opinion on tires for the wing...

[crowtalks]

I recently purchased an 06 wing with new Metzler ME66 tires. I have used Metzlers on BMWs but I am unfamiliar with their performance on the wing...

What are the recommended, or best performing tires for my wing?

Thanks

[Andy Cote]

There are great reports and sour stories on every brand of Goldwing tire. I have seen enough delamination reports on the Metzlers that I will not use them. Same with Shinkos. I have seen some positive reports on the new Dunlop E4 and the Bridgestone 704/709 pairing.

I am currently running Double Darkside runflat (search other postings on this subject).

[kwthom]

<...>What are the recommended, or best performing tires for my wing?

A tire thread.

A buddy of mine gave me this answer a long time ago; I pass the same info to you.

We have no idea on how you ride. We have no idea on road conditions where you tend to ride most frequently. Most of us have tried two or three types of tires before setting on the set that will work the best in all given conditions.

I'm with Andy when it comes to NOT using a Metzler as well as using an alternate rear tire configuration. Prior to that, I'd only get about 7000 miles on a Bridgestone set that came on my bike new. I still use the 704 on the font; I can get as much as 14,000 easily on a front tire.

So, want an answer? Try the Bridgestones first, once those Metzlers scare you one time too many.

Hope that helps.

[crowtalks]

Thanks for the replies...
I am an 250 lb old coot that likes two lane blacktops...a mix of tight twisties and smooth curves and I have slowed down considerably over the years as my reaction time seemed to start waning.

How do car tires work on curvy roads, with a more squarish profile?

[kwthom]

Thread here on the topic:

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=15560&hilit=darkside

Suggest a bit of open-minded reading may help answer your first (of many...) questions.

TL;DR: Fine, they work fine. Yet, I've only got ~120,000 miles of experience with 'em.

[extremetouring]

As other post suggest the tire selection is personal and should be based on your riding style, typical road conditions, distances you travel, two up riding and/or if you pull a trailer.

I have owned 4 wings and over the past 20 years and have extensive experience with Dunlop and Bridgestone. Either the E3's (and now E4's) and the Exedra tires would be a great choice.

For me the Exedra tires suit my riding style the best. I'm a typical Winger that enjoys a spirited ride through the twisties as if I was on a sport bike touching the pegs here and there and I find the Exedra's stick to the road like glue and are more inspiring than the E3's. That doesn't make the E3's bad, just different.

There is a value quotient that has to be considered when making your selection. Performance, distance, load capacity, cost and most importantly satisfaction! I don't get the same milage out of the Exedra tires that I did from the E3's but what does that really mean? I get 8500 - 10000 miles out of a rear tire and because I change the front at the same time that's all I get out of it too. Is it possible to get higher milage? For some but I ride the majority of the time two up with a Unigo trailer on pretty straight roads so the rear tends wear quickly in the center.

I have 120000 miles on my current GL1800 that I bought in 2007 and have replace the tires 12- 14 times, essentially every season. If the E3's got 20% +/- more life what would it have saved me, $1000.00? That's not even a night out with my wife once a year so my thoughts are ride on what inspires you and change them out before they hit the wear strips.

[Rambozo]

I prefer round tires. They seem to have the best ride quality and handling.

[DenverWinger]

Saturday I replaced the 7 yr old Dunlop E3 that's been on the front of my 1500 in anticipation of our upcoming trip to Michigan and Wise VA. The E3 still had plenty of tread, not much riding the past 3 yrs for various reasons, but the Age of the tire was a concern for the upcoming trip. I Replaced the rear E3 shortly after I bought the bike because it was leaking and 3/4 worn out anyway.

So for four years I've had an E4 on the back and E3 on the front. Now there's a nice "Branny-new" E4 on the front to match the rear.

I immediately noticed the new tire rides much smoother over cracks and manhole covers than the E3, I was beginning to think I needed to service the forks because you could feel every crack and patch in the pavement, not so with the new tire.

Maybe the old E3 was getting hard due to age?

Now I gotta take the dashboard apart to repair the right stereo speaker which has come loose from it's mounts and is laying in the dashboard's speaker cavity.... This may be a consequence of the rough ride from the E3....

[Wingsconsin]

Look at my garage and previous bikes list -
I have burned up a lot of tires over the years and make some decisions on tires based on my experience -
- Caveat - I tried the darkside thing - It works - I didn't like it and am now on motorcycle tires.

For the 01-17 Wings here are the best options in my opinion -

Bridgestone 704/709 combo -
Pros:
Inexpensive ( I change to a new set every Spring and spend the summer burning them up)
GOOD - they stick well in the rain and in the heat -
RIDE QUALITY - they seem to roll well but I have Centramatic wheel balancers on my Wing
NO CUPPING - I have never ridden them far enough to get cupping or they don't cup ? They wear out before I get that problem
CONS:
Longevity - 8500 to 11500 is the range of my experience on these tires But at the price it's worth it to change often (I like riding on new rubber)

Avon Cobra Series -
PROS:
Stick like glue even in WET
Ride Quality is fine bat can hear them rolling a little bit (not a big deal - turn up the music)
Great Longevity - I rode them to 15,500 and changed them due to cupping (and they were done)
CONS:
Cupped at 11,000 miles and got really noisy -

Would use them again


Dunlop E4's -
PROS :
Longevity - 15,000 miles easy if you are good about tire pressures
Ride quality is really good -
Sticky in all conditions
CONS:
Availabilty (due to the pandemic they are harder to find )
PRICE $$ don't ask if you can't afford them Buy the Bridgestone set

IN MY OPINION --
These are the 3 best selections for the '01-'17 Goldwing

Everyone gets different results based on the condition of the roads, the bike, the driving style, and many variables -

But I have tried them all ...