| Author | Message | ||
     Timbo |
Originally I wanted to stick with the factory recommended tires. The special Dunlop 207's from the dealership. Then I started hearing good things about the 208's and also the Pirrelli's. After pricing the various tires I decided to go with the Dunlop 208's. Today was my first chance to put them through their paces. I'm happy with their performance and to be honest I can not feel a difference from the special 207's. I took it easy at first to scrub them in, but before long I was pitching it over as far as I dared on public highways. Accelerating, cornering and braking all felt solid. Tomorrow I will be doing a few hundred more miles, and will know even better how I like them, but for now the only other concern is how long will they last. Timbo | ||
| Prof_stack |
Timbo, how many miles did you get on the stock rear 207? My 207 rear, at 3,800 miles, looks to be good until maybe 5,000 miles. Maybe more if I just do corners! ![:]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) | ||
| Timbo |
I got a little over 4,000 miles out of the stock rear. My front would have lasted till 5,000 maybe more, but I opted to change them both at the same time since I wasn't going with 207's. Timbo | ||
| Ckj |
Time to purchase a new rear - thinking of going to a D208 190/50ZR17 or D220 190/60/17. What do you think of the 190 | ||
| Noface |
I got about 3.8k out of the original 207's. I tried a pair of D220's after that. I can not recommend them for a Firebolt if you ride hard. I could slide them rather easily. I've now got Michelin Pilot Sports on the 'Bolt, and I love them. To me they feel a lot better in the corners than the Dunlop factory 207's, and longevity seems about the same. I've never done any burnouts, but countless wheelies. I'd like to know how anyone gets more than 4k out of these sticky tires on a Firebolt. This thing is breaking my bank account buying tires. As far as a 190, I don't know. Looks like it would be a tight fit, but possible. I haven't read or seen anyone do it yet. Why don't you be the guinea pig?  I don't think it will offer any more performance, but I suppose it might look more aggressive. Jody S. | ||
| Chainsaw |
Timbo: I currently have 3700 on my rear 208, looks like it can go maybe a little over 5k. The original 207 barely lasted 5k. Front 207 went 7.5k, current 208 front only has 1k on it. Can't complain about traction, just mileage. They are reasonably priced at a local cycle shop here in Denver, $104 rear, $75 front. (not including mounting). Local HD dealers wanted around $180 for a rear D207U (stock XB rear tire) The Avons I have on my Sportster (Venom-X Front and Roadranger Rear) have at least double the life of the original Dunlops. I'm gonna give Avon a shot on the XB when the 208's are done. | ||
| Ckj |
Side note -- local Harley/Buell dealership wants 1.5 hours to change rear tire. Seems excessive and expensive to me. How difficult is it to do yourself and what do I need to look out for. Looks like if I run a 190 I will have to file near the belt guard? Any advice. Keith where are you I need your help? | ||
| Dblhaulxb9s |
Hey guys, Its Morgan from Colorado. I only got 1900 miles out of my OEM 207's (no wheelies or burnouts Honest) and that was with the belt showing. So I have been running the D220's ever since and I love them. I don't have any chicken strips on my tires, I ride pretty darn hard (draging toes)and I have never had a problem. I would drag a knee but i don't have sliders yet. I only get about 3000 miles out of a rear with the D220's so it isn't great but it is better. I don't know how you get any more that that, I ride the things until they are slick too. I am not bragging, just telling the truth I promise. Morgan PS, I mount and balance my own tires and I don't think it is a big deal at all. I bought some tools from www.tireqwik.com and I love them. I also got some good info from http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing-doc.html Good luck, I like changing mine, and I definitely save money. | ||
| Bigbird |
1.5 hrs is too much. 1 hour is reasonable. As for tire life, I ate through the stock 207 in 1400 miles and never did even one burn out. It hit the wear indicators so fast I got pissed off and decided to run it until the cords were showing. That happened at 2200 miles. The replacement 207 made it until 5600 miles, probably because I had some extensive highway travel in there. Recently I just replaced the front and rear tires with Pilot Sports, and couldn't be happier with them. The stock Dunlops are JUNK! | ||
| Timbo |
I have heard good reports about the Pilot Sports too, and was considering them as well as the Perelli Super Corsica's. Chainsaw, prices from my local indie shop are just a few dollars more than what you paid and they mount and balance for free if you buy from them. I pull the wheels myself and just take them in. I also thought the prices on the stock 207's were too excessive, especially considering how often they need replacing. One more thing guys, be really careful how far down you let the stock 207's go. Ask to see the tire after it's been pulled. I was shocked to feel how thin the tire was, it literally felt like a bicycle tire...scary thin. Timbo | ||
