Harley Davidson Forums

Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tire Life

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 21, 2017 | 03:15 PM
Share
  #1  
Jayabis's Avatar
Jayabis
Thread Starter
|
Stage I
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
Default Tire Life
I have a 2006 Dyna Low that I bought used and it only has around 6,200 miles. I think the tires are original and still look good and ride well but I am worried that now being over 10 years old if I should change them. Is there a standard number of years of tire life regardless of wear that you should be changing them?

Thanks
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 21, 2017 | 03:21 PM
Share
  #2  
Ratwerke's Avatar
Ratwerke
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 691
Likes: 143
From: N.W. Arkansas
Default
I am in the '6 year' camp.
But here's some Google fodder.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=138
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 21, 2017 | 03:37 PM
Share
  #3  
Imold's Avatar
Imold
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Default
Harley branded Dunlops, by 5 years they'll be really hard and slide relatively easy. Don't goose it or do hard shifts on turns, you might end up sideways. I've done that on old Dunlops. Even the best of brands are losing traction by 5 or 6 years, though nothing I've ridden on was as bad as those Dunlops for aging. An '06 tire is long past a safe ride, any brand.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 21, 2017 | 03:46 PM
Share
  #4  
Scuba10jdl's Avatar
Scuba10jdl
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 212
Default
I too abide by the 6 year rule, especially on motorcycles.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 21, 2017 | 04:44 PM
Share
  #5  
Ratwerke's Avatar
Ratwerke
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 691
Likes: 143
From: N.W. Arkansas
Default
Big 10-4 on stock Dunflops.
I will stretch lifespan on truck tires, but there's only two on a bike, and you really need em both.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 22, 2017 | 06:29 AM
Share
  #6  
harleyrider4300's Avatar
harleyrider4300
Tourer
Veteran: Army
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 359
Likes: 100
From: Florida
Default Change em
Those tires are all that stands between you and the ground. Recommend you replace em
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 22, 2017 | 06:45 AM
Share
  #7  
onelocoman's Avatar
onelocoman
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 294
Likes: 54
From: Missouri
Default
When in doubt change 'em out. That's my new motto. I was one of those guys that just kick em and took off. Not anymore.
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Apr 22, 2017 | 07:42 AM
Share
  #8  
Triumph Jerry's Avatar
Triumph Jerry
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 175
Likes: 22
From: Stuart Fl
Default
Rear tires wear twice as fast as front tires.
If you have over 6,000 miles and both tires look real good, I would say the
front tire is original and the rear has been replaced.
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 22, 2017 | 02:52 PM
Share
  #9  
Kirk57's Avatar
Kirk57
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 143
Likes: 26
From: Prattville, AL USA
Default
Both my tires are dated 0812. 5000 miles. Both still look good. But next year I will replace them both. 6 year rule for me also.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 22, 2017 | 04:33 PM
Share
  #10  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Default
You will find the manufactured dates marked in the sidewall, which will confirm when they were made.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:50 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE