Harley Davidson Dyna Glide: Wheel and Tire Diagnostic Guide
Whether your tires are making too much noise or feeling a bit off, you need to know what to look for. Use these tips to assess worn tires and quickly replace them.
This article applies to the Harley Davidson Dyna Glide.
You've tracked a few thousand miles, and suddenly the ride feels a bit too harsh. Unlike cars, if tires go bad on your bike, it is almost impossible to safely pull over. Tires have to be inspected every few months in order to ensure they are safe to ride. If a wheel is unbalanced, a tire has any bulges or not enough tread, the rider is put at risk. If you are experiencing any riding issues, be sure to inspect the following on your Dyna Glide tires.
Materials Needed
- Tread depth gauge
- New tires (optional)
Step 1 – Check the balance
Your wheel balance may be off.
When the balance is off on a wheel on your car, you'll feel a vibration or even notice a pull to one side. This will cause one side of the unbalanced tire to wear unevenly and create a loss of traction for the entire vehicle. While that is manageable on a car, the same is not true for a motorcycle. If the wheel is unbalanced, you will feel a shudder throughout the entire power band. You can easily inspect the wheels by propping the bike up and spinning them. If the balance is bad, you'll notice a slight shudder. However, the best bet would be to have the wheel inspected on a balance machine.
Pro Tip
Shops generally include tire balancing as a free service if the tires are purchased from them. A good way to save some time is having the shops check and balance the tires for you.
Step 2 – Check for bulges
The tire may be failing.
When a tire begins to fail, a process called delamination occurs. Delaminating means the composite materials, such as the bead, that make up the tire begin to separate and shred. A tall tail sign of delamination is when bulges begin to form on the side walls of the tires. If you find any bulges on the tires, make sure to replace them immediately.
Step 3 – Check the tread life
The tires may be done.
Each tire makes use of a specific tread design that allows for traction in most conditions. While some tires use water-specific designs which are better suited for wet conditions, these same tires may have trouble keeping up on dry land. This is because manufactures produce tires for specific applications, all of which rely on healthy tread depth to perform well. Tread depth refers to the remaining amount of space from the highest point of the tire to the lowest. Once this space runs out, the tire loses nearly all off of its traction ability.
- Using a depth gauge, measure the tread on each tire.
- If there is less than 2/32nds of tread life remaining, replace the tires.
Related Discussion
- Possible tire problem, need advice - HDforums.com
