front tire but the back looks good for maybe another couple of thousand.

Put a Michelin trail4 like others have recommended.

[brew1brew]

the front tire is now on OEM version 2, I just changed my last one at 18,500 miles. It has performed very well, wet and dry roads, as well as asphalt and cement roads.

My issue with going to a narrower tire is that I love the way the bike handles and don'w want to go to a narrower tire cause  I don't want to change the way it handles. And I have no issues with how it performs and I don't think anybody would complain about getting 18.5k miles on a front tire.

[Robert]

the front tire is now on OEM version 2, I just changed my last one at 18,500 miles. It has performed very well, wet and dry roads, as well as asphalt and cement roads.

My issue with going to a narrower tire is that I love the way the bike handles and don'w want to go to a narrower tire cause  I don't want to change the way it handles. And I have no issues with how it performs and I don't think anybody would complain about getting 18.5k miles on a front tire.

If your happy and get that kind of mileage then stay with it. The handling doesn't get worse it gets better and quicker. You may not like it and thats ok, but at buying the tires at the dealer and the price its high.

[ledany]

I changed the front tire last year for a PR4 Trail and the tire has 11,200 mls/18,000 km, still OK alas  

[brew1brew]

but at buying the tires at the dealer and the price its high.

that's why I buy them on line, found one on amazon for $120.00 the dealer wanted like $180 or so.

[Shrubbo]

My dealer here wanted $500 for the front OEM when they finally could get them and $750 for the rear.

Heh... yeah right.

[allhans4]

That's just ridiculous. 

My dealer here wanted $500 for the front OEM when they finally could get them and $750 for the rear.

Heh... yeah right.

[Shrubbo]

I had a different word for it 

That's just ridiculous. 

My dealer here wanted $500 for the front OEM when they finally could get them and $750 for the rear.

Heh... yeah right.

[Bobvalk]

Ok, I got the Michelin's from motorcycle superstore. It took them over a week to deliver. They knocked off $20 for my inconvenience. $328, plus tax. Love the tires, it rolls into a corner soo smoothly now! They called me up in the middle of the job to make sure I wanted to install smaller tire. Thanks to many for the advice.

[bscrive]

I bought myself the Avon 3D rear tire when it was on sale for $75 a couple of month ago and I just bought myself the Avon (120/70ZR-19 AV71) for the front for $146 at the Motorcycle Superstore.  I will get them changed this winter.

[brew1brew]

I bought myself the Avon 3D rear tire when it was on sale for $75 a couple of month ago and I just bought myself the Avon (120/70ZR-10 AV71) for the front for $146 at the Motorcycle Superstore.  I will get them changed this winter.

so you are putting a 10 inch tire on the front? How's that going to work?

[bscrive]

I will use my tire stretcher.   

[Shrubbo]

I just replaced my front tire. It was that Dunlop Harely Breakout thing. Felt no real difference between that and the OEM. I got around 11000k out of the OEM, I got just shy of 27000k out of the Dunlop despite it having Harley Davidson on it. I almost bought another one because hey you can't knock those miles, no issues in the dry even when pushed very hard and I just had to be aware it was a Dunlop in the wet.

However I took the plunge and replaced it with a Michelin Pilot Road 4 Trail. I have the Pilot Road 4 GT on the rear, had 2 of them in fact.

Impressions after doing about 570k on it.

Dunlop is dead. That is all.

[AdrianR]

I
Impressions after doing about 570k on it.

Dunlop is dead. That is all.

Yep, absolutely no comparison.  If a rider couldn't see and *feel* the difference they would fall into one of the two categories:

1.  Rank amateur
2.  Dead

[dinosnake]

Dunlop is dead. That is all.

In fairness that's not really true and not quite fair, we are comparing apples to oranges.  Dunlop can and does make some great tires but you must read the fine print: any tire made in today's modern world still using carbon black, instead of silicon, is dead in a comparison.  

OEM Dunlops, and almost all bias-ply tires, still use silicon either for cost or for legacy design reasons.  Since, as you note, there is no comparison once you experience it, consider carbon black persona non grata when you shop (if it doesn't specifically mention silicon in the construction, keep looking).

[AdrianR]

Dunlop is dead. That is all.

In fairness that's not really true and not quite fair, we are comparing apples to oranges.  Dunlop can and does make some great tires but you must read the fine print: any tire made in today's modern world still using carbon black, instead of silicon, is dead in a comparison.  

OEM Dunlops, and almost all bias-ply tires, still use silicon either for cost or for legacy design reasons.  Since, as you note, there is no comparison once you experience it, consider carbon black persona non grata when you shop (if it doesn't specifically mention silicon in the construction, keep looking).

With all due respect, I do not believe that matters...  I mean really, tires are being compared, what their composition equates to and other non essential factors are completely irrelevant.  The fact remains that the Valkyrie is a FAR better handling, safer machine with the Michelins installed compared to the OEMs...

[Dublflush]

But it handles even better with pirelli scorpion trail 2's. The trail 2 doesn't wobble through 80 mile an hr sweepers like the pilot 4 trail. Too many sipes on the michy front if your going to push on dry roads.

[GA VALK]

I put Michelin Commander II after wearing out the front stock tire after 4k.  They have the closest load rating to the stock tires

[dinosnake]

Dunlop is dead. That is all.

In fairness that's not really true and not quite fair, we are comparing apples to oranges.  Dunlop can and does make some great tires but you must read the fine print: any tire made in today's modern world still using carbon black, instead of silicon, is dead in a comparison.  

