09 Front Tire Fiasco....
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 22
From: Denham Springs, La
Maybe there's hope
My question to Dunlop
Sent On : 10/19/2009 6:15:47 PM
From : Cecil Smith
Comments :
I would like to buy an Elite 3 tire for the front of my 09 Harley Davidson
Electra Glide Ultra Classic Motorcycle. The D407F tires are terrible for
wear. I had to replace the first one at 10000 miles and now at 16000 miles
the second one is looking pretty bad.
When will you start making Elite 3 tires for the Harley Ultra?
Dunlop's reply:
Cecil,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your Dunlop motorcycle
tire questions. Unfortunately, there are no plans at this time to expand
the tire size selection of the Dunlop Elite 3 tire model. We're very
sorry. However, we do hope to be able to introduce an alternative
replacement tire model for these vehicles sometime during the Spring of
2010.
Sent On : 10/19/2009 6:15:47 PM
From : Cecil Smith
Comments :
I would like to buy an Elite 3 tire for the front of my 09 Harley Davidson
Electra Glide Ultra Classic Motorcycle. The D407F tires are terrible for
wear. I had to replace the first one at 10000 miles and now at 16000 miles
the second one is looking pretty bad.
When will you start making Elite 3 tires for the Harley Ultra?
Dunlop's reply:
Cecil,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your Dunlop motorcycle
tire questions. Unfortunately, there are no plans at this time to expand
the tire size selection of the Dunlop Elite 3 tire model. We're very
sorry. However, we do hope to be able to introduce an alternative
replacement tire model for these vehicles sometime during the Spring of
2010.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 144
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
ha, Retrop, good news amid all the horror stories. If I get 20K out of the rear like you that will be great. Right now it looks like I possibly could get that many miles, I was just starting to think about it because of the stories of cupping and short tread life.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
It is strange that 2 road kings from the same dealer- sold about a month apart can wear so differently. My buddy's tire is junk after 12,000 miles and mine is kinda okay at 10500 miles. His has a lot of cupping and visble to the eye from a distance. You can't see any wear on mine but can feel the uneven wear.
His has lumps-bumps- but not mine. we both will need new tires next summer- his will need mounted before he rides in the spring-(april) and mine about end of Aug.
His has lumps-bumps- but not mine. we both will need new tires next summer- his will need mounted before he rides in the spring-(april) and mine about end of Aug.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 8
From: OHIO
Just bought my 2009 SG on July 31st and it came with the D407 front tire. My buddy has a 2009 RK that he purchased in September of last year. He had mentioned to me to keep an eye on my front tire from the beginning. He had a D407 on his bike and had the cupping issue but could not get anywhere with the MOCO or the dealer.
Well last Sunday I put around 400 miles on my bike with around 5800 total on the OD. I had been keeping an eye on front tire and it had started cupping. I called MOCO first thing Monday morning to ask them about the tire issue. They straight up said contact your dealer. So I went to the dealer right after work and talked to the service department. I told them that I took a trip Sunday through some twisties and had been experiencing some vibration and movement in the front end. I then told and showed them how bad my tire was cupping. I wanted to get pics of the tire but didn't have my camera on me. The service person asked how many miles were on the bike. I told them around 5800 and somehow they thought I said over 10,000. They said that the tires were being replaced under warranty but I may have too many miles. I then told them again only 5800 and they said oh we can take care of it then. They said come inside and I will see if we have any D408's in stock. They had one in stock and asked if I could come in the next day and have this issue taken care of.
Took my bike to the dealership yesterday and they mounted up a new D408 and even washed my bike at no charge. Was very happy with the turn around and hopefully the rest of you have the same luck.
Dealership also mentioned that I should soon be receiving a letter from HD MOCO on this tire issue and to just ignore it now that mine had been replaced.
The dealership is Hales in Mansfield, Ohio 419.522.8602
Well last Sunday I put around 400 miles on my bike with around 5800 total on the OD. I had been keeping an eye on front tire and it had started cupping. I called MOCO first thing Monday morning to ask them about the tire issue. They straight up said contact your dealer. So I went to the dealer right after work and talked to the service department. I told them that I took a trip Sunday through some twisties and had been experiencing some vibration and movement in the front end. I then told and showed them how bad my tire was cupping. I wanted to get pics of the tire but didn't have my camera on me. The service person asked how many miles were on the bike. I told them around 5800 and somehow they thought I said over 10,000. They said that the tires were being replaced under warranty but I may have too many miles. I then told them again only 5800 and they said oh we can take care of it then. They said come inside and I will see if we have any D408's in stock. They had one in stock and asked if I could come in the next day and have this issue taken care of.
Took my bike to the dealership yesterday and they mounted up a new D408 and even washed my bike at no charge. Was very happy with the turn around and hopefully the rest of you have the same luck.
Dealership also mentioned that I should soon be receiving a letter from HD MOCO on this tire issue and to just ignore it now that mine had been replaced.
The dealership is Hales in Mansfield, Ohio 419.522.8602
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,929
Likes: 301
From: moved to Florida!
Thanks for the info, bman. BTW, from the little I can see of the bike in the pics, looks like a really nice SG you got there! How about some pics showing the entire bike? Really liking the front fender, would love to see the whole thing.
Jerry
Jerry
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 8
From: OHIO
Here ya go Jerry! Older pic of the bike. Will post more soon! Been riding too much and not taking any pictures. Have put 6000 miles on the bike since July 31st. Haven't even made it out of the state of Ohio yet.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,995
Likes: 2
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
This thread has run out of legs but I would like to know if others have had this tire issue resolved recently. I never received a letter on my 407's and after 5000 miles you can tell by one look that there is a wear problem. My dealer said that they have to take it out for a test ride and if there is vibration then they can help me otherwise I'm SOL. 
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
LOTS OF MISINFORMATION HERE.. The tire is not on recall, it does have a service reference bulletin out the number is M1258A. Pull it off the net and read it for your self. The main thing is does the tire show cupping or abnormal wear? Is the handling of the bike poor. If you can honestly answer yes to both of these questions, then go to the dealer and complain. The amount of tread wear will determine how much credit you get. I had complained about my scoot since I bought it (09 RG). At the 1000 mile service the dealer adjusted the fall away (Neck Bearing). At 5K they balance the tire and told me I needed a new one. 2 weeks later the service bulletin came out. By then my tier was wore out. A bit of complaining and a talk to the manager and I got a new 408f and the handling problem was gone. 15k miles more and no abnormal wear.
These forums are great, but do not always believe what you read. Get the official bulletin and take it with you to the dealer. Why buy a tire when you may get one free. If you insist on doing that then by me one for my 95 Fat Boy OK and ship it to me.
These forums are great, but do not always believe what you read. Get the official bulletin and take it with you to the dealer. Why buy a tire when you may get one free. If you insist on doing that then by me one for my 95 Fat Boy OK and ship it to me.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: AZ
This thread has run out of legs but I would like to know if others have had this tire issue resolved recently. I never received a letter on my 407's and after 5000 miles you can tell by one look that there is a wear problem. My dealer said that they have to take it out for a test ride and if there is vibration then they can help me otherwise I'm SOL.
They checked the tire pressure and asked if the D407F was the original tire. Then they said "Can you wait for another hour so we can mount up a new tire under the service bulletin?" I said "I can wait as fast as I can". For sure, the ride home was a lot smoother with a new D408 in the front. The rear tire is stilling looking good and wearing normally.
