E3 elite front tire issue
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 400
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From: Ms
E3 elite front tire issue
I have read a number of good things about the E3 tires on this site, including one I wrote after installing a set on my '07 Road Glide. I have put about 2500 miles on the bike when I started noticing a harmonic wabble sound coming from the front of the bike, like a mud grip on a 4 wheel drive. It became louder as the miles increased. I decided that the tire couldn't be bad, so I took it to have it rebalanced, thinking this may help. I also checked all bearings in triple tree, fork oil, fork alignment and rear tire alignment etc. The guy checked the balance, said it was good but rebalanced it anyway. Put everything back together and still had same wabble and noise. I put an old wheel and tire on the bike a friend had at his shop. It fixed the problem. I bought the tires from a local cycle shop but they want make it good or even pro-rate it. I think I am gonna be going back to the old Dunlops. I hate it because I really loved these tires at the beginning. Read some Wingers were having this same type of problem also.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
I have 11k on my front E3 and have no noise at all. My first rear E3 was recently replaced at 20k miles and I had some cupping on the edges that would produce a mud-grip sound in corners, but this was hardly noticeable and only audible when I listened for it. This is the noise some GW owners complain about, and few mention noise going in a straight line.
I researched this topic thoroughly a year ago when I was having a speed-related groaning sound that I attributed to either the belt or either front or rear tire. It turned out to be the tranny mainshaft bearing, and '07 bikes seem to have had an abnormal frequency of this problem. It was very hard to diagnose since the location of the noise was hard to determine, and it took about 18 months before finding the real cause. I would recommend checking that by jacking the bike up and rotating the rear wheel in neutral. Listen for any abnormal noise near the front pulley.
I researched this topic thoroughly a year ago when I was having a speed-related groaning sound that I attributed to either the belt or either front or rear tire. It turned out to be the tranny mainshaft bearing, and '07 bikes seem to have had an abnormal frequency of this problem. It was very hard to diagnose since the location of the noise was hard to determine, and it took about 18 months before finding the real cause. I would recommend checking that by jacking the bike up and rotating the rear wheel in neutral. Listen for any abnormal noise near the front pulley.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Ms
I think you'll find that to be the case. However, you will see that there are many, many satisfied riders who have the E3. It's what sold me to them. I'm just lucky enough to get a bad one I guess. I must note that the tire does not show any sign of cupping or abnormal wear. Also should note that I tried variations of air presure to see if that would cure it. No luck.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 627
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From: Illinois
The GW E3 is a radial tire not bias ply. What is the date stamp of your tire. It could be that it may have been an older tire or just a bad run of tires by Dunlop. That occasionaly happens in tire manufacturing. Just my .02