I have a Dunlop Elite 4 front tire with about 11,000 miles on the front of my 2019 Sport Glide. I've noticed it appears wearing in less in the center. This is strange for two reasons. 1). - the vast majority of those 11k miles have been on the interstate or highways. 2). - according to Dunlop, the front Elite 4's are not dual compound tires.

Here are a few images of the front tire. The sun was hitting the tire at just the right angle to cast a shadow on the profile I am referring to.







And here is a sketch of the profile I am seeing (drawn slightly exaggerated)...



Anyone ran across this or have any input? I am about due for a new back tire, so I will probably replace the front tire as well.

 

tire pressure plays a role

 

I would assume too low pressure might cause this type of wear, but I had never seen it before. I've been running these at 36 PSI per Harley spec. Yesterday I bumped it up to 38 PSI and did a test ride. It felt good, so I'm going to run 38 for a while and see if that makes a difference.

 

Hope you're recovery is quick .

 

Too low tire pressure, run that front at 38-40psi and it will wear better...

 

Cupping on the tire if you look to the upper right and mid left (top of the curved groove).
Too low air pressure for your setup and riding style.

 

Thanks. I've been running the front at 38 psi for a while now and its been feeling good with no additional strange wear.

 

Shure looks like something was rubbing the sidewall, near the bead. Get well soon!

 

Im running Metzler 888s for the last few sets of tires and after the tread is about halfway done my tire looks just like the op's. I check my pressures weekly and run about 2 lbs under what is written on the tire. So around 38-40 lbs. The 888s are a dual compound so that maybe part of it...i avoid the highway. My bike is an 08 so the old frame bikes tires don't last as long.

 

I don't understand this post at all. Wrong thread maybe?