Touring tires are requested to do fairly a couple of issues and final many miles. Lately, I had the chance to attempt a set of Dunlop American Elite 2 bike tires on my 2017 Harley-Davidson Highway Glide Extremely. I had beforehand examined the primary technology of those tiresand over the course of three months and greater than 2,000 miles I discovered the second-generation tires to be a substantial enchancment over the already spectacular unique American Elites.
My take a look at of the AE2 tires took me from my dwelling in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Lander, Wyoming, with extra journeys all through the Rockies. The tires had been spooned on by Pikes Peak Harley-Davidson, and after I talked to the service technician, he mentioned set up and balancing had been easy.
Heavy-duty touring tires are designed to deal with lengthy distances on interstates, state highways, backroads, and even an occasional grime highway. They should present stability and reliability for large bikes like my Highway Glide Extremely, and the Dunlop AE2s delivered.
A brand new tread sample offers the AE2s a extra aggressive look, and a brand new compound is claimed to supply increased mileage and higher wet-weather efficiency. Dunlop’s Multi-Tread expertise makes use of a tougher compound within the middle and a softer compound on the shoulders for a stability between longevity and cornering grip. Minimize-breaker development offers the AE2s a robust casing to deal with the load and torque of massive V-Twins and touring bikes.
Flip-in on the AE2s was clean and predictable, and so they held a line in turns with little or no enter from the rider and glorious suggestions. They soaked up harsh-edged, abrupt bumps a lot better than the unique American Elites. In addition they tracked straight and true whereas navigating highway sections that had simply been milled previous to paving and had been rife with grooves, traces, and manhole covers that protruded from the roadway.
Rain efficiency can be a robust level. Whereas I used to be driving south from Lander in a rainstorm, a small herd of pronghorn antelope crossed the freeway in entrance of me, requiring heavy braking. The tires offered predictable, reassuring grip – precisely what I wanted in an emergency.
Whereas on rural backroads and byways, the AE2s held regular traces when going over tar snakes and patches and by no means felt squirmy. And through spirited driving, they dealt with exceptionally effectively.
Dunlop’s American Elite 2 tires are a superb alternative in your V-Twin, delivering efficiency, reliability, and excessive mileage. Retail pricing ranges from $218.95 to $453.95 per tire, relying on the applying. Notice that the unique American Elite tires had been manufactured in Buffalo, New York, however that manufacturing unit closed in 2024. AE2 tires at the moment are made in Japan and Indonesia.


