Harley Dunlop American Elite vs. Michelin Commander II Tires-Which is Best?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- In this video, I compare the stock OEM Harley Dunlop American Elite tires to the Michelin Commander II. Which tire is best? Well, that is dependant on what you are looking for. See comparison video below!
Harley-Davidson motorcycles have different weight and torque characteristics than most other bikes on the market. Dunlop has been working with Harley for years to develop great tires that work very well on Harley's. The Dunlop American Elite tire is built to wear more evenly over time, ride quietly, and work on many different surface conditions. Dunlop is the only motorcycle tire for Harley-Davidson that is designed in America, made in America, and tested in America.
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The dual-compound construction of the Dunlop American Elite uses a high-wearing, long-lasting compound in the center of the tire to maximize life and a softer, more grippy compound on the sides for excellent handling. Dunlop says that the American Elite handles as well in wet weather conditions as the Michelin Commander II handles in dry conditions. Dunlop stands behind their own in-house tests done at their expansive Huntsville, Al proving grounds that demonstrates this impressive wet-weather performance.
More recently, Michelin has started to get into the Harley OEM tire game under their "Scorcher" product line. Our 2016 Dyna Low Rider S here at Law Abiding Biker Media came stock with Scorcher tires.
The Michelin Commander II tire for Harley has a lighter, stronger carcass made with modern materials called Aramid, a generic name for Kevlar, fibers which are super lightweight, but even stronger than steel. Michelin says the stylish tread pattern of the Commander II tire for Harley not only looks high-performance, but it's long grooves evacuate water quickly for excellent wet weather performance. The carcass of the Michelin Commander II is built with Silica Rain Technology (SRT) which integrates silica into the compound of the tire tread for superior traction in wet weather conditions.
Michelin conducted three years of customer-focused research at shows, events, and with focus groups. Michelin is proud to say that the Commander II is the first tire they've ever designed that was 100% directed by customer feedback. Michelin says that their tests have shown the Commander II is capable of nearly twice the distance covered by its direct competitors.
My experience and opinion:
The Dunlop is known for it awesome performance while the Michelin is known for getting more miles before replacement. The Dunlop American Elite tire is really good in all conditions, but you'll get fewer miles out of it. The Michelin Commander II is a great tire if you just want to lay down a lot of miles and aren't necessarily an aggressive rider.
I am a full-time LE Motor Officer who rides a Harley on duty daily and I also rides tons of miles off-duty on my personal Harley. I can tell you that I personally stick with the Dunlop American Elite. I ride aggressively in many different environments and surface conditions. I train and ride at higher speeds and lower speeds and train often. The Dunlop is an all around great tire for confident more aggressive riders. I have qualified on our police motorcycle qualification courses in the rain and the Dunlop American Elite grips strong and is truly amazing. I have much trust in the Dunlop tire. I'm okay giving up some miles out of a tire for excellent performance.
The Michelin Commander II tire for Harley is a great tire for those that may not want to ride so aggressive and for a rider that wants to just lay down the miles and tour. In the rain and while riding the way most average riders do, the Commander II will be a great tire. The best part is that you will likely get more miles out of the Commander II than the Dunlop American Elite. Generally speaking, the Commander II is known for going longer before needing to be replaced.
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A few years ago I spoke to a Dunlop Factory Rep at the Chicago Cycle Show about the American Elites. He told me that the American Elites that HD spec'd for their touring cycles are slightly different than the "after market" Dunlop American Elite tires.
He explained that HD gave their specs to Dunlop, but Dunlop thought they could "improve" on the tire beyond what HD had spec'd. However HD told them that they wanted exactly what they had spec'd, so that's what Dunlop did.
Undeterred, Dunlop went ahead and produced what they considered to be a "better version" of the same tire HD had requested and called it "The American Elite"...this tire DOES NOT HAVE the HD name or bar and shield logo, but better characteristics than HD originally spec'd.
This is what I was told by the Dunlop Rep. so I'm taking his word for its truthfulness.
(When it came to replacing my stock Dunlop D404's on my 2015 Ultra Limited I chose the Dunlop American Elites (w/o the HD logos) and I'm VERY pleased)
I would much rather have a tire that is high performance and wares faster,safety first! And thanks again Ryan for your service!
