Tire Mileage: A Tangle of Factors
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,870
Likes: 4
From: Jacksonville, FL
I'm going on 14,000 on the original set on my FLHTCU and they still look great. No cracks, no cupping, no excessive wear. I don't baby the bike, but I don't hot rod it either. I do ride it alot on the hiway and up into the mountains in TN and NC, so it sees alot of hard cornering.
All I do is keep em aired up regularly. I run ~40 in the rear and ~38 in the front.
All I do is keep em aired up regularly. I run ~40 in the rear and ~38 in the front.
Last edited by edpnjax; Nov 26, 2012 at 08:52 AM. Reason: Spelling
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,282
Likes: 2
From: Northwestern Nevada
Forgot to add that I will be pulling a trailer on long trips in the summers after this season, so I expect my mileage to change, just hope I don't cut it down to what some guys are getting.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,184
Likes: 0
From: The Peoples Republic of Massachusstts
I have an 08 EGC. Basicly stock. I am 64 years old and do alot of fast starts away from lights. I commute daily to work 30 miles roundtrip down into the 20 deg. range. Cruise at 80 mph on the hiway and about the speed limit around town, maybe a little higher. I get about 13k on the rear and 18 to 20 on the front. I try to watch my tire pressures etc. Cruising around town I ride in what ever gear gives me the speed limit+ at 2300 to 2400 rpm. What I have notices that rides in that area of the country with winter and frost issues seem to get tires worn out faster. Roads up here have very rough surfaces and grindings to prepare for new asphalt. So I thing road conditions may be the answer that your look for. Heat from down south can have an effect also. JMHO
Last edited by The Old Man; Nov 26, 2012 at 02:24 PM.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Well, looks like riding style may be the big factor here. Of those who have Ultras my mileage is the worst. Though, unless I missed it, all were shoed with the wider tire.
While I do ride a Metzler ME 880, which some say is a softer stickier rubber, most are getting nearly twice the mileage I get.
For those looking in to find their own data. Mine is that I've ridden a great variety of miles, I rode across the US and back a couple years ago, ride with a club of sport touring riders in the twisties on a regular basis, and commute through town to work every day. My tire mileage hasn't really varied that much among the styles. If brake wear is another indicator of how hard we are on tires, I'm guilty there too. I change pads at every other tire change or about 8k and it's nearly metal on metal each time. As I mentioned at the beginning, I've used the stock Dunlops a few times and can't say the mileage was any different than on the Metzlers.
Sadly, the finger seems to be pointing back at me for my lousy tire mileage. I know I'll never change, however, so I just need to pony up, and shut up.
While I do ride a Metzler ME 880, which some say is a softer stickier rubber, most are getting nearly twice the mileage I get.
For those looking in to find their own data. Mine is that I've ridden a great variety of miles, I rode across the US and back a couple years ago, ride with a club of sport touring riders in the twisties on a regular basis, and commute through town to work every day. My tire mileage hasn't really varied that much among the styles. If brake wear is another indicator of how hard we are on tires, I'm guilty there too. I change pads at every other tire change or about 8k and it's nearly metal on metal each time. As I mentioned at the beginning, I've used the stock Dunlops a few times and can't say the mileage was any different than on the Metzlers.
Sadly, the finger seems to be pointing back at me for my lousy tire mileage. I know I'll never change, however, so I just need to pony up, and shut up.