Original tire vs replacement
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,171
From: SE Michigan
OEM Dunlop D407F lasted 12,800 miles. Rain or shine, didn't feel bad on the road. Did get cupping on both front and rear.
Replaced tires for a Dunlop American Elite - can't say I noticed a drastic improvement, maybe better rain traction. No cupping.
Rear AE replaced after 6,000 miles due to nail in tire (tread depth was down to 6/32" at that point - equivalent wear rate to OEM). Installed Michelin Commander III on the rear - much longer tread life (6/32" remaining after 12,000 miles). No other differences.
Front AE replaced after 14,000 miles due to a nail in the tire. Bad cupping. Great tread life (4/32" remain after 14k miles).
All in all, no drastic improvements in ride or feel from one tire to another. OE cupped. AE front cupped. AE and CIII get great mileage over OE.
Replaced tires for a Dunlop American Elite - can't say I noticed a drastic improvement, maybe better rain traction. No cupping.
Rear AE replaced after 6,000 miles due to nail in tire (tread depth was down to 6/32" at that point - equivalent wear rate to OEM). Installed Michelin Commander III on the rear - much longer tread life (6/32" remaining after 12,000 miles). No other differences.
Front AE replaced after 14,000 miles due to a nail in the tire. Bad cupping. Great tread life (4/32" remain after 14k miles).
All in all, no drastic improvements in ride or feel from one tire to another. OE cupped. AE front cupped. AE and CIII get great mileage over OE.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,880
Likes: 4,442
From: Texas
Come down to Augusta, GA lol
I figured SE Mich would have plenty... I grew up in NW Ohio and had plenty of junk on the roads - especially those Michigan drivers!
I figured SE Mich would have plenty... I grew up in NW Ohio and had plenty of junk on the roads - especially those Michigan drivers!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,171
From: SE Michigan
I'm afraid to say it, but in all my years of riding, I've not had a nail in my tire yet.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 279
Likes: 315
From: Southern Vancouver Island
I replaced the oem Dunlop tires on my Ultra Limited this past fall with new rubber. Mileage was at 24000 kms and tires still had tread but rear tire was cupping. Probably could have gone a few more miles but shock of all shocks, my local dealer had a tire sale on and price for two new Harley Dunlops was $500 Canadian which was cheaper than many of the aftermarket suppliers ( assuming they actually had the tire size you needed in stock )
I was pretty happy with the original tires and for the price, I'm very happy with the new tires as well. Bike rides well, handles well and tires seem to provide good traction in both wet and dry conditions. I have no problem with using other brands but unlike the 4 wheeled automotive world, the factory Harley branded Dunlops are actually pretty decent in my opinion.
I was pretty happy with the original tires and for the price, I'm very happy with the new tires as well. Bike rides well, handles well and tires seem to provide good traction in both wet and dry conditions. I have no problem with using other brands but unlike the 4 wheeled automotive world, the factory Harley branded Dunlops are actually pretty decent in my opinion.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 1,603
From: High Point, NC.
I got around 17k on my OEMs on my 17 bike. Replaced mine as well with the commander 3's and was very impressed with the ride and feeling. Felt smoother and stickier kinda. Cant say what kind of mileage I would have gotten. Traded bike with 24k on it, but if I remember, the tires still looked like that had another 5k or so.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 484
Likes: 277
From: Apex, NC
Researching this is absolutely on my list, I just have not gotten to it yet. My motorcycle is six weeks old, and have not hit this issue yet.. This is a legitimate issue.
With cars and other motorcycles I have owned, the OEM tires have been from a prominent tire manufacturer, with a well known tire model, but the model number on the tire has been unique to the OEM.
In researching this, I have found that the OEM version of the tire has been "optimized" or rather "cost optimized" as a differentiator to the standard model of the same tire that you would get through a normal tire retailer. Scale from the OEM is what makes this make sense. The optimizations may be in the use of a different compound, different compound layout, different tred depth.. or some other cost saving optimization between the bulk purchase OEM tire build and the standard retail tire.
I have not checked to see this with the Scorcher's that you get from a standard tire retailer vs HD.. but I would guess that at the very least, the Scorchers that I would get from a standard retailer would not have Harley Davidson on the rubber.
With cars and other motorcycles I have owned, the OEM tires have been from a prominent tire manufacturer, with a well known tire model, but the model number on the tire has been unique to the OEM.
In researching this, I have found that the OEM version of the tire has been "optimized" or rather "cost optimized" as a differentiator to the standard model of the same tire that you would get through a normal tire retailer. Scale from the OEM is what makes this make sense. The optimizations may be in the use of a different compound, different compound layout, different tred depth.. or some other cost saving optimization between the bulk purchase OEM tire build and the standard retail tire.
I have not checked to see this with the Scorcher's that you get from a standard tire retailer vs HD.. but I would guess that at the very least, the Scorchers that I would get from a standard retailer would not have Harley Davidson on the rubber.
The sad part is that there are only 2 tires out there that currently come in a 160/60-18 front: the Michelin Scorcher and the Metzeler Cruisetec. I went with the Cruisetec at my tire change. Fortunately, they were much better than the POS Scorcher.
Last edited by Stormin70; May 20, 2022 at 10:48 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,590
Likes: 8,418
From: Inland NW
Lovin' the AEs that replaced the OEMs, hoping for better life.
OEM rear had cords showing at a bit under 10K, front was cupping so I had them both changed. Tires were a ***** to find last year!
OEM rear had cords showing at a bit under 10K, front was cupping so I had them both changed. Tires were a ***** to find last year!
Supporter
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 412
Likes: 208
From: Bothell, WA
To answer your question, Michelin only makes that particular Scorcher in the OEM HD version. I see that you have a newer Fatboy - I owned an 18 FLFBS before I traded it in on my 21 FLHX. The Scorchers that are available for the Fatboy are known to have a very short lifespan - especially the front. I only got 3,900 miles out of mine before it was worn bald. That was 7 months of regular riding.
The sad part is that there are only 2 tires out there that currently come in a 160/60-18 front: the Michelin Scorcher and the Metzeler Cruisetec. I went with the Cruisetec at my tire change. Fortunately, they were much better than the POS Scorcher.
The sad part is that there are only 2 tires out there that currently come in a 160/60-18 front: the Michelin Scorcher and the Metzeler Cruisetec. I went with the Cruisetec at my tire change. Fortunately, they were much better than the POS Scorcher.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 484
Likes: 277
From: Apex, NC
That may save me some time! As far as tire life goes, I value grip over tire life. On my rally bikes, I need the tires to last a rally, so 6-10K miles over a 14 day period is an important feature. The reality, a mid rally tire change is usually a thing. For my track bikes, I am used to replacing tires every other track day. For this bike, I am ok with 3K miles out of a tire if it grips well and offers superior wet traction... as I live in the PNW, and dealing with rain is a fact of life if you ride at all!
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