Looking for replacement tire recommendation

I want to hear from you experienced rider/owners of Sportsters about replacement tires for '07 883L.  I guess most all of the Sportster models benefit from the same make and model tires?

I have been listening to some of the guys with Big Twins touting the Metzler  880s as being far superior to the original issue tires that come on the bikes from the factory.  Any help appreciated.

Old flier

 there is abit of general info on the other site;

www.hdforums.com/articles/sportster/wheels-tires/harley-davidson-sportster-tire-review-options-recommendations.php

I put Avon Venoms on my 07 a couple of months ago to replace the HD Dunlops, recommended by the specialist bike tyre shop I've bought my tyres from for over 20 years. They handle extremely well wet and dry and have a nice round profile which lightens the handling a bit. I've only put about 3000km on them so far - well over half that on wet roads - but the wear appears negligible. (My other bikes usually wear out a rear in about 6000km due to the stone chip roads around here.) If you do get them make sure the tread is well and truly cleaned and dry before you ride off - they have an incredibly slippery residue on them - and take it careful until they are properly scrubbed in. Definitely the slickest new tyres I've ever ridden. I stuck the bike on the lift and spun the tyres against an emery paper pad until the crud was off, then gave them a quick wash with soapy water. The original HD Dunlops are pretty good as long as you don't leave them on forever. They don't appear to ever wear out - mine had 14,000km on them and looked barely worn but they were as hard as rock and had no wet grip. The bike had 10,000km on it when I bought it in May and the tyres were the originals. They do handle surprisingly well and the rear had perhaps 1/4" of chicken strip on it when I changed them out, but I'd make sure they were changed every 3 years or so regardless of the depth of the remaining tread. The Venoms turned out to be cheaper than the HD Dunlop set too. Rear was a couple of dollars more expensive but the front was about $40 cheaper.

 Couple of pics at 3200km:

 Good deep tread and rounded profile. The strip on the edge is about 1/2" wide.

That's the Venom snake-head logo on the edge, and a moulding tag in the middle of the tread channel.

 

Dunlop spitfires work really well wet or dry , long life on my 3rd set now

Dunlop spitfires work really well wet or dry , long life on my 3rd set now

 Pirelli Nightdragons for me. Completely changed the handling of the bike, wet or dry

 

+1 on the night dragons

 I am happy with my night dragons

 I replaced the original Dunlops with Pirelli Route MT66 tyres.  Amazing improvement in both handling and grip.  They wear well too.  Highly recommended.

night dragons,for me tooooooo......

Thanks to all those who replied and offered their suggestions for replacement tires. I am keeping a list and when replacement time comes around, I will be refering to that list. My '07 883 has only 1000 miles on it so far and most of that is within the last 6 weeks since I purchased the bike. Fortunately I don't have to ride in the wet, but want to be prepared should the occasion ever arise. I have only been riding for 56 years and so am a fairly conservative rider. Maybe that has somethng to do with the reason that I am still riding after all these years! No, I didn't start riding when I was 3! Anyway, thanks to you all. Enjoy your riding and ride safely.

Old flier

Thanks to all those who replied and offered their suggestions for replacement tires. I am keeping a list and when replacement time comes around, I will be refering to that list. My '07 883 has only 1000 miles on it so far and most of that is within the last 6 weeks since I purchased the bike. Fortunately I don't have to ride in the wet, but want to be prepared should the occasion ever arise. I have only been riding for 56 years and so am a fairly conservative rider. Maybe that has somethng to do with the reason that I am still riding after all these years! No, I didn't start riding when I was 3! Anyway, thanks to you all. Enjoy your riding and ride safely.

Old flier