Front tire mileage stinks

[MikeyTX]

Down to 2/32" already on the O E steer axle tire. Right at 10k. Not impressed with the factory Dumbcrap tire. I sure hope the aftermarket tires last longer. And yes, I religiously check my tire pressure several times a week when cold first thing in the morning. Maintaining 36 psi per factory specs.

[rhino 2]

Down to 2/32" already on the O E steer axle tire. Right at 10k. Not impressed with the factory Dumbcrap tire. I sure hope the aftermarket tires last longer. And yes, I religiously check my tire pressure several times a week when cold first thing in the morning. Maintaining 36 psi per factory specs.

It seems there might be a quality control issue with those tires....The first one on my Tri-Glide went at about 14 + thousand miles... My second tire has about 22 + thousand miles so far.. Same tire same rider...
Seems like the mileage is all over the map with them....

[HDB0B]

Got 13,500 on stock Dunlop and decided to not push it and changed to a Michelin Commander II REAR tire (same size as front was). I'm very happy with the Commander II. It is wearing like iron and I feel I get better traction in the corners. It seems to have a bigger contact patch with the ground due to a slightly flatter profile.

Bob

[MikeyTX]

In as our trikes steer differently than a two wheel m c, it would be nice if the Mo Co would have Dunlap develop a steer tire specific to trikes.

[MikeyTX]

Got 13,500 on stock Dunlop and decided to not push it and changed to a Michelin Commander II REAR tire (same size as front was). I'm very happy with the Commander II. It is wearing like iron and I feel I get better traction in the corners. It seems to have a bigger contact patch with the ground due to a slightly flatter profile.

Bob

Let me get this straight, you are running the rear tire from a two wheeler on the front of your trike ?

[HDB0B]

Let me get this straight, you are running the rear tire from a two wheeler on the front of your trike ?

Correct ... loads of trikers do this. Mine is mounted in reverse rotation per Michelins directions (has to do with the tread splice). You get almost twice the tread depth in a rear tire versus a front tire.

I expect to easily get 25,000 miles out of this tire.

[Sunman]

Let me get this straight, you are running the rear tire from a two wheeler on the front of your trike ?

I ran a rear tire on the front of my Goldwing trike. Much more tire mileage. A rear tire had more tread depth to begin with. A lot of trikers run rear tires on the front. Some mount the rear tire in reverse. In fact, one of the tire manufacturers actually says to do this if running a rear tire on the front of a trike but I can't remember which one. My last one was mounted in the normal rotation direction by the installer even though I told them to reverse the rotation. I didn't have any problems. The front wheel on the Freewheeler is 19" and I have not found a 19" rear tire or I would be running one.

Sunman

[MikeyTX]

Be interesting to see how it works. I'm open to new ideas .......... As long as it doesn't involve women At my age, I like the peace and quiet.

- - - Updated - - -

Avon Cobra Trike tire. I like the road hazard and milage warranty of 15k miles. It goes on the bike next Friday along with an oil change. Engine and primary.

[DonC]

Question, <br />
<br />
domyou have the the dealer install this? D they balk at it at all or do they agree. Just curious. <br />
<br />
Don 😎

[MikeyTX]

Don, I asked my indie about this practice. More prevalent than I thought. They will do it but only after a waiver of liability has been signed by the purchaser that indemnifies the seller against damage to the m/c, tire or, rider.

[DonC]

Don, I asked my indie about this practice. More prevalent than I thought. They will do it but only after a waiver of liability has been signed by the purchaser that indemnifies the seller against damage to the m/c, tire or, rider.

i will look into this when the time comes.thanks 👍👊😎

[MikeyTX]

Somehow, I can't see a licensed H-D dealer doing it at all. They are way to liability conscious.

[DK Custom Products]

Down to 2/32" already on the O E steer axle tire. Right at 10k. Not impressed with the factory Dumbcrap tire. I sure hope the aftermarket tires last longer. And yes, I religiously check my tire pressure several times a week when cold first thing in the morning. Maintaining 36 psi per factory specs.

