Tires & Rain - Harley Forum

RL06FLHT · #1 08-18-2008, 08:20 AM

Time for new stock size tires for my touring bike. I am interested in a tire that performs well in the rain. I was thinking Metzeler. My buddie say's Avon. Any ideas or opinions would be appriciated. Thanks

frisco-rigid · #2 08-18-2008, 02:34 PM

Hi RL

Kinda depends on what you mean by Handles in the Rain..

Do you plan on high-speed turns in the hills in a monsoon and hail or simply around town.?

In over 32 years I've run many models of diff brands of tires in monsoon rains and hail in the hills and never felt any safer with one or the other.. Of course I never used an off-brand China or cheap tire,, always Conti or Avon or Metz or in the old days, Goodyear..

My fav is Avon Vemon AM 42 rear but the AM 41 front is the worst front I've used..
Second fav are Metz 880..
And I prefer H-Rated..

I bet 4cams with his hill running in N AZ Monsoons has a good recommend..

Have a ball daddy..

RL06FLHT · #3 08-19-2008, 08:16 PM

Good Evening Frisco,

Been rainin' a lot in New England lately. No high speed turns, just lookin' to get home in one piece. After getting loose a couple of times I'm thinking there must be something better than stock. Also any reason why you should keep the same manufacturer on front & rear. The reason I ask is because you like the Avon in the rear & not the front.

Thanks,

frisco-rigid · #4 08-19-2008, 09:16 PM

Hi RL

Riding in rain must be done careful.. BUT, I'm surprised you've broken loose..
I get caught in Monsoon rain waay too often and I gotta try to break-it loose other-wise I stay stuck very well with my H-rated tires..

It is just that model of Avon front I don't like--- Venom AM41 front..

It is my experience that there is no reason to hesitate using diff tire models of the same brand or even diff tire brands on the same sickle..

In waaay over 300,000 miles I have only had the same brand front and back maybe half the time..
I have never seen or felt ANY diff in handling or mileage while using two diff brands..
I've ridden the AM 42 many many miles in rain but I'm not sure if the Vemon AM 42 would be a good choice for you in rain,, cuz it doesn't have a conventional tread design.. The Avon RoadRunners AM 20 and 21 have a good "normal" tread as does the Metz 880's..
Others here may have something to offer..

Br careful and have a ball

JCourneyaP · #5 08-20-2008, 12:44 AM

I wasnt real thrilled with my Avon Venoms when I first put em on last year. I played with the tire pressure and now feel pretty comfortable running them.

I was stuck in one of those monsoons coming into work tonight. No problems. Just had to be careful in the standing water. Was not afraid to scream down the highway at normal speeds in the down pour. I only had to slow down cuz I could not see. Yup..5 hours later and my pants are still wet.

I also had no issues with my stock Dunlops in the rain.

texan321 · #6 09-09-2008, 03:15 PM

I am thinking about going to the Michelin Commanders - have several of the guys here that have gone to them because of the rain - they like them better than Dunlop's and Metzlers - so I am probably going to change over both tires at the same time.....you have to have good tires - good brakes and and a good battery - I don't run tires with plugs - I change my pads before they are needed and I change batteries every 4 years.....always better safe than sorry....

Superhd · #7 09-18-2008, 06:14 PM

Hey guys, I just got a used bagger, 1997 Electra glide classic. It needs tires badly, saw in American Iron they reviewed the Prenelli Dragons, I am thinking of getting both front and back. What size can I put on with out hitting something?
I have been ridin a 1973 Shovel, with Dunlaps.
Thanks for the help.
Jim

EZE RIDER · #8 09-18-2008, 08:40 PM

Alot of opinions on tires. None of them wrong for the rider who reports them. Here's mine, I love the Metz 880's, far superior to the stock Dunlops for tracking straight and not getting sucked into ruts and gratings. The wet traction is outstanding as well. Now I havent tried too many other brands but the Metz gets a big thumbs up from me.

StreetGlidinDan · #9 01-27-2009, 02:42 AM

Bumping this cause I have the same problem as RL06. My back tire always seems to break loose in the rain. Changed from the Dunlops to Metz when they wore out but still the same thing. Twice today I started to lean into turns only to have the back tire start to slip. Finally gave up and made my turns at slow miles per hour almost erect. Am I just being too agressive on the bike or is there a really good rain tire out there somewhere and I just haven't found it yet?
(This is my first big bike '07 SG, had two Sporty's before and don't remember having this much trouble.)

Fenderplayer · #10 01-27-2009, 08:56 AM

Last spring in the rain the bike slid out from under me and into an intersection. Stock Dunlops. I don't know why, but the tread pattern looks like it pushes all the water to the center of the tire. Many of the tires do that...