Whats a good set of touring tires for a 1500 Drifter? I'd like a tire that has a good deal of grip. Any one have any suggestions?
I run WWW tires, so choices are a little more limited then if you just go blackwall. That being said, Avon's are about the grippiest I've come across. They make the road feel like it's made of gummy bears, but since they're so soft a compound, you get a bit less tire life out of them. Metzler 880's are really nice and have a good life to them. Continental Milestones are pretty good, and they last forever. I had some Dunlop blackwalls on it a long time ago.....HATED them.
Opinions...I ran Metzelers for over 35 years on everything..now I have Michelin Commander IIs on the Drifter. A little over 4,000 miles since I put them on in August, and there is 1/32 off the rear and NO measurable wear on the front. No chevron wear, no cupping, no nothing. They just keep on going. Running 28 in the front and 36 in the back. The prices were very good. The pair of tires cost me about $240, or about what I would have had to pay for the 160/80-16 Metzeler I was going to replace. The tread started out with 5/32 front, 9/32 rear...front is still 5/32, rear is now 8...I don't expect this rate to remain constant, but if it does, I might get 20,000 out of them. Sorry, no white walls...too much of a PITA to keep clean, anyway
Thanks for the input!!!
I pulled my rear fender of today to install a real Indian fender guard.....I'll post pics when it's done. While I was there, I decided to take a picture of the rear tire 4146 miles after I installed it. the second picture shows my tread depth gauge reading 8/32. I measured it at 9/32 at installation. Running 36 psi cold...most of my riding is at 60-70+ mph, solo. The profile does not seem to be flattening at all. The front tire still looks and measures like new. IZZT MAGIK????