44 thousand miles on front tire, did I do something wrong???

HarleyFranco · January 28, 2009, 05:27:50 PM

I just had the front tire on my 08 Ultra Classic replaced at 44 thousand miles. Is this unusual? I certainly think so, never got more than 30 k out of a front tire before. The tire still had 1/32 of thread left on it, not a lot but it wasn't bald either. I commute daily to work and ride as much as possible on the weekends riding all sorts of roads, I guess what I'm saying is that I don't baby the bike or the tires.

Has anyone else gotten this kind of milage out of thier stock dunlop tire?

Frank

Panzer · January 28, 2009, 05:36:10 PM

Don't know yet, new bike still under 10K.
What brand of tire was it??
I'm gonna buy stock in whatever co. it is.

HarleyFranco · January 28, 2009, 05:40:54 PM

It was the stock Dunlop tire.

Frank

Sonny S. · January 28, 2009, 05:43:41 PM

Do you use the front brake much ?

HarleyFranco · January 28, 2009, 05:49:57 PM

I use to use the back brakes more than the front, but after I wore a set of rear brakes out at 18k the dealer said I should be using the front brakes more, so since then I use my front brakes as the primary brakes. I replaced the front pads at 34k miles.

Frank

Sonny S. · January 28, 2009, 05:53:08 PM

Deye76 · January 28, 2009, 06:06:11 PM

Quote from: Panzer on January 28, 2009, 05:36:10 PM
Don't know yet, new bike still under 10K.
What brand of tire was it??
I'm gonna buy stock in whatever co. it is.

I'm gonna buy stock in the competitor that wears out in 10K.

hogpipes1 · January 28, 2009, 07:50:34 PM

I keep it quite, dunlop here about this and there going to remix there rubber batch.

truck · January 28, 2009, 07:55:11 PM

Around 20,000 miles is normal for a front tire. You must have ridden on soft roads to get that kind of mileage.

xxxflhrci · January 28, 2009, 08:06:56 PM

I got 39k outta my first front 402 on my RKC. It still looked good when I swapped it.

harborjohn · January 28, 2009, 08:33:58 PM

I have 20k miles on my stock ultra front tire and its still looks new. Replaced the rear at 13k and the replacement is looking worn already.

boooby1744 · January 28, 2009, 09:11:00 PM

Do yuu rotate your tires every 7500 miles?

ViennaHog · January 28, 2009, 11:26:56 PM

Rotating tires on a motorsickle? Are you serious?

ViennaHog · January 28, 2009, 11:29:03 PM

Quote from: HarleyFranco on January 28, 2009, 05:27:50 PM
I just had the front tire on my 08 Ultra Classic replaced at 44 thousand miles. Is this unusual? I certainly think so, never got more than 30 k out of a front tire before. The tire still had 1/32 of thread left on it, not a lot but it wasn't bald either. I commute daily to work and ride as much as possible on the weekends riding all sorts of roads, I guess what I'm saying is that I don't baby the bike or the tires.

Has anyone else gotten this kind of milage out of thier stock dunlop tire?

Frank

You must be babying this thing to the extreme. I get typically far less than 10,000 miles out of mine. 2 up mountains, high speed Autobahn and full use of the ABS brakes is the key reason I guess. What's the mpg you get?

Milehog · January 29, 2009, 12:59:03 AM

Quote from: boooby1744 on January 28, 2009, 09:11:00 PM
Do yuu rotate your tires every 7500 miles?

smittyon66 · January 29, 2009, 02:34:10 AM

Quote from: boooby1744 on January 28, 2009, 09:11:00 PM
Do yuu rotate your tires every 7500 miles?

I rotate mine all the time. Bottom to top, top to botttom.

vans24 · January 29, 2009, 05:45:21 AM

I got 35 thousand out of my first front tire.. I ended up replacing it cause I got tired of the little white stripe on the sidewalls... it still had plenty of tread on it.

