Front tire w/Dark Side Rear

jmilucky · 07-13-2009, 01:53 PM

I haven't seen much written about the front tires used with the dark side so here's my ?

With the Dunlap SP 5000 195/60/R16 what's the most common front?

I'm ready to mount the standard 150/80/R16 Metzler 880.

Thoughts?

thanks,

Jim

dkdixie · 07-13-2009, 02:01 PM

Should work fine. I'm running same size Avon Cobra with SP 5000.

cactusjack · 07-13-2009, 02:30 PM

It's up to you, but I'd probably never go with ME880's again. Had a bad experience with them last time around.

**ringadingh** · 07-13-2009, 03:22 PM

Me too, try a Dunlop D404, mines feeling a lot better than the ME880 did.

blowndodge · 07-13-2009, 03:37 PM

This is a question I'm pondering. Which tire and should I try a radial front since my CT is radial. Wondering if it makes a difference....

Yellow Jacket · 07-13-2009, 04:44 PM

I'm still running the original Stone on the front with my radial rear.

New Avon Cobra radial for the front in the very near future.

pablo · 07-13-2009, 06:39 PM

I just switched to a Dunlop Elite 3 from a Metzeler 880. So far I like it much better. No wobble what so ever.
Pablo

macmac · 07-13-2009, 06:47 PM

If that metz was made in South America, you might not be very happy with it.

If I were you I would go with a Dunlop E III like Pablo has or try the Dunlop D 251F radial like I have. What i don't know with just 200 miles on it, is how long will it last.

Everything is is as expected and I have high expectations.

And or Avon Cobra.. I think you might get 12,500 miles on one, which is sort of ok..

I think the E III will last the longest of the 3 I mentioned.

jmilucky · 07-14-2009, 04:17 AM

thanks all...I've run elite III's on wings for several years now - OK but cups after 10K. Metz's I've run on my VTX with no problems - my question was whether radial or bias made a difference with the SP 5000 radial.

I'll probably run radials front and rear, but I couldn't say why.

Jim

macmac · 07-14-2009, 10:01 AM

Most any ft tire will be dead at 10K, or soon after...

You may run a radial rear and a Bias ft not a problem.

Metz was a good tire set till they started making them in South America, maybe 2 years ago.

Some are still made in Germany, but ya gotta KNOW they are before yu put out hard coin.

I like the D 251F radial alot, but I can't ride it for 200 miles todate and tell what life I will get i9n terms of thousands of miles.. My chrystal ball went missing

lonewolf · 07-14-2009, 01:12 PM

putting a pirelli mt 66 rear on my front today !! will let you know how it does.

dkdixie · 07-14-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmac

Most any ft tire will be dead at 10K, or soon after...

You may run a radial rear and a Bias ft not a problem.

Metz was a good tire set till they started making them in South America, maybe 2 years ago.

Some are still made in Germany, but ya gotta KNOW they are before yu put out hard coin.

I like the D 251F radial alot, but I can't ride it for 200 miles todate and tell what life I will get i9n terms of thousands of miles.. My chrystal ball went missing

Last time I talked to Metzler, all bias are made in Brazil....radials are still made in Germany.
But, last Metz radial I had, sent back to Dennis Kirk for refund. Worst front tire I've ever had. Went with Avon Cobra. Much better.

macmac · 07-14-2009, 06:46 PM

dk dixie, what was so bad about that tire?

I am liking this D 251F radila a lot, but I won't stick my neck out with just 200 miles on it. I might maybe with 2,000, but that is still early for me to decide if it is any good...

Well it is good, but will it last?

And I guess when you buy a tire by a name that tire should be researched, to see who own that name. Hint : pirelli isn't made by pirelli.

dkdixie · 07-14-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmac

dk dixie, what was so bad about that tire?

I am liking this D 251F radila a lot, but I won't stick my neck out with just 200 miles on it. I might maybe with 2,000, but that is still early for me to decide if it is any good...

Well it is good, but will it last?

And I guess when you buy a tire by a name that tire should be researched, to see who own that name. Hint : pirelli isn't made by pirelli.

Tire howled like it was being abused! Anything other than perfectly straight road caused a pronounced noise.

RE: Perilli......or is it Metzler isn't made by Metzler anymore?

lonewolf · 07-14-2009, 09:24 PM

re: pirelli made be made by metzler, but im going to try it anyway. seems we are all trying some different things. i will be curious to see how others front tire choices turn out as well as my choice. if we are all sticking to the same thing, it would be hard to get any comparisons .

