Front tires

[Dwight]

Ok, lets talk about front tires. I've typically used rear tires on the front of my trikes. With a long trip coming up I'm wondering if the Dunlop front tire supplied on my Road Glide trike will last. I haven't had much luck with the Dunlops on the front, usually worn out between 6 - 7k miles. I've used Michelin (Pilot Activ) and Bridgestone (BT-45) rear tires in the front position and and maybe see 10 -12k usable miles. What are your experiences?

Thanks
Dwight

[trikermutha]

I have always used Dunlops and lasted way longer than you mentioned. On both my trikes and my two wheels harleys.

[TattooZ]

Interesting that you should Post this question. I talked with a trike builder in W. Va. He said that on the TriGlide expect to get 6 - 7k miles on the standard lop. He reccommended a Dunlop rear tire for the front. Also he stated to have them puton backwards, apparently because of the stopping bias and rain deflection properties of the rear tires. He sated that 12 - 14 k would be the max for a rear tire.

This isn't my experience (yet) but Lehmann reccomended him to me so I guess he really knows from what he says.


HTH

[TriGlide]

I think he's mistaken I have 6K on my 09 TriGlide Front tire looks like it will go 20K easy.

[Boom]

I think he's mistaken I have 6K on my 09 TriGlide Front tire looks like it will go 20K easy.

What he said.......

[Gorilla]

Ok, lets talk about front tires. I've typically used rear tires on the front of my trikes. With a long trip coming up I'm wondering if the Dunlop front tire supplied on my Road Glide trike will last. I haven't had much luck with the Dunlops on the front, usually worn out between 6 - 7k miles. I've used Michelin (Pilot Activ) and Bridgestone (BT-45) rear tires in the front position and and maybe see 10 -12k usable miles. What are your experiences?

Thanks
Dwight

Dwight I have a stock Dunlop rear tire mount on the front of my Road Glide trike running backwards. I have over 5k on it and it still looks new.

[Dwight]

What kind of tire pressure are you guys running in the front? I can't imagine getting 20K on a front tire, two wheels or three. Must be my riding style.

Thanks
Dwight

[lzski326]

What kind of tire pressure are you guys running in the front? I can't imagine getting 20K on a front tire, two wheels or three. Must be my riding style.

Thanks
Dwight

I just had mine changed at 18,500 miles on my Triglide and it probably could have went a couple of thousand more. I had the trike in for the sprocket change and champion reverse, so I figured I would change the tire for the riding season. My last trike I had over 20 thousand on that one before i changed it. I know side cars usually put a lot of wear on the tires, but trike I thought did pretty good. Now for break pads its just the opposite, I'm about ready to put the third set on.

[msocko3]

I have 10,000 miles on the front tire of my 2010 Triglide and my dad who just replaced his front tire on his 09 Triglide at 20,000 miles could have gotten another 5,000 on it. We both run 36 pounds in the front tire, his is a mix of around town and freeway and mine is mostly freeway with a little around town.

[Dwight]

I just can't understand how you guys are getting that kind of mileage out of front tires. In almost 90k miles on 4 different trikes 16k was the best I ever got out of front tires. I run them as near as I can to the wear bars and then change them. Talking to my Gold Wing/Hannigan riding buddy last night about this thread and the best he's done is about 14k. I saw that tire and ragged on him about running it in the condition it was in. I'm using 36 to 40 psi in the tires. Don't see much difference in wear. Incidentally the 16k tires were on a RT-S Spyder, I was on the second rear tire on that bike. I guess I'll start to AK on the Dunlop and see what happens. Should be able to buy a new tire during the trip if need be. Thanks for the comments.

Dwight

[Nana]

Dwight, I know most folks are getting the extended wear on the tire if they are using a tire designed for the rear wheel of a 2-wheel motorcycle, as it has more tread on it. If you are still using a front motorcycle tire you won't get the extended wear.

