Good question!

How come a dealer is selling these tires at such a cheap price? Looks like they want to get rid of inventory. Why don't they offer them to their local customers? I'd still pass. Just my 2 cents

 

They cant be real old. They have a part number ending in 09 meaning they were not made for HD until that year, 2009. The way I see it they were made in 2009 or later and setting inside a warehouse or the enviornmentally controlled dealership, they dont scare me one bit. I just got off the phone with Gateway HD and ordered 2 of them for $220 shipped to my house. Thats cheaper than 1 new one at my local dealer. Retail on this tire is $283.95 + tax. Sweet deal any way you slice as far as Im concerned. Thanks, OP!

 

huh, guess there could be issues with any tire, my own experience and from what I have read show the 407 rear to be pretty good stock rubber that lasts a long time.

 

There are plenty of articles on web covering new tire age.. basically rubber starts to dry/deteriorate once they are manufactured. There is a 4 digit date code on tires in WWYY format. WW=week.

Tire rubber is good for 5-6 years, storage time included.

Buying tires made 2 years ago, and storing them longer before use is probably not the best idea. I would pay a little extra when I needed the tire to get a fresh one. My a** is on the line, so this is not where I would save a couple bucks..

Google New tire age.. you will find some interesting articles.

 

Most of the rear 407's are good. The one on my 2010 RK has over 15K on it and not down to the wear bars yet. There was an earlier post about some having trouble with rear 407's cupping. I've got an American Elite ordered from Jake Wilson to replace my rear 407 with. Hope it's a good tire!

 

I get that they start deteriorating the day after they are made or whatever and that your *** is on the line but I think the detrioration is probably slower than molasses in the winter time when stored in a dry room and they dont have the sun shining on them all day. Plus the article you read online or where ever was probably written by a tire manufacturer who wants to scare you into buying new tires. On top of that, the savings is more than a couple of bucks in this case. Its saving $174 per tire and that includes shipping costs. To add even further, I go through about 1 rear tire per year so its not like the tires are going to be setting around 5-6 years and just because it has the part number ending in 09 does not mean they were made in 09. It means they werent made before then. They may have been made last week. When you go pay full price for your tires at your dealership, they may actually be older than the 2 I just bought at a 62% discount or a total savings of $348 on the two tires. I think I got a good deal and I guess that is all that matters...

 

The first of the Dunlop 407R tires had to be made in 08. They were put on the 09 touring models and they came out in fall of 08. I bought a new 09 EGC in December of 08. It's the one that had cupping problems with both front and rear 407's.

 

Thats true, to be put on the new 09 models they could have possibly been made in 08. I still feel I got a bargain. If I only get 50% of the wear out of them due to cupping, I still did OK because I only paid for 38% of the tire. See what I mean?

I guess some folks would complain if they get something given to them...

 

To my knowledge, there is no other WW for the 09 up touring bikes. The 407 is the only WW available...

 

I guess I miss read your original post.. I thought they were made in 2009. I any case, if those were made recently and you go through a tire a year, then I agree these are a great deal for you.