Harley don't put the E3's on their bikes. Honda does though, if I recall correctly. (ironically).

I never liked any of the other Dunlop tires either (just like you). I never cared for them. So I can relate to your opinion of them.

But I do like the E3's.

It's cool that we all get to choose a favorite.

 

have an 09 RK...running harley dunlop oem. currently have 29k on front tire and 16k on rear. going to daytona-3k. will replace both tires when i get back. run max. air pressure and cruise all day at 75-80. tires look like they are wearing out quickly...then you reach a point where they seem to quit wearing. i will replace with dunlop oem for sure.

 

I replaced the original Dunlop D402 MU85B16 Rear Tire on my 2010 Heritage with an E3 Elite MU90-16 at 9,100 miles. About 4,000 of these miles were done at 70-80 mph on a trip to and from Sturgis last year. I rode single but was also was fully loaded for camping, etc.

Tread on the OE Dunlop was worn right at the tread warning bars. Since the original tread depth was 11/32" and the wear bars are at 2/32", I got almost exactly 1,000 miles per 32nd of an inch of tread from the OE D402 MU85B16 tire.

I now have 12,600 miles on the bike (3,500 on the E3's) and the E3 tread depth is now exactly 6.4/32". All of these miles have been local mixed roads and LA freeways; riding solo with no additional weight on the bike. The original tread depth for this tire, like the D402's, is also 11/32". This translates to a wear rate of 761 miles per 32nd of an inch of tread depth. At this rate of wear, the wear bars will be showing at 6,850 miles on the E3, and there will be no tread left at 8,400 miles if I were to ride it that far.

I do like that the E3 does not follow the rain grooves and pavement cracks to the extent that the D402 seemed to do.

It may also be that the rate of wear is not linear throughout the life of the tire; but at this rate of wear based on my experience . . . tread life does not seem to be an advantage to the E3.

I also had the unhappy experience of having Harley-Davidson corporate try and deny warranty responsibility for something that was not even remotely related to the tire, because the tire was not the O.E. tire, even though the problem was documented 6,000 miles prior to the replacement of the tire. Forewarned is forearmed in this regard.

 

?

The stock rear tire on the 10 Heritage is a D401 (150/80B16 71H, copied from the web page).

The closest E3 is a 160, I guess people run them, but no issues with rubbing against the fender?

 

Go back a few pages and look at the Dunlop charts I posted.

The E3 160 is not wider than the oem 150. (I ran them on 2 Heritages).

There has to be other contributing factors. No way the OEM tire will outwear the E3,..... in equal test conditions.

Could be wrong air pressure, different riding conditions, too many burnouts, very rough pavement.......
Hell I got near your "6850 death number" on mine now with plenty of tread left!

 

From page 25 of the Owners Manual, and pages 1-20 and 2-7 from the Harley-Davidson Service Manual for my FLSTC: Dunlop 401 150/80B16 OR Dunlop 402 MU85B16

My bike has the Aluminum Chrome Rim option and this may be why it came with the 402's instead of the 401's

As far as wear rates. I'm taking the original tread depth (11/32") from the Dunlop Web Site for these tires . . . and measuring the current tread depth with a digital depth gauge (Vernier Caliper).

Tire pressure 40 PSI cold

It is what it is.

 

Ok, thanks, sorry about that.

This kinda freaks me out about the D402's.

 

My low tire wear "is what it is" also. LOL

We need more E3 users to chime in with the mileage they are getting.

 

Stock Dunlops for me. 13,000 m out of the last rear.

 

I went with the E3's this time and i'm sold on them. I went with the 140 in the rear as I didn't feel comfortable squeezing a 160 on. Plus you can't hardly see the tire on a heritage anyway. If I'm not mistaking Dunlop is or has come out with the American 3 series. I like the tread pattern, tar snakes are less noticeable. I like the wear and the handling. If I do make a change, which it will be a while from what I'm seeing with the tread wear it will be the American 3.