Rear Tire
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 900
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
RE: Rear Tire
I got 16000 miles on my original rear tire and had some tread left. I replaced it with the OEM Dunlop and keep 40 psi in it all the time. Front tire now has 19500 and plenty of tread left.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Rear Tire
I will let everyone know my experence with the 404s .
I just dont understand how anyone can get almost double 17,000 out of the origional. Do you ride single all the time? and what bike is it on.
85% of my riding is two up and im not a small guy.
I would guess its the weight difference?
I do know heat really wears a tire. I had plenty of tread and a week in the Flordia keys really did a number on my tires.
Maybe Astro just rides in snow????????
I just dont understand how anyone can get almost double 17,000 out of the origional. Do you ride single all the time? and what bike is it on.
85% of my riding is two up and im not a small guy.
I would guess its the weight difference?
I do know heat really wears a tire. I had plenty of tread and a week in the Flordia keys really did a number on my tires.
Maybe Astro just rides in snow????????
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 7
From: guntersville, al
RE: Rear Tire
the tread on the MU85-16 used on the '04s and up has 2/32" more tread depth so you can expect more life than the MT90-16.
i've been getting 15K out of mine compared to 12K on the MT90s.
i've been getting 15K out of mine compared to 12K on the MT90s.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Rear Tire
Thanks for all the posts
I have some tread left on my rear somewhere near 1/16"
I'm thinking my somewhat premature tread wear is due to several factors I'm 240 lbs I ride to work solo most of the time and the saddle bags and the tour pack are loaded. My line of work puts me in the situation of ready for anything packing. Also I ride alot of tar and gravel roads.
Probally could go a little while longer but here's two reasons why I'm not waiting.
Run into a heavy pop-up rain shower the other day riding two-up. I slowed to 30mph because its a two lane winding road with moderate traffic. This also put us in danger because we were not keeping pace with traffic. I was glad to get off that road
Guy that I know has a 05 RKC his rear tire went flat on a solo Sunday afternoon ride in the middle of no where cell phone reception was in and out. Not only did he have to walk a while to get reception he had to wait until after dark for a tow truck to come and pick up him and the bike.
Not saying this couldn't happen to a new tire just less likely than a onion tread.
My front tire looks new.
Leaning toward 402 OE
I have some tread left on my rear somewhere near 1/16"
I'm thinking my somewhat premature tread wear is due to several factors I'm 240 lbs I ride to work solo most of the time and the saddle bags and the tour pack are loaded. My line of work puts me in the situation of ready for anything packing. Also I ride alot of tar and gravel roads.
Probally could go a little while longer but here's two reasons why I'm not waiting.
Run into a heavy pop-up rain shower the other day riding two-up. I slowed to 30mph because its a two lane winding road with moderate traffic. This also put us in danger because we were not keeping pace with traffic. I was glad to get off that road
Guy that I know has a 05 RKC his rear tire went flat on a solo Sunday afternoon ride in the middle of no where cell phone reception was in and out. Not only did he have to walk a while to get reception he had to wait until after dark for a tow truck to come and pick up him and the bike.
Not saying this couldn't happen to a new tire just less likely than a onion tread.
My front tire looks new.
Leaning toward 402 OE
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 9
From: Lincolnton, NC
RE: Rear Tire
15,023 out of the stock rear Dunlop and it was all used up. Replaced it with a Metzler 880 and it doesn't feel as squirrelly on road seams and bridges, etc. I've heard the mileage won't be as good as the Dunlop. Thought I'd give the Metzler a try and form my own opinion.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 215
Likes: 2
From: Houston,TX
RE: Rear Tire
Sorry guys no snow riding in Houston,Tx !!
I have a 06 Roaf King Classic by the way. Almost always ride solo.
My bike is only a year old so you can tell that it doesn't sit for very long.
I have one long trip,to Daytona in March.
I guess keeping proper inflation pressure just works!!
Don
I have a 06 Roaf King Classic by the way. Almost always ride solo.
My bike is only a year old so you can tell that it doesn't sit for very long.
I have one long trip,to Daytona in March.
I guess keeping proper inflation pressure just works!!