I had found your video as I was searching for great wet weather tires for my 2017 Indian Chieftain Limited.
The Dunlop American Elite tires had came factory on my bike. It currently has over 13,000 miles on it. I can easily go another year on this set of tires. The Front tire is the Dunlop American Elite. The Rear tire is the Dunlop Elite 3 Multi-Compound. I was looking online to see if there was anything out there that is better. Your video is very helpful for that.
Thanks, Ryan.
Love Commanders so much I chose my last bike over the others because they were already installed on it! I'm too much in love to take a chance on the Dunlops.
Thank you for your service. I have a 2017 Fat bob and I'm on my 2nd set of tires which are Commander 2's and in a straight line their fine and have worn well, but they do not inspire confidence in the corners and I drive more aggressively than most, so I will be swapping them out for the Dunlop American Elites. I had a Yamaha FJ-09 and loved the dunlop's on that bike.
I think I’ll be buying the Dunlap Elite 4 for my 21 Sport Glide. Didn’t care for the stock Michelin scorchers the rear tire is shot at 6,000 miles.
Just recently bought a 2011 Heritage with the Dunlop American Elite tires on it. Every Dunlop I've used I had BAD experience with. I was mildly surprised with the Dunlops' performance on the Heritage. Relatively stable on the freeway, with just the barest hint of wander in the the ruts, and adequate traction in the corners. But what blew me away was the wet weather performance! I was very pleasantly surprised in that area. I still had trouble trusting these Dunlops after underwhelming performance in all categories with the sets I've used before. Until i saw this comparison. I would love to see some hard data in performance characteristics, but if a Motorcycle Cop says THIS is the only tire he would trust to keep him planted on the road and safe in the maneuvers he needs to do i believe it. Thanks for the comparison, and for helping me trust my rubber more.
Just seen your TH-cam Videos for the first time today while researching tires and just would like to say Thank You Ryan
As an aggressive rider and doing it for over 45 years I've never riddin' with more confidence than with the American Elite. Ran Bear Tooth Pass a couple times and was more concerned about my Street Glide brakes. I recommend these tires for anyone who does'nt care to be riding in straight lines.
Usually get 8 to 11k out of Dunlop D402 tires on my EG. My bro got 15k+ out of Commander II so I bought a set. Meh.. Commander II at 5 or 6k wore weird for me. Feel rough leaning due to scalloped side tread. Dunlop for me. got 10k on them now with some meat left but they make riding less fun. Excellent non biased video as usual.
Thanks for the breakdown. I've always gone with Dunlop OEM for my 2013 FLHTK. I've just turned 64000 trouble free miles with 3 change outs....i think. Most of my miles are DC and Virginia/Maryland beltway and highway driving. figured if they were good enough to be sold stock, they were good enough to replace when it was time.
Hello. As a guy who has ridden Both Dunlop and Michelin tires, I think they're both good. Granted, I used a different series on each. 2010 Yamaha Majesty Stock was Dunlop. Rain, Sand on the road, Never had a problem. Even with the Metal Grate Bridges. No Wandering. Last just shy of 15k Miles. Traded for a 2015 HD Street 750. Stock was a Michelin Scorcher. Never had any issues. Traded with 13K, Tires were down to about 4/32". Now I am running a Sportster 1200 Custom. With Michelin Scorcher. Only issue I have is on Wet Roads. And probably due to the extra power, And no weight in the rear. Wanted to fishtail from a standstill.
I have a 2017 RGS. I changed my first set of Dunlops at 22,700 miles. Could have ridden another 2000 on the front but I was heading on a 1500 mile round trip! Very pleased with Dunlops so I put em on again!
Wow!Now that's impressive.I am changing for the first time.It's the rear tire.It only has 8,100 miles.It looks like it has run it's course.My front has life but 22,000.God dam!
Love my Pirelli Night Dragons! Best wet weather tire I have used. I'm willing to trade the lower mileage for the grippy tire!
Me too
Great video! Just put a set of American Elites on my 01 1200 Sportster & LOVE the traction & responsiveness in the twisties.
