New Rear Tire on the Fatboy at 5000 miles!!

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Dec 17, 2015 | 10:39 AM

#21

Joe_G

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2013

Posts: 2,721

Likes: 103

From: St. Louis, MO

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1004ron

All tires have tread wear indicators - your owners handbook will help you identify their location on the tire.

There is a little triangle on every tire's sidewall and the wear indicators are where the little triangle is pointing. That's what the triangles are there for.

Dec 17, 2015 | 05:43 PM

#22

macafly

Cruiser

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 123

Likes: 4

From: Shoreline, Washington

You also need to remember the fact that the factory Dunlops that come on new bikes have a softer rubber compound than the replacement ones, so they will wear faster. I guess extra grip is a good idea if the buyer is a newby or hasn't ridden in awhile. Your new tire should last 1-2k longer.

Dec 17, 2015 | 05:56 PM

#23

Jackie Paper

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 38,416

Likes: 6,366

From: Honah Lee

All Dunlops are not created equal.. So it's really hard to compare to others. My Dunlop 591 160-70B-17 goes like a eraser on a #2 Pedigree driven by a second grader. (An Elite will go 20K+) I am lucky to get 7K on my 591. Try lifting on yellow and red lights rather then charging up to the line like 99% of the others out there. You're stopping a lot of weight there and on a pretty narrow strip even when they are worn out. Dunlops have very good breaking even when wet and to get that sacrifices life.

Dec 17, 2015 | 06:30 PM

#24

Dragginboards

Intermediate

Joined: Nov 2015

Posts: 25

Likes: 0

From: Ft Worth, Texas

5K is about rite

Quote:

Originally Posted by uklauren

I took my 16 Fatboy for its 5k service today and they said the rear's tread was right down to the legal limit. Running the stock fat Dunlops. I find it incredible that I only got 5k from the rear tire, on my previous Heritages I could get 10-12k. It's not like I do burnouts every day (just kidding I never do).

Lucky I have 'Tires for Life' at the Dealership so I only had to pay for labor. I've already had the front tire exchanged when that one went wobbly but that was done under warranty. Is it the crappy Dunlops or me?

Have an 05 Fat Boy. Used to get about 9k out of stock Dunlops, went to Metzler's when I put on 18" Renegade wheels. Now I struggle to get 5,500 on the rear, front goes to 13k. I hurt my distance with the change to the low profile 18" wheel, but I like the look.
It is hard on my long distance trips having two tire changes in 3 weeks. My buddy has 08 Fat boy with factory wheels and runs Pirelli's and his back tire is done at 5.5 like mine. Picture is Farthest North Outpost HD in Fairbanks, AK in August for new rear tire, number 2 of 3 on that trip from Ft Worth.

Dec 17, 2015 | 07:20 PM

#25

kneesinthebreeze

Road Master

Joined: Sep 2012

Posts: 875

Likes: 10

From: Corp of Discovery trail, Missouri

I changed the first rear tire on my Deluxe at 6000 miles. I thought that the tire wear was too quick. I have 8000 on my second tire and still have some good tire wear left. I also use the engine as a brake and never have done a burn off.

I have paid attention to using the front brake more since my new tire and I think that has helped
. I also thought the tire that came on the bike new must have had a softer compound because I have not drastically changed any of my riding habits and yet the second tire is getting much better wear. It is a mystery.

Dec 18, 2015 | 08:20 AM

#26

oct1949

Club Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 145,895

Likes: 821

From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..

If you'd do some checking, 5k is about average on the 200 rear tire...

all five of my 150-16 rears on our Heritage has lasted 10 -13K

Then read about some Touring bikes rear wear... Lots of them can go 15-20K...

So the tire size can and does make all the difference in the world on tread wear...