402 tire vs 404
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 458
Likes: 5
From:
RE: 402 tire vs 404
I've had blowouts with "underrated" tires, one at over 90 mph. No problems with control at all... at least not any different than with other tires. But, it's your bike and your life, so buy what you want. 
I'm just saying that I've never heard of anyone having a problem with them.
I'm just saying that I've never heard of anyone having a problem with them.
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 458
Likes: 5
From:
RE: 402 tire vs 404
ORIGINAL: billnourse
Hate to disagree with you, but my wife's bike just recently had a 404 on it. Said right on the side "Made in Japan". Wish I had kept so I could post a pic.
As far as riding style making a difference, same rider, same bike, same roads, etc. 404=5,000 miles 402=10,500+.
Regards,
Bill
ORIGINAL: Spectrexx
Another interesting tidbit of information.... Dunlop is the ONLY manufacturer to produce motorcycle tires in the USA! The models listed above are not made in Japan, although some of the superbike tires are.
Another interesting tidbit of information.... Dunlop is the ONLY manufacturer to produce motorcycle tires in the USA! The models listed above are not made in Japan, although some of the superbike tires are.
As far as riding style making a difference, same rider, same bike, same roads, etc. 404=5,000 miles 402=10,500+.
Regards,
Bill
I still don't agree with the mileage. You said "same bike". Do you mean a mixed set (front and back)? My 404's usually last about 1 season (15,000+ miles) on my cruiser, and just over 10,000 on my Sporty. I have already put 9200 on one of my D404s since March and there's still plenty of tread left. It should easily last the rest of the year. I ride all my bikes very hard and on a lot of twisty mountain roads. I can't imagine your tire wearing in 5000 miles.... could be a bad batch, or maybe they changed the formula of the compound for a while. It happens.....
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
RE: 402 tire vs 404
I have to agree with Spectrexx. I've been using 404s on my softail for a couple years and have put over 8000 on them. I got rid of them earlier than I needed to, because traded wheels with someone, tires and all. They still had plenty of tread left.
RE: 402 tire vs 404
I still have the original tires on my FLHT, but will need to replace soon. My only issue has been with traction. I have locked the front wheel several times under hard braking-something I have never encountered on any of my previous bikes in the last 10 years. I would trade some wear for better grip. This thread has been most informative-just wondering if others have had similar grip issues...
I'm not sure if this shouldn't be a separate thread altogether?
I'm not sure if this shouldn't be a separate thread altogether?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
RE: 402 tire vs 404
Tom,
What I meant by same bike was she had a 402 on the rear of her Heritage. I changed the tire early at 10,500 miles because of a long trip we were taking. Put on a 404. 5,000 miles later is was completely done. Replaced it with a 402 that she now has 6,000 miles on and has more than half the tread left.
I was by the HD shop today to get a new set of bars for her Heritage and looked at the 404's they had in stock. All 4 made in Japan. Must be something new going on with Dunlop. Maybe the tires that are outsourced to Japan are not getting the mileage that the USA ones were.
Regards,
Bill
What I meant by same bike was she had a 402 on the rear of her Heritage. I changed the tire early at 10,500 miles because of a long trip we were taking. Put on a 404. 5,000 miles later is was completely done. Replaced it with a 402 that she now has 6,000 miles on and has more than half the tread left.
I was by the HD shop today to get a new set of bars for her Heritage and looked at the 404's they had in stock. All 4 made in Japan. Must be something new going on with Dunlop. Maybe the tires that are outsourced to Japan are not getting the mileage that the USA ones were.
Regards,
Bill
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 458
Likes: 5
From:
RE: 402 tire vs 404
That's quite possible. They may be using a slightly different formula there due to environmental concerns.... their regs are a lot more stringent than ours. I think I may have to run the GT501s from now on. The GT501 costs a lot less than the other models, too. I can get a set for $165 shipping included. I mount/balance them myself, so that saves a few more bucks. I just don't need tires that say Harley-Davidson on my bike..... There aren't many parts on my machines that are original Harley-Davidson anyway. The bikes I own consist of about 50% aftermarket or homemade parts. I tend to end up with better quality that way.
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 458
Likes: 5
From:
RE: 402 tire vs 404
ORIGINAL: R1Geezrglide
I still have the original tires on my FLHT, but will need to replace soon. My only issue has been with traction. I have locked the front wheel several times under hard braking-something I have never encountered on any of my previous bikes in the last 10 years. I would trade some wear for better grip. This thread has been most informative-just wondering if others have had similar grip issues...
I'm not sure if this shouldn't be a separate thread altogether?
I still have the original tires on my FLHT, but will need to replace soon. My only issue has been with traction. I have locked the front wheel several times under hard braking-something I have never encountered on any of my previous bikes in the last 10 years. I would trade some wear for better grip. This thread has been most informative-just wondering if others have had similar grip issues...
I'm not sure if this shouldn't be a separate thread altogether?
I take it you have dual disks on the front? I can say that I've never locked the front wheel on any bike on asphalt or concrete, even when wet. You're tread may be getting a bit thin. I could see it being possible if the tire hydroplanes, though. Then you are really in a world of ****! I've had it happen a couple times riding on dirt roads, but caught it immediately and was able to recover easily. Then again, I've raced Harleys on dirt for a long time, so I was used to it. Guess that's the reason the flat track bikes never had front brakes (didn't have rear ones either for several years). If ya wanted to slow, either let off the throttle and kick the back end out some more, or hit the hay bails. Been there, done that.... ouch! LOL! I remember one old racer telling me that you can't win a race using your brakes, so why put 'em on? They're just more unnecessary weight.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 5
From: Hickory, NC
RE: 402 tire vs 404
ORIGINAL: pococj
Try the 491 type instead of the HD moniker tires. I get the same mileage from them as the 402, and usually pay less than $90 per tire. I don't need to support HD to the extent of $30-50 a tire so I can point to their name on it and say,"Wow, I gots a real HD tire!"
Try the 491 type instead of the HD moniker tires. I get the same mileage from them as the 402, and usually pay less than $90 per tire. I don't need to support HD to the extent of $30-50 a tire so I can point to their name on it and say,"Wow, I gots a real HD tire!"
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
RE: 402 tire vs 404
D404 130/90-16 rear tire max load 761 @ 41 psi
D402 MT90-16 rear tire max load 827 @ 40 psi
D401 130/90-16 rear tire max load 805 @41 psi
D402 MT90-16 rear tire max load 827 @ 40 psi
D401 130/90-16 rear tire max load 805 @41 psi
http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire..._tire.asp?id=5