Thanks for all the info - this is why I paid to support this forum! I realize I could have posted this in the Tire and Wheel thread, but it wouldn't be as helpful getting responses from Sportster riders!

I do have the D402 on front. Unfortunately it's brand new and not in the budget for replacement any time soon. I glad to hear that it is most likely tire related so I can get it fixed eventually. In the meantime I will try increasing the air pressure.

 

I have to comment on the commander 2's. I get slammed every time I say something. They do wear good and seen to do ok in the rain. But tar snakes can be scary......be careful.
I have tried different air pressure's to no avail. The bike tends to follow the tar snake or even slide.
Not a noob been riding since 1976.

 

Bought a Road King new in 2008 with the stock D402s. First time out on the interstate (less than 3000 miles) I also had the groove wobble. More pressure lessened it but it never went away with those tires. Dunlop Elite IIIs were great for about 10,000 miles but began reacting to the road at around 10,000 miles. Had to replace a front tire near that time and discovered that the front tire has little input to groove wobble. The wobble did not improve until a later rear tire replacement. Then all was good again. Have now tried Michelin Commader IIs and am well pleased but have not yet accumulated 10,000 miles on them. I run the max allowed air pressure shown on the sidewalls (many will argue) and get excellent tread wear mileage. HEAT is the tires number one enemy. The higher cold pressure you start with, the cooler the tire will run. LOAD RANGE is vital to your tire choice. With whatever you choose, match the rear Dunlop load capability or don't buy that tire.

 

Best tire I have had so far and I have tried the Dunlops and CII's

 

I'm very happy with my new Dunlop Elites that now have about 2,500 miles on them. I typically add about 1 to 2 pounds of additional PSI to the pressures indicated in my HD owner's manual, but no more than that I would NEVER INFLATE to the PSI stamped on the sidewalls....that PSI stamping usually also reads "MAX"....ie: the maximum PSI that the bead will hold. Lots of different cycles use the same tire, so the tire manufacturer really has no idea which vehicle you are putting the tire on...I stick with the Cycle manufacturer's recomended PSI numbers. Lots of discussion on PSI...but then again there's a lot of discussion about using automobile tires ..... NEVER FOR ME!!!

 

Nothing wrong with the 402 that you have to change it now. Run the pressure recommended in the manual and you will get a lot of miles on the front. Now that you know what it is, just relax and go with the flow. If you get on a long stretch that has grooves, it will wear you out if you fight them. Your taxes paid for the whole lane so don't be afraid to use it if you need to. Use the time to read the million tire threads and decide what you want to replace it with when the time comes.

 

Elite III are the best for my 07 as far as grooves are concerned.

 

Great advice - basically what I had planned to do. I try to keep to the right side of the lane though. In this part of Ontario they have no respect for the center line - if there is something blocking their lane they will steer right over to the other lane regardless of oncoming traffic. Heaven forbid they have to so or stop!

Thanks again for all the feedback!

 

Interesting that the rear had an affect too. My rear tire is not new and is wore kind of flat in the middle.

 

Pavement Grooves ? Soultion -.Avon Cobras.