Cruiser tyres

[awa355]

My 650 Dragstar has a near new Pirelli Route tyre on the front, 130/90/16.

A Dunlop D404, 170/80/15 on the rear.

On wet tight corners,( town) it doesn't give any feedback, I can not feel the front responding, (griping), and it is a bit unnerving. I dont know if it is due to the tyres or simply, a characteristic of cruisers having a long rake angle.

The previous bike was a lightweight 500 single. Corners didn't worry me at all.

Has anyone else had experience of the Pirelli Route as a cruiser tyre? Are there brands better suited to wet weather riding?

[Flip]

I am in love with Conti milestones. Brillant in the wet, IMHO much better than Harley-Dunlops.

[AllanB]

I ran the Routes on a 750 Kawasaki some years back - I liked them.

How do you find it in the dry? The fronts do tend to be slightly vague on some cruisers.

[scumdog]

I am in love with Conti milestones. Brillant in the wet, IMHO much better than Harley-Dunlops.

Snap.

Conti Tours when I could get them otherwise Milestones.

Last a long time but still seem to grip well.

But I loaf along, I don't hammer a bike on a wet road. (come to that I just plain don't hammer a bike along anyway!)

[awa355]

I ran the Routes on a 750 Kawasaki some years back - I liked them.

How do you find it in the dry? The fronts do tend to be slightly vague on some cruisers.

I really like the Pirelli cause its almost brand new ( prev owner paid for it). I like the tyres on the bike. Never had any worrys at all, except for loose seal chips. The front hasn't slipped yet even in the wet, just feels a bit vague on smooth wet seal.

The Dunlop 404 rear is the brand originally fitted when new.

In the dry, I'm quite pleased with how the 650 corners.

I had Conti Tourers on an XZ400 years ago and they got to 23,000k's, still had tread right across but found the tread was lifting off the case. They were a dual compound tyre, good in the wet.

[9rider]

I run the Metzler ME880 and find them great with good milage.

[The Lone Rider]

There is another thread that may be of some use

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/132642-Tread-for-the-cruiser

[doc]

Metlzers the best for me,never any moments in the wet must be like scummie :facepalm: long life up to 12k.Got a Pirelli Route for a change last time and they were gone at 4000km

[scumdog]

Metlzers the best for me,never any moments in the wet must be like scummie :facepalm:

You wear chaps and have a Viva Zappata mo??

Anyhoo, back on topic...

[Big Dave]

These days you can mostly mix or match without a negative result, but there are some tyres that still don't work well when put together. You might have found some.

Assuming all is good mechanically with the bike, I'd try matching them first - or installing a matched set.

Avon also make good cruiser tyres.

[Jerry74]

Go for the Metzeler ME880 Marathons they are an excellent tyre and very affordable I have run Dunlop 402's, Pirelli and find the Metzeler are the most grippy, wet handling and responsive of them all.
Makes my softail feel like its on rails.

[bernardf]

I have used ME880's and found them good wet or dry and am now using the new Pirelli Night Dragon and so far they are good too , i use my bike all year round so need good tyres

[awa355]

I have used ME880's and found them good wet or dry and am now using the new Pirelli Night Dragon and so far they are good too , i use my bike all year round so need good tyres

Are the ME880's radials? My bike has spoked rims, not sure if that means, I need to stick to tubed tyres.

A dealer told me that one line of Meltzers were radials and for a cruiser wouldn't add anything to its handling. He is recommending the Pirelli to compliment the front. ( Pirelli). The front has a long way to go before replacing.

[nallac]

i put new Pirelli Route tyres on my Sporty a few years back, worst tyres i have ever used....took em off within 1000k's and replaced them with ME880's. soooooo much better and definately worth the price difference.

[awa355]

A local shop has got a ME88 in stock to fit my rear tyre. It would mean a radial on the back and a Pirelli xply on the front.

Legal? He reckons, several cruisers have had a mix without any handling problems. Definatly not for sportsbikes tho.

Any opinions?

[nallac]

I'd try and get the matching pair of 880's if you can.
It would be worth it........

[Gone Burger]

I'd try and get the matching pair of 880's if you can.
It would be worth it........

I'd agree on that. I had odd ones of the M50, and as soon as I matched the back with the front to both be 880's she instantly felt goooood!

[The Lone Rider]

Never had problems with mixed tires.

If there is any problems apparent, it most likely is from one tire being better than the other for the bike and conditions, assuming both tires still conform to the profile and sizes they are suppose to have.

[ellipsis]

I run the Metzler ME880 and find them great with good milage.

...+1...sorted a lot of my tyre problems..

[Pumbaa]

i have tryed mixed tyres on my vtx what a bloody nightmare that was when i got it had dunlop on the frount and a perali on the rear shit it was all over the place changed the rear to dunlop it was better now have a matched set of ME880s on it am about 6000ks into these and OMG what a dream to ride well worth the extra money to

[popelli]

tried perallis once had loads of punctures P = Peralli = Punture

tried dunlops once they let go in the wet and I slid in front of a truck missing it by inches

for obvious reasons will never use either of the above ever again

tried loads of others but always end up coming to avons, they grip reasonably well and last reasonably well

[eldog]

Comparing Michelin Commander II vs Metzler ME 888 vs Pirelli Night Dragons vs Avon ?

for in the cold wet riding conditions........

does it matter if it's a midsize or large HD type cruiser?

Has technology changed since this thread was started?