In 80,000+ miles on my 2005 Sportster I have used many different tires. The last two sets were Metzler 880's and 888's respectively. The Metzler's provided decent performance but wore out prematurely and I was looking for something better. I went with the Dunlop American Elite's (the after market non oem) version. I am VERY pleased with these tires. I currently have about 5000 miles on them and they still look like new. The performance is great and although we don't get much rain in Arizona the traction on wet roads is great. I hope they keep making this tire because for my money they are the best tire available for the Sportster and I definitely recommend them and will buy them again. Thanks for the review.
Interesting feedback. I have a 2008 sportster and with such a stock tire shortage currently was considering the AE as they are more readily avail. Was concerned the AE was targeted for heavier baggers. Nay more feedback since your post 1 year ago? thx
Thank you for helping me make my decision on what tire I want to put on my 2016 road glide special I will be putting on the Dunlop American elite if its good enough for law enforcement its definitely good enough for me
Just bought the Dunlop Dual Comp AE's , put about 300 miles on them . I'm very impressed all around . "Wayyy better performance on my Indian scout . Best tires I've ever used .
Dave From Spokane, WA
I'm in spokane. How are those tires treating u?
I'm about to snag 5th set of C IIs, ran them on my Fatboy and RoadStar for years with many trips to The Dragon and other similar twisty agressive rides. Sold the HD kept the metric with frt/rr upgrades, my favorite bombproof cruiser. For more aggressive rides I hop on the C14, see ya.
I have over 20k on the commander IIs on my ultra limited. They still look new. I ride in all weather but for the most part ride gentle and enjoy the music. Much more comfy rude than the Dunlop’s in my view
I had a 2 put in the front couple weeks ago and today I had a 3 put on today wow I can sure feel the difference screw elites my softail rides way better then the elites I had on there.
Thanks for the information. Sounds like I’m going Dunlap.
My 2019 road king came new with D407T's and they slide all over the place in wet weather and aren't very sticky in corners even when it's dry. The service guy at the dealership said about the same as you on the American Elites - They're swapping those crappy 407's now.
Ryan, what do you think of the Commander III’s versus the Dunlops for a CVO Street Glide?
For many years, I always replaced the OEM Dunlop tires on my touring H-D with OEM Dunlops. but with the introduction of the Dunlop American Elite tires for H-D over 10 years ago, I began replacing OEM Dunlop tires (the D407, etc.) with the Dunlop American Elites as the OEMs wore out. I feel they hold the road better, they DON'T sing leaning into the twisties and the mileage is better than the OEM Dunlops.
I have only run American Elites Love them. I am putting a new set this year You confirmed what I thought.
Hi Ryan and everyone. I am not advertising here, but for anyone that lives in San Diego, Biggs Harley Davidson in San Marcos beats everyone else with their pricing. If you find a better installed price, they will match it for you and Ryan, the difference they charge for the tires off is not worth the effort just IMO. They only charge about $30 total to unmount and remount the tires on the bike so personally, I think I will spend the $30 for that. For any skeptics out there, call them and you will see that they will match any installed price in the San Diego area.
Hey commander 3 out now they have addressed issue you have mentioned . Yes i agree dont skimp on tyres you show a good alternative to the dunlop elite .
In your opinion which is a better Tire the Dunlop American Elite for the stock Harley Tire for touring bikes
I have the Dunlop D429 on my 2023 Fat Bob 114. But I just got an Allen wrench that punctured my tire but the tire still inflated strong which is crazy.
I just put a new front tire 90/21 (American Elite) on my 05' Dyna Wide Glide, 2 days ago. I took a Dunlap D402 off at 17k miles. I hope this new (Elite) tire gives me more than 17k miles. I'll find out next year. I put the Dunlap D402 on the front last April - yes, I rode 17k miles so far this year. Looking at the rear tire I should get 20k on it. Based on your video I should of put Michelin on front and back.
I started riding in 1962, am on my 13th motorcycle with around 600k on 2 wheels.
Thanks again Ryan !! In my opinion Dunlop American Elite tires are the superior tire. The wet weather performance is phenomenal. I have rode in tropical storms from Key West,Fl. to Tennessee and never had a issue. They hook up very well even in 4 inches of rain an hour! Also the wear, i am a aggressive rider i do not baby my bike 115hp/120ft/lbs torque and i get 17,000 miles on my rear!! Front tire i usually 21-24,000 but they always cup before tread wear but that is from hard breaking and load transfer. Just check your air pressure regularly and the Dunlops are awesome!!!
