tires for gl1800

[rmoss]

Hi guys my 2014 wing is in need of tires. Got 17000 km on stock Bridgestones. I am reading that wings are hard on tires. Some guys claim they get 20,000 TO 25,000 miles on a tire and I find thst hard to believe. I was looking at metzler 888 as they seem to have a harder compound. I am wondering about harder compound equals less grip in cornering or wet conitions. METZLERS are approx 475 Canadian for front and back.
On my last bike a venture I used Avon venom and really liked them but they are not radials.
Not interested in going with a car tire. I do ride 2 up and pull a trailer 1 week yr. A lot of guys say they are impressed with any new tire they put on but that would be expected as any new tire is better than a worn out tire. I have spent the last hour reading old post and am no better off Than I wax before. A lot of the post are old and do not deal with new tires with new compound. Sorry to sound like I am winning.

[harvey01]

Tires are kind of like oil, I prefer what I use! That said, I have had great luck with Dunlop elites radial on the GL1800. They do tend to be noisy as they wear but they also seem to work well. Again, that is my opinion. I do recommend that anyone go to the tire manufacturers website and do a search for the correct tires for any particular bike. Then make a list of what fits, get the prices from suppliers not the manufacturer and decide which suits best.

[PastoT]

I like my E-3s and must admit when they age or are run at lower PSI they will cup and feather thus they sing to you in the corners at that point. I ride year round (5 to 125 degrees so far) as long as the roads aren't iced up. I'm not a real aggressive rider but I do run with a trailer on the weekends and long trips. Sometimes heavily loaded with camp gear, two-up through the mountains and I still get 19k miles plus. The last two sets still had plenty of tread remaining but timing was such that I was departing on a several thousand mile trip through the western deserts. I run them at 41/44 PSI and with beads and that alone seems to stave off the cupping and feathering. However, at those PSIs I do loose some of the cushy ride. Only recently have I started thinking about a tire with better tread design that might be better for light snow accumulation.

[rmoss]

Thanks for the reply guys. I have been looking at e3 as well so I might give them a try.
you are definitely right that tires are a personal preference. It's like reading reviews on Caribbean resorts. You can tell the ones that has bad weather as the resort sucked.
I am surprised no one has the metzler 888 on there bike.
maybe some will still post. Tires are pricy up here in Canada so I don't want to try something on a wim.

[Old German]

Hi there

I have had Metzler on mine when I bought her, not to bad. But I wend back to Avon Cobra, front AV 71, rear AV 72. They are the best imo. They corner very good and they are quiet also. I dont can say so much about wear but after 6000 km they look pretty new. I use RiteOn as ballancer. It make the tire even more quiet.

Happy New Year

[thrasherg]

I also run Avons and have done so for the last 5 years, no cupping, no road noise, great handling and get around 16k miles from the rear, less from the front, but I do brake hard (raced for many years and am still heavy on the front brake!!). I really like the Avons, but have tried very little else, the bike came with Dunlops and they just didn't feel right in the corners, it might have been me, but changing to Avons immediately felt much better, so I stuck with them.

Gary

[Old German]

Hello Garry

I have had Avons on my last 3 bikes. For me they are the best. Great handling and they feel like glued to the road.

Happy New Year

Thorsten

[D-WING]

Hi Everyone I'm new to the Goldwing forums but I've been having the same problem as everyone , trying to find a good tire.
So I thought I would ad my 2 cents also. I just thought I would share my past experience with tires and in 44 years of riding I've gone thru a lot of them.
my last Bike was a 2008 Kawasaki concours14 , that thing would burn up Michelin pilot road 2's 3's and 4's like nothing every long trip with a passenger and trailer was one tire. that's not good in 4 weeks (8 to 10k) I tried 190/50R/17 and 190/55R/17 the none stock taller tire it cornered better and made my speedo go from 120(actual 119) to (actual 121). then I tried 205/45R/17 car tire it was ok on highway but hated the uneven city streets. Now I've got a 2014 wing I just assumed that a Goldwing would have cruiser tires on it , Doh it has sport bike tires with low speed ratings that's terrible for that heavy of a bike. My old concours would do
279km redlined in 5 gear it slowed down in overdrive the tire was rated for a bit more. the bike with rider (1) was 950 pounds. the Goldwing is 200lbs heavier and has the same weight rating on the tire but slow speed. so that being said I've already orders commander II rear tire 180/65B/16 for the rear it has the same speed rating and higher weight rating than stock tire and will last much longer on a heavier bike. Goldwing's are built different but the dynamics are the same as the big Harleys
and they run all day on the interstate's on 100 degree days. so I have no question's or fear's in putting a cruiser tire on a Goldwing , and besides it will fix the speedo.

