Harley Davidson Forums

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

is this normal??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 12, 2013 | 08:40 PM
Share
  #1  
sporty63's Avatar
sporty63
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Default is this normal??
This is my 2nd metzler in less than 1 year that has done the same thing. Metztler claims its normal. Both tires are date stamped less than 6 months old, both has less than 3k miles on them. the bike is stored in a garage on carpet.

does this look like normal wear??

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/...ps19248d65.jpg
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 12, 2013 | 08:44 PM
Share
  #2  
Mikem8's Avatar
Mikem8
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
From: Cali
Default
Are we looking at the cracks within the tree? That doesn't look normal.
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 12, 2013 | 08:46 PM
Share
  #3  
06Sporty75's Avatar
06Sporty75
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 725
Likes: 3
From: Hagerstown, MD
Default
I've seen it before, it's normal on softer tires, nothing to worry about, all the strength of the tire Is inside the steel belt, the outer layer is just for gripping the road.
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 12, 2013 | 08:46 PM
Share
  #4  
sporty63's Avatar
sporty63
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Default
Originally Posted by Mikem8
Are we looking at the cracks within the tree? That doesn't look normal.
yes, in between the treads
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 12, 2013 | 08:48 PM
Share
  #5  
sporty63's Avatar
sporty63
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Default
Originally Posted by 06Sporty75
I've seen it before, it's normal on softer tires, nothing to worry about, all the strength of the tire Is inside the steel belt, the outer layer is just for gripping the road.
thats what metztler said. it just didnt look right to me. will it continue to crack??
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 06:24 AM
Share
  #6  
Thumper26's Avatar
Thumper26
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 50
From: A barrier island in NJ
Default
I had the Metzler 880's put on at the end of last summer. If it stops raining, I'll take a look at mine for the same cracks. However, as I mull the areas of tire's functions, I'm not sure I'd be alarmed if I found them; but I have to agree that intuitively, the cracks seem wrong on such new tires.
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 06:28 AM
Share
  #7  
Scuba10jdl's Avatar
Scuba10jdl
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 212
Default
It's normal. It's happened on every bike tire I've ever owned.

They're called stress cracks and can arise for a lot of reasons from age to just simple use.
 
Last edited by Scuba10jdl; Jun 13, 2013 at 01:39 PM.
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Jun 13, 2013 | 11:48 AM
Share
  #8  
IRON1250's Avatar
IRON1250
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 24
From: New Hampshire
Default
5 year old stock tires with 5000+ miles on them show no cracks like that.
 
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 Jun 13, 2013 | 11:55 AM
Share
  #9  
PanHeadRich's Avatar
PanHeadRich
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,591
Likes: 68
From: Big Bear City, CA
Default
Originally Posted by IRON1250
5 year old stock tires with 5000+ miles on them show no cracks like that.
Agreed, I've NEVER seen that happen to stock Dunlop's on either of my bikes.
 
Reply
0
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 12:45 PM
Share
  #10  
DallasSportster's Avatar
DallasSportster
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Default
Originally Posted by PanHeadRich
Agreed, I've NEVER seen that happen to stock Dunlop's on either of my bikes.
+2. My stock rear tire is still on my 2008 with about 11K on the dial and no cracks.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:19 AM.

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