Great video. Never ran Dunlap tires. New bike came with Avon's and needed to replace at 5k, been with the Commander II ever since. No regrets for budget and longevity.
I like Michelin Commander ll’s. I had elites on my softail and my fatboy, I was pleased with them until one day I went from 80% tread to 30% within 200 miles. When they let go, they do it quick. It’s like the compound breaks all the way down and it starts shedding tread at 8-10k miles rapidly. I’m on my second set of commanders, first set got 18k out of and I’m currently on set two with about 12k on them with 85% tread left. They do just fine in the rain and below average temps. One thing the elites had going for them though was the cornering was unmatchable. If only they lasted longer.
I'll take the word of a F/T motorcycle LEO any day when it comes to tire performance. America! Thanks.
MERICA!!!!!
I replaced the OEM Dunlaps on my ‘17 Ultra Limited with American Elites. After 6,000 miles they cupped, yes I kept after pressure, and I got front end wobble. I now have Michelin C2s. They are a bit more rough riding, and they are too new to really judge otherwise.
I love my Dunlop American elites I’ve just put my second set on after clocking up 30,000kms I’m very impressed with performance in all conditions and also very impressed with mileage I haven’t seen other tyres other than the commander 2 gain such good mileage but definitely sold on the American elites
I got 18,000 mikes out of my original Dunlap tires on my 2018 Street Glide Special. Replaced them with Commander II got 14,000 before the front tire started cupping. Tire pressure is key. Wa told after cupping Comnander II needed higher tire pressure. 40/42 vs 36/42.
have a 2018 FLTRU tried the Commander 2's last year on a cross country trip, from British Columbia Canada to Newfoundland Canada and hit all kinds of weather except snow thankfully. I checked cold air pressure every morning and ride more aggressive than most, I scrap the kickstand and like to push the corners. Anyway at the 12,000 km mark or so I noticed some handle bar vibration and cupping of the front tire, at the 17,000kms mark the rear tire was actually cupped more and i had to take them off as the vibration was just to much , also the were noticeably slipperier in wet weather. i went back to the Dunlop Elites which came on the bike ....saying that while at a dealer getting the Dunlop's on I email Michelin, they got back to me in an hour and after I told them the issue they actually paid for my Dunlop's, which blew me away....so I will try the Commander 3's next set and see what they are like. I get about 15,000kms on the rear and about 25-28,000kms on the front with the Dunlop's so not bad, they stick and I like that. So right now the Dunlop's are my pick.
have to say I went through the stock Dunlop rear tire in 10,000 miles and only put on one again as I wanted the same rubber on front and rear. Once I put on the Michelin Commander II tires front and rear the ride was better and you felt the road better in the turns and every place else. The Dunlop was a harder tire that did not give you as good a feel on the road and in the turns, I did not feel like it hugged the turns as good as the Michelin. My pick would go with the Michelin it is a better tire and outperforms the Dunlop's hands down!
mitcho399 it’s actually the opposite, Michelin is a harder rubber than the American elite. I’ve owned both ...
I had a similar experience with the stock Dunlop 401 and 402 tires and went to Comnander II and the handling was perfect. However on my second set of Commander II they are wearing fast and my rear tire with only about 7,000 miles is not stable on corners. I'm going to try the Dunlop Elite. If they don't work out I'll be back on Commander II :-)
Way Gone yes sounds like a plan 👍
I just put a set of Michelin Commander II on my bike and has already hit the ground. He knows what he is talking about. I did have a Dunlop on the front and a Shinko 777 rear. They both gripped the road in these mountains. I will have to adjust my riding for these Michelin tires. Also did the brakes and found air in the rear line which made it spongy and the new brakes are a whole new experience. So my laying it down may have been a combination of the difference in tires and no spongy rear brake.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the community.
Ride safe & Ride Often!
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I have a 2008 Ultra Classic. Would it be better to run the American Elite or the OEM called for D402? Don't really care about tire life, Just interested in the BEST tire for my Harley. I ride 2 up with my girlfriend and we travel long distance.
I like your comparison as you have your pro & con. To many, tire comparisons is like comparing brands of motorcycle oil.
