tire help

borto1990 · 04-25-2014, 06:17 PM

Ok, I seem to be getting the run around on tires. I have a 08 nomad. I see a lot of people putting 18-/70-16's on the rear and 150/80-16 on the front.. I see a lot of people running elite 3's... but.. from what I'm told elite 3 rear in that size is radial and front is bias.. is that what people are running? to the people with this tire size, which brand tire are you using? Thanks for any info.. and please no darkside comments. not interested in going that route just yet..

Thanks!

**Top Cat** · 04-25-2014, 06:27 PM

Avon Cobra tires on my 08 Nomad.
Tried E3's but they were noisy from the git go on my bike.

recumbentbob · 04-25-2014, 06:32 PM

+1 Avon cobra radials

gwdriver · 04-25-2014, 08:02 PM

I just trashed 2 Avon Cobras. Both were 2 yrs old. The front tire started cracking on the sidewalls and at 7k miles the rear was worn out. I purchased a front and rear Bridgestone Exedra Max set from Jake Wilson for $265.00. No tax and free 3 day shipping. I actually received them in 2 days. These tires are nothing like the original Exedras. I have 200 miles on them. When I picked the bike up at the shop it was raining cats and dogs. These tires with the mold release wax still on them gripped the wet roads like glue. I was going to try Shinkos but I could not pass these up for the price. Alot of people badmouth Bridgestone but these are a whole different breed of tire. A good friend of mine ran a set of these on his RoadKing. Got 16k out of the rear tire, replaced it with the same tire and is still running the original front with 19k on it. Some of you might want to give these a shot.

**Framer** · 04-25-2014, 08:22 PM

08 Nomad I run Michelin commander II's 180/65/16 rear and 130/90/16 front. I have 6500 miles on the back and it still looks great.

ctrider · 04-25-2014, 08:36 PM

I just put on a set of commander II's on my 05. Only have a few hundred miles on them, so far I like them. They handle through the twists very well. The bridgestones were used up anything would of handled better.

**markclark57** · 04-25-2014, 08:41 PM

I have had several brands and styles. If I was going to leave the Dark side, I would run Avon Cobra's or Venom's front and rear (both radials). I have heard others mention cracking issues, but have never had that happen to mine. My bike lives outside (no garage) and I live in Phoenix so it not due to easy conditions.

Vulcan Bill · 04-25-2014, 08:58 PM

Not sure about the 180/70-16 size but I have the 180/65-16 bias Micheline Commander II on the back ('05 1600 CL) and am real pleased with it. About 14,000 miles now and not even close to being worn out. What a refreshing change from having to replace the back tire every 10,000 miles. I'm sold on them. I currently have a Bridgestone on the front. Good tire but I'll be replacing it with a Mic Com 2 when it wears out.

dshelly · 04-25-2014, 09:23 PM

I'll make you a great deal on a set of used E3's . Front only has 1000 miles on it and the rear 5500 but has another 5-7000 left on it. send me a pm if interested.

Nothing wrong with them, just went darkside on rear and changed to an 18" front wheel.

borto1990 · 04-25-2014, 10:05 PM

are any of you guys mixing up radial and bias? radial on the rear?

Vulcan Bill · 04-25-2014, 11:05 PM

I'm no authority on this but the reading I've done says radial back/bias front is okay but its not okay to have a radial front/bias back. Has something to do with in a hard turn the radial front sticks better so the feedback your getting through the handlebars says your good to go, meanwhile your back bias is on the verge of breaking loose and sliding out.
Not sure about all this but it got my attention.

**markclark57** · 04-25-2014, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borto1990

are any of you guys mixing up radial and bias? radial on the rear?

I have had bias on the front and radial on the rear a few times with no troubles. I've heard not to go the other way from several sources. Never tried it.

**ringadingh** · 04-26-2014, 12:54 AM

I too have a radial on the rear and bias ply on the front, no problems.

macmac · 04-26-2014, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borto1990

Ok, I seem to be getting the run around on tires. I have a 08 nomad. I see a lot of people putting 18-/70-16's on the rear and 150/80-16 on the front.. I see a lot of people running elite 3's... but.. from what I'm told elite 3 rear in that size is radial and front is bias.. is that what people are running? to the people with this tire size, which brand tire are you using? Thanks for any info.. and please no darkside comments. not interested in going that route just yet..

Thanks!

It is permitted to run a bias ply on the front and a radial on the back. Just not the other way around. That is the set up a stock bike IS

I have the rear MC tires on Nomads and run Avon Cobra ft and Dunlop SP 5000 195/ 60 R / 16 car tire on the rear. I just bought my 2nd Dunlop today. These are both radial.

**MAS Tequila** · 04-26-2014, 06:47 AM

I'm running a Shinko Tourmaster 160/80/16 on the rear and the same tire in a 130/90/16 on the front.

