Compare Dunlop 491 Elite 2 to Elite 3

[dmwoost]

I currently am on a voyager 1200, using the 491 elite 2 but I see Dunlop recommends elite 3. any comments. thanks.

[debron]

It's my understanding that the Elite 3 replaces the Elite 2 (491) and the 491 are no longer in production and haven't been for some time. I could be wrong. What is the production date on your tires?

[dmwoost]

Dunlop list three tires 491 elite 2 and 3 plus D404. I do have 491 e2 on the bike, I install the front about 2 years ago the tread is a little thin. I install the back a years ago, I have a nail in so I plan to replace before a trip this summer. so it looks like Dunlop make all three.
Thanks.

[Bill O]

Stay away from the 404's. Too susceptible to front end wobble issues.

Bill O

[cushman eagle]

My experience with the 404 is also front end wobble, plus short life.

[Bruce in OK]

The 404 is trash on a Voyager. It isn't designed for the weight of the bike. The E-2 work fine. The E-3 gives me my best ride and longest life. You'll find tires are pretty subjective. You may not get a majority opinion to your question.

[dmwoost]

I understand I may not get a majority agreement on what to use. But as you can see there is a majority stance an what not to use.
Thanks,
for the input.
Don W

[Mr Jensee]

I bought my bike with Dunlop 404s on it. It nearly cost the people I bought it from a sale because the front end wobbled so badly. When I replaced them with the Dunlop E3 tires the bike was a whole new animal. Change out the springs, shocks and tires and the handling of the Voyager XII will amaze you.

[Kevin B in Illinois]

Elite 2's are still in production and are stock tires on some of the new Victory motorcycles. They are still being produced. The Elite 3's are really good tires and provide great mileage and I feel improved handling. They have also been priced cheaper from suppliers than the Elite 2 tires as of late, so you should be saving some money on them. Just my thoughts.

Kevin Braddy
in Southern Illinois

[SgtSlag]

How is the wet traction on the Elite 3's? I will pay a premium for short tire life, if they give great wet traction. My Pirelli MT66 Route tire lasted 9,000 miles on the rear, but its traction, under all conditions, is superb. Since we average 3,000-5,000 miles per season, the cost is spread out over time, so it is not quite as painful.

It also means I get the bike looked over by a professional every two years for a safety check (cost of a decent tire changer is too much for how often I'd use it, and spoons are not fun for me, either). This last time (two weeks ago), he warned me that one shock was leaking oil. It also caused the rear end to dance a little jig going down the highway! Put new shocks on, and it rides properly again -- the "jig is up", so to speak. Cheers!

[Mr Jensee]

I avoid riding in the rain or on wet streets like the plague. However I have driven on the E3's on wet pavement and so far have not had a problem. I have not attempted to make sharp leans on wet pavement since I slid on my back through an intersection one night when I was 17 on my Yamaha 180. Call it a phobia but I don't bounce today like I did then.

[debron]

I recently returned from a ten-day spring trip and on the first day over Santiam Pass in the Oregon Cascades it rained 90% of the way up to the pass. This is a two-lane road with lot's of curves, speeds at 40 mph in tighter curves, up to 65 mph.

On the ride home over the Sikiyou mountains of northern California and southern Oregon I had hail, light and very heavy rain, and snow mixed in rain at the summit. This was on I-5 at speeds of 55-70 mph but there are a lot of 45 - 50 mph curves over the Siskiyous.

I have Elite 3's front and rear and had no problems on either wet leg. The front tire has about 5,500 miles on it and the rear has a little over 20,000 miles. Like Mr Jensee though, I don't push it in the rain.

[SgtSlag]

We don't push it, but we ride two-up, 98% of the time on the bike. On multi-day tours, we have little choice in what weather we choose to ride in -- we pick the days, Mother Nature chooses the weather for us.

Back in 2009, we were touring two-up on a '79 Honda 750, tired OEM suspension, fully loaded, in four days of rain, in Canada, circling Lake Superior. We had to make some miles on day two in Canada, moderate rain, 55 F temperatures... We were also suffering mild hypothermia. The Pirelli MT66 Route tires were glued to the wet blacktop, leaning into curves at 60 MPH. It was not the wisest of riding, but they gripped like velcro. We also had to make a very quick decelleration from 60 MPH, when a local Black Bear decided to run out in front of us: tires acted as if the pavement was both hot, and bone dry (wife was driving -- did a better job of it than I likely would have, and I have more experience!).

Like I said, I will pay for wet traction. A tire that lasts forever, but has limited grip, is Death riding, looking for two "souls to steal" (credit to the Charlie Daniels Band). Traction is more precious to me, than my gold. YMMV. Cheers!

[debron]

What I was saying but said poorly, was that the E-3s felt the same in all that wet crap as they do on the dry pavement. I choose to slow down in those conditions for my own sanity and because visibility is always poor. But I don't fear the tires sliding out from under me.

[SgtSlag]

I agree, Ron: slow down in the rain, wear hi-viz clothing, with reflective stuff so you can/will be seen... We were under the gun a bit, needing to make miles. The hypothermia did not help us make wise decisions, either. Since that ride, we've agreed to be more cautious. We are not afraid to pull off in a hard rain (under a bridge is not my idea of a good place to wait...), or sit inside somewhere (very much preferred, if possible -- done this several times), until it eases up.

My reservation with the E-3's is that one poster commented about them slipping on his heavy bike. I am paranoid, and it may cost me some gold (short tire life of the Pirelli's on the rear). I just hate to take a chance with my bride of 15 years onboard with me. She means more to me than anything in this world. Cheers!

[debron]

I just hate to take a chance with my bride of 15 years onboard with me. She means more to me than anything in this world. Cheers!

[dmwoost]

The reason I posted this is first I have a nail in the back tire which the tire has worked fine. I have never run out of tread typical a nail has caused replacement. But 2 weeks ago I did go down it had just started raining just enough to raise the oil. (we have not had any rain in a long long time).
As I made the corner at low speed an it was gone right now. So I wanted to know what other felt what is the best tire. I think I'll stay with the 491 elite 2.
Thanks to every one for your input.

The interesting thing was ran into a old Veteran that we severed together.
Remember In God we Trust all others we Monitor.
Don W