What tires to run!

[excess11]

I am in need of a new front tire,There are just to many choices for new tires.I would like a good safe tire for all weather performance. My bike is set up as a touring bike with fairing and hard bags and slightly agressive touring is my style of riding.I dont need a ultra performance tire just a reliable tire with good traction and wear rating.I would like any advice you people may have as to what brands and type of tires that have worked well for you. Let me know!

[DiverRay]

Dan;
I think I probably ride about the same as you. I commute 35 miles each way, over an 1,800' pass. I have a marathon 880 on the rear, but I DO NOT like the wet roads with that tire. because of that, I went with a Dunlop EleteII on the front. It seems to handle much better that the Metzler, and now I'm waiting for the rear tire to wear out so it can be replaced with a Dunlop.

[SG-Olli]

Wet roads?

Nothing's better than Bridgestones BT45F for the front and BT45R for the rear.
It is amazing what these tires do to the handling.

[randy]

Ditto DiverRay, Dunlop Elite II's

[John]

What Randy and DiverRay said.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Excess11,

Double Ditto ! I had a Dunlop Elite "I" on mine when I parked it in 92, sat outside for 9 years, then I resurrected it, due to poor judgement and cost concerns, I didn't replace the rear, it still had some decent tread depth. I drove it to 3 rallies from Va., one to NY, Pa. and another to NC., riding the twisties fairly well, but the back end did have a tendency to slip a little and steered oddly going into tight turns. I found out later that this was due to the squaring off of the tire tread profile...extended wear down the middle, and very aged dried rubber!!!

Then after another 700mile run the next year to GA, it finally ran bald, so I replaced it with the same size, but and ELITE II. IT was a total transformation in handling. The back tire felt like it was riding a rail.....solid and smooth, and gripped very well in all of those nice twisties, but also ran great on the highway!!!

They are NOT an UltraPerformance tire, but are very good for both handling and mileage! You can't go wrong with them! IMHO.

[GNEPIG]

i liked the eliteIIs also but this time i have the dunlop 591s on and man what a difference ..with the suspension upgrades and the fork brace the thing feels kinda like a big sport bike.
it seems to really like corners now

[excess11]

What do you think!

I have seen some deals on the Dunlop K627 tires.This would be for the back tire on my bike. What do you think, are these good tires or not!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Dan,

Both the 627 and EliteII are "H" speed rated, at 130mph, however, the weight for the 627 is only 677 for rear, the EliteII is 830, seems to be a more robust and stronger tire, and with FULL bags, fairing, and 2 up, I'd put my $$ on the EliteII, plus they have a matching front tire, the 627 is only rear!
T.C.