Awesome. TY for the shout out
My Low Rider is due for new tires, and I was already considering the Michelins, but as the video states, the Dunlop has been tried and true. I think I'll try the Michelins, if only to compare them to the Dunlops, especially since I'm a much less aggressive rider now. Then on the following tire change I'll make a final choice and stick by that.
I have been getting 17,000 miles out of Dunlop's on my 99 Softail Custom, but I am not a hard rider. And they wear evenly for me. I like them.
Took the wheels off myself. I clocked 18K before swapping out both of my OEM dunlops. Albeit my front one could of went another season but decided to bite the bullet and replace both as my rear one was in the danger zone on the depth gauge. I went with the Michelin Commander II as I wanted to try them. I have a couple thousand miles on them now and I have to say they are nice. I typically just ride and put miles on with the occasional trip to the Dragons Tail. I like them, I think I can go with either way on the tires. Only sucktastic thing about it, is any bike shop I checked wanted 50.00 bucks a wheel to mount and balance. Harley Stealership and Cycle Gear to name a couple.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the community!
Ride safe & Ride Often!
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On my 2016 Road Glide Ultra, FLTRU, I got just over 19,000 miles on both front and back stock from the factory tires. I went back with the Dunlop HD tires to replace.
Ryan I agree with your assessment of the tires in question. I purchased Dunlop Elites from a Dunlop dealer, non Harley Dealership. I do not have the H D on the tire. The tread is different than the HD Dunlop. Visiting my HD dealership the service mgr. said there was a recall on some of the Elites???I thought since the name "Elite" was same they were the same tire. Just a heads up . I will be calling Dunlop to ask them.
Very good info here and definitely no BS! Thanks.... I've been riding motorcycles since I was a kid in the late 1960s and have been on Harley Dressers for a couple of decades, presently on a 2018 Limited. As you mentioned, I ride in all conditions, on a wide variety of roads, both solo and 2-up fully loaded. Of top importance to me is performance, especially if I'm riding in inclement weather, or on roads that sometimes aren't in the best condition, and let's not forget the dreaded Tar Snakes.... The original OEM tires (Dunlop D408 Front & D407 Rear) were okay; but I wasn't overly thrilled with them was they wore down, with the front tire starting to cup and I actually had the rear tire get a split in it dead center at the end of its' life - Something that has never happened on any tires I've used previously. For the record, I replaced both tires with Michelin Commander IIs (I previously had Michelins on my 2007 Ultra) at 19,864 miles, which was actually pushing it a bit farther than I had planned - I put on more miles on a road trip than I had thought I would. :-/ As for the Michelins, I have been VERY happy with them and they never left me wanting more or second guessing the decision to switch to them; BUT my front tire failed a tread inspection test at 14,039 miles - Honestly, it looked like it had plenty of tread on it, except for dead center, where the prime contact patch is when normally riding. I was actually going to replace it with another Michelin, since the back tire still had plenty of life on it; but trying to get one to put on the bike was another matter all together - Chock it up to COVID and supply issues. The parts guy at the Dealership I've been dealing with for years & trust suggested the Dunlop American Elite, which was in stock. When I picked up the bike I took some curvy back roads home and I will say that I was definitely impressed with the way the steering felt and the bike handled. I'm actually looking forward to getting more miles on the tire and seeing how it performs in the rain and on less than ideal roads. If it continues to impress me and perform, Dunlop American Elite will me my new tire of choice.
I would just like to wear out a pair of tires on my new 2017 Street Glide. around 8,000 miles and am on the third tire. Must be a nail magnet in the back rim! The Dunlop did perform well until they got holes in them. I have run the Michelins on My Heritage and was pleased with them. They did go a lot further than the Dunlops that came on the Heritage. Two weeks of rain in the mountains of western Canada and the Michelens were fine.
Thanks for sharing with the community.
Great video and gave me a lot of info. Now that the commander 3 is out do you know anything about it? If so is the performance better and how does it match up to the Dunlop. Thanks.
Where did you buy the dunlop elites . Everywhere i look, the front tire is over $200 back tire over $300 . Thanks Pete
The dreaded Harley wobble....my '08 had it bad on sweeping turns. Trusting the bikes Dunlops, I tried varying tire pressure and suspension settings/mods. It was still there until I switched and put the Commander II's on. The wobble was virtually eliminated.
