Tires: Expected mileage longevity average
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 597
Likes: 35
From: On the lake, Ohio
Tires: Expected mileage longevity average
Have owned my 16 FLHTK Limited since May 2018 (1024mi when I bought it). Have rode a little over 11,000 miles since then. Before this I owned a 08 Road King for 10 years and over 56,000 miles. I averaged around 12,000 to 15,000 miles on a rear tire, and ALMOST 20,000 on the front. I did stay with OEM HD Dunlop my whole ownership. I'm curious with this larger framed bike and larger tires, should I expect around the same mileage before changing rubber? My riding style would be mild to conservative. Any brand of tire mileage feedback is welcome. Thx!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,070
Likes: 5,321
Have owned my 16 FLHTK Limited since May 2018 (1024mi when I bought it). Have rode a little over 11,000 miles since then. Before this I owned a 08 Road King for 10 years and over 56,000 miles. I averaged around 12,000 to 15,000 miles on a rear tire, and ALMOST 20,000 on the front. I did stay with OEM HD Dunlop my whole ownership. I'm curious with this larger framed bike and larger tires, should I expect around the same mileage before changing rubber? My riding style would be mild to conservative. Any brand of tire mileage feedback is welcome. Thx!
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,768
Likes: 22,988
From: North Carolina
I got a solid 17 k on each of the three sets I bought on a 2010 Ultra we owned for 6 years. Only problem was the rear always cupped pretty bad.
On the 2016 Limited I traded it in one year with 15 k and the tires front and back looked great with lots of life left.
We now have a 2017 Limited and just turned 19 k on the stock tires yesterday! They probably have a couple of thousand left on them but my dealer has a good sale and Im scheduled to get news ones next week. These have been the best yet. No cupping at all. I have learned that you need to stay on top of the tire pressure. I keep them to the max pressure front and rear. Also these mileages are with two up riding 95% of the time. We ride a lot in the NC mountains and burn up the interstates on long trips.
Im staying with the Dunlops!
On the 2016 Limited I traded it in one year with 15 k and the tires front and back looked great with lots of life left.
We now have a 2017 Limited and just turned 19 k on the stock tires yesterday! They probably have a couple of thousand left on them but my dealer has a good sale and Im scheduled to get news ones next week. These have been the best yet. No cupping at all. I have learned that you need to stay on top of the tire pressure. I keep them to the max pressure front and rear. Also these mileages are with two up riding 95% of the time. We ride a lot in the NC mountains and burn up the interstates on long trips.
Im staying with the Dunlops!
Last edited by Cosmic Razorback; Aug 9, 2019 at 04:35 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,466
From: Charleston, SC
Have owned my 16 FLHTK Limited since May 2018 (1024mi when I bought it). Have rode a little over 11,000 miles since then. Before this I owned a 08 Road King for 10 years and over 56,000 miles. I averaged around 12,000 to 15,000 miles on a rear tire, and ALMOST 20,000 on the front. I did stay with OEM HD Dunlop my whole ownership. I'm curious with this larger framed bike and larger tires, should I expect around the same mileage before changing rubber? My riding style would be mild to conservative. Any brand of tire mileage feedback is welcome. Thx!
Tire mileage is hard to compare. Riding style has a lot to do with it, sure. But ROAD CONDITIONS where you ride has more to do with it, I think. Here in South Carolina our roads are definitely up to par, say compared to North Carolina. I can tell it when I pass the State Line from SC going into NC on the Interstate. And the main roads in the NC Smoky Mtns are WONDERFUL! They are so smooth you can't even feel the suspension working on a lot of them.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 492
From: Heart of Georgia
Riding style has everything to do with it. I never get much more than 10k out of a rear tire. That was true when I had a Road Glide and it’s true with my Heritage. OTOH, a buddy of mine with a 2015 Ultra Limited just replaced his original rear tire with nearly 20k on it because it was old. It still had good tread. I rode with him last week for the first time. Never rode that slow in my whole life. He works real hard to keep it between 2k and 2500 rpm and uses gentle braking to slow down as much as possible. Me? I keep mine wound up, shift around 3500 unless I’m really getting on it, use engine braking to slow down, am very aggressive in the twisties, etc., etc. People tell me I ride it like it’s a sport bike. Tires and brake pads don’t last me as long as they probably should
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 610
From: USA
I currently have a 2014 FLHTK and prior to that I had a 2009 FLHTCU. They both used the same stock HD/Dunlop tires and I changed tires at 20,000 miles for both the front and rear. I do not ride aggressively and ride one up.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 193
From: ohio
I have gotten approximately 22,000 out of the stocks, and Commander 2's just put my 3 Rd set, American elites on this spring, see how they do, mileage wise, so far I like their handling,
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 127
From: NC
I got 20k out of the original tires on my 14 Limited:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/new-r...ore-bikes.html
I replaced those with the same OEM Tires and they have 17,500 on them now (bike has 37,500 miles on it).
I will replace both of them again at 40k or so with the same OEM Tires. Rear has slight cupping starting again, and I still run 42 in the rear.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/new-r...ore-bikes.html
I replaced those with the same OEM Tires and they have 17,500 on them now (bike has 37,500 miles on it).
I will replace both of them again at 40k or so with the same OEM Tires. Rear has slight cupping starting again, and I still run 42 in the rear.
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Joe Kucinski
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,859
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From: Lake Orion, MI
I think we all agree that the tires on these bikes are lasting much longer that many of us are use to. My 04 probably got around 11K or so. When I moved up to the 2011, I began to notice that I was getting around 17K.
Moving to the 2014, I then started to notice over 20K per tire - but I was just a litle worried that this might effect the bike's handling. Buke usually goes into the shop for service then end of April or early May. If I am planning a pretty long distance trip - and tires are around 17K or so, I just change them out. I figure I can ride all summer and then some before needing o get new rubber.
Moving to the 2014, I then started to notice over 20K per tire - but I was just a litle worried that this might effect the bike's handling. Buke usually goes into the shop for service then end of April or early May. If I am planning a pretty long distance trip - and tires are around 17K or so, I just change them out. I figure I can ride all summer and then some before needing o get new rubber.
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 597
Likes: 35
From: On the lake, Ohio
Thank you for the positive feedback! Gives me some insight on what to expect in the future.
Today I must have Satan on my back! Pulled into my driveway after work and opened garage door. Walked into garage to throw away junk mail and started walking back towards bike to back into garage. I noticed a large shinny rock lodged in rear tire groove. Tried to flick it out with a key, no dice. Grabbed needle nose pliers and guess what? Yep, a stinking nail! Went ahead and pulled the roofing nail out. Looks like in morning I'll pull wheel off and take it to my indy for a new tire. My luck asking about tires I guess....... At least I got 12,000 miles out of it if I want to remain positive.
Today I must have Satan on my back! Pulled into my driveway after work and opened garage door. Walked into garage to throw away junk mail and started walking back towards bike to back into garage. I noticed a large shinny rock lodged in rear tire groove. Tried to flick it out with a key, no dice. Grabbed needle nose pliers and guess what? Yep, a stinking nail! Went ahead and pulled the roofing nail out. Looks like in morning I'll pull wheel off and take it to my indy for a new tire. My luck asking about tires I guess....... At least I got 12,000 miles out of it if I want to remain positive.