For all you 09 owers with cupped tires

[Lcarr]

I had the cupping issue at 14,000 miles also. While on a trip stopped at Holstein HD Omaha NE and they simply looked at the tire and replaced it no questions or hassle at all. I did not complain of a vibration. In and out less than 1 hour.

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[mickael moore]

I have had cupping on a lot of front tires. Cycle tires go out of balance fast because of wear. I have for the last 6 years been using Dyna Beads in my tires front and rear Tires are always in balance and I get great wear from both front and rear. I have 30k with tread yet on a front tire on my 07 ultra. 2 oz front and back. www.dynabeads.com

It works!

[Crewdog151]

Took my 09 SG to my dealer today. 13k miles on front tire, its cupping but only has 4/32 tread left.....Tried to buck the warranty saying the tire was worn, I countered and long story short, new tire should be here in a few days, installed F.O.C.......Thanks to this forum I knew how to deal with problem, Thanks folks!

[Ronp42]

Originally Posted by Retrop

Amen to that! There are thousands of us out here that bought early 2009 touring bikes with those bad tires on them. Most of us have been told by either the dealer or Harley "Too bad, it is a wear item" so Kiss Off. I am sick and tired of this bad behavior and am not likely to forget it. I am also convinced that many people who have those 407Fs on their front end don't know about their wear problems. I guess the only thing that really gets a manufactures attention is when people start to get killed from their product. Otherwise, fok em. Right, Firestone????
Business goes where it is most appreciated! Right now I don't feel very appreciated and my guess that there are a lot of others who feel the same. The worst thing about this whole scenario is that like it or not, if we want tires on our 09s, we have to buy Dunlops from Harley unless we are willing to put something other than a 17" on our fronts. Talk about being screwed. "But still, like I said, Business goes where it is most appreciated." I'm pissed.

It seems to be the Dealers that handle things different. I went to a Dealer yesterday and he changed both front and back. I have 12K miles on the old tires. He told me it was an issue with Harley Having Dunlop put the tires on with the tread running the wrong way. He took me into his showroom and showed me some 09's with the 407F tires that hasn't been changed yet. He's telling customers that buy the bikes to put a few miles on them and come in for new 408's. He said the 408F is a 407F reversed. I guess it's what Dealer you go to!

[Manchego]

Are you sure that the problem is the new tire?. It will be the bright new chassis?.

[Bingee]

The D408F is NOT a just a D407F with a different direction arrow.
Both the D407F and D408F have the same base tire body. They are constructed to rotate in one direction only as indicated by the direction arrow. The outer skin of the two tires that contains the tread is also the same. But attached in reversed directions. Simply installing a D407F in a backward direction to match the tread direction of the D408F is dead wrong and will cause a disaster. Also, riding on a cupped tire is not a good idea. The cupping on the tire will cause it to pulsate its contact force with the road surface. Very bad on a wet road. Since Harley is paying for the switch to the D408F, nobody who has a cupped D407F should delay getting it corrected.

[FLAHOG]

Went to local dealer this morning to see if they would replace the tire due to this problem. Told the svc mgr that I had slight vibration in the front wheel. He asked when I bought the bike and how many miles on it, told him 10/08 and 8500 mi. His reply was we need to put a new tire on for you, won't cost you anything because it is a warranty item and didn't look at the tire until after he said this. He told me this before I even asked whether it would be covered under warranty. When I was leaving he came out looked at the tire and said yes it cupped. He also stated he was told that there was suppose to be a tech order coming out on this problem very soon. The service dept guys always have treated me good, and I haven't bought any of my bikes from them, not that I wouldn't, but I can never get the sales people to deal.

[Ronp42]

Originally Posted by Bingee

The D408F is NOT a just a D407F with a different direction arrow.
Both the D407F and D408F have the same base tire body. They are constructed to rotate in one direction only as indicated by the direction arrow. The outer skin of the two tires that contains the tread is also the same. But attached in reversed directions. Simply installing a D407F in a backward direction to match the tread direction of the D408F is dead wrong and will cause a disaster. Also, riding on a cupped tire is not a good idea. The cupping on the tire will cause it to pulsate its contact force with the road surface. Very bad on a wet road. Since Harley is paying for the switch to the D408F, nobody who has a cupped D407F should delay getting it corrected.

I didn't say it was a 407F with a different direction arrow. I said the new 408F has the tread pattern facing a different direction than the 407F.

[Terrific Pacific]

Before I go out in the garage and pull the cover off my bike....will it say if it is a 407 or 408F somewhere on the tire?

[HDV-GLIDE]

I just checked my front tire tonight and at 4500+ miles, it's still smooth.....

I'm anal about checking air pressure before each ride, so maybe keeping the pressure at 36lbs at all times is helping.

BUT, if HD wants to replace it, I wouldn't be upset.......