Question re: Dunlop American Elite Dual Compound Tires

[kpmhspirit]

A buddy I ride with (he does ride an HD) says he gets 20K +/- out of his rear using these and double that out of the front. I get maybe 7-8k out of whatever I run on the rear (Shinko, Michelin, Avon, etc.)

Does anyone have experience with the Elites on a Vag or Voyager and get the same high mileage?

I can't find the Elite in the stock 170/70-16 size but they make a 180/65-16. Will that fit the Vaquero? I think it will but just want to see if anyone has done it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm tired of changing tires so often and hope to find a better solution.


Thanks very much

[BrokeAss]

I get maybe 3k miles out of a rear, count your blessings!

[plumber63]

The 180/65-16 will fit just find. Thats pretty much the size everyone uses to get a heavier, longer lasting tire. The Michelin Commander 2 seem to be a favorite by many for a 15-20,000 mile rear. But they are not the best in the rain. Mine started cupping around 12,000 removed it at 18,000, but that was on a 1600 nomad.
There is a few on here that have used the American elite with good results, 15,000+ miles. I am trying a Bridgestone Battle Cruiser right now. Sticks well but not a lot of miles on it yet.

[mrt]

I am running the American Elite and have around 10,000 miles so far. they are holding up very well and I anticipate getting 20,000 out of them.
Mike

[kpmhspirit]

Originally Posted by BrokeAss

I get maybe 3k miles out of a rear, count your blessings!

Wow, I find that difficult to believe You must leave rubber whenever you take off.

[kpmhspirit]

Originally Posted by plumber63

The 180/65-16 will fit just find. Thats pretty much the size everyone uses to get a heavier, longer lasting tire. The Michelin Commander 2 seem to be a favorite by many for a 15-20,000 mile rear. But they are not the best in the rain. Mine started cupping around 12,000 removed it at 18,000, but that was on a 1600 nomad.
There is a few on here that have used the American elite with good results, 15,000+ miles. I am trying a Bridgestone Battle Cruiser right now. Sticks well but not a lot of miles on it yet.

Thanks plumber. I tried the Michelin Commander but didn't really get any significant increase in mileage. I just go back from a 6,000 mile trip and am close to needing another rear so I'll give the Dunlop Elite a try. Good to know that the large size will fit.



Good luck with the Bridgestone.

[kpmhspirit]

Originally Posted by mrt

I am running the American Elite and have around 10,000 miles so far. they are holding up very well and I anticipate getting 20,000 out of them.
Mike

Good to know. Thanks for letting me know.

[BrokeAss]

Originally Posted by kpmhspirit

Wow, I find that difficult to believe You must leave rubber whenever you take off.

Nope. I actually think burnouts are among the stupidest things people do. Only got about 2500 miles out of a rear on my Meanstreak. To me, 20,000 miles on a motorcycle tire is unimaginable. I've managed 10k out of a front, but it was severely scalloped. I put a new Skinko WWW 777 on my Nomad in August of 2017 and it was showing cords in August of 2018 with maybe 4000 miles on it. No burnouts whatsoever, 42psi.

[kpmhspirit]

Originally Posted by BrokeAss

Nope. I actually think burnouts are among the stupidest things people do. Only got about 2500 miles out of a rear on my Meanstreak. To me, 20,000 miles on a motorcycle tire is unimaginable. I've managed 10k out of a front, but it was severely scalloped. I put a new Skinko WWW 777 on my Nomad in August of 2017 and it was showing cords in August of 2018 with maybe 4000 miles on it. No burnouts whatsoever, 42psi.

Damn that's incredible. I don't run mine until the threads show so that's even more of a . I did only get 4,000 on the stock Bridgestones that came on the Vaq but that seemed to be about standard for most people from what I've seen on here.

[BrokeAss]

Originally Posted by kpmhspirit

Damn that's incredible. I don't run mine until the threads show so that's even more of a . I did only get 4,000 on the stock Bridgestones that came on the Vaq but that seemed to be about standard for most people from what I've seen on here.

FWIW, I've tried most brands, from top shelf to bottom, and stick to Shinko now because it makes no difference and these are half the cost and come in WWW.

[redjay]

I have 34,000 kms on a Michelin Commander II rear tire and its not down to the wear bars.

[Peg]

Originally Posted by redjay

I have 34,000 kms on a Michelin Commander II rear tire and its not down to the wear bars.

Good grief! You're likely the best person to ask then... What tire pressure do you run them at?

[smokier]

Greetings,

FWIW: The rear size of "180/65-16" is a very popular alternative to the stock size. The last tire on the VAQ's was a Dunlop E4 at 160/80B/16. This is a TALLER tire, and found it provided benefits to speedo accuracy, MPG display, etc. (There is a separate thread on these findings.) The E4's (180/65/16 and 160/80/16) yielded me 15,327 and 14,785 miles respectively. Tire pressure was kept at 40 PSI.

Ride safe,
Smokier

[kpmhspirit]

Originally Posted by BrokeAss

FWIW, I've tried most brands, from top shelf to bottom, and stick to Shinko now because it makes no difference and these are half the cost and come in WWW.

Basically the same reasons I've been running Shinkos for a long time.

[kpmhspirit]

Originally Posted by smokier

Greetings,

FWIW: The rear size of "180/65-16" is a very popular alternative to the stock size. The last tire on the VAQ's was a Dunlop E4 at 160/80B/16. This is a TALLER tire, and found it provided benefits to speedo accuracy, MPG display, etc. (There is a separate thread on these findings.) The E4's (180/65/16 and 160/80/16) yielded me 15,327 and 14,785 miles respectively. Tire pressure was kept at 40 PSI.

Ride safe,
Smokier

Sounds like another Dunlop to consider. 40 psi is what I run on the rear with 38 on the front.


thanks for the info