Ultra vs Gold Wing Tire Mileage
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,913
Likes: 87
From:
flibuoy
Just for your info so you don't have to post all that gobbledegook again. Both of my Dunlops and the two that I last replaced, and the two before them, and so on and so forth ad nauseum, have ALL been manufactured, or so they have printed on them, in the USA.
Just for your info so you don't have to post all that gobbledegook again. Both of my Dunlops and the two that I last replaced, and the two before them, and so on and so forth ad nauseum, have ALL been manufactured, or so they have printed on them, in the USA.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 12
From: Commerce, Mich.
Don't listen to what the wing rider has to say. I have gotten 15K or more out of the rear tire on 2 different ultras every tire change. and always used stock tires. I put the third set on the 2006 ultra at 38K. The 208 that I now ride was changed at 16K and now has 28K on her and I won't be changing that tire this year..maybe in the spring or early summer of next year.
Wife has a 2006 Deluxe with the original tire, and 18K on the clock. It will be changed this winter.
I find that its HOW you ride, and WHERE you ride that dictates tire life. Like most of the Wing Riders, I ride the freeway about 85% of the time. That alone will increase tire life.
Wife has a 2006 Deluxe with the original tire, and 18K on the clock. It will be changed this winter.
I find that its HOW you ride, and WHERE you ride that dictates tire life. Like most of the Wing Riders, I ride the freeway about 85% of the time. That alone will increase tire life.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 3
From: Texas City, TX
I rode an 03 GL1500 for six years. I used to push 20k miles on the old Dunlop 491 Elites with no problem at all. Having said that, I ride solo 98% of the time, ride conservatively on top of that and I'm **** about staying on top of my tire pressures. I think those last two things had the biggest impact on my tire life.
My 09 Ultra just rounded 9000 miles the other day and I'm still showing about 4mm (??, whatever the tread depth indicator is calibrated to on my air pressure gauge?) of tread depth at the shallowest point. It's still well in the green on the gauge and I figure I might get another 2 to 3k miles out of the tire. The only issue I've got is I'm leaving on our annual October ride in a couple of weeks with friends and I don't want to push taking the tire to the bare minimms on a road trip so I'll probably be replacing it before we leave. That means swapping it out early but I'd rather do that than risk running on cord by the time I get home. We've had a couple of the guys do that in years past, underestimating how much tire life they had left. Some of them didn't make it home as the tire failed before we got back. I'd rather not do that if I can help it, and I can!
Ride Safe,
Steve R.
My 09 Ultra just rounded 9000 miles the other day and I'm still showing about 4mm (??, whatever the tread depth indicator is calibrated to on my air pressure gauge?) of tread depth at the shallowest point. It's still well in the green on the gauge and I figure I might get another 2 to 3k miles out of the tire. The only issue I've got is I'm leaving on our annual October ride in a couple of weeks with friends and I don't want to push taking the tire to the bare minimms on a road trip so I'll probably be replacing it before we leave. That means swapping it out early but I'd rather do that than risk running on cord by the time I get home. We've had a couple of the guys do that in years past, underestimating how much tire life they had left. Some of them didn't make it home as the tire failed before we got back. I'd rather not do that if I can help it, and I can!
Ride Safe,
Steve R.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,702
Likes: 38
From: Houston area
Just to clarify my "goobledegook:
The Dunlop is owned by Goodyear, an American based company...it also owns Kelly, not really considered a performance oriented brand.. Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly are easily recognized here in the United States but Goodyear owns several other worldwide tire manufacturers as well. Goodyear manufactures in 29 countries and employs 80,000 and is the third largest tire manufacturer. The Dunlops of "old" were British owned, in fact John Boyd Dunlop "invented" the modern tire as a replacement for solid rubber tires so I doubt your "ad nauseum" applies although I am unable to verify that. The originals on my wife's says US patent and made in the U.S.A. as does my neighbors virginal '09 Dyna but I really don't know or care if they said made in the U.S.A. or not back in 1937. I guess the old joke of what's the difference between apathy and ignorance? applies to me...I don't know and I don't care.
I am not "down" on United States manufacturers capability:
It seems as if the country that used to make everything is on the brink of making nothing. But the United States remains the world's leading manufacturer by value of goods produced. It hit a record $1.6 trillion in 2007 - nearly double the $811 billion of 1987. For every $1 of value produced in China factories, the United States generates $2.50.
No need to get defensive....but an American brand is not any assurance whatsoever that it was made within our United States anymore...so says my Hewlett Packard computer filled with components made all over the world but says made in the US on it.