Don
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: Rear Tire
I'm on 402 #8 on my '96 RK and its almost gone at 11k. The first four lasted 14k, but since then I haven't been able to get more than 12k, even though I watch my alignment and pressure (42 psi cold rear, 37 front). I sometimes wonder if they've changed the compound to something softer. Mr. Wonderful said the "new" 402's last 30% longer, so when did they make this change? I have a new one mounted on my second wheel and hope it is one of them, as I get tired of the yearly ritual.
FWIW, the lowest mileage I've gotten out of a front 402 is 32k miles, and I just mounted my fourth two months ago. Although I've used only 402's on this bike for 104k miles and have been incident-free after riding through 33 states, I looked recently into a Metzler ME880 for the rear. They only make 140's or wider in the NWW, and mounting these on an older FLH is a crap shoot. One dealer said "It fits on some, rubs the belt guard in reverse on some, and rubs both ways on the remainder." My clearance is so tight I decided mine was the latter of the three and passed, and I don't want to mess around with shims, spacers, and the like--as I hate messing with something that already works fine.
Anyway, I would recommend checking your alignment at every tire change and keep the rear pressure at 40 psi or above, cold. that should extend your tire life to the maximum possible for that tire. Oh, and no burnouts!
FWIW, the lowest mileage I've gotten out of a front 402 is 32k miles, and I just mounted my fourth two months ago. Although I've used only 402's on this bike for 104k miles and have been incident-free after riding through 33 states, I looked recently into a Metzler ME880 for the rear. They only make 140's or wider in the NWW, and mounting these on an older FLH is a crap shoot. One dealer said "It fits on some, rubs the belt guard in reverse on some, and rubs both ways on the remainder." My clearance is so tight I decided mine was the latter of the three and passed, and I don't want to mess around with shims, spacers, and the like--as I hate messing with something that already works fine.
Anyway, I would recommend checking your alignment at every tire change and keep the rear pressure at 40 psi or above, cold. that should extend your tire life to the maximum possible for that tire. Oh, and no burnouts!
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
More to add...
Just thunk up a few more things on this topic...
A friend and I recently went in halves on a Harbor Freight tire changer with motorcycle attachment. After some mods we did our first change last April and have done three tires already, a fourth coming up this weekend on a BMW wheel (a challenge). There are some sites on the Net outlining the procedure with photos, which were helpful for us. We also bought a simple balancer that works well (http://www.marcparnes.com). All else required are the lube for tire and wheel, wheel protectors from Dennis Kirk (buy two packs of two, as you'll need three), and balance weights (Napa auto parts store).
I have never purchased a tire from an HD dealership, as I'm averse to being ripped off. I either buy on Ebay or from a mail-order dealer, and my last was purchased at Donelson Cycles for $114 (130-90-16 NWW) including shipping. Yes, it is a HD tire and no, they are not blems. Now I can buy the tire at a reasonable price and not worry about where to take it for mounting and balance. In the past, I took the wheel and tire to a local Honda dealership (okay, stop the jeering!) who would do the mount/balance reliably for $20, but that option fizzled, thus the recent tire-changer purchase. Our local stealer will not mount/balance unless the tire is purchased there, stating insurance regulations as an excuse. Yeah, right.
A friend and I recently went in halves on a Harbor Freight tire changer with motorcycle attachment. After some mods we did our first change last April and have done three tires already, a fourth coming up this weekend on a BMW wheel (a challenge). There are some sites on the Net outlining the procedure with photos, which were helpful for us. We also bought a simple balancer that works well (http://www.marcparnes.com). All else required are the lube for tire and wheel, wheel protectors from Dennis Kirk (buy two packs of two, as you'll need three), and balance weights (Napa auto parts store).
I have never purchased a tire from an HD dealership, as I'm averse to being ripped off. I either buy on Ebay or from a mail-order dealer, and my last was purchased at Donelson Cycles for $114 (130-90-16 NWW) including shipping. Yes, it is a HD tire and no, they are not blems. Now I can buy the tire at a reasonable price and not worry about where to take it for mounting and balance. In the past, I took the wheel and tire to a local Honda dealership (okay, stop the jeering!) who would do the mount/balance reliably for $20, but that option fizzled, thus the recent tire-changer purchase. Our local stealer will not mount/balance unless the tire is purchased there, stating insurance regulations as an excuse. Yeah, right.