Tire POLL

[gunnut]

good man Hobbit,Venoms do it for me too!!

 

[Sanz1]

Dunlop wide whites front and rear

 

[dolt]

Dunlop Elite 3 front and rear

+1 for E3s

 

[warose]

AVON AM23 front and rear. 130/70 VB18SC V260 on 4" wide custom wheels to be exact. 4,000 miles on them and I'm shopping new tires. Dunlop - Metzeler - Avons - maybe Michelin will be the companies I will compare.
2001 FLHRI

 

[TQuentin1]

After reading all this about the Dunlop D402s, I checked mine out this morning. Sure enough, I have the exact problem Steve07 described in his post. Mine looks like this:

Now I have to figure what to do about this tire! Not riding with this crack in the center of the tread pattern.

TQ

 

[glider]

TQ

Contact Dunlop and explain that you have one of the "problem " tires that you read about and ask them how you go about getting a replacement.

Think positive! :s

 

[TQuentin1]

TQ

Contact Dunlop and explain that you have one of the "problem " tires that you read about and ask them how you go about getting a replacement.

Think positive! :s

Tried that. They said to take/send the tire back to the retailer where the tire was purchased (on-line) and that retailer will determine if the problem is "an unserviceable defect" and the probable cause. If determined to be a manufacturing defect, then Dunlop will issue a credit to the retailer for a replacement tire, or if less than 50% tread depth left, then 50% credit on a replacement tire (the rest would be from me). I measured the tread depth, and there is about 3-4 mm left in the center (this tire was replaced in Oct., and has about 4,600 miles) on it. A new MU85-16 is supposed to be 11/32" tread depth. So half would be 11/64 = 0.172". Mine measures ~4mm = 0.157". So I might get a 50% credit on a new tire. But here is the rub: this whole process will take at least 3-4 WEEKS!!

So. Based on this whole problem with Dunlop tires, I am switching to AVON Venom AM41/AM42. Have been running these on the small bike (Dyna) for years, and really like them. Thought I liked the Dunlops, but this whole experience has changed that.

TQ

 

[STEVE07]

I feel for you TQ,even though they replaced mine under warranty I find myself checking the tires out every time I go for a ride.I really think I am going to have to change makes before I am 100% confident again.

 

[TQuentin1]

I feel for you TQ,even though they replaced mine under warranty I find myself checking the tires out every time I go for a ride.I really think I am going to have to change makes before I am 100% confident again.

Absolutely. I am shocked by Dunlop's stance on this. Seems to me this is a fairly wide-spread manufacturing problem that is very much a safety concern. Not sure if that split is related to any of the "rapid deflation" issues, but I would have expected that they would want me to take my tire to ANY retailer of the D402s for evaluation/full warranty exchange as long as the tire tread depth is within usable specs. Their warranty is full replacement for the first 50% tread depth life, and then 50% replacement for anything under 50% of new tread depth.

So. Changing to AVON Venoms. Yesterday afternoon ordered front and rear as follows:

Items Shipped
Item Status Price Quantity Total Item Price
AM42 Venom Rear Tire
Color - --, Size - 140/90HB-16
SKU# 50535 Shipped $150.99 1 $150.99
AM41 Venom Front Tire
Color - --, Size - MT90HB-16
SKU# 50287 Shipped $131.99 1 $131.99

Free S&H (Motorcycle-Superstore)

Interestingly, when I called one of the HD Dealerships here to talk about this problem, the Service guy had not heard of the problem. I had to explain the issue and what Dunlop's warranty was. He indicated that if I brought the bike in (how? towing?) they could have me out of there with a new Dunlop MU85-16 bw for $285. What a deal! (NOT!!)

Will let you know how the Avons do on the dresser.

TQ

 

[03classic]

I have had no issues with Dunlops on any of my harleys.