The Dunlop is owned by Goodyear, an American based company...it also owns Kelly, not really considered a performance oriented brand.. Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly are easily recognized here in the United States but Goodyear owns several other worldwide tire manufacturers as well. Goodyear manufactures in 29 countries and employs 80,000 and is the third largest tire manufacturer. The Dunlops of "old" were British owned, in fact John Boyd Dunlop "invented" the modern tire as a replacement for solid rubber tires so I doubt your "ad nauseum" applies although I am unable to verify that. The originals on my wife's says US patent and made in the U.S.A. as does my neighbors virginal '09 Dyna but I really don't know or care if they said made in the U.S.A. or not back in 1937. I guess the old joke of what's the difference between apathy and ignorance? applies to me...I don't know and I don't care.
I am not "down" on United States manufacturers capability:
It seems as if the country that used to make everything is on the brink of making nothing. But the United States remains the world's leading manufacturer by value of goods produced. It hit a record $1.6 trillion in 2007 - nearly double the $811 billion of 1987. For every $1 of value produced in China factories, the United States generates $2.50.
No need to get defensive....but an American brand is not any assurance whatsoever that it was made within our United States anymore...so says my Hewlett Packard computer filled with components made all over the world but says made in the US on it.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From:
I have seen a couple guys in the club GW's eat their fronts at less than 10K. Rears not much more. But these guys ride their bikes and are not interested in braggin about tire depth.
With the available power that a GW can muster, their weight and that fact that they are generally overloaded and I can't see you getting a safe 20K out of either the front or rear.
I would not be bragging about that sounds like they are pushing safety.
My Ultra has about 10k and they look fine, but looks are very decieving. Next year, new tires they will be at about 13k.
I don't would not push a tire any tire, either Motorcycle or Auto past a point where I could brag on the longevity. It's not worth it, tires are cheap, infact overall replacement is less than the deductable when you crash it because you blew a tire or the tow back to where ever and you will still need to replace the tires.
With the available power that a GW can muster, their weight and that fact that they are generally overloaded and I can't see you getting a safe 20K out of either the front or rear.
I would not be bragging about that sounds like they are pushing safety.
My Ultra has about 10k and they look fine, but looks are very decieving. Next year, new tires they will be at about 13k.
I don't would not push a tire any tire, either Motorcycle or Auto past a point where I could brag on the longevity. It's not worth it, tires are cheap, infact overall replacement is less than the deductable when you crash it because you blew a tire or the tow back to where ever and you will still need to replace the tires.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Joplin, Mo
Having owned 2 Gl1800 goldwings and 4 HD touring bikes I have found neither of them get any better or any worse tire wear then the other. The Goldwing tire had alot of tread left but was cupped so bad that when leaned over in a turn the noise was horriffing. Now the stock HD Dunlops wear out quicker then I like the Dunlop Elite 3's are fantastic and have worn longer then any tire I had on the wing or the ultra. The only good thing for a wing is that you don't have to worry about the rear wheel not being aligned properly as it bolts on like a car and can not be out of alignment where a Harley could be and can contribute to tire wear,
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 566
Likes: 3
From:
I call BS on this comment. Just last week I had 3 riders sit next to me at dinner in a restaurant in LaCrosse WI. They started talking about bikes and eventually came to the subject of tire life. I couldn't believe it when I heard all 3 of them say that 6K is about the max for a rear tire. I heard them talk about Wings, Beamers and some Kawi thing, and they agreed that all of them only were good for 6K. One guy blamed the horsepower, and the other two blamed the fact that the tires were made in China.
Kinda made me feel good about my American made Dunlops!
Kinda made me feel good about my American made Dunlops!
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 5
Tire life has an adversely proportionate relationship with the throttle sleeve.
It seems that the grip which is connected to the throttle sleeve turns a series of cables connected to the engine and the main shaft of said engine connects to the rear tires thru a bunch of gears and a belt or chain.
The more circular the throttle sleeve and grip motion is, the faster the rear tire rotates.
Turn the throttle really far often, Tire changes more often...
Turn the throttle a little bit, The tread stays on the tire quite a bit longer.
It seems that the grip which is connected to the throttle sleeve turns a series of cables connected to the engine and the main shaft of said engine connects to the rear tires thru a bunch of gears and a belt or chain.
The more circular the throttle sleeve and grip motion is, the faster the rear tire rotates.
Turn the throttle really far often, Tire changes more often...
Turn the throttle a little bit, The tread stays on the tire quite a bit longer.