On my 2011 Road Glide I had two of the HD fronts crack along the sidewall. Use the American Elites now and never a problem.

 

Echoing others, that's not rubber splitting. That's rubber being cut with a sharp instrument. Why they didn't just slash the sidewalls and be done with it is anyone's guess. Stupidity, drunkenness, or wanting to see you die instead of just suffer from flat tires. Who knows?

 

Should be easy to tell once off if it was cut vs. defective.

 

I put Dunlop american elites on my bike last fall due to a screw in the rear of the old ones. Only have 3,000 miles on these new ones, the bike has been up on a jack all winter long, now with spring here, I check the tires and find the rear has dry rot all along the rim edge. I've got a new rear ordered, but am not happy about this. Replacing with another american elite since I don't want to mix brands of tires, but this one better be good or I'll be trying Metzler next.

I did have one rear Dunlop (stock type tire) that split vertically at about the 8,000 mile mark. Freaked me out to see that. I'm not sure I agree that someone cut the OP's tire. I'm starting to get very disappointed with Dunlop.

 

That is not cut. It's split. Google motorcycle tire splitting. It happens...

 

Waiting to hear what the dealer says. I had a Dunlop front cracking around the side wall. ESP said defective tire, Harley says talk to Dunlop, Dunlop says dealer will cover it. Ended up having to pay out of pocket for a 1 year old tire that cracked the side wall. Good luck.

 

Geezer... I know everyone's experience can be different... but that comment just crapped on my thoughts of American Elites. Any experience with Michelin Commander II?

To the OP... Lets hear back from you on what the dealer said. I hope they replace them due to tire splitting. I'm just a realist with a penchant for bad luck and thus skepticism runs rampant.

 

The dealer replaced the rear tire on my 14 Limited under warranty during the 10K service. They found the tread splitting.

 

I am interested to see if they will replace it. tires cracking, yes. Tires splitting along the sidewall ,yes... but two deep cuts across the almost whole surface of the tire. Two long (cuts) on one location of the tire seems odd. I hope you can get it replaced. Being that only 1/3 of the tire touches the ground at anytime. No other cracks on the tire and if the tire was spinning and something in the road. How would it cut 1 inch down from the other cut? again all the way across the surface.
Just seems way to deep for tire splitting.
Good Luck man hope it works out well for ya!

 

Looks cut?