I don't know why or how the Commander II made such a difference, but it did. True that the Dunlop was stickier, but I could not take advantage of that with the wobble. Maybe you all have some thoughts on the results.
Nickel Hansford check your neck bearings by doing the fall away test also the swing arm bearings. Just might need to be snugged up. Could be loose spokes if you have them or suspension. Have you changed the fork oil lately or ever. but it sure as hell is not tires. If it’s tires you’ll feel it when going straight at 100 mph plus.
Same experience for me change to Commander II's. And my bike no longer wobbles when going over a crack in the road.
Had Dunlop Elite 3's on my bike. I never felt like I could trust them, as they would slide around corners on dry roads (always check air pressure). In the end, I switched them out at 10,000 miles, to Avon Cobras. MUCH better grip and handling.
Cannot buy Elite 3 tires any longer. Even worst in rain. Replaced by Elite 4. Much improved. Not slippery & long life. Not as sticky as Cobras but much longer life. I've run multiple sets of both & had 2 new bikes come with Elite 3's (hated).
Thanks for the informative video. The LEOs have MAD SKILLS to ride those Baggers like they do!!! Thanks again
Thank you and much appreciate!
Ride safe & Ride Often!
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I have ran dunlap's for years the old Elite 2. Switched over to Michelin better mileage first patch of snow laid it down broke my ankle. I have rode up to 6in deep in snow and slush and up to 10500 feet on a Jeep Trail with my dunlap's never laid the bike down. I'm running the American Elite right now love them already have over 4,000 miles on the front tire still looks new. Just replaced the rear tire over 16,000 miles on the Michelin. I know I won't get the mileage out of the dunlap's but what I will get is safety and piece of mind I'll never go back to Michelin
What's the performance of each like at 50% wear? Every tire is great when new, but they're not new for long and you ride more often on a worn tire than a new tire.
Ive been through 3 Dunlop fronts and the treads have all raised, never over inflating. I would suggest it is the roads here in LA. Going for my 4th soon. The boppin around on the frwy aint that bad yet.
Front wheels on older bikes don't always have the valve stem on the RH side, and the brake rotor can be on either side. So, if you take just the wheel in for a new tire, make sure of the direction. Explaining for a friend! :) :) :)
I run pirelli night dragons on my dyna. They have more grip than the Dunlops but get less miles. Side note: best wet road tires I've come across.
Have a 2013 Ultra Classic. Bought the Michelin Commander 2's replaceing the factory Dunlops and at 10,000 miles, the rear tire is scalloped and the front tire showing signs of bumps and scalloping. Too bad since there is still a lot of tread left on both. Going back to the D408 Dunlops.
Thank you sir you have taught me alot and thank you for your service may God bless and keep you always
Great straightforward video! I was gonna try the commander 2’s when I need it. I may just stay with the OEM now. On my 2012 classic I got 22k out of that rear tire. I have a 2017 now with 10k so we’ll see what I get! Thanks again for the great video.
You are most welcome. Glad our video was helpful.
Ride safe & Ride Often!
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Thank you Ryan for all the info, I'm looking for a tire for the front of my 97 goldwing trike and I like the idea of how good the Dunlop is in the rain especially when the wife is riding the bike.
Great info Ryan, thanks for sharing your perspective. Any chance that you might audition the Commander III? RoadRUNNER magazine did cruiser tire comparo and the touring version of the Commander III outperformed the Dunlop American D401 series by a fairly good margin. Keep up the great work!
I 've always ran the Dunlop tires, namely the 402 series and 407 series. It's hot as blazes here in S. GA and I never get over 7k on a set of Dunlops. I was tempted to try the new American Elites recently but decided to try the Commander IIs and see what kind of mileage I get. I'm about 2k into them now and can't tell any performance loss over the 407 but I don't do rain if at all possible.
Great Video. Lots of good information. I'm a Dunlap man for sure. Miss-aligned suspension and/or engine/swing arm miss-alignment can also can also accelerate the wear on your tires. Great information!
I had stock Dunlops (not the elites) on my Sportster. I was split between the MC II or Metz ME888. Went with the Metz and love them so far, but i dont ride hard.
