I put on a new rear tire at the local dealership last year on my 2003 RKC. (Dunlop 402) I have ridden perhaps 5,000 km (3,100 miles) I have never done a burn out, never drive on gravel roads and the tire has less than 3/32" of tread on it. The front which was on it when I bought the bike has over 10,000 km (6,200 miles) and has more than 1/8' of tread still. Tire pressure is as the manual says. Someone told me the tires from HD are soft rubber. Is this true. I should get more than one year on a tire shouldn't I?

randy

 

I get about 12-15k miles out of my rear tires. I run Elite 3's or American Elites. There are much better tires out there than the stock 402's

 

Tire wear isn't measured in years, it is measured in miles.

If you ride 25,000 miles in 1 year then no, the tires won't last more than a year. When I had my 402's, I got approximately 5,000 miles on the rear and 11,000 miles on the front before they needed replacement. Mind you, I am on a Softail not a Tourer. Most of my miles are straight roads and highways so I tend to wear out the center of the tread. I currently have my first set of American Elite IIIs so I don't know yet how they compare to the 402s with my style of riding.

 

I got 15,000 out of each of 2 rear 402s and 25,000 out of a front. You undoubtedly ride in a more spirited fashion than I do. My big complaint about the 402s, the front "buzzed" from day one. My theory is that the tread pattern is close enough to perpendicular to the way it rolls that each edge hitting the pavement made a little shock. The rear would start to howl in turns beginning at about half tread life, in my case at about 7000 miles on the tire. I tried the Dunlop Elite 3 front and rear and got better wear and smoother ride than with the 402s. Because of the high rating given by many for the Michelin Commander IIs, that is what I am running now and am well pleased. Keep in mind that you ride differently than I do and a tire that gives longer wear may be too slippery for your taste. Only one way to find out. Also remember not to judge a tire by its first 100 to 200 miles as that is when the mold release agent is wearing off and the tire may be considerably more slippery until that is worn off.

 

btson, "I undoubtedly ride in a more spirited fashion" ? I don't do burnouts, I don't pop wheelies, I don't skid to a stop and I don't put it sideways, or accelerate hard. What kind of riding do you differently to put more miles than me? I'm sixty years old and have never put 5K on a bike in my life until this year.

Randy

 

402?? I am totally "Dun with the 'Lops"......

 

Road surface has a lot to do with it. We have a lot of cement and smooth asphalt. I got 18k on my stock tires. the front was cupping but still legal tread the rear had maybe 1k left of legal tread. My cousin lives on the other side of the state which is mostly chip sealed roads. He gets about 6K on his road king.

 

The wear you are describing is typical for that year and model. I had an 2002 flht and I would really baby the thing and would get about 5000 on the rear and 10000 on the front. Most would get around 4000 on the rear. Today I have a 2014 flhtcu and I can get 20000 on the rear tire. The main difference is the width of the tire, todays bikes have a much wider rear tire which greatly improves wear, along with better compounds from the tire manufacturer. Also frame design has been improved as well as the ids which I think also helps improve tire wear.

 

What is the largest tire I can go with and given I have wide whitewalls, what is available for the 2003 Road king?

randy

 

Look online at sites such as Dennis Kirk, Revzilla and many others. They will show what fits your year bike. My 2006 ultra with stock dun lop d402 yields 12-14k rear and 25- 28 front. I did just put an American elite on the front, will see how long it lasts compared to d402, but everyone says they ride much better and do not follow tar snakes.