L- · January 29, 2009, 08:18:10 AM

oh gawd........ here we go. Me? 6-7K on the rear and never over 12K on the front. But I suppose I am not the average rider.

truck · January 29, 2009, 08:49:25 AM

Quote from: HarleyFranco on January 28, 2009, 05:27:50 PM
I just had the front tire on my 08 Ultra Classic replaced at 44 thousand miles. Is this unusual? I certainly think so, never got more than 30 k out of a front tire before. The tire still had 1/32 of thread left on it, not a lot but it wasn't bald either. I commute daily to work and ride as much as possible on the weekends riding all sorts of roads, I guess what I'm saying is that I don't baby the bike or the tires.

Has anyone else gotten this kind of milage out of thier stock dunlop tire?

Frank

Is that the new tire Harley started using with hard rubber in the center and soft rubber on the sides?

HarleyFranco · January 29, 2009, 09:45:39 AM

I think that new tire with the hard rubber is for the rear tire, I'm not 100% sure though.

I don't baby the bike, ride it hard when I'm out having fun, but when commuting I set the cruise to 65 and go.

My average milage is 45-46 mpg.

Haven't seen any soft roads yet, cept for the washboard we ended up on one time. Bout shook the crap out of us.

Frank

PS I rotate the tires everytime I ride.

IBARider · January 29, 2009, 10:36:00 AM

"My average milage is 45-46 mpg."

No offense, but I'd call that pretty mild riding. I get 30-33 and am considered tame in some circles... not many though

I had 25,000 miles on my new '08 bagger front and it still had 2/32 left. That was a lot of miles for me. It was not cupped as bad as they usually are either. I'd guess ABS has something to do with that, the theory being that, even though the tire is not 'sliding' it is indeed going slower than your bike under normal braking. Maybe ABS is backing the brakes off a bit... is that why my brake lever is pulsing....

HarleyFranco · January 29, 2009, 03:04:05 PM

I call 45-46 mpg getting good gas milage, my bike doesn't have the abs brakes. I don't slam it while riding to and from work, too many crazy people to worry about, besides highway patrol is out there giving tickets too.

Frank

marc · January 29, 2009, 05:18:27 PM

Damn....On my 04 Geezer Glide I will get about 12,000 on the rear and about 17,000 on the front before replacement...Dunlops...I ride 2 up and watch my tire pressures like a hawk...

Phu Cat · January 30, 2009, 04:36:00 AM

Franco, You mentioned using primarily the rear brake. Don't be afraid to use that front brake as that brake does the majority of the stopping in a 'have to' situation. Always good to practice panic stops in a clear area.

PC

sandrooney · January 30, 2009, 05:00:19 AM

I get about 15,000 on my E-3's. The front could go several thousand more, but for 90 bucks I change it, peace of mind.
Just my experience,
SR

Ken R · January 30, 2009, 07:09:03 AM

Dang! 40K? I usually only get 5-6K on mine.

HarleyFranco · January 30, 2009, 08:30:53 AM

Franco, You mentioned using primarily the rear brake. Don't be afraid to use that front brake as that brake does the majority of the stopping in a 'have to' situation. Always good to practice panic stops in a clear area.

PC

Phu,

I used to use the rear brake for most of my stopping, however I now use mainly the front brakes. Sometimes I have to remember that the rear brake is still there. lol

Frank

CndUltra88 · January 30, 2009, 09:04:58 AM

Quote from: HarleyFranco on January 28, 2009, 05:27:50 PM
I just had the front tire on my 08 Ultra Classic replaced at 44 thousand miles. Is this unusual? I certainly think so, never got more than 30 k out of a front tire before. The tire still had 1/32 of thread left on it, not a lot but it wasn't bald either. I commute daily to work and ride as much as possible on the weekends riding all sorts of roads, I guess what I'm saying is that I don't baby the bike or the tires.

Has anyone else gotten this kind of milage out of their stock dunlop tire?

Frank

Frank it is guys like you that are causing the MoCo the financial Trouble they are in

You didn't go to the stealer biweekly and buy the latest and greatest new and improved parts/tires etc..
All teasing/kidding aside, either you had very good luck with your tires or you get them inflated within the specs of the manufacturer. It is always a good thing when one can get the best out of their equipment.
I can only hope that dunlop hasn't changed anything on the latest production run.
Now its off to the stealer and get a set of skins for the Ultra at 25% off.

