There are many factors that come into play when choosing tires for your motorcycle. The most important include; compatibility, reliability and cost. Here at Chariots of Fire Customs, we recommend Metzeler tires to just about all of our customers and a lot of times they respond, “Why not Dunlop?”. So I am here to tell you what I have found and why I also stand behind our Metzeler recommendation.

Which tires are compatible for your bike?  Metzeler’s ME888  focus on Harley-Davidson’s and their heavy weight. Dunlop’s D404 and D402 are not good for heavier motorcycles like Harley’s because of their lower load rating. The higher the load rating the less rolling resistance the tire will have leading to higher speed rating. Additionally, lower resistance leads to lower heat production and will make your tire last longer.  D402 and D404 are also bias-ply tires and a huge downfall of bias-ply tires is they’re not good when riding at a higher speed. This is because they have more rolling resistance which means when in higher speed, you may lose control of your bike and they are also retaining more heat, so even though your bike may be capable, the Dunlop tire is not and will limit your riding experience.

Reliability is a very important factor in tires. Again Metzeler takes the cake over Dunlop in this department as well. The Marathon Ultra ME888 is shaped to have a larger contact patch with the road which helps with traction in all conditions. However, they are also made to give better traction in wet conditions by using silica silicone in the tire which helps reflect rain/water and creating a groove in the tread that moves water away to prevent hydroplaning.

As I continued my research, nothing short of amazed by Metzeler’s technology, I also learned they have anywhere from 5% – 30% increased longevity verses leading brands. Being a dual compound tire it gives you the harder center which increases mileage and the softer sides which make taking corners a piece of cake.  Whereas Dunlop’s harder carcass tires are only beneficial to those who ride majority of their miles on a highway. Seems to be the only benefit from choosing a Dunlop over a Metzeler is lower pricing.

Give us a call or come on in to find the right tire for your bike!