1400 Touring New Tyre Time

[Brattus]

Time to replace the tyres on my 1400 Touring. Have had a look on brands and sizes too suit and by the look there are Metzeler 880 and Avon Cobra. I don't really want to go back to OE tyres. Michelin commander I used on my 1100 Vintage, they had good hold and wear but they don't have any sizes to fit.
So hopefully some of the other Touring owners can share their thoughts.

[bobbyfromnc]

I selected the Avon Cobra's for my bike. They will be installed this coming Thursday. After reading numerous reviews of different tires I chose the Avon's. My 2 cents. BK

[mjptexas]

Avon Cobras on my Cali Custom.  I like the handling performance.  6,000 miles on them.  The back tire looks like it can go another 2-3,000 miles before it needs replacing.

[roadventure]

I got 5000 miles out of the OEM Dunlop D251 tires.  I replaced them with AVON Cobra tires (stock sizes) and are very happy with the results.  The AVON tires feel better and I ran over 12,000 miles before replacing the rear (with another AVON).  The front AVON is still in place and I expect to replace it at around 16,000 miles based on how it now looks for wear.

[Lcarlson]

I'm running ME 880s -- they've long had a top rep as a heavy bike tire, and at 4000 miles they look barely worn, so we'll see. They also feel better than the OEM Dunlops, which were shot at 6000 miles.

[Jabo911]

I put on Bridgestone Exedra Max on my touring. They Have had them on for only 500 miles but so far I like them. They stick to the road well and seem relativity quiet.

[Cross-tie Walker]

I hear some guys can find a car tire for this. Much more mileage between tires...

[Lcarlson]

I hear some guys can find a car tire for this. Much more mileage between tires...

Terrible idea -- if you want to ride on car tires, drive a car.

[bobbyfromnc]

Had a set of Avon Cobra's installed... Wow a difference of night and day over the dunlop tires that came on it. Nimble, smooth ride. The bike handles unbelievably well so much so it defies the 1400 touring's weight. My 2 cents. BK

[Tom]

I hear some guys can find a car tire for this. Much more mileage between tires...

I'm not condoning it but I rode a friend's Cal 1400 Touring with car tire.  I couldn't tell any difference in the handling.  He reports getting more mileage per tire.  The Goldwing guys use the same tire and report the same results.

[LuftWolf]

Replaced the OEM Dunlop rear tire at 3,500 miles & switched to Avon Cobras.  Replaced the Cobra at 12,000 miles & had much better handling to boot!   

[LowRyter]

dark side

[Tom]

That's a Photoshop.....   'cuz we know baggers can't ride like that.  Just ask the guys at the local tavern. 

[Ncdan]

dark side

Now that's interesting!

[Texas Turnip]

Terrible idea -- if you want to ride on car tires, drive a car.

Why do you say that? Check with Gabby from AZ that has 40K running a car tire including lots of gravel in Alaska.

Tex

[old head]

Lots of guys I ride with on Patriot Guard missions ride with car tires. Mostly VTX, Goldwings, and few Harleys.  They all say the handling hasn't changed, great mileage as most pull trailers all over the country.

http://darkside.nwff.info/?p=tires

Old Head

[LowRyter]

I'd certainly like to ride a bike with a car tire to experience it first hand.  Otherwise, I have no opinion, pro or con.  I don't believe that any of my bikes are candidates.  Big touring rigs are another story.

[Ncdan]

I also have never ridden a bike with a car tire, however would like to have the opportunity to do so as I detest paying 150 bucks for a good quality motorcycle tire when a good quality car tire is half the price. My calvin won't accept any size car tire. There is a forum called The Dark Side , where there are hundreds of post from folks who are pro and con on the subject. I have read dozens of them and must say the only cons post have never tried the car tire but still offer a negative opinion. There are also some amazing videos of bikes with car tires wearing out curvy roads and it appears the bikes are handeling perfectly normal. It's definitely an interesting subject but requires an open mind.

[Brattus]

Thanks for all the help. I will be going with the Avon Cobras. They even do a white wall with them. I have a black touring so they could look good.

[ploz58]

 i just change over to Avon Corba's ive run them on a few bikes, a good choice.
I fitted a 180/65-16 on the rear, the 65 gives the same circumference as the 200/60.

This has been a vast improvement from the OEM in many ways, ( the 180/65-16) according to Avon fits the 5 and 5.5 inch rims.
it just needs a lttle more work to get it to initally seat on the rim.

Again just my humble opinion and I didnt like the OEM " accountant tyres".

[drbone641]

Can changing to the Exedra's have anything to do with a traction control fail warning? The Cali 1400 that I just won, (eBay), supposedly has that issue and cause. I am suspicious

[vintagehoarder]

Got about a 1000 miles on a set of Metzler ME880's and completely changed the bike for the better, very happy with them.

[toaster404]

I put on Bridgestone Exedra Max on my touring. They Have had them on for only 500 miles but so far I like them. They stick to the road well and seem relativity quiet.

Exedra Max today, 200 rear.  The Dunlops were so weird I couldn't deal with it any more.  Weeble tires - had to push into the corners hard.  Scalloped nicely, deep!  Began howling on Interstate sweepers - loud loud.  I documented the wear and so on, wrote Dunlop, which thanked me.  But I got 7300 miles, with wear "left" especially on the front.  Unless tread depth at the bottom of the scallops was considered!!!

Immediate improvement.  The engine is much louder - which I suspect means the Dunlops were loud.  Feels perhaps a bit smoother.  Big change is tip in and power out, which are nicely linear now.  Much more pleasant!!   

Dealership wanted $200 to put the tires on because of the bags.  Wow.  I stripped off the bags and mounts, will ride with the sides nude for a bit.  Mufflers swing out of the way of the axle.  EX job.  Oh, and no grease at all on the splines!!!!   None.

[Kiwi Dave]

Can changing to the Exedra's have anything to do with a traction control fail warning? The Cali 1400 that I just won, (eBay), supposedly has that issue and cause. I am suspicious

It's able to be recalibrated, but although it appears easy, a real pain to ride at  18.64 +/- 1.24 mph for the time required to calibration to kick in.  Can be frustrating.

[vintagehoarder]

I put on Bridgestone Exedra Max on my touring. They Have had them on for only 500 miles but so far I like them. They stick to the road well and seem relativity quiet.

Same here and totally agree!