Dunlop E3 Questions

[Snag]

 OK , so I've been using the Dunlop E3's on Strider since I got the bike ,
and I thought they were a pretty damn good tire , wear and handling wise .
Until the other day , when I was checking tire pressure and discovered I had
ZERO tread left on my back tire ! This tire has less than 5,000 miles , and
I'm not happy . Front has significant wear also , more than expected .
  So I decided to check my log in the back of the FM , and discovered : 1st
E3 I got 16,000 miles . 2nd one I got about 13,000 . 3rd rolled about 9,000
and now this one with under 5k . So the question is , anybody else using
E3's and keeping a log ? Noticed any kind of similar pattern ? I can't
believe my riding habits have changed enough to make that kind of difference
, and will be shopping different brands . I'm looking for recommendations
for a tire that handles reasonably well (I'm only a reasonably decent rider)
, gives good mileage , and won't break the bank.
  I've considered trying the new American Elite , but to be honest I'm a
little gunshy of Dunlop right now . I useta use Conti Tours on the Shovel ,
they still around ? What about the Metzler 888's , do they give decent
mileage ?
--
Snag

[Admiral Akbar]

Does your son have access to the keys for your bike?

Max

[koko3052]

It's probably just like heavy truck tires.... if a new design/tread comes out, BUY IT! (if it suits your application). Tire companies make the first of any new tire compounds harder, so they last much longer. Customers brag it up.... a few years down the road the compounds keep getting softer... & the tires keep wearing out faster! YOU figure it out!

[Blazing Saddles]

I've got over 5000 miles on my first set of E-3s and have really liked them. They are showing very little wear (I haven't measured tread depth). BTW, running them on a 2004 FX Springer - yes, the 160 fits in the rear no problem.

Blazin'

[Hybredhog]

I sell them, and I'm a believer. I see baggers regularly get 10k plus out of them, even 15k with grampas (no offence to grampas). I'd be suspicious of low pressure (under 40psi), bad shocks, alignment, heavy loads, hot weather trips or nitrous. I'm still a big fan, but the Commanders are starting to prove themselves now that they've been out a while.

[Beave]

I have been through nine rear E-3's on an 05 RK since 2009 and I am a granpa.  My mileage from oldest to latest was:
11500,
9000,
12000,
11900,
12000,
11000,
9900,
9600,
9800.
So yes, my mileage has tapered off, but not nearly as much as yours.  I like them for their handling and strength.  Even when they are bald, they still have a lot of substance to them.  I have yet to see the cords on one.  I ride a lot of gravel and I have yet to have a puncture.  After saying all that, I am trying an American Elite next.

[Breeze]

2007 E.G.Classic, 220lb. rider, 15lbs. of necessities always in bags.  Two Dunlop D402's averaged 7.4k  miles each on rear, one D402 front = 14.9K miles. One E3 rear had 20% tread left when changed @12K miles, E3 on front has 14.6k miles and 50% tread left. New American Elite on rear has 2.8K miles and shows 100% tread depth. Run 40 psi both tires. This data is from my maint. log books today.   I'd say I was an average rider for starts & stops. Most of my riding is in Georgia, where our road surfaces are mild, not big pebbles & aggregate embedded.

[bigfoot5x]

Has anybody ever given any thought to the relationship of where they live, pavement type and their mileage? I live in Texas Gulf coast area. I am a "spirited" rider. Always the first one through an intersection and fastest through the curves. My mileage is always pretty decent but my wife rides her own so I am very seldom  2 up. The Dunlop American Elites last longer than the older Dunlops for sure, 16,000 miles to about 11,000. What I have noticed is that pavements in areas that get snow are noticeably rougher or more coarse than what we have here in Texas. A trip through New Mexico and Arizona to Las Vegas eats up our tires a lot faster than a trip along the Gulf coast to Florida. Just makes me curious about where some of you live that get such low mileages. A friend of mine bought a 2009 Ultra with the newest style Dunlop tires. He bragged about getting 16,000 miles from the very first tire. Sure enough my 2013 StreetGlide got 16,000 miles on the first rear tire. Also wonder how far down do you run the tire. I don't change mine until the wear bars are showing.

[IronMike113]

It's probably just like heavy truck tires.... if a new design/tread comes out, BUY IT! (if it suits your application). Tire companies make the first of any new tire compounds harder, so they last much longer. Customers brag it up.... a few years down the road the compounds keep getting softer... & the tires keep wearing out faster! YOU figure it out!

VERY VERY TRUE ........

[Snag]

Has anybody ever given any thought to the relationship of where they live, pavement type and their mileage? I live in Texas Gulf coast area. I am a "spirited" rider. Always the first one through an intersection and fastest through the curves. My mileage is always pretty decent but my wife rides her own so I am very seldom  2 up. The Dunlop American Elites last longer than the older Dunlops for sure, 16,000 miles to about 11,000. What I have noticed is that pavements in areas that get snow are noticeably rougher or more coarse than what we have here in Texas. A trip through New Mexico and Arizona to Las Vegas eats up our tires a lot faster than a trip along the Gulf coast to Florida. Just makes me curious about where some of you live that get such low mileages. A friend of mine bought a 2009 Ultra with the newest style Dunlop tires. He bragged about getting 16,000 miles from the very first tire. Sure enough my 2013 StreetGlide got 16,000 miles on the first rear tire. Also wonder how far down do you run the tire. I don't change mine until the wear bars are showing.

  Well , the roads here being different did cross my mind , because we do have the chip and seal surfaces on many of the roads - and we didn't have that in Memphis , where the first 2 and the majority of the 3rd E3 were driven . We do get occasional snow , but there have been winters with none at all too . I've also been known to push it a little ... But even factoring in the road surface <my riding style hasn't changed , and there are twisty roads in the Memphis area> I just can't see that much difference . Interesting side note , the wear is very uniform across the tire , no flat in the middle . Very slight feathering on the leading edge at the sides <last 1/2" to 3/4" > . I usually run mine until they're pretty smooth - not to cord as a rule , but close . I hesitate to let them get that thin up here , I have a mile of dirt/rock/gravel road to get to the highway . One sharp rock and i could be afoot .
  I ordered a Conti Milestone today , based on the good experience I had with their Tour tire . Supposed to be for heavy baggers , we'll see what kind of mileage I get from it .