What you got on the front? Best to have matched manufacturer, if not a matched pair. You don't want to put a 'better' tyre on the rear, because front slides are nearly always bad, whereas a rear slide can often be saved. If your upgrading from the OE tyres, go get a pair, as OE tyres are generally shite.
Depends which Metzeler! ME880 on the America were truly awful. If they are OE one's, you'll notice a difference changing to a decent tyre, Michelin, Cont's, Pirelli, etc
Personally I would renew as a pair. It's amazing how good the profile of a 5,000 mile front tyre looks until you put a new one alongside it.
That many miles, get a pair of modern sport / touring tyres and you'll be amazed at how much better the bike will ride and feel.
Maybe not, maybe you are gentle on tyres, but you will have worn the front tyre by now in a certain way. Changing just the rear, which will have a nice new rounded shape, will not feel good with front tyre worn on the shoulders over last 8,000 miles. I only get 5000 from a front and around 3,000 from a rear, but I'm hard on tyres and ride a V-Twin
I think that you are good with tyres, I've had the bike nearly 18 months and the bike had done nearly 7000 miles on the clock. So maybe these aren't the original tyres. I would like to try a different brand of tyre.
Look for the date code on the sidewall. You'll see a number 2608 - that's week 26 of 2008. That'll give you a clue
@Justin dunn - Go on here LINKY and have a trawl around to see what others have fitted, or even start a thread of your own. Not sure on tyre fitment for the Bonneville. IIRC Avon seem a popular choice for the classics.