[Red Ron]

I use a Yokohama Avid Envigor on the rear and a Stone BT-45 on the front. Get about 27K miles on this combo and it delivers a very smooth ride for me. On my first wing only got about 14K on the stock dunlops. On current wing got about 15K on the stone 709 & 704 that came stock.

[D-WING]

Hey Ron
that's a car tire correct?
how does it handle on uneven streets, ruts, pot holes, small patches we have terrible roads here.
that's why I'm thinking cruiser tire first

[Red Ron]

Hey Ron
that's a car tire correct?
how does it handle on uneven streets, ruts, pot holes, small patches we have terrible roads here.
that's why I'm thinking cruiser tire first

My current yokohama is probably the 7th or 8th car tire I have had and the 2nd yokohama. All of the CT's have rode better than the MT and the yoko seems to be the smoothest or me. The bt-45 that I use on the front is a rear MT but it is the exact size of our front. Some have a buzz or hum at at low speeds. I am on my third one and one of them did. I live in East KY most of the year. We have ruts and pot holes galore; not to mention mountains and curves. All I can say is that I don't miss the MT's.

[waituntilthebeep]

I personally run a Kumho runflat and a BT and it that combination runs on everything pretty well. I run dirt roads as well as rutted blacktop and Seattle concrete and I have had no issues. Trust them in the rain and on painted lines. Roll from peg to peg under power and it just... goes. I go Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

[alfowler7]

Red Ron, I assume the Yokohama is a 195/55/16? I've been looking to see what car tire I will run after I finish the current rear tire I'm running on my F6B. I like the looks of that tire, but sure wish it came in a 60. Do I understand correctly that the 60 is closest to the same as stock?
I ran several car tires on my 2000 Valkyrie. On it the 55 created some clearance issues, although not too serious.

Thanks - Al

[Red Ron]

Red Ron, I assume the Yokohama is a 195/55/16? I've been looking to see what car tire I will run after I finish the current rear tire I'm running on my F6B. I like the looks of that tire, but sure wish it came in a 60. Do I understand correctly that the 60 is closest to the same as stock?
I ran several car tires on my 2000 Valkyrie. On it the 55 created some clearance issues, although not too serious.

Thanks - Al

Coincidence. I just ordered a 195/60/16 in a Yokohama. It is a Avid Ascend. It has 12/32" of tread and a 740 treadwear rating instead of the 10/32" on the Avid Envigor. I had 26K on my current Envigor. The 60 series on a 195 width is supposed to be about the same height as the OEM motorcycle tire. The "60" means that the tire's height is 60% of the width which is 195 cm. I think a 60 series in a 205 is about as big as one can go without rubbing. I have read of some running a 65 series in a 205 but they had to file the swingarm. This tire is a 89 load rating instead of the 87 also. I have always used non run flats but I think after this tire I am going to go to run flats for the added safety even if they might ride a little rougher.

[alfowler7]

Thanks for your reply. I am very interested in your thoughts on that one, after you get a few miles on it. It might just be me, but the shoulder looks a little less rounded. Maybe not. Looking on thier website I see they make a T, H and V rated version. That V would probably be a bit softer and stick in the corners better. Looks like a good option.
Thanks - Al

[Big Johnson]

I am wanting to go Dark side, the only issue I have is finding someone to put the car tire on. Our Honda dealer won't do it.
Where in Alberta, Canada does this?

[rmoss]

Hi all I just got back from the Toronto motorcycle show. I had a talk with the Dunlop tire rep. He said that in May of this year they are releasing a Elite 4. He says if you liked the elite 3 the elite 4 will blow your mind. I can't find anything on the Internet about it. So I guess it is a wait and see.

[Wingsconsin]

Hi all I just got back from the Toronto motorcycle show. I had a talk with the Dunlop tire rep. He said that in May of this year they are releasing a Elite 4. He says if you liked the elite 3 the elite 4 will blow your mind. I can't find anything on the Internet about it. So I guess it is a wait and see.

Dang -- I just ordered a set of Avon Cobras for my '02 Wing.
I have been really happy with the Bridgestones previously - but I heard from a friend that these offered a bit better handling -
I will put them ON the bike in late May for my trip to the Smokies in June
The Avon moto people have a 15,000 mile Warranty on these (when installed by an authorized dealer) -
So I won't qualify -- but I hope they are right ....

Read about it here ~~~
http://www.avonmoto.com/products/cruise ... stom/cobra

[thrasherg]

you wont go wrong with the Avons, I still love mine after 4 years and 16,000+ miles (Not the same set of tires!!)

Gary

[D-WING]

Just found out that the new Dunlop's wont be available in Canada until late 2016 or spring of 2017
I'm getting mine out of the US.