07-13-2009, 01:53 PM	#1
jmilucky Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Palm Bay Florida Posts: 415	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear I haven't seen much written about the front tires used with the dark side so here's my ? With the Dunlap SP 5000 195/60/R16 what's the most common front? I'm ready to mount the standard 150/80/R16 Metzler 880. Thoughts? thanks, Jim Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-13-2009, 02:01 PM	#2
dkdixie Sr. Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Blairsville in N. GA mountains Posts: 1,625	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear Should work fine. I'm running same size Avon Cobra with SP 5000. __________________ Dick Campbell Blairsville, GA 2008 Red & Black Nomad 1600 (retired) 2009 1900 Yamaha Stratoliner (retired) 2013 1900 Yamaha Stratoliner 2018 CanAm RT Limited Spyder (Sold) 2014 Goldwing Roadsmith Red Trike (Sold) 2019 Goldwing DCT Roadsmith Copper & Black Trike VBA #243 Darkside #115 Patriot Guard Rider American Legion Rider
	0

07-13-2009, 02:30 PM	#3
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear It's up to you, but I'd probably never go with ME880's again. Had a bad experience with them last time around. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

07-13-2009, 03:22 PM	#4
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear Me too, try a Dunlop D404, mines feeling a lot better than the ME880 did. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

07-13-2009, 03:37 PM	#5
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear This is a question I'm pondering. Which tire and should I try a radial front since my CT is radial. Wondering if it makes a difference.... __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-13-2009, 04:44 PM	#6
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear I'm still running the original Stone on the front with my radial rear. New Avon Cobra radial for the front in the very near future. __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009
	0

07-13-2009, 06:39 PM	#7
pablo Advanced Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Huntsville, TX Posts: 571	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear I just switched to a Dunlop Elite 3 from a Metzeler 880. So far I like it much better. No wobble what so ever. Pablo
	0

07-13-2009, 06:47 PM	#8
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear If that metz was made in South America, you might not be very happy with it. If I were you I would go with a Dunlop E III like Pablo has or try the Dunlop D 251F radial like I have. What i don't know with just 200 miles on it, is how long will it last. Everything is is as expected and I have high expectations. And or Avon Cobra.. I think you might get 12,500 miles on one, which is sort of ok.. I think the E III will last the longest of the 3 I mentioned. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

07-14-2009, 04:17 AM	#9
jmilucky Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Palm Bay Florida Posts: 415	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear thanks all...I've run elite III's on wings for several years now - OK but cups after 10K. Metz's I've run on my VTX with no problems - my question was whether radial or bias made a difference with the SP 5000 radial. I'll probably run radials front and rear, but I couldn't say why. Jim
	0

07-14-2009, 10:01 AM	#10
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear Most any ft tire will be dead at 10K, or soon after... You may run a radial rear and a Bias ft not a problem. Metz was a good tire set till they started making them in South America, maybe 2 years ago. Some are still made in Germany, but ya gotta KNOW they are before yu put out hard coin. I like the D 251F radial alot, but I can't ride it for 200 miles todate and tell what life I will get i9n terms of thousands of miles.. My chrystal ball went missing __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

07-14-2009, 01:12 PM	#11
lonewolf Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: central mn. Posts: 545	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear putting a pirelli mt 66 rear on my front today !! will let you know how it does. __________________ Kawanow # 370 2007 red and titanium nomad Darksider
	0

07-14-2009, 06:46 PM	#13
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear dk dixie, what was so bad about that tire? I am liking this D 251F radila a lot, but I won't stick my neck out with just 200 miles on it. I might maybe with 2,000, but that is still early for me to decide if it is any good... Well it is good, but will it last? And I guess when you buy a tire by a name that tire should be researched, to see who own that name. Hint : pirelli isn't made by pirelli. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

07-14-2009, 09:24 PM	#15
lonewolf Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: central mn. Posts: 545	Front tire w/Dark Side Rear re: pirelli made be made by metzler, but im going to try it anyway. seems we are all trying some different things. i will be curious to see how others front tire choices turn out as well as my choice. if we are all sticking to the same thing, it would be hard to get any comparisons . __________________ Kawanow # 370 2007 red and titanium nomad Darksider
	0

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nomad "Dark Side" car tire	blowndodge	1500 & 1600 Nomad	188	04-30-2016 10:39 AM
double Dark - what do you think of this rear/front	blackdogbrian	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	3	07-12-2011 11:15 PM
Dark side (car tire) size?	rhodyrider401	1500 & 1600 Nomad	12	05-26-2011 10:16 PM
Rear Tire in front of the handlebars?	redeye	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	21	10-26-2009 09:28 AM
Rear Tire On The Front	isaiahsdad	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	27	08-31-2009 08:49 PM