I just change my tires, i got 28000 km out of my rear Dunlop but only 18000 km out of my Michelin Commander front tire, i run a 21" front rim, and Dunlop don´t make 120/70/21 so i went for Michelin, now lets see how many km i get out of my Michelin rear tire. 28000 km = 17400 miles.
I’ll be shopping for a new set of tires for my newly acquired 1982 GL1100 Goldwing come springtime. I’m sure one of these two choices would work well on my Honda.
I’ve had the original Dunlops (not the American Elites) and Commander IIs on my bikes. Best tire however was neither one of them. Pirelli Night Dragons win this competition. Super sticky, decent mileage and the most confidence-inspiring tire I’ve ever had.
Hi Ryan, I wanted to let you know that the time you kept showing for the Dunlop was the OEM tire and not the American elite. Which has a different tread pattern. Nonetheless good video.
As a retired motorman who rides like I'm still on the job, I prefer the performance.....especially in the rain which doesn't keep me at home. Dunlop.
Enjoy retirement!!
Just bought Dunlop thanks
I've ran two dunlop and both has started separating in the middle of the tread American elite and the factory D402. MU85B 16. Dunlop is going to have to get your stuff together before I buy another one I wish I could show pictures in the comments I'm going to start running Michelin Commander III I always keep my psi @ 40. On my Ultra Classic it is a heavy bike.
Ryan, really enjoy all the videos, truly awesome. I used to ride a Roadstar (04) and when I switched to Metzler 880s, I discovered, when riding in rain, they evacuated the rain, away and down. With my 17 RGU, the stocker tires evacuate the rain away and up. I ride mostly on state Hwys, here in S.D. Any info on water evacuation, (up and away, or down and away) Tired of dumping out my boots.
Right on, glad you enjoy our vids. That's good info on the tire comparison. Thank you for sharing.
Ride safe & Ride Often!
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My new sportster in 1984 had white letter bridgestones on it...I really liked the look. Wish Dunlop or Michellin would offer that option today! Would love to see a set on my current Road King. Thanks for the info
Hi great tires information. I have a 05 sportster 1200 wish tires you recomend me to buy that go be great in wet and dry conditions? The dunlop american elites go be good for light weight bike like the sportster or you recomend other model of tires for the sportster? Im look more for safety tires over durability
Thanks in advance
Ryan, excellent information as always. I still run the Dunlops on both my HD's, I have tried others, and went back. As far as having the dealer removing your tires, you are spot on... However, I feel I may have made a mistake when buying my new Ultra Limited, I purchased the Tire and Wheel warranty, which by the way I just used for a nail, which is good, the bad, well, I was thinking about it, and HD has found a way to almost guarantee that you will replace the tires thru them, since you have a warrant on the tire, they must be bought there, in order to keep the warranty valid, at least I assume they do. After seeing the bill for the replacement of my front wheel, I am considering saying to hell with the tire and wheel warranty, $341 to buy and replace thru the dealer. What have I done, LOL.
Good info and thanks for sharing!
Thank you !! Decision made. Great Channel !!!
Awesome! Thank you!
Discovered a nail in my rear tire yesterday on my 2018 FLHXS while getting ready to head out of the garage for a ride. Had to cancel the ride. Plugged it, but clearly a short term solution until I replace the tire. Front was due anyway, so now looking at Dunlop American Elites vs. Dunlop 408F and 407T from the HD dealer. American Elites are a bit less pricey and more readily available on the open market. AE's do not have the Harley Davidson brand name on the sidewall. Other than that, are there really any differences between the AE's and HD OE tires? Thanks.
I used metzlers 88 on my bmw 1200 Lt they were incredible in the rain and curves, very sticky lasted forever...
Nobody called you out on it.. Aramid is not a term for Kevlar. Kevlar IS an aramid.. but there are several types of aramid fiber. What is Nomex? I agree.. careful where you get your information. Great video and explanation.. except for that part.
Glad you liked the video. Ride safe
Thanks man. I just ordered American Elite for my FLHTK.
How do you like them?
Any "break in" needed where the tire initially has some slide to it?
Thanks!