Rob

Hoist! · January 30, 2009, 09:11:21 AM

HeHe!!! Yep! You left the same tire on for 44K miles!!!

Hoist!

BrownsfaninMN · January 30, 2009, 11:15:37 AM

41K on the front on my FLHT, will be changing it before the riding season this year, along with some new floating rotor brakes. I too have some pretty decent tread still left on the tire, but why wait, do it now.

Hoist! · January 30, 2009, 11:20:44 AM

HeHe!!! Don't know how you guys are doing this! Must not be riding the chit out of it hard enough is all I can think of!!!

Hoist!

HarleyFranco · January 30, 2009, 02:50:15 PM

Frank it is guys like you that are causing the MoCo the financial Trouble they are in
You didn't go to the stealer biweekly and buy the latest and greatest new and improved parts/tires etc..
All teasing/kidding aside, either you had very good luck with your tires or you get them inflated within the specs of the manufacturer. It is always a good thing when one can get the best out of their equipment.
I can only hope that dunlop hasn't changed anything on the latest production run.
Now its off to the stealer and get a set of skins for the Ultra at 25% off.

Rob

Hey I never thought about that, if I would have I would have replaced the tire 4 times just to keep those harley people working. NOT!!

Frank

L- · January 30, 2009, 03:16:07 PM

I used to read this book called Uncle Ripely's Believe It or Not..........

HDRDR · January 30, 2009, 08:05:36 PM

I get good miles out of my tires too, using both breaks at the same time, but nothing like what you have stated. Thats a lot of miles on a bike tire.

Hoist! · January 30, 2009, 08:36:15 PM

I could really care less about tire mileage! Care way more about tire PERFORMANCE!!! Handling, speed and braking are WAY more important than mileage!

Hoist!

boooby1744 · January 30, 2009, 10:13:47 PM

Quote from: ViennaHog on January 28, 2009, 11:26:56 PM
Rotating tires on a motorsickle? Are you serious?

..................i have a twisted sense of humor................i thought it was obviosly absurd to all.

gottaride · January 30, 2009, 10:22:37 PM

Quote from: L- on January 29, 2009, 08:18:10 AM
oh gawd........ here we go. Me? 6-7K on the rear and never over 12K on the front. But I suppose I am not the average rider.

i'll second that.. except 5 -6k on the rear on a fxr though, running avon venoms

Ultraman · January 31, 2009, 06:49:18 AM

Sorry, just have to say this...
Use Your Front Brake! In a panic you do what you always do! When you stop fast you unload the back tire, most braking is from the front. If you lock the back tire it slides out. Panic again as it slides out, Tire grabs and you hi-side. Make it a habit of using front and feather rear after the weight change. This will save your life!

Dennis The Menace · January 31, 2009, 06:58:33 AM

44K miles on front tire? Rob, that must be you I see riding wheelies on the freeways around Denver, huh? No wonder. So, you really dont have 44k miles on the front, you likley have only 4-5K miles. lol (BTW, there is some guy around here I see on a yellow bike riding wheelies often on the freeways here--nuts).

Hope the tread was still good and deep. I wouldnt take a chance on a thin tread on the front. The rear, maybe. But, not the front. A blowout on front could be really messy, compared to a rear blowout. Not that either is a good thing, but if ya have to choose which poison...... lol

menace

Panzer · January 31, 2009, 01:58:46 PM

Quote from: ViennaHog on January 28, 2009, 11:26:56 PM
Rotating tires on a motorsickle? Are you serious?

I did it once, it looked stupid.........skinny on the back, fat in the front.
Am I serious?.........nope.........do I look stupid ?
Don't even think about it.

RKC03 · January 31, 2009, 02:33:50 PM

Quote from: L- on January 30, 2009, 03:16:07 PM
I used to read this book called Uncle Ripely's Believe It or Not..........

Haveta/Couldta be a case of somebody running your odometer ahead to git ya ta make that claim?

Don't tell the batch # otherwise they may do a reall (MoCo)

All I can say is your doing somethun wrong, but I'd like to know what it is......

RKC03

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44 thousand miles on front tire, did I do something wrong???

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