tires

[heberling]

does any one really know what causes tire cupping?  12,000 miles on  oem dunlop  rear tire 2012 ultr

[bobrk1]

not sure with so few miles, my 97rk did it on the front replaced wheel bearing all set, but it had 100k on it.

[easyricer]

Usually a rear tire cupping is caused by low tire pressure. I've seen one that had some broken cords that looked cupped in under 200 miles. I think that was a Metzler, been a while. Since we don't deal in Metzler tires we put a Continental on and mailed it back to his dealer for him. Was on one of them wide tire Softails.
EASY

[rmc115]

my 10 and then my 12 both did it by 10,000 miles, 40 psi. not sure if there is a fix. Mike

[bigblock6912]

bad shock/shocks

[Ken R]

does any one really know what causes tire cupping?  12,000 miles on  oem dunlop  rear tire 2012 ultr

Cupping is usually caused by low air pressure (according to the Dunlop rep in Wisconsin the other day).  I've heard this before, from other tire experts.


But cupping isn't what we experience on our motorcycles.  Typically, we simply have scalloped wear on the big tread patches.  It makes them saw-tooth shaped  and causes vibration and whining in curves.  All large-tread motorcycle tires will do that. 


You can take a belt sander to the rear tire (while it's off the ground) and take the tops of the high points off without affecting mileage (assuming that the tire is otherwise o.k.).  The sander will cause the tire to spin, giving equal sanding all the way around.  It will make the tire feel like new again. 


My experience is that the Dunlop American Elites get better mileage than the Harley-branded Dunlops. 


Ken