[msocko3]

I just can't understand how you guys are getting that kind of mileage out of front tires. In almost 90k miles on 4 different trikes 16k was the best I ever got out of front tires. I run them as near as I can to the wear bars and then change them. Talking to my Gold Wing/Hannigan riding buddy last night about this thread and the best he's done is about 14k. I saw that tire and ragged on him about running it in the condition it was in. I'm using 36 to 40 psi in the tires. Don't see much difference in wear. Incidentally the 16k tires were on a RT-S Spyder, I was on the second rear tire on that bike. I guess I'll start to AK on the Dunlop and see what happens. Should be able to buy a new tire during the trip if need be. Thanks for the comments.

Dwight

I'm not running them unsafe, I'm quite anal about tire replacement. I use a tread wear gauge to check depth and replace accordingly. I'm running the stock tires that come on the front of the Triglide, Dunlop D402F. I know of other riders getting 20,000 miles or better out of a front tire. One lady and her husband bought a new 09 Triglide and went on a long road trip across the US, they replaced their front tire at 25,000 miles.

[Boom]

I just can't understand how you guys are getting that kind of mileage out of front tires. In almost 90k miles on 4 different trikes 16k was the best I ever got out of front tires. I run them as near as I can to the wear bars and then change them. Talking to my Gold Wing/Hannigan riding buddy last night about this thread and the best he's done is about 14k. I saw that tire and ragged on him about running it in the condition it was in. I'm using 36 to 40 psi in the tires. Don't see much difference in wear. Incidentally the 16k tires were on a RT-S Spyder, I was on the second rear tire on that bike. I guess I'll start to AK on the Dunlop and see what happens. Should be able to buy a new tire during the trip if need be. Thanks for the comments.

Dwight

Just curious, what are you using for trees on your trike build? Stock? I'm wondering if you have more weight shifted to your front tire than a Tri-Glide would have. Tri-Glides have the extended forks that shift more weight to the rear for easier handing. Just a thought.

[Nauga Mok]

Just replaced the front time on my 06 Ultra/Raodsmith at 24,000+. Granted 9,000 of that was on 2 wheels, but had I ran it to the wear bars, it would have gone another 2 or 3000. It was the standard Dunlop 401 MT front tire. Replaced it with a Metzler 880 MU rear which has higher gross weight rating, 3/8" wider, & 3/32" more tread -- and YES it does fit. With only a weeks running in it, I can see the wear pattern is wider than the worn out Dunlop, meaning I'm getting a bigger contact patch on the road.
NM

[wiltat2]

Had to replace our 09 Tri-Glide front tire on our trip last august at 15000. Stoped in Memphis for the 15000 service and they checked the tire and showed me that the tire was down to 1/32 in the center of the tire.

[dwiht]

On my 08 Lehman Ultra Trike, I got 20,000 out of the front Dunlop with no rake. I put on a Michelin Commander Rear tire turned backwards and it had 22,000 miles on it when I traded the trike for a 2011 Tri-Glide. I ran my front tires a 29 pounds and the rears at 26 as Lehman recommended. I have a little over 6,000 miles on the Tri-Glide and it looks like it should go at least 20,000.

[KRUZR]

Just replaced the front time on my 06 Ultra/Raodsmith at 24,000+. Granted 9,000 of that was on 2 wheels, but had I ran it to the wear bars, it would have gone another 2 or 3000. It was the standard Dunlop 401 MT front tire. Replaced it with a Metzler 880 MU rear which has higher gross weight rating, 3/8" wider, & 3/32" more tread -- and YES it does fit. With only a weeks running in it, I can see the wear pattern is wider than the worn out Dunlop, meaning I'm getting a bigger contact patch on the road.
NM

It's been a little while now scene mounting the Rear Metzler 880 on the front, any thing you can share positive or negative at this point?? Rise Safe!

[eagle1]

'09 tri-glide lop lasted 15,500 milesand i changes it at 3/32 s, but i do 95% freeway, and am a fair weather triker.