@@coltcele8420 I took it easy for the first 250 miles. Scuffed them up, then regular riding with no issues. Cheers
@@ssmedz4335 thanks for the fast response
I appreciate your judgment
Pulling the trigger on new rubber in Nov and need to decide... This is what i was leaning towards
Thanks again
I run the Dunlop American Elite but man 20k sounds good also pretty much a fair weather rider with the FLHTK but ride a lot of mountain twisties and road hazards all way occur so think I'll stay with the tried and true. Good video topic and review 👌
I am looking to upgrade my standard OEM tires. I have a 2005 Road King Classic I want to go a little wider in the rear tier. What do you suggest.
Great video and thanks for the help.
Both of my ultra classics have had over 20k one 24k on rear,awsome tires,rears get load in corners after about 15k only complaint
I have a 2018 fat boy 9000 miles with michlen tires are looking bad
What tire do you recommend for the
Fat boy
I have a 2014 Street glide special with16,000 miles (orginal tire)
the trend and side walls booth look great
I'm thinking about changing the front tire.
I'm being told by the dealer because of the age I should replace it.
I was also told that tires get hard and loss their performance and safety
are these true statements?
also should tires be changed is sets?
thanks
Love the presentation, and the level of experience and knowledge... thanks!
trix4free, For your correct info, honestly, it’s not from his own level of knowledge, He is just reading what is written in specs by the manufactures found in the manufacturer website. In this case Dunlop & Michelin. And this video same as other videos are just for advertising for commission.
Would be great if you make a new comparison against the latest from both Dunlop and Michelin
You guys are all about saving money and doing it yourself and that's great. So why did you review a Dunlop tire that is only available at the dealer? I run the American Elite that you get when you buy from a Dennis Kirk, Revzilla or any other online bike store. It has the same dual compound but a completely different tread pattern. A review of that tire would have been much better than this Dunlop. Thanks for what you do though. I usually love your videos. This one fell a little short. Ride Safe
Back when i was a young sportbike guy i swore by dunlop sportmaxes. And that was over 20 yrs ago.
Thank you Ryan so much! Your information helped me make my decision.
Glad to help!
Ride safe & Ride Often!
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Intro got a sub from me, that was good! Great content in the details. Thank you for your service, from the father of a motor here in AZ.
Very cool and thanks for the kind words. Tons of work goes into the videos behind the scenes, so I love the feedback. Very cool that your son services as a Motor Officer!!
@@RyanUrlacher , Which tires do you rather run ? The American elite or the D407T / D408f like you have on your bike ?
I'm going with the Dunlop American Elite (not H-D branded version,) for my first rear tire change on my Road Glide Custom. Sounds like they are the better performing tire in all conditions. What do you recommend for balancing...beads or weights? My local indy swears by the beads.
We're used both. Many of our guys swear by the beads as well.
Ride safe & Ride Often!
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Thanks Ryan. The shop I ended up dropping my wheel off at doesn't do beads, so I went with the good old weights. I'm glad I did too, because after mounting my new American Elite it was perfectly balanced and didn't even need any weights!
@@BrewCityRider Mechanics hate the beads because they are a little more difficult to extract and they tend to go all over the place when changing tires.
Excellent comparison! I`m still debating on which tires to get. I bought my 2010 Ultra used in 2016 and it had American Elites on it. I have replaced the rear twice with the same tire. A buddy of mine has a dyna low with commanders. The ride is awesome! Feels like your on a sportbike but he doesnt ride in rain a lot. I ride every season and not once have the Dunlops slipped and lost traction even through rain storms. I really want to try out the commanders for their longevity but I would hate to be stuck with $400+ tires that dont deliver the same superior traction.
Do you recommend putting in 38 psi in the front tire instead of 36?
I've used other tire brands, but have had the best performance and longevity from Dunlops. Just my personal experience.
Ive used Dunlop , Metzlers , Conti and Michelin and I have to say that on my 03 FLH with 116.000 miles of all weather and conditions of riding , I will take the Michelins. No nervous rear in the rain. No wiggle crossing from lane to lane and tar snakes.
Thx for sharing
I just ordered the commander 2 ‘s
With my Road King (2005) I used to get Dunlop and I changed them for the Michelin Commander I find them more accurate in courbs but finish them faster than the Dunlop. It is aslo a question of feeling and the way you ride (a little bit agressive for me)