Motorcycle Tire Shopping (2026)
Article by Mark Trotta
One thing you shouldn't put off is replacing worn-out tires on your motorcycle. But that's what I did, and then had two scary moments before finally replacing the front tire on my Road King.
The first time was while hard braking, and the front tire skidded on dry pavement. There were no cars around, but it was still scary (and kind of fun, too).
Several weeks later, I was out on a Saturday morning after it rained. Although the sky was sunny, the roads were still slightly wet. I rounded a curve and felt the front end slip (not so fun).
Finally, the annual registration came due, and the bike would not pass state inspection with either tire under legal minimum specs.
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The following is a short review of tire choices for sport, touring, and cruiser motorcycles:
Dunlop
Good looks, smooth handling, and classic style, the Dunlop D402 has long been the official tire for many Harley-Davidson touring bikes.
Dunlop D402's are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and narrow white stripe.
Dunlop D402's are available in many sizes, and have Harley-Davidson branding on the sidewalls.
Michelin Commander
Michelin Commander III tires are known for excellent traction and control, especially in the rain.
The worn front tire on my Road King was a Michelin. It was on the bike when purchased, so I can't say how many miles are on it.
Shinko 777
An inexpensive but good cruiser tire is the Shinko 777.
You probably won't get the same ride or mileage as you will from a Michelin or Dunlop, but it's one of the best selling motorcycle tires for a reason--you can't beat the price.
Shinko 999
Shinko SR 999 Long Haul tires are designed for the cruiser rider looking for longer tread life and performance.
Shinko 999 features a rubber compound formulated for high mileage and grip, plus functional tread grooves for traction in wet and dry conditions.
Shinko 240 Classic
The front tire on my 1961 Servi-Car is a Shinko 240 Classic wide white wall.
It has old-school 'sawtooth' treads.
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For those looking for sport tires:
Michelin Scorcher 31
Personally, I have never gotten more than 5,000 miles out of any motorcycle tire, but there are plenty of consumer reviews stating 8k, even 9k on Michelin Scorcher tires!
With a combination of long life, excellent grip and a nice ride, Michelin Scorcher tires appear to be worth their higher price.
These are original equipment on 2011-later XL1200C/X Harleys, with H-D approved fitments for additional model years.
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Mounting and Balancing Options
Option One - Take the wheel off the bike and bring it down to a Cycle Gear.
If you buy a tire from them or any of their affiliates (which includes JP Cycles), the labor price to mount and balance is discounted ($30 vs $60).
Option Two - Ride the bike to a local dealer or Indy shop and have them do the removal and installation.
The problem with first option for me was, I don't have a motorcycle jack for a 700 pound touring bike, and although it would be nice to have one, where would I keep it (garage is packed with semi-assembled motorcycles) and how many times would I actually use it?
I ended up having it done at the local Harley dealer. It was a little more expensive, but they run monthly specials, and I happened to catch one--in January--so the ride there was a little chilly.
For my Road King, aside from whitewall or blackwall, there were no tire options at the dealer. It's a Dunlop D402F, size MT90B16, and it says 'Harley-Davidson' on it.
Special sale price was $204.95 with an additional $50 for labor, and while I was there I got the state inspection done as well.
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Conclusion
Aside from any specials your local dealer/Indy shop may be having, the best deal out there is to buy a tire from JP Cycles, take the tire off your bike, and bring it to a local Cycle Gear.
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Tire Size Conversion Chart Metric/Alpha/Inches
Notes and Misc
Proper rear wheel alignment extends chain/sprocket and belt life. Motion Pro Wheel Alignment Tool takes the guess work out of aligning the rear axle.
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