Guys,
Anyone runing Dunlop 404 tires? I just put a new back tireon my old bike and it looks and feels just like the OEM 401s but they are much cheaper. I paid $57 for my back tire.I like the more aggresive tread pattern the dunlops haveas well for the rain. My buddy has them on his metirc and likes them, the 404s are OEM on most metrics. How many miles on a 404 vs a 401? Thanks.

 

i must say sir.......good question.


I am in for the answer

 

The main difference between the Dunlop 401 and 404 is that the 404 is a bias-ply tire, while the 401 is a belted tire.

Even on the discription, the rear tire (let's take the standard Sportster size for example) is shown as D404 150/80-16 and D401 150/80-B16. Note the "B" for belted on the D401.

Also, there is a slight difference is tire diameter, width, and tread depth between the 404 and 401 series.

The D401 150/80-B16 has a diameter of 25.45", width of 6.15", and a tread depth of 10/32".

The D404 150/80-16 has a diameter of 25.35", width of 5.81", and a tread depth of 9/32".

Not a whole lot of difference is the 'sizing', but I guess it depends on it you want to run a bias-ply tire or a belted tire.

If I only rode 'closer to home', or wasn't worried about making 1,000+ mile runs in all kinds of weird conditions I wouldn't have any problem running the D404's, but I guess I'm a creature of habit and prefer to spend more for the belted D401's.

 

There is also a difference in the maximum load rating.
A 130/90B-16 D401 is rated at 805
and a 130/90-16 D404 is rated at only 677
that's 128 lbs difference!

Keep this in mind when carrying passengers and\or luggage.

 

Ditto to what OFG said. To me the 404 is not worth the price difference.

 

Guys, Thanks for the info. Wonder why they dont put treadwear ratings on these tires.Either way..I am betting that both my 401 and my 404 will be gone in under 8000 miles. My bikes seem toeattires faster then I can drink a pitcher of beer!

 

I have ran the 404, the Metz 880, and the Factory 401/402, yes there is a load rating difference, yes there is a tread depth difference, but to be honest, I see no reason to spend extra money for nothing, and IMHO, after several thousand miles, the 404 is the best deal there is in a Name Brand Tire.
Load Rating, when and how the heck is anyone going to Load a rear tire over the Rateing of the 404??
What I have found is tire wear is directly related to the depth measurements Dunlop list, 1k miles per 1/32", so if I indeed do get that kind of Mileage for half the money, and I can tell absolutely no difference in the belted vs the BiasPly as far has handling and ride.
Like Bikes, Oil, Pipes, seats etc, tires are personal choice, make yerself happy.

 

I bought a 404 when I went to a 19" mag in the front. I have had no problem with it so far. I have over 2000 miles on it and looks brand new. you may have a problem of wear if you put a 404 in the rear.

 

Running 'em front and rear now, 6k on the front and 5k on the back, they look as good or better than the 401/402's did at the same miles.

 

that's good to know !, I reason I said the back tire is because of the weight factor and load rating. when I was rescearhing the tires I found a lot of metric bikes usrd the 404 as standard equipment, so I felt they should be a decent tire.
someone was looking for tires this past winter or early spring and this subject got brought up. there was someone that had issues with the 404.I don't remember what he had for a bike but they been working good on the sportsters.