Harley-Davidson motorcycles are designed for enthusiasts. You can achieve the best bike and riding experience with genuine Harley-Davidson parts, accessories, and apparel. However, like any vehicle, tires need to be replaced regularly. Several factors to consider when buying replacement tires for your Harley, including fitment, tread design, ride characteristics, durability, grip, and wet weather performance, but the bottom line is to pick a tire that meets your riding needs.
Considering all, here is our list of the best Harley tires-
Best for Harley Touring (Rear) – Dunlop D402 or American Elite
Best for Harley Touring (Front) – Michelin II or Dunlop D402 or American Elite
Best Tire & Wheel for Baggers – Mototeks Fat Spoke
Best Budget Touring –Metzeler ME888
Best for Sportster – Dunlop D402 or American Elite
Best for Softail – Dunlop D402 or MU85B-16 or Michelin
Best for Dyna – Dunlop MH90-21 or Dunlop MT90B-16
Best for Street Glide – Michelin Commander
Best for Ultra Classic – Pirelli GT or Dunlop D402 or Shinko 777
Best for Road King – Dunlop D402
Best for Electra Glide – Michelin Commander II
Best White Wall – Dunlop D402
Best for Harley CVO – Dunlop D402 or Metzeler
Best for V-Rod – Bridgestone Exedra
Best Radial Tire for Harley – Dunlop American Elite All Season
What Tires Harley Davidson Use
Although Dunlop is their official partner for manufacturing compatible tires, several brands produce tires for Harley Davidson. The brands include:
- Dunlop
- Michelin
- Avon
- Continental
- Shinko
- Pirelli
- Heidenau
- Kenda
- Mitas, etc.
Best Harley Tires – Top Product Table (All Models)
Table could not be displayed.
Signal of Bad Harley Tire – When to Replace
The following are signals of a bad Harley tire that requires a replacement:
- Visible damage to the tire, such as cracks or cuts.
- When the tire does not hold air for extended periods.
- Front and back tire wear at different speeds.
- Protruding cords through the rubber surface.
- The change of your motorcycle’s handling when you apply your brakes
- Bulges on the sidewall that have increased over a short period.
- Rusting of rims due to deteriorating steel quality.
- When you have to keep pumping air into your tire even after you inflate it properly.
- When there are bubbles in the rubber surface.
- Cracks appear across multiple parts of the tire’s surface.
Harley Davidson Tire Fitment Guide
This guide is to help you use the correct fitment tools to fit your Harley Davidson tire on your motorcycle:
- Find out what model of HD motorcycle you have.
- Find the size of your current tires.
- Look through the tire fitment table to find the closest match from the width, aspect ratio, and rim diameter.
Example:
(Harley Davidson) 1000 Low Rider – Front Tire – 130/80R16 64H
(Harley Davidson) 1000 Low Rider – Rear Tire – 150/80R16 66H
Main Reason Why Harley Tires are Expensive
There is one main reason in particular that causes the price of these specific motorcycle tires to increase so exponentially – quality. Harley tires are not only high quality in the materials used to make them, but they also have a unique design and construction. Harley Davidson claims that their tires help riders get more out of each ride due to these specific qualities. The tread pattern is designed so that you can enjoy riding both on the highway and the streets without sacrificing performance.
Key Features of a Quality Tire for Harley
Size of the tire: The size of the tire is important because it will determine whether it fits your Harley and how well your bike handles, and ultimately, how safe you are when riding, especially at high speeds.
Compound: The compound of the tire also determines its grip on the road surface and how long it will last.
Puncture Resistance: The puncture resistance is significant because if the tire gets punctured, you will have to change it, which can be inconvenient.
Construction: The tire’s construction is also significant because it determines how well it fits on the rim and whether its curves are smooth or not.
Price: The price is determined from factors such as brand, size, and quality. Good tires will have a high price tag attached to them due to their durability.
What PSI Should Harley Tires Be?
Why do we care what PSI Harley tires should be? It is vital to maintain proper tire pressure on your motorcycle because it can affect the handling and life of your tires. Harley Davidson should have a 36psi for the front tire and a 40psi for the rear tire.
Dunlop or Michelin – Which is Better for H-D?
Many riders believe that the Dunlop is the go-to tire for Harley. However, some people are quick to suggest that you try a different brand altogether, such as Michelin.
The Dunlop D401 is a great tire. It has been considered the standard for Harley-Davidsons ever since it was introduced in 1958. Known as one of the first bias-ply tires intended for motorcycles, it was a big step forward in tire technology and continues to be one of the best-selling tires for the brand.
Riders looking for an all-purpose tire will find that the Dunlop D401 fulfills their needs, especially on the road. The tread pattern and its nylon casing make it a quiet tire, which is essential for those who prefer to ride at slower speeds and not disturb people around them.
Does Harley Produce Tires Itself?
A closer look at Harley-Davidson’s manufacturing process shows that they may not be producing their tires. This would be an especially troubling discovery for the consumer because tires are critical for maintaining quality control. Harley-Davidson claims that they maintain quality control over their products.
Harley Tire Installation – Tools, Steps, Mistakes, Solutions
Step 1: Dismount the tire’s rubber from the rim of the wheel.
Step 2: Remove and grease both O-rings to be placed in the wheel.
Step 3: Place one of the O-rings into its channel on each side of the rim.
Step 4: Now, you’ll need to carefully place the new tire over the O-rings and onto the wheel without pinching or damaging them.
Step 5: If you’ve done it correctly at this point, you will have a smooth twisting motion while rotating the tire to make sure there are no obstructions. This is also when you’ll want to check by hand if any sharp edges could potentially damage the O-rings as you spin the tire.
Step 6: Once your new tire is spinning free with no obstruction, lower it down onto the wheel, making sure it is seated evenly.
Step 7: Mount your wheel back onto the bike by following your manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 8: Once you have remounted the tire, inflate your new tire to its recommended pressure.
Step 9: Remove the wheel chock or whatever you used to keep the new tire stationary while mounting it.
How Do You Inflate Harley Tires?
A motorcycle tire has two valves, one in the front and one in the back. Using the right air pump, attach the hose to one of your tire valves and inflate it until you get to your desired pressure. To determine how much air, you should pump into your Harley tire, read the tire’s sidewall for its maximum pressure rating. It’s usually a pound or two higher than what you should put into your tire.
Harley Tire – Tubes or Tubeless
Tubeless tires have become more common recently, but they’re still not as widely used or accepted as tube-type tires. Harley motorcycles are available in either a tube-type tire or a tubeless tire. Most Harley’s motorcycles are equipped with tires requiring tubes, whereas the touring class of Harleys typically comes with non-tube-type tires.
What’s the Least Expensive Brand for H-D Tire?
When it comes to H-D tires, riders should be aware of their rates and reviews. Moreover, prices may vary according to sellers.
Shinko is the cheapest brand for H-D tires. It is a value brand offering quality products at competitive prices without compromising safety as its reference claim. The models sold under this brand are not only cheaper than H-D models but famous as well.
Narrow or Wide Tires – What Harley Needs?
Harley Davidson motorcycles are heavy and wide compared to other types of motorcycles. It is essential to choose the tires that can ”claw” into a surface to maintain stability during various circumstances; thus, a wide tire gives a better grip.
Concluding Remarks
Tire safety is of utmost importance. Ensure that you get the right replacement tires for your Harley Davidson and have the correct tire pressure settings. Tire replacement and installation also depend on which Harley Davidson model you have. Tire replacement is a great way to upgrade your Harley Davidson, as long as you know the right tires for each model.
Last update on 2022-06-20 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Leave a Reply