| Freyke |
I only got 2400Mi on my first 207 rear... The wear bars are showing now on my 2nd 207 rear.. I have 4200Mi on the bike... I'd be happy as hell to get 4000mi out of a rear... To think I was bitchin when I "only" got 6700mi outta the stock 205s on my old S3.... The last 207 I had installed ran me $178.00 USD including parts and labor (Southside HD/Buell, VA BCH).... Good deal all things considered.... Here is what the first tire caper looked like first new rear... | ||
| Bud |
btw, A dunlop d207 180 = measures almost 190 mm wide The 208 180 = 180 wide ( it’s rounder ) Just my 2 cents Gr,m Very happy with my D208 rear, it wears a lot better (it’s rounder a longer time ) The 207 was getting flat edges, Could be that I have learned to ride it better  | ||
| Freyke |
I just talked to my dealer; and to put on tires from a third party vendor (Discount Motorcycle tires lets say) they would charge 3 hours labor (roughly $213.00) Plus the cost of the tires (Michelin Pilot Sports = $239.00 (not including shipping). This comes to a grand total of $452.00... However, if I buy the tires through them as a special order, the total cost of mounting is included in the tire price.. They quoted me $320.00 for the set of Michilen Pilot Sports mounted and balanced (plus the cost of the balance wheights).... I think I'm going to order through the dealer (Southside HD/BUell)... The Stock 207 just go away too quick... kk//kef kk//kef | ||
| Darthane |
$452!! Jesus...my D208s cost well under $300 (tires and mounting), and that included shipping! | ||
| Bud |
 got my 208 for €190,- ( gave the tech. €10,- tip ) thanks again Jilles ( redstripe ) and jilles, give a call if you need car tires. happy to redo a favor. gr,martin | ||
| S1joel |
I got my set of 208's for $211 shipped and mounted at a local accessory shop for $60. I love them. Anyone know the difference between the GP's and the ZR's? I've got the GP's. Joel | ||
| Freyke |
S1joel, The VR is the sustained speed rating... in other words you can do 149MPH on a ZR (Z-149Mph, R= Radial design).... Not sure what the GP is... never heard of that.... learn more here ( tire ratings.... kk//kef | ||
| Darthane |
I think the only difference is that the tread pattern on the GPs is spaced farther and therefore it gives up some wet weather grip in favor of laying more rubber down at any given moment. | ||
| Timbo |
We are seeing a wide variance in the amount of miles people have gotten out of their original stock tires. Some of this is due to riding style, but I'm wondering if surface conditions are not playing a big part in the equation as well. Concrete, asphalt, new surfaces, old surfaces, heck I wouldn't be surprised if someone here rides on cobblestones some of the time. I would be willing to bet this has as much to do with tire longevity as riding style does, if not more so. Timbo | ||
| S1joel |
Road surfaces have to play a part in the lifespan of the tire. They play a huge part in how the police calculate the speed of a vehicle prior to impact. Using a drag sled (Chuck of I-Beam with tire tread fixed to one side)with a scale attached the officers can figure the "drag co-efficient" of the road surface. The tires of a motorcycle must act in a similar fashion. It seems to me that if a road surface has a higher drag co-effecient it must tear at the rubber more. I would think that a concrete surface would wear a tire faster than asphalt. Any road engineers out there? As for cobblestones, they are really interesting when you make a quick right onto a street that you forgot was paved 200 years ago. Probably harder on the suspension than the tires, seeing as how they are perfectly smooth and slick as ice in the rain. | ||
| Chainsaw |
I do a lot of colder weather riding. Anything above 20 and I'm on a bike. I wonder if that might have something to do with getting more miles out of tires? | ||
| Bud |
joel, the 208 gp is the race tire ( Grand Prix ) softer than the 208 zr, more fun, less miles gr,b | ||
| Darthane |
I got 7800 miles out of my stock tires. Got about 3500 out of the D208s. The roads here SUCK. In every way imaginable. | ||
| Xb9rski |
I got 6823 out of my rear tire, before the cord was showing, front tire is still looking good at 8000+, Put a dunlop 205 180/55/17 as a replacement, Let ya know what I get out of it. The 220 is the replacement for the 205, FYI | ||
| Freyke |
How much do you high milage guys weigh?... I'm 220... and can only manage 2500Mi outta these 207s... What gives? | ||
| Geofg |
I got 5000 out of my first rear tire, and just swapped out the front at the 7500 service. When I picked up my XB9 I weighed round about 220, but am now weighing in around 190. All in the hunt for more HP, eh? -Geof | ||
| Darthane |
LOL...Freyke, I figure with all my riding gear on, including full leathers, I might (MIGHT) hit 150lbs. Bryan | ||
| Freyke |
Darthane.... This might splain the 7800 mi caper... anymore flyweights getting decent milage from the 207s? kk//kef | ||
| Captainplanet |
I have about 5000 miles on mine. The rear looks like it will go another 3000. A lot of my riding is commuting though. I am about 155lbs. | ||
| Chainsaw |
180 in full gear. |