OEM Dunlops, and almost all bias-ply tires, still use silicon either for cost or for legacy design reasons.  Since, as you note, there is no comparison once you experience it, consider carbon black persona non grata when you shop (if it doesn't specifically mention silicon in the construction, keep looking).

With all due respect, I do not believe that matters...  I mean really, tires are being compared, what their composition equates to and other non essential factors are completely irrelevant.  The fact remains that the Valkyrie is a FAR better handling, safer machine with the Michelins installed compared to the OEMs...

Of course it matters.  You've missed my point: when you tire shop, any tire with silica will outperform any tire with carbon black.  So, therefore, silica composition should absolutely be a requirement on your shopping list for any good tire.  Once you pick within the silica genre, then go for the exact tire that you want.  No silica?  Look for a different model or manufacturer.

Carbon black composition is long-lasting and cheaper, perfect for OEM use but horrible for riders who want better performance.  Carbon black is good for heavy cruisers and tourers with low cornering limits, in other words riders that will not tax the handling envelope.  So when you look at cruisers, all the OEM tires will be carbon black-based.

Silica is high performance but shorter life, all else being equal, plus higher cost.  Silica OEM tires are put on supersports, sport-tourers and hi-po nakeds, where performance is more important than mileage and keeping that cost down.

http://www.tirereview.com/silica-siping/

The tire composition is what makes the tire, the tire.  It is the very basis of the differences you are feeling in terms of outright performance level.  Add profile, which determines handling and feel, and then siping, which determines grip in various conditions and angles, and you get a package.

[Bobvalk]

Just back from a ride on the pr4's. Checked speedometer against speedometer app on phone. Dead on with 41 lbs of air in tires.

[ledany]

I'm embarrassed because I wanted yesterday to change my PR4 Trail (12,500 mls) for a Scorpion Trail II and the new dealer didn't accept it because these tires are 60V or 60W to fit bikes weighing less than 551 lbs. On the Valk, we need 70 or 71 tires. Shall I go back to the D 408 F ? 
To tell the truth, I was never really confident with the PR4 Trail on the front, the road feeling was too light.

[goldstar903]

The OEM front tire is a Dunlop 254F 65H Radial
Rear OEM is a Dunlop D256 73H Radial

I ride with the Avon AV80 180/55ZR-17 (73W) and the Avon AV71 120/60ZR-19 (60W) and haven't had any problem.  Your experience may be different. These tires are rated for 168+ mph. We will never reach this limit so I think the front tire should be safe at the Valks pace. Is it prohibitive to mount tires that are not rated for your bike in France?  

[ledany]

Yes it is, though it's the third front tire I want to change (OEM, D408 F, PR4 GT Trail) and all of a sudden the shops now refuse the PR4 or the Scorpion Trail II because they are only 60W. A shop accepted to mount the PR4 Trail if I'm able to bring the wheel, not the bike. It means that I should park the bike in front of the store, use the GW center stand I have now on my bike, manage to be able to take the wheel away, pray the Lord the bike wouldn't fall (if I bring a brick in my Givi case, will that be OK ?) etc. 
I don't remember how the front Dunlop OEM (D 254 F ?) is on wet road, I remember the D 256 rear is simply dangerous

[Robert]

The original front tire load rating is a 61H the Michelin are 60V, 15 LBS is the difference from factory recommended tire load rating.

If you need to confirm the tire specs here is the review of the Valkyrie along with the tire specs
http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval/2015_01Valk.pdf

I would ask them how they know what tire is factory recommended. I would also tell them when they design the bike then let you know otherwise mount the tires and shut up.

You could also say that the difference from the H to the V makes for better tire construction also since its a higher speed rating.

OEM tire for the 2014 Valkyrie is
Dunlop Sportmax D254F 130/60-R19 61H

The tire for the front of a Goldwing a bike 150 LBS heavier is
130/70R18M/C 63H

As you can see the factory recommended tire for the Goldwing gets a 63h tire in the front so who came up with a 73

The load rating difference between the factory recommended tires on a Valk and a Goldwing are 35 LBS

The load rating difference between the aftermarket Michelin at 60 and the OEM Dunlop Valkyrie tire ratings of 61 is 15 LBS difference


https://www.mic.org/downloads/MIC_Tire_Guide_2012V1.pdf

To me the embarrassment should be on their side not yours, since they are the supposed experts.

[ledany]

Thanks for all these details Robert  

I'm more confident now to buy this Scorpion Trail II which seems to be the best tire you can get for wet roads.
Obviously people in motorcycles shops are dubious experts, forums are full of stories about dangerous incompetences you can encounter even for very simple stuff as a tire replacement. I'm not sure that the Valk is well referenced in the computers and so that's where their mistake may come from.

[Dublflush]

The scorpion trail 2 IS V RATED!

[ledany]

You are right, Scorpion is V rated, as the PR4 Trail. Maximum speed for V is 150 mls/h

If I ever reach 150 mls/h with the Valk, I'll stop drinking   

[ledany]

In fact the Scorpion Trail II is 60 W rated. I showed the dealer today the owner manual (which indicates 61 H) but even with a hand-written discharge he didn't accept, saying he wouldn't be comfortable to fix a trail tire on my bike. He accepted to mount a 60 V road tire but not a trail tire. I'm not a tire specialist but I suppose the only thing he has to worry about is the rate. I'll try elsewhere on monday see what happens.