Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Rear tire?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 22, 2014 | 03:50 PM
  #1  
Gliden's Avatar
Gliden
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 37
From: NJ
Default Rear tire?

I went out today against my better judgement. 40 degrees, I'm dressed with stuff that makes me feel stiff. I go into a left sweeper on a highway and the bike starts to shake right n left as I'm in the turns or sweepers on the highway.

I don't recall it doing that when it was 70 degrees. I'm thinking it was something to do with the cold temps and even how I'm dressed all bundled up.

I come home later and look at my tires and see my rear tire is flat even with the tread indicator. Basically bald in the middle and plenty of tread at the edges.

Do you think this shake or wobble was due to me leaning on a rear tire bald in the middle and deep treads on the ends??
 
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2014 | 03:58 PM
  #2  
mkguitar's Avatar
mkguitar
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Default

what happened to pre-ride checks.

I think that is really the question- if your tire is worn out, it's worn out and all handling bets are off.

if we didn't look at the tread, did we look at pressure or anything else?

TCLOCK

https://micapeak.com/info/T-CLOCK.html



mike
 

Last edited by mkguitar; Nov 22, 2014 at 04:01 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2014 | 04:05 PM
  #3  
Gliden's Avatar
Gliden
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 37
From: NJ
Default

Lol....yup fail.
Any recommendations Mike on a new rear?
 
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2014 | 05:03 PM
  #4  
Eunoterpsia's Avatar
Eunoterpsia
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 20
From: Reno
Default

If you are running a flat center... best believe what you are experienced is a major... stop... drop... and roll.

I am due next riding season for new tires.

I will go with D407s and remove/install them myself. Though I am open to suggestions.

The question I have in regards to tires has more to do with heat rating. I know heat ratings exist on vehicle tires.

Anyways, I'm damn sure NOT going to pay the dealer cost/labor for something I can do myself.

Next real question if you have graduated... is to find an indy or other dealer that will do a good job putting the skins on at a decent rate. I know I have read on this site many instances where folks pay 15-30 dollars for mounting and balancing.
 
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2014 | 06:01 PM
  #5  
Hausguy's Avatar
Hausguy
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 14
From: Seattle
Default

Dunlop American Elite's are the 3rd party equivalent to the stock HD rubber. I like them and they're relatively inexpensive.
 
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2014 | 06:31 PM
  #6  
toothmansteveb's Avatar
toothmansteveb
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
Default

T-clocs
 
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2014 | 06:52 PM
  #7  
mkguitar's Avatar
mkguitar
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Default

well, the last rear was the dunlop- I prefer to go with oem style tires rather than experiment.

my last rear was actually less expensive at a dealer- we have 2 tire indys in PHX ( moto tire and the wheel shop) who help make this a competitive market they quoted my the american elite- but were backordered...the dealer had the HD for about $10 cheaper and I was going in for a recall anyway.

mike
 

Last edited by mkguitar; Nov 22, 2014 at 07:05 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2014 | 06:58 PM
  #8  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,586
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Default

As the tire wears, you get a wider and wider flat spot. Great for breaking I guess but when you roll up on it in the turns, it gets real squirrely going and coming off that edge. To me you get use to slowly till it gets really bad. New tire will feel like a sport bike.
 
Reply
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 Nov 22, 2014 | 06:59 PM
  #9  
05UltraBob's Avatar
05UltraBob
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,138
Likes: 457
From: Littleton CO
Default

Originally Posted by Hausguy
Dunlop American Elite's are the 3rd party equivalent to the stock HD rubber. I like them and they're relatively inexpensive.

I second the AEs. I have the AE on the rear and it is wearing like iron and handles very well.
 
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2014 | 07:17 PM
  #10  
Smokey Stover's Avatar
Smokey Stover
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 55
From: Florida
Default

Definitely time for new rubber. If you were down here I'd recommend the Michelin Commander II. I have no idea how they handle on such cold pavement. You said 40 deg temp, Could it have been below freezing prior to your ride? And possibly black ice. Also there's the bagger wobble issue, But if your swingarm bushings or rear MM's arer sloppy you'd know at any temp in the sweepers.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:15 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