I've gotten as little as 8000 out of a stock front tire and as much as 15000+.

For me it is very dependent on-

The roads I'm riding
The ambient temperature
How I ride

One weekend in the Ozarks I rode about 1000 miles, very aggressively in the twistys and in that 1000 miles I shaved over half the tread off of a brand new front tire.

I believe if I had a new stock front tire for a week and rode hard thru 2000 miles of twistys I could have a stock front tire completely bald in the center.

Conversely, I believe if I rode on nice roads, no twistys, in a conservative manner I could get 20,000 miles out of a stock front tire.

Since I like riding somewhat aggressively in the twistys, I am now running an American Elite rear tire, reversed, up front. It currently has about 15,000 miles on it and still has more tread depth than a stock new tire has. Plus it grips better than the stock front tire.

Kevin

[geezerglide11441]

I've gotten as little as 8000 out of a stock front tire and as much as 15000+.

For me it is very dependent on-

The roads I'm riding
The ambient temperature
How I ride

One weekend in the Ozarks I rode about 1000 miles, very aggressively in the twistys and in that 1000 miles I shaved over half the tread off of a brand new front tire.

I believe if I had a new stock front tire for a week and rode hard thru 2000 miles of twistys I could have a stock front tire completely bald in the center.

Conversely, I believe if I rode on nice roads, no twistys, in a conservative manner I could get 20,000 miles out of a stock front tire.

Since I like riding somewhat aggressively in the twistys, I am now running an American Elite rear tire, reversed, up front. It currently has about 15,000 miles on it and still has more tread depth than a stock new tire has. Plus it grips better than the stock front tire.

Kevin

100% as I have the same tire mounted the same way and it looks like it is still new and I have about 4,000 miles on mine!!

Roger

[consitter]

I've got 3900 on mine, and wear is really starting to show. Hopefully I can make through this riding season. As little as I've rode it this season, I'm betting I'll be able to hold off.

But I'm most likely going to try the rear tire mounted backwards thing. If it's good enough for Kevin, it's good enough for me.

[gerald martin]

just replaced the front tire on my freewheeler at 21,000 miles. I keep the pressure at 39 lbs. I ride an even amount of twistys and straight roads I usually ride about 10 mph over the speed limit but the speed limit here in BC is 55mph or 90 kph

[consitter]

I forgot to add...living in eastern Kentucky, most of the roads around here are twisties by most people's standards. To me, they're just regular. Oh yeah, I'm kind of a speed demon too.

[MikeyTX]

As my indie has already ordered the Avon Cobra for me w/o payment up front, I am going with that tire. With my aggressive, high mileage riding style, we'll all know soon enough how it stands up. The day after it is installed, I am leaving on another of my 4k loops from TX to the pacific nw and back.

[Postal Trucker]

The original stock tire on my '12 got 27k on that tire. Replaced it with a new stock Dunlop and had about 5k before buying the '14 and had them switch all tires and wheels from the '12 to the '14 because of the chrome wheels I had. Got about 23k on the second tire and changed out due to a planned trip and didn't want to change the tire on the road (it still had good tread).

Now I'm debating about changing the wheels and tires to the Anarchy wheels (the front tire will be an 18"), may try and look for a rear tire to fit that rim.

Was on a trip last month and ran across a Gold Wing rider with a Hannigan conversion kit with a special front end. It was wider than stock and used a 180 rear tire. He claimed he had 20k on that tire and it still looked good with lots of tread left.

Sound like a rear tire may be the way to go.

[Sunman]

Question,

domyou have the the dealer install this? D they balk at it at all or do they agree. Just curious.

Don ��

Never bought a tire at a dealer, they are too expensive. I always get my tires at an indie shop or order on line and have an indie shop mount and balance. In years past I have even mounted tires in my garage.

Sunman