Anyone Running Police Bead-Retention Tires?

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Mar 9, 2012 | 05:42 AM

M&P340

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From: Alabama

Anyone Running Police Bead-Retention Tires?

I have Dunlop D402 PT police bead-retention tubeless tires on my moped now, and they are nearly worn out. They were on the bike when I bought it and I really like em. I'd like to replace them in kind, but they seem to be hard to find since they are rated for solo use only by Dunlop. And I've read that shops really hate to install them because it is so hard to seat the beads. I really love them cause when I purchased the bike, the front tire had 3 lbs of air and the rear had 6. I rode it like that for a couple of weeks before I got wise(er) & checked the air pressure cause (a) I was lazy, and (b) the tires did not squat at all, looked like they were fully aired up. They rode just fine nearly flat. I couldn't tell any difference after I aired them up properly. The sidewalls on these things must be stiff as stone. I always carry a plug kit, but I think I could limp home on these things even if I picked up a nail.

Anyways, for those who've installed these PT tires on your FXDP or FLHP, where did you get them and did you have any difficulty getting them installed? Did the installation cost significantly extra at an indy or HD shop? Thanks for advice.

Mar 9, 2012 | 06:12 AM

Auckland

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Did a google search and the only thing coming up is Ebay.
http://compare.ebay.com/like/2608149..._lwgsi=y&cbt=y

Mar 9, 2012 | 06:39 AM

M&P340

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Auckland

Did a google search and the only thing coming up is Ebay.
http://compare.ebay.com/like/2608149..._lwgsi=y&cbt=y

Thanks. Yea, I've run across that also. There's usually one out there on e-bay for a rear also. Prices seem reasonable on the e-bay PT tires.

However, I've read in older posts that if you walk into an indy or HD shop with your wheel & tire and ask them to install, they will jack the install price up so much, you don't end up saving any thing by getting the tires yourself & carrying them in. That because they apparently hate mounting these things, and if they can't make any $ on you on the tire purchase, they will make it up in mounting. I don't know if all that's true or not.

I've always mounted my own bike tires. But with these things, I doubt I could do it myself with three tire irons & some dishwash soap!

Mar 9, 2012 | 08:48 AM

twistr

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From: On a Large Sandbar, NY

Just a thought...go to a indy and ask if they can get the tire, if they so no, then ask if they will mount them if you provide the tire...if they say yes, ask how much, agree on price...contact Dunlop, tell them what your looking for and they should be able to direct you to the right place...you may even be able to order them from direct.

I believe those tires are supposed to run flat for up to 50 miles...

Mar 9, 2012 | 11:24 AM

M&P340

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Quote:

Originally Posted by twistr

Yea, that sounds like a pretty reasonable approach. Thanks.

Interesting, I actually have contacted Dunlop about them and got no response. And they are no where to be found on their web entries, that I could find. It's like they intend them for cop bikes - and that's it! My moped is a retired FXDP cop bike, and they were on it when I got it. Apparently, some PD's even pull em off before they auction off their worn out machines, but El Paso did not with mine. They are apparently touted in literature distributed to PD's NOT as run-flats, but only bead-retention tires with limited load capacity. I guess due to the load capacity limitation, liability concerns prevent Dunlop from basically even acknowledging they exist as far as the civilian market is concerned.