MT

04-25-2014, 06:17 PM	#1
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	tire help Ok, I seem to be getting the run around on tires. I have a 08 nomad. I see a lot of people putting 18-/70-16's on the rear and 150/80-16 on the front.. I see a lot of people running elite 3's... but.. from what I'm told elite 3 rear in that size is radial and front is bias.. is that what people are running? to the people with this tire size, which brand tire are you using? Thanks for any info.. and please no darkside comments. not interested in going that route just yet.. Thanks! Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-25-2014, 06:27 PM	#2
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Avon Cobra tires on my 08 Nomad. Tried E3's but they were noisy from the git go on my bike. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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04-25-2014, 06:32 PM	#3
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	+1 Avon cobra radials __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
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04-25-2014, 08:22 PM	#5
Framer Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Piedmont OK Posts: 2,207	08 Nomad I run Michelin commander II's 180/65/16 rear and 130/90/16 front. I have 6500 miles on the back and it still looks great. __________________ David (Framer) Marang 2018 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited VBA#02245 VROC#35311 2013 Antlers 2014 Mountain View 2014 Antlers 2015 Eureka Springs 2015 Antlers 2016 Salem 2016 Antlers 2017 Eureka Springs 2017 Lake George 2017 Antlers 2018 Custer Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-25-2014, 08:36 PM	#6
ctrider Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Windsor, CT Posts: 735	I just put on a set of commander II's on my 05. Only have a few hundred miles on them, so far I like them. They handle through the twists very well. The bridgestones were used up anything would of handled better. __________________ VBA #02482 VROC # 36172
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04-25-2014, 08:02 PM	#4
gwdriver Jr. Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 28	I just trashed 2 Avon Cobras. Both were 2 yrs old. The front tire started cracking on the sidewalls and at 7k miles the rear was worn out. I purchased a front and rear Bridgestone Exedra Max set from Jake Wilson for $265.00. No tax and free 3 day shipping. I actually received them in 2 days. These tires are nothing like the original Exedras. I have 200 miles on them. When I picked the bike up at the shop it was raining cats and dogs. These tires with the mold release wax still on them gripped the wet roads like glue. I was going to try Shinkos but I could not pass these up for the price. Alot of people badmouth Bridgestone but these are a whole different breed of tire. A good friend of mine ran a set of these on his RoadKing. Got 16k out of the rear tire, replaced it with the same tire and is still running the original front with 19k on it. Some of you might want to give these a shot.
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04-25-2014, 08:41 PM	#7
markclark57 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,108	I have had several brands and styles. If I was going to leave the Dark side, I would run Avon Cobra's or Venom's front and rear (both radials). I have heard others mention cracking issues, but have never had that happen to mine. My bike lives outside (no garage) and I live in Phoenix so it not due to easy conditions. __________________ 2006 Vulcan 1600 Classic "George III" (Patricia's) 2006 Vulcan 1600 Nomad "Grace" (Mark's) Mark Clark VBA #1619 TaibhseDaid@Gmail.Com "Irish" @ Maricopa County Chapter of B.A.C.A. Phoenix, AZ
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04-25-2014, 08:58 PM	#8
Vulcan Bill Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 1,400	Not sure about the 180/70-16 size but I have the 180/65-16 bias Micheline Commander II on the back ('05 1600 CL) and am real pleased with it. About 14,000 miles now and not even close to being worn out. What a refreshing change from having to replace the back tire every 10,000 miles. I'm sold on them. I currently have a Bridgestone on the front. Good tire but I'll be replacing it with a Mic Com 2 when it wears out. __________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '05 1600CL. Originator 18" Harley wheel mod, Dobeck TFI, True Duals, Mutazu hardbags, Flanders handlebars n' a bunch more. *Sometimes I miss the good ol' days but most times I'm just glad I survived them*
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04-25-2014, 09:23 PM	#9
dshelly Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgrade, MT Posts: 2,824	I'll make you a great deal on a set of used E3's . Front only has 1000 miles on it and the rear 5500 but has another 5-7000 left on it. send me a pm if interested. Nothing wrong with them, just went darkside on rear and changed to an 18" front wheel. __________________ Dave "(dshelly)" Shellenberger 2014 Harley Ultra Classic 2007 1600 Nomad (Black) Shellenberger Machine Belgrade, MT Various Bagger Member (Harley Chapter) VBA # 2395
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04-25-2014, 10:05 PM	#10
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	are any of you guys mixing up radial and bias? radial on the rear?
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04-25-2014, 11:05 PM	#11
Vulcan Bill Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 1,400	I'm no authority on this but the reading I've done says radial back/bias front is okay but its not okay to have a radial front/bias back. Has something to do with in a hard turn the radial front sticks better so the feedback your getting through the handlebars says your good to go, meanwhile your back bias is on the verge of breaking loose and sliding out. Not sure about all this but it got my attention. __________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '05 1600CL. Originator 18" Harley wheel mod, Dobeck TFI, True Duals, Mutazu hardbags, Flanders handlebars n' a bunch more. *Sometimes I miss the good ol' days but most times I'm just glad I survived them*
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04-26-2014, 12:54 AM	#13
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	I too have a radial on the rear and bias ply on the front, no problems. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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04-26-2014, 06:47 AM	#15
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	I'm running a Shinko Tourmaster 160/80/16 on the rear and the same tire in a 130/90/16 on the front. MT __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
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