Since it looks like I'll be down shortly with the new paint job anyway, I'm probably gonna pry on the wallet and replace the rear tire and do a few extras at the same time. I tried searching for the old threads on replacement tire opinions, but I guess its been long enough that they disappeared. Admitting to a short memory, assuming there could be some new info out there, and for the sake of all the newbees around, I'll ask for opinions again. My apologies to the board veterans if this is old hat, but for the rest of us it's still "spring training"!

What's the best replacement tire for the Savage? I know I only got 9K out of the original Dunlop, and as the Dragonriders will attest, I'm a far cry from the hardest rider out there. (But I'm working on it, and I hope to be back next year!) As always any opinions are appreciated!

Southpaw wrote on 03/06/11 at 21:17:49:


If it had a Dunlop on it and only 9k on the bike, that's at least the 2nd tire already. Stock are IRCs, but I think you already knew that.

I replaced my stock IRCs with Shinkos at around 6k and haven't really been able to put too many miles on it, but I'm much more pleased with the Shinkos than the IRCs.

I think tires are a personal opinion and you should go with what you think is right for the type of riding you plan on doing.

I have a Metezler 880 on front ($118) and Dunlop K555 ($94) on the rear. Metz Tubes ($15) Happy with both. $40 per tire installation. Local bike shop had Metz in stock . Ordered the Dunlop which took three days.

Perelli's front & rear. You have to go with a taller tire on the back but I like 'em and it corrected my speedo error...con't know why, it just did. I also got them on sale which was a bonus which paid for mounting and wheel true.

I have a little over 5,000 on the Metzler 880s and they look about the same as when I put them on the bike.  You do have to take a little care with the Metzlers, because the want to be run at 40 psi, which is higher than most tires call for.  If you ride them at the lower pressures, the handling suffers.  I don't know about the wear.

I run 40 in the Metzlers because that is what the company recommends for our bikes.

EJID, You caught me in a mental lapse. I am still running IRCs. I was supposed to get the Dunlap on the back when I bought it @3800 miles but the owner had just put an IRC on "because you should never run mismatched tires on a bike - too dangerous"  
Runwyrlph, I've had mixed reviews from friends on the Kendra brand on wet roads. Two riders I know say the trade-off for the longer life is a tendency to fishtail after a rain due, they think, to a harder rubber. Could just be their riding style, they like to hammer! Have you noticed any difference in road manners since you changed? I hadn't considered a Duro as, until now, I didn't know anyone who ran them.
In the next couple of days, I'm going to see my local non-stealership mechanic that's going to mount my tire, on the off chance he's got a can't-pass-this-deal tire in his rack. If not I'll have to make my mind up on what to order. I kind of can't miss with the Metzlers, but I could sure use the difference in cost on more toys for this project. I'm kind of liking that solo seat that TheSnakeLady posted in one of her threads!  

Anyone riding white walls? My bobber wants its next set white walls.