Dunlop Elite III's
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Despite some opinions here the D402 is not a bad tire, but in my experience the E3 is superior in every way, that is unless you must have a WW, and if so that's a category it fails in since they don't make any.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Death Valley, Arizona
Maybe you should double-check your "tire guy" and his opinion. Before buying my first E3 I researched the Gold Wing forums, and their opinion of the tire is exactly the opposite of what your "tire guy" claims. Go check for yourself. Also, the notion that "nobody likes them" and get "no mileage out the the tire" is simply false. That's the main reason the tire was developed, to address complaints of tire-wear from Gold Wing owners.
Despite some opinions here the D402 is not a bad tire, but in my experience the E3 is superior in every way, that is unless you must have a WW, and if so that's a category it fails in since they don't make any.
Despite some opinions here the D402 is not a bad tire, but in my experience the E3 is superior in every way, that is unless you must have a WW, and if so that's a category it fails in since they don't make any.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
I don't' need to double-check with my "tire guy" once was enough, plus the fact that I have had no issues with the 402s is why I will stay with 402s.They work great for me rain or shine, I don't see any reason to switch to the flavor of the month. And my "tire guy" is not the only source that has given negative feed back on the E-IIIs.Thanks & happy researching.
A good example of how one person's opinion can be skewed beyond reality, read this thread. The OP originally stated that he hydroplaned on his new E3's, then returned to the sight of the incident and discovered that the freshly repaired pavement was so slick that he could hardly even stand on the road surface when wet. He was forthright enough to admit his error and report what he found, that the tires had not hydroplaned as originally thought but had given him a tense moment because of the poorly prepared pavement. Had he not gone back to check the situation and instead told his "tire guy" that E3's hydroplaned the unfounded rumor might have gotten out to others. It is better reading feedback from many rather than forming an opinion based on the statements of one person, especially when his opinion goes against consensus.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
I agree with iclick! There have been way too many positive comments on the EIIIs to prove their worth. We do see a lot of positive comments on here of the latest "widgit" being the best thing ever, whether it is or not, mostly because somebody just spent their hard earned money on it. But these tires have been around long enough, and have received enough positive comments from everyone that anyone should be convinced they are at least a pretty good tire, if not the best choice. Not to mention we have long standing members here, whose opinions we trust, who have used them and given good reports. The few negative comments on the EIIIs are suspicious to say the least.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi Texas Area
I'll NEVER run 402's again. I LOVE the E3's. The run OVER the road and don't track with every little groove in the pavement. They are AWESOME and I'll NEVER go back! Wet, dry, wear, all around a better tire. It handles like a whole different bike!
Ride safe!
Ride safe!
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 412
Likes: 1
5,000 miles on my E3's on my ultra. I love them. They dont track pavement seams near as bad, handle a bit better on wet for braking and cornering, and I have had zero hydroplaning. I have ridden about 1000 miles in the wet this year on them and am very impressed. I was hesitant about going away from the narrow white walls for looks. I dont miss cleaning those white walls, and I'm not so sure the solid blackwall isn't better looking.
At 5,000 miles I would be thinking about ordering another Dunlop 402, but I am looking at a tire that has 2/3 of the tread on it yet.
Maybe everyone wont agree with me, but I will never go with another tire on my ride.
At 5,000 miles I would be thinking about ordering another Dunlop 402, but I am looking at a tire that has 2/3 of the tread on it yet.
Maybe everyone wont agree with me, but I will never go with another tire on my ride.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Death Valley, Arizona
When you make outlandish statements without examples that fly in the face of plentiful feedback in this forum and others you deserve to be challenged.
outlandish? these are opinions of the E-IIIs of others that was shared with me. I have never used the tire, I have had very good service from the 402s and see no reason to change if that is outlandish than so be it.
outlandish? these are opinions of the E-IIIs of others that was shared with me. I have never used the tire, I have had very good service from the 402s and see no reason to change if that is outlandish than so be it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,732
Likes: 9,241
From: Snow Hill, NC
With getting maximum of only 8000 miles i had to give them a try and i will see because i only have 1500 miles on the EIII now but the tire handles very nice...if i can get more than 10K miles i will stick with them and i can get one delivered to my door for about $110.00... The D402 rides good to start but fades away fast for me and i want a tire that will handle the same throughout the life of it...6 tires in 2 years i need something better and from all the positive i have heard and read about i would feel pretty stooopid not to at least try it.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 716
Likes: 10
From: Shreveport,La
Well first let me say I am an aggressive rider and I ride long miles at a time. I have put 25,000 miles on my ultra in 11 months. I know this is not any kind of record, I just say this to let you know how I ride FWIW.
Now I have had two E III's on my Ultra, the first one was cut down by something in the road with 5,000 miles on it and had to be replaced. It still looked near new then...bummer. The second one now has almost 11,000 miles on it and it is due for a change. It's replacement is sitting in my shop as I type this..........another E III. On the 402's I couldn't get much over 6500 miles. How they ride is an opinion, how they handle is an opinion, but the mileage on them is a fact not to mention the cost to my door. I don't see anywhere on here where anybody says you must change to the E III tire, just that the ones who have love them FWIW. If you like your 402's, by all means stick with them. After all confidence in your bike as well as your on ability to ride is very important to everybody that rides a bike.
I rode Wings for many years with the E III tire on it. I liked the tire then and I still like the tire now. IMHO it is a better tire than the 402 which is not a bad tire in itself. The only thing about the E III is it's slight increase in road noise that I hear and that isn't enough to stop me from running them.
Now I have had two E III's on my Ultra, the first one was cut down by something in the road with 5,000 miles on it and had to be replaced. It still looked near new then...bummer. The second one now has almost 11,000 miles on it and it is due for a change. It's replacement is sitting in my shop as I type this..........another E III. On the 402's I couldn't get much over 6500 miles. How they ride is an opinion, how they handle is an opinion, but the mileage on them is a fact not to mention the cost to my door. I don't see anywhere on here where anybody says you must change to the E III tire, just that the ones who have love them FWIW. If you like your 402's, by all means stick with them. After all confidence in your bike as well as your on ability to ride is very important to everybody that rides a bike.
I rode Wings for many years with the E III tire on it. I liked the tire then and I still like the tire now. IMHO it is a better tire than the 402 which is not a bad tire in itself. The only thing about the E III is it's slight increase in road noise that I hear and that isn't enough to stop me from running them.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,134
Likes: 4
From: Third Coast, South Texas
I've had E3's on for 10k miles and you can list me with those that have positive comments.
Funny how all of the positive comments come from those that actually have the tires and most of the negative cooments are from those that have never tried them.
Funny how all of the positive comments come from those that actually have the tires and most of the negative cooments are from those that have never tried them.