I know tires and tire choices are largely a matter of personal preference (if this thread is posted in the wrong place, admin please move). But it's also a matter of personal experience. Here's my most recent:
My FJR ate a rear Dunlop D220 in under 3,000 miles. The front also has a flat strip down the middle.
The rear appeared to be wearing pretty fast, but I had no idea just how fast. When I left my house Friday morning, I estimated the tire still had 1,000 or 1,500 miles left in it (we were planning 850 miles). 500 miles out on the three-day tour and the metal belts were showing through the middle! And there was still tread left! This tire gave absolutely no warning it was about to go tits up. I noticed the trouble Saturday night, after all the local shops were closed. I limped it 60 miles south on Sunday morning (solo, since I had my wife ride pillion on my son's GSX R750, rather than on this dangerous cripple) to get a new tire at a Harley shop that was open - a Pirelli at $202, plus $40 mount and balance. That allowed me to finish the last 120 miles home without my nerves jangling constantly.
For the record, I am fairly obsessive about maintaining proper tire pressure and never do burnouts, though I do use all the available power occasionally. I keep the rear at 40-42 lbs. and never run it high or low. Most of these miles were done in cool weather - Oct. and April in AZ, May and June in Montana. All but 1,000 miles were two-up with bags loaded.
Also for the record, I've never gotten more than 5,500 miles from a rear tire, and that was the OEM Battleax. Michelin PRs have been poor, the Avon Storms a little better but with excellent handling characteristics.
Needless to say, I will not purchase Dunlop again. I had a similar experience with them a few years ago. I consider this tire highly deficient, even dangerous and beyond that, a very poor value. Back to the Avons for me.
Big Sky
My FJR ate a rear Dunlop D220 in under 3,000 miles. The front also has a flat strip down the middle.
The rear appeared to be wearing pretty fast, but I had no idea just how fast. When I left my house Friday morning, I estimated the tire still had 1,000 or 1,500 miles left in it (we were planning 850 miles). 500 miles out on the three-day tour and the metal belts were showing through the middle! And there was still tread left! This tire gave absolutely no warning it was about to go tits up. I noticed the trouble Saturday night, after all the local shops were closed. I limped it 60 miles south on Sunday morning (solo, since I had my wife ride pillion on my son's GSX R750, rather than on this dangerous cripple) to get a new tire at a Harley shop that was open - a Pirelli at $202, plus $40 mount and balance. That allowed me to finish the last 120 miles home without my nerves jangling constantly.
For the record, I am fairly obsessive about maintaining proper tire pressure and never do burnouts, though I do use all the available power occasionally. I keep the rear at 40-42 lbs. and never run it high or low. Most of these miles were done in cool weather - Oct. and April in AZ, May and June in Montana. All but 1,000 miles were two-up with bags loaded.
Also for the record, I've never gotten more than 5,500 miles from a rear tire, and that was the OEM Battleax. Michelin PRs have been poor, the Avon Storms a little better but with excellent handling characteristics.
Needless to say, I will not purchase Dunlop again. I had a similar experience with them a few years ago. I consider this tire highly deficient, even dangerous and beyond that, a very poor value. Back to the Avons for me.
Big Sky
