Fat Bob Front Tire Wearing Down Funny

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Sep 27, 2010 | 08:50 AM

#11

MYKSHD

Road Captain

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 530

Likes: 2

From: Goldenrod Crossing MN 56201

Have the same issue on my 2008 fxdf 9000 miles. My dealer said it was from too aggressive front braking. I know I use the front brake more than the back but the back brakes are lacking. Mike

Sep 27, 2010 | 10:25 AM

#12

Dutch550

Tourer

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 463

Likes: 0

From: Fall River MA

I would think the tire would wear evenly if that were the case. I am going to go with that it is a bad design. Any sugg
estions on a replacement.

Sep 28, 2010 | 02:04 PM

#13

CRZYLGZZ

Road Warrior

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 1,678

Likes: 1

From: Brooklyn, NY

Interesting points. I would guess the Balancing. FB tires are strange.

What I have done in the past is ask the tech to measure balance weights in relaio

Sep 28, 2010 | 02:06 PM

#14

CRZYLGZZ

Road Warrior

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 1,678

Likes: 1

From: Brooklyn, NY

In relation to the air pressure.HD recommends a minimum and max air pressure value. I found that just 5 pounds of air throws the balance off a lot. Just putting that out their.

Sep 28, 2010 | 03:00 PM

#15

paul s

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 2,166

Likes: 4

From: la

Mine was cupping also, it was the first time I ever had a rear tire outlast the front. No more knobbies for me.

Oct 17, 2010 | 05:37 PM

#16

BaldwingHD

Stage I

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

Happened on my first tire and HD replaced uder warrentee, after about 7,000 miles it is happening to the second one as well. Going to ask for a different tire. I chck the pressure regularly, keep it at 36 psi... I think it is a bad design! Never had a tire wear like this before!

Oct 18, 2010 | 07:42 AM

#17

Robert Le Gras

Road Warrior

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 1,384

Likes: 0

From: Austin, Texas

As I mentioned in a post aboved, my first front was cupping and wore out by 11,000 miles, unusual for my experience on other bikes (the original rear on the Fat Bob lasted 16,000 miles). The second tire though has worn MUCH better, more than the same number of miles so far and no cupping, still quite a bit of tread life.

Perhaps they made a change? Not sure what I'll do when it comes time to replace it. Would be great if there were a "dual compound" choice to consider. . . .

Last edited by Robert Le Gras; Oct 18, 2010 at 07:44 AM.

Oct 18, 2010 | 09:21 AM

#18

Centerline

Road Warrior

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 1,789

Likes: 9

From: Double Oak, Texas

I ride the **** out of my stock Dunlop 427 Fat Bob tires. They are inflated with nitrogen, carefully balanced and the pressure checked multiple times each week. Both tires will wear in the cupping pattern the farther out you go from tread center. I have 12,000 miles per rear tire and about 15,000 on the first front tire and 9,000 so far on the second front tire. A Harley dealer tech (yeah, what do they know) told me this past January that Dunlop changed the tire compound recently in an effort to combat the cupping.
I am very satisfied with the stock FXDF tires, they are long lasting, grip very well, even in the wet.
As I stated, I ride the **** out of the tires from one edge to the other and the rear tire absorbs way more than stock power while delivering the smiles/miles.