No dunlops
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,186
Likes: 786
From: Kansas City, Missouri
Sorry to hear about your friends wife. Prayers sent to family and friends. A few months ago I met up with a guy that had a 2007 Ultra with 7,000 miles on it. Same thing happened to him. Rear tire blew out on the hiway at 70mph. He said he regularly checked the tire pressure and had just gased up and checked the tires 200 miles beforeit happened. He said he heard a boom that sounded like a gun shot and the back end of the bike started swaying back and forth violently and he couldn't hold the front end straight and new they were going down so he let off the gas and guided it towards the grass on the side of the road. Once he hit the grass they went down, luckily they are still alive. I for one believe these stories. He told me the service manager told me he's seen it happen to people before. There must be something to it.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 7
From: Minnesota
So sorry for the tragic loss of your friend's wife.
Tire failures happen with all brands. Dunlops have tens of millions of miles on them. Maybe more than all other bike tires combined?? They don't seem to have an inordinate number of failures. I recommend replacing any tire older than five years (by the date coded on the sidewall). I also change tires way before the wear indicator shows. I probably only use the top 2/3rds of the tread. Besides regularly check air pressure I frequently inspect the tread and sidewall visually and by spinning the wheel and using my hands to detect any out-of-round or unusual conditions.
Tire failures happen with all brands. Dunlops have tens of millions of miles on them. Maybe more than all other bike tires combined?? They don't seem to have an inordinate number of failures. I recommend replacing any tire older than five years (by the date coded on the sidewall). I also change tires way before the wear indicator shows. I probably only use the top 2/3rds of the tread. Besides regularly check air pressure I frequently inspect the tread and sidewall visually and by spinning the wheel and using my hands to detect any out-of-round or unusual conditions.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
my condolences.
folks, he didn't say that we should all boycott dunlops, merely that he would not be using them anymore. and if you had them, to check them out. which is good advice for any tire.
course, there will be those that will say, 'i knew someone who rode a harley and they got killed.....' to bash all motorcycles.
folks, he didn't say that we should all boycott dunlops, merely that he would not be using them anymore. and if you had them, to check them out. which is good advice for any tire.
course, there will be those that will say, 'i knew someone who rode a harley and they got killed.....' to bash all motorcycles.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
So sorry to hear about the tragic event with your friends. My thoughts go out to their family.
I've heard the same of Metzeler tires too, so to be honest an occasional incident is probably something you can find with any brand/make. To condemn the entire name from that day to eternity is probably a bit extreme, as if you did this with all tires or products you'd not be able to put ANY tire on your bike or car as they all have probably had something like this happen at one time or another.
Sorry for your friend's loss... It's a reminder that life is fragile and too short.
I've heard the same of Metzeler tires too, so to be honest an occasional incident is probably something you can find with any brand/make. To condemn the entire name from that day to eternity is probably a bit extreme, as if you did this with all tires or products you'd not be able to put ANY tire on your bike or car as they all have probably had something like this happen at one time or another.
Sorry for your friend's loss... It's a reminder that life is fragile and too short.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: East Coast of FL
Vindyl, I'm sorry for your loss, and my condolences to you and your friend's family.
Your advice to always check the tires is a good reminder. I try to check mine every time, but have to admit sometimes I'm too anxious to just jump on and ride, and don't do a proper safety check. This is a good reminder for all, regardless of the brand of tire we're using.
I'm not going to swap out my Dunlops, but I will pay closer attention to pressure and wear, and inspect for damage.
Your advice to always check the tires is a good reminder. I try to check mine every time, but have to admit sometimes I'm too anxious to just jump on and ride, and don't do a proper safety check. This is a good reminder for all, regardless of the brand of tire we're using.
I'm not going to swap out my Dunlops, but I will pay closer attention to pressure and wear, and inspect for damage.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I'll have to agree, although still very sad that someone has died and prayers go out to the friends and family. Every brand of tire will undoubtedly have a blow-out every now and then, even if they are new. The most common reason for this is improper tire pressures, don't know if that was the cause or not in this case. But if you remember 10 years or more ago, Ford went through the same thing with the Firestones that were OEM back then. The cause was found to be too low a pressure in the tires. Who's fault is that? The owner of the vehicle. We should be checking our tire pressures if not every ride, at least once a week to be sure they are up to the correct pressures. You have every right to choose what brands you buy, and even giving a warning. But it was likely not the tire make that was the problem
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs, CO
This is probably what lead to the govt requiring Tire Pressure Monitoring systems being installed on all new cars 08 and up. I wonder if motorcycles are far behind? I have a new car with TPM and all it gives you is an idiot light- it does not tell you which tire is low.
I'll have to agree, although still very sad that someone has died and prayers go out to the friends and family. Every brand of tire will undoubtedly have a blow-out every now and then, even if they are new. The most common reason for this is improper tire pressures, don't know if that was the cause or not in this case. But if you remember 10 years or more ago, Ford went through the same thing with the Firestones that were OEM back then. The cause was found to be too low a pressure in the tires. Who's fault is that? The owner of the vehicle. We should be checking our tire pressures if not every ride, at least once a week to be sure they are up to the correct pressures. You have every right to choose what brands you buy, and even giving a warning. But it was likely not the tire make that was the problem
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,235
Likes: 65
From: Joliet, Illinois
Well, would you give up riding a Harley if a friend died on a Harley?
