Tire(s) Replacement Question
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,466
From: Charleston, SC
I think he was worried also about mixing tread patterns. Heck, it that rear tire had 14,000 miles left on it, I wouldn't take it off to begin with, even if the treads were different from the front tire. I don't think treads make THAT much of a difference anyway.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,493
From: Decatur, Alabama
So here's the deal. Legal limit for MC tire tread depth is 2/32". I've always replaced my tires at 3/32" or greater. Never saw much of an upside to gambling down to 2/32". When I put my bike in winter storage last week I measured the tread depth of the OE Dunlop 408/407. Back was 7/32". Front was 3/32".
Carl
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,171
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From: U.S.A. Upstate N. Y.
Tire Replacement
If my tires have approximately 10k on them, I always replace both the front and the rear. Motorcycle tires have a contact patch the size of your fist..To me, the 7 hundred bucks spent putting a new set of tires on is money well spent. Pushing a tire to the maximum tread life is not worth the possibility of tire failure and what could be worst. IMHO, throw them in the dumpster and put on a new set of tires, safe than sorry..
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 798
From: Bear Flag, lower end
If my tires have approximately 10k on them, I always replace both the front and the rear. Motorcycle tires have a contact patch the size of your fist..To me, the 7 hundred bucks spent putting a new set of tires on is money well spent. Pushing a tire to the maximum tread life is not worth the possibility of tire failure and what could be worst. IMHO, throw them in the dumpster and put on a new set of tires, safe than sorry..
Last edited by hbsoldier3; Nov 20, 2019 at 08:48 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 1,903
From: East Coast, USA
Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, tires shall have a tread groove pattern depth of at least 2⁄32 of an inch when measured in a major tread groove. The measurement shall not be made where tie bars, humps or fillets are located.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-id...3_175&rgn=div8
https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/Safety1n...713_v4_tag.pdf
Last edited by LQQK_OUT; Nov 20, 2019 at 09:43 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 37
From: Rockland County, NY
I agree with those who say to mix them.
The tires are almost the same except for the tread pattern.
You won't experience any difference.
Your rear tire may not last quite as long as your calculations tell you, but you still have plenty of life left.
Change the rear when you need to.
The tires are almost the same except for the tread pattern.
You won't experience any difference.
Your rear tire may not last quite as long as your calculations tell you, but you still have plenty of life left.
Change the rear when you need to.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 4,244
From: U.S.A. Upstate N. Y.
Tire Replacement
I just installed two new Avon Cobras, mounted & balanced, had Kurvey Girl right angled valves installed too. It was around 7 hundred plus the cost of the stems. I'm **** too about tires, been riding for over fifty years and I really' don't care about the cost of tires or how many miles I get out if a set.. l like the security of having new tires in contact with the pavement. Our life's are worth more than a set of tires, IMHO.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
feel like I'm missing something 14,000 mi left sounds like a new tire (???) why even measure the tread depth on it.
OTOH, assuming its not new.....tires don't wear linearly. The only thing touching the ground when you're flying 70mph around a curve is your tires. Don't skimp. Replace them both.
OTOH, assuming its not new.....tires don't wear linearly. The only thing touching the ground when you're flying 70mph around a curve is your tires. Don't skimp. Replace them both.
Last edited by F150HD; Nov 20, 2019 at 06:14 PM.
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 72
From: North East
Follow up:
I sent an email to Dunlop Customer Support inquiring about their official position regarding potentially running a new American Elite front tire with a rear OE Dunlop D407. In today's litigious world I wasn't sure if or when I would get a reply. Kudos to Dunlop for not only stepping up and supplying the reply below but also doing it in a very timely manner. FYI. YMMV.
Hi David,
We appreciate your contact and for riding Dunlop. We have been “fielding” this fitment question for almost 10 years when the American Elite was first introduced. Our official recommendation is to run matching tires front and rear, however, based on rider feedback the D407 / D408 and American Elite series all run fine together on the same bike.
Hope this helps – ride safe!
Dave Johnson
Consumer Affairs
Dunlop Motorcycle Tires
P.O. Box 1109, Buffalo, NY 14240
Phone O: 800.845.8378
Phone O: 330.833.2826
djohnson@dunlopmotorcycletires.com
I sent an email to Dunlop Customer Support inquiring about their official position regarding potentially running a new American Elite front tire with a rear OE Dunlop D407. In today's litigious world I wasn't sure if or when I would get a reply. Kudos to Dunlop for not only stepping up and supplying the reply below but also doing it in a very timely manner. FYI. YMMV.
Hi David,
We appreciate your contact and for riding Dunlop. We have been “fielding” this fitment question for almost 10 years when the American Elite was first introduced. Our official recommendation is to run matching tires front and rear, however, based on rider feedback the D407 / D408 and American Elite series all run fine together on the same bike.
Hope this helps – ride safe!
Dave Johnson
Consumer Affairs
Dunlop Motorcycle Tires
P.O. Box 1109, Buffalo, NY 14240
Phone O: 800.845.8378
Phone O: 330.833.2826
djohnson@dunlopmotorcycletires.com
Last edited by peddler; Nov 20, 2019 at 08:16 PM.