[Bbeeler]

Age old question in discussions....."What tires are best for my XCT"?

I just hit 8000 miles on my 2013 XCT and I think the Victory OEM Dunlop E3's are "OK at best". Just my opinion.

I'm hearing that the Michelin Commander II's are best, and the Metzeler 880's have a great history despite some recalls years back, and the 888's are advertised to have a longer life, but hard to find the rear tire in the recommended size 180/60-16.

I had several sets of Metzelers on my Yamaha's (Roadliner and Venture) and flat out loved them, but I remain open for something new and better. "You don't know what you don't know" Right?

I expect more than 8000 from my tires, and I did from Metzelers and hopefully will from the Michelins.

 

[Bigfoot]

Michelin's don't make a tire that fits.
Ask them.

 

[Bbeeler]

Thanks Bigfoot. I saw a front out there be not a back....and when I enter my bike in the Michelin site, it says there's currently no tires available for this bike?

So I may be going back to Metzelers.

 

[jsiegelaar]

Avon also makes the right size tires.

 

[Bbeeler]

Yamaha riders gave Avon high marks. What's your take?

 

[jsiegelaar]

I used to use Avon storms on a meanstreak that I had, they lasted longer than anything else at that time. Plus they had great wet or dry grip. I have never used the cobras, but will need tires soon for my CXT. They are near the top of the list for me to try.

 

[primethious]

I changed my tires and afterwards wish I'd done it at zero miles. I went with a Michelin Primacy Alpin zp Darkside rear tire, and a Avon Cobra front tire.
First car tire I ever had and would not go back. The grip and handling is far superior to the E3's.

 

[MagVic CCT]

I've had a fair amount of experience with the Metzlers. I won't buy them again. Not a bad tire, but there are better ones available. Given the choices ( and I just posted not long ago a very similar question as yours) I have to believe the Avon's may be the best 'all around' tire for these bikes. I was reminded that load rating is an important factor in tire choice along with all the others (grip, wear, life, handling, wet traction). My conclusion is that no one tire will perfectly satisfy all these peramiters, so I have to decide which is most to least important and choose the tire that fills that order.

Having said that, I love the Michelin and especially like using a 65 aspect ratio tire for speedo correction. They just don't make a set of tires for our bikes.
For what it's worth there's my experience and thoughts. I've ridden heavy cruisers/tourers for a little over 100K miles now and have used a few tires. That doesn't necessarily make the choices easier, but it does help to at least help you know what you DON'T want. Good luck.

 

[RedVic]

I run the Avon Cobra's, the AV71 on the front and the AV72 on the rear. Great wet and dry performance, far better then the OEM Dunlop E3's that came on my 2013 cross country tour. I also have a set of Centramatic wheel balancers on the front and rear. Bike corners like it is on rails with the Cobra's and the Centramatic balancers.

I am on my third set of Avon Cobra's, I just put a new set on and changed my rear drive pulley and the drive belt at 43,250 miles. I currently have 43,912 miles on the bike.

Just remember you want the 80 load index rating on what ever tire you decide on. The 80 load index is what Victory specs and is good for 992 pounds for the rear tire.

 

[vision_nut]

I don't carie what you buy. But to get the best out of your tires for life and ride check the air the first of every month. When the temps get above 95 degrees check every two weeks. Buy a good tire gauge the pencil ones are junk. You'll find you do lose air

 

[luvdiving]

I do check the tire pressure on my Elite 3s on a regular basis. I've always had good luck with them. I put 130 K miles on my Goldwing, using Elite 3s before trading it for my Vision. They should be good enough for my Vision.
BTW, I added the recommended level of Ride-on tire balancer/sealant for the first time ever last weekend and re-inflated to the recommended pressure. I've put a few hundred miles on this weekend and the ride-on seemed to make a difference.

We'll see. If it gets me 25% to 50% more wear on a set of tires and handles better, it's worth it to me.

 

[MagVic CCT]

BTW, I added the recommended level of Ride-on tire balancer/sealant for the first time ever last weekend and re-inflated to the recommended pressure. I've put a few hundred miles on this weekend and the ride-on seemed to make a difference.

Could you define the difference, like is it smoother, quieter, etc. or something else. I'm curious cause I'm considering the same treatment. Thanks.

 

[luvmyride]

I have had two sets of Avon Cobras on my XC and love the handling, wet or dry. They have great grip, but at the expense of tire life. I have only got around 7000 miles on each rear (7100 first, 7300 second). I ride hard and engine brake often so I don't expect to get real high mileage, but that is real low. BTW, I'm wearing to the wear bars evenly, and don't wait till they are bald t change. After having to change tires in less than a year, I bought a Michelin PA like Primethious above. I will get it mounted (with Dyna Beads) this week and see how I like it. If I don't, I'll pull it and go back the the Avon's, and more frequent tire changes.

 

[Bigfoot]

I've used Dunlop E3's and recently the E3MT on the rear.
I've averaged 14,000 miles on each set (I always replace in sets).
78,000 miles with no drama.

 

[Ampdreamer]

I just put avon cobras on my 2004 vegas. Put on about 1000 miles seem much better than the Dunlops that I had on but they were already warn since I bought the bike used.

 

[primethious]

I bought a Michelin PA like Primethious above. I will get it mounted (with Dyna Beads) this week and see how I like it.

FYI: I read on Dynabeads website that the beads aren't ideal for low profile tires so I had my rear spin balanced, and my front has beads.

 

[Barry_Barker]

A viewpoint from Arkansas,
The stock E3's have been my longest lasting tire combo 6500 miles out of both the front and back. Great wet traction. I would buy this tire again, pricey.
Metezler 880 front tire lasted 8500 miles and had good grip, the rear lasted 5000 but was very slippery wet, I will not buy another 880 rear. Tried the 888, lasted 4700 miles, good wet traction, very noisy tire when slowing down. Not a big deal once I determined it was the tire. I would buy the 880 front and 888 rear again. Have not tried the 888 front.
On my second Avon Cobra front tire, first one lasted 9000 miles or so, best turn in, great wet traction. The rear tires melt away pretty darn fast, 4000 to 5000 miles and they are bald(so are the other brands). I do run them bald if i can stay close to home. Best handling, great wet traction. About to put my third one on.
All of the tires above perform remarkably well at full lean angles on some pretty exciting roads. My sport touring buddies still shake there heads at the lean angles the Cross Roads will attain. This does however shorten tire life significantly while simultaneously increasing the grin factor.

 

[spazpilot]

I have Avon Cobras right now an like them a lot. I think there is a pretty noticeable difference between the stock E3's and these. I really put the bike through its paces on my past few trips and the tires performed great.
I also use Ride-On balancing fluid.

 

[nakota7]

I had 3 sets of Dunlops on but never liked the mileage (10-12k) on both front and rear. About 45 days before my trip to Sturgis I put on the Metzler M888's. The dealer price matched best price I found online. I won't be going back to Dunlops. After 7k+ miles both tires look brand new and the handling is SO MUCH better. The bike is stable above 90mph and it doesn't give the pucker moments on tar snakes I had with the Dunlops

 

[luvdiving]

Could you define the difference, like is it smoother, quieter, etc. or something else. I'm curious cause I'm considering the same treatment. Thanks.

I'd say smoother. I don't now about quieter. I use ear plugs and can't hear if there is any difference. I added the Ride-In at 9200 miles. Still lots of tread left, so I was curious about extending the life of the tires. I like to get 15 k miles or more for a set of E3's. I once did 22 k miles on the Goldwing, but the rear was pretty badly cupped.