Tire(s) Replacement Question
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Club Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 72
From: North East
Tire(s) Replacement Question
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".
Based on current mileage, my calculations indicate I could get another 14,000+ miles (down to 3/32") out of the back tire. The front is already at 3/32". Wear rate would indicate 5,000mi. per 1/32" on the front. I guess I could comfortably get another 2,500 miles out of the front.
I want to replace the OE Dunlop 407/408 tires with Dunlop American Elites when necessary. I hate to replace a rear tire that has 14,000 mi. left on it however it has always been my understanding you shouldn't mix tire tread patterns.
Sorry for the lengthy post.
Do I replace the front with a new Dunlop AE and run mixed tread patterns? Or is it advisable to replace both? Looking for suggestions.
Based on current mileage, my calculations indicate I could get another 14,000+ miles (down to 3/32") out of the back tire. The front is already at 3/32". Wear rate would indicate 5,000mi. per 1/32" on the front. I guess I could comfortably get another 2,500 miles out of the front.
I want to replace the OE Dunlop 407/408 tires with Dunlop American Elites when necessary. I hate to replace a rear tire that has 14,000 mi. left on it however it has always been my understanding you shouldn't mix tire tread patterns.
Sorry for the lengthy post.
Do I replace the front with a new Dunlop AE and run mixed tread patterns? Or is it advisable to replace both? Looking for suggestions.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,132
Likes: 228
From: Garland, TX
Go for it. There been plenty of people including me that have run mixed tread patterns and mixed brands and never had any issues. Just replace the front tire and do the back when it needs it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
no problems. i'm running an american elite on the front and the stock dunlop on the rear. no issues whatsoever. except for this pesky thing where i have to stop every 200+ miles and put gas in the tank. i think it's the tires fault, gotta be ;D
Last edited by skratch; Nov 18, 2019 at 08:05 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 119
From: Penna.
I have two FL's, one with Dunlop American Elites and the other with the stock Dunlop 407's/408's. I am getting excellent mileage out of the 407/408's. I have almost 15,000 miles on the 408 (rear) and it's not nearly worn to need replacement. On the other hand, the other bike with the American Elite, I barely got 11,000 miles out of the rear.
I read somewhere that the American Elites were equivalent to the 407/408's. Not with me they aren't. I get much better mileage out of the stock tires. A friend of mine with a 2014 Limited is experiencing the same.
I hate changing tires so if I can get an additional 4-5,000 miles out of a tire, I'm going with that. I'll buy a stock tire when the dealer has one of his discount days during an open house. FYI.
I read somewhere that the American Elites were equivalent to the 407/408's. Not with me they aren't. I get much better mileage out of the stock tires. A friend of mine with a 2014 Limited is experiencing the same.
I hate changing tires so if I can get an additional 4-5,000 miles out of a tire, I'm going with that. I'll buy a stock tire when the dealer has one of his discount days during an open house. FYI.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,857
Likes: 4,419
From: Texas
Be careful on your extrapolating to estimate life remaining on tires. I've found that tires wear at an accelerated rate (they don't wear at a steady rate - the first 1//32" may be 5,000 miles, but 3/32" to 2/32" could be 1,000 miles).
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1,122
From: 48.067222,12.863611
Those last few 1/32" go real quick.
At like everyone else has said, just mix them. I does not matter.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Charleston, SC
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".
Based on current mileage, my calculations indicate I could get another 14,000+ miles (down to 3/32") out of the back tire. The front is already at 3/32". Wear rate would indicate 5,000mi. per 1/32" on the front. I guess I could comfortably get another 2,500 miles out of the front.
I want to replace the OE Dunlop 407/408 tires with Dunlop American Elites when necessary. I hate to replace a rear tire that has 14,000 mi. left on it however it has always been my understanding you shouldn't mix tire tread patterns.
Sorry for the lengthy post.
Do I replace the front with a new Dunlop AE and run mixed tread patterns? Or is it advisable to replace both? Looking for suggestions.
Based on current mileage, my calculations indicate I could get another 14,000+ miles (down to 3/32") out of the back tire. The front is already at 3/32". Wear rate would indicate 5,000mi. per 1/32" on the front. I guess I could comfortably get another 2,500 miles out of the front.
I want to replace the OE Dunlop 407/408 tires with Dunlop American Elites when necessary. I hate to replace a rear tire that has 14,000 mi. left on it however it has always been my understanding you shouldn't mix tire tread patterns.
Sorry for the lengthy post.
Do I replace the front with a new Dunlop AE and run mixed tread patterns? Or is it advisable to replace both? Looking for suggestions.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 2,858
From: Oklahoma
Just not sure why anyone would want to go to the trouble of installing a tire that only has a couple thousand miles left in it, (unless money very tight at that moment) free tire but very high per mile cost from the installation charge.