Tires ?
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 393
Likes: 53
From: Newport News Va.
Tires ?
I have a 2017 Ultra Limited just coming up on 13K miles. I have read several post on tires and they go all over the map as far as when to replace tires. I have a friend that took his bike to a Harley dealer for a 10K service and they recommended replacing the tires . His tires looked good and showed little sign of ware? Any suggestions?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 6,364
From: pacific northwest
I have a 2017 Ultra Limited just coming up on 13K miles. I have read several post on tires and they go all over the map as far as when to replace tires. I have a friend that took his bike to a Harley dealer for a 10K service and they recommended replacing the tires . His tires looked good and showed little sign of ware? Any suggestions?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,210
Likes: 11,335
From: San Diego, CA
I have a 2017 Ultra Limited just coming up on 13K miles. I have read several post on tires and they go all over the map as far as when to replace tires. I have a friend that took his bike to a Harley dealer for a 10K service and they recommended replacing the tires . His tires looked good and showed little sign of ware? Any suggestions?
There are many variables to tread wear... Riding style, road conditions, tire type/manufacture, bike & passenger weights, etc.... It's almost impossible to estimate tire wear or compare tire wear between different riders, bikes, locations....
I know what wears best for me and my riding style and use that tire.... American Elite tires do the best on my touring bikes.. my "around town" softail does well on the OEM Dunlops....
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
I go by the wear bars, assuming no other damage to the tires. I've been getting about 18K on the first two sets.
I've heard of people needing to replace tires much sooner, and some a bit later.
Doesn't surprise me that your buddy's HD dealer recommended a tire replacement- would expect that work to run up to $1000.
I've heard of people needing to replace tires much sooner, and some a bit later.
Doesn't surprise me that your buddy's HD dealer recommended a tire replacement- would expect that work to run up to $1000.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,683
Likes: 8,415
From: Utah
Years ago my rear tire was just above the wear bar and we had a 3 day weekend trip coming up. We road to Cody on a Friday, ran around Yellowstone for a day then home on Sunday. My rear tire was showing cord when we got home. It was a 1,000 mile trip.
This spring my rear was just above the wear bar and 750 miles later the tire was nearly bald. The last bit of rubber seems to go very fast. YMMV
This spring my rear was just above the wear bar and 750 miles later the tire was nearly bald. The last bit of rubber seems to go very fast. YMMV
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 981
From: Northern VA
I bought these and replaced my rear when it was at 2-3/32. That was a few weeks ago and right at 13K miles on a 19 SG. Last thing I want to is to push a tire too far and risk getting stranded or worse a serious injury. I also replaced the wheel bearings as cheap insurance as I was experiencing what sounded like a grinding noise. Cheap peace of mind to know I have a fresh rear tire for this season and a 2k mile trip planned for next month.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,861
Likes: 8,785
From: Edmonton, Alberta
I have a 2017 Ultra Limited just coming up on 13K miles. I have read several post on tires and they go all over the map as far as when to replace tires. I have a friend that took his bike to a Harley dealer for a 10K service and they recommended replacing the tires . His tires looked good and showed little sign of ware? Any suggestions?
Too many variables to say with any accuracy how long tires will last. Loading, speed, temperature, riding style, tread compound and tire pressure maintenance (or lack of) are all factors affecting tire life.
Your buddy's tires may have had tread remaining but were cupped or worn flat from lots of straight-line riding. On the other hand the dealer may have been trying to upsell a service that wasn't really needed. Wouldn't be the first time.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
General recommendations for replacing a tire:
- think about it if the DOT code is 5 yrs old.
- replace if DOT code is over 6 yrs old
- replace if tread depth is 2/32 or less
- replace if any side wall cracking or checking
- replace if any major cuts
- replace if sidewall punctured
- think about it if the DOT code is 5 yrs old.
- replace if DOT code is over 6 yrs old
- replace if tread depth is 2/32 or less
- replace if any side wall cracking or checking
- replace if any major cuts
- replace if sidewall punctured
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,399
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From: Spartan Country, Michigan
I was taking night classes for college....there was a young guy in there who rode a ricer. He found out I rode and often "gave me advice" about motorcycles. He bragged about the last rear tire on his bike. He was totally serious. He was amazed on how the tire had the normal tread pattern, but then turned into a racing slick, and then it seemed to grow new tread. I mean this kid was serious, amazed, and stupid. He told me how he rode that at high speeds, wheelied, and rode it until it failed. I could only shake my head and walk away.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,097
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From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
There was some recent threads here where the forum members had the cords showing on the rear tire. That I would not recommend. I agree the wear bars are a good indicator.