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Harley Ultra Limited Rear Tyre - Serious Cracking

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  • hmsdude
    hmsdude
    4 months
    Hey Yall,

    Just noticed significant cracking on my rear tyre.  See images.  The cracking varies in location but seems to exist on a lot of the circumference at some point.  The tyre is about half worn. I bought the bike two years ago 2nd hand and have put about 9000kms on it.  However I now understand that tyre was manufactured in 2016 (see the stamp "3116" on the tyre in the attached pic; meaning the tyre was manufactured in the 31st week of 2016).  So the tyre is nearly 8 years old which probably explains the cracking. Has anyone experienced similar?  I am going to replace the tyre asap.
    Tyre spec: Dunlop D407T 180/65B16
    20240116_095919.jpg
    20240116_100600.jpg
    20240118_073329.jpg
  • OlChesnut
    OlChesnut
    4 months
    Those cracks are bad.  I wouldn't go anywhere on tyres like that.  Cracks are ususally due to weathered or aged rubber.  Age will cause the rubber to degrade.  Tyres should be replaced after about six years, regardless of tread wear.  Storing the bike outside will cause the rubber to degrade quicker.  Also check for correct pressure.  If the rubber has degraded low pressure will make them crack worse.
  • beaglebasher
    beaglebasher
    4 months
    A good mate of mine decided to drive an old Rocky ute (Hyundai)  from the Blue Mountains  to the North Coast of NSW  ( 6 hour trip)     The ute had been sitting in a shed for fuck knows how many years. He left before the sun came up.
    He got about half an hour up the road and took a left hand bend and ended up upside down in a paddock.
    Doesnt matter how good a driver / rider you are .  If the tyres are fucked, the tyres are FUCKED.


                                                                     
  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    4 months
    Beages speaks wise words which proves the old adage, you can get wisdom from idiots 🤣
  • beaglebasher
    