Do I need new tires?
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: In the flatlands!
then you ought to know how to chrck your tires condition. All this "stuff" about riding easy, and keeping the pressures up is just PART of the tire life.
1) how much tread did the tre have NEW
2) how much tread does the tire have NOW?
That is the only thing that matters. i BELIEVE your front tire should be fine...... but a very good friend got horrible mileage on his 2009 ULTRA....... those D-407 tires were lousy, and he needed a new front in less thn 10k.... HD replaced it with a D408 and that also wore terribly. I have heard the early tire probles have been resolved, but I'd measure both tires, before decaling either road-trip-ready
1) how much tread did the tre have NEW
2) how much tread does the tire have NOW?
That is the only thing that matters. i BELIEVE your front tire should be fine...... but a very good friend got horrible mileage on his 2009 ULTRA....... those D-407 tires were lousy, and he needed a new front in less thn 10k.... HD replaced it with a D408 and that also wore terribly. I have heard the early tire probles have been resolved, but I'd measure both tires, before decaling either road-trip-ready
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
The change in Sturgis or along the trip home would be my choice if needed, at least I would feel that I'm actually changing out a tire that is used up. My concern was that I would arrive in Sturgis and find my tires are to far gone to make it home, and that prices would be inflated during the rally compared to home. That was the reason my friends gave as to why I should change them out before leaving.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 874
Likes: 2
From: Southern Arizona
I have 8k miles on my 2010 street glide with oem D407/408 tires. I'm leaving for Sturgis at the end of July and plan on putting close to another 3 to 4k miles. Im relatively easy on tires and these tires look to have a lot of life left in them but a few friends said (without seeing these tires) that I should not go before replacing at least my rear tire, and that the roads there are very hard on tires. I certainly understand at my return the tire/s would probably need to be changed, but I would love to make it on the original set. I have had many bikes before and other than one tire that was replaced early as defective, I have always been able to make 12k before replacing. I know the smart thing would be to replace it now to avoid finding out I need it in Sturgis, but finances beg that I dont.
Any advise?
Any advise?
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 253
Likes: 4
I know there are lots of places to get tires replaced in Sturgis, but how are the prices and how long does it take?
My dealer wants about 650.00 to replace both tires on my 2010 Ultra with 13k miles on it. I have enough good tread to get to Sturgis (1200 miles one way), but would not want to be riding in rain on the way home with "marginal" tires.
On the other hand, I hate changing tires before its time. If I change tires now, I feel like im wasting 3k worth of tread.
My dealer wants about 650.00 to replace both tires on my 2010 Ultra with 13k miles on it. I have enough good tread to get to Sturgis (1200 miles one way), but would not want to be riding in rain on the way home with "marginal" tires.
On the other hand, I hate changing tires before its time. If I change tires now, I feel like im wasting 3k worth of tread.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 0
From: Chicago area
I don't think you would do this on '10 SG. But at Bike week they have burnout pits for Ca$h to the winner.
My buddy won $250 for wasting away his fairly worn tire. SO it was a free tire for entertaining the fans. He also went threw all gears. Pretty damn wild!!
Look at the pics in my garage if ya want to see him in action.
My buddy won $250 for wasting away his fairly worn tire. SO it was a free tire for entertaining the fans. He also went threw all gears. Pretty damn wild!!
Look at the pics in my garage if ya want to see him in action.
Last edited by oppirs; Jul 6, 2011 at 06:19 PM.
YOU have to check YOUR tires, use a depth guage and make sure your pressure is right. No matter what you tell us in the forum and even if you send a pic, we can't really tell. Everybody has given you an idea of how long the tires should last, but every case is different.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
I used a coin to check the depth, it was easily over the head on a quarter better than 4/32. I'm going to just continue with the tire and pick one up there or on the way back as needed. I have all the HD sites saved on my GPS making it easy to find the closest dealer should I really need to change it out.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
flats
I don't get much more than 8k on my 07 SG. I'm at 8k now and would like get a little more. tire is at 2/32 maybe little more. But on the way home from Vegas in the dark, in the rain picked up a small sheet metal screw, 1/4" head maybe 3/8" long went through the rear tire on my old RG Classic. On that bike with spokes the screw tore the tub, went flat, the point of that screw would not have made it through the tire if I wasn't trying to get just a little more out of it. Scared hell out of me in the dark and rain. Felt like the front end was falling off. Thanks for cell phone and my cousin in Mesquite found me at a mile mark in the middle of Nevada.
If any of you guys see a nail or screw it a tire with tub pull it out right then may stay up, it not like a tubless. I'm changing mine a tire can be cheep.
If any of you guys see a nail or screw it a tire with tub pull it out right then may stay up, it not like a tubless. I'm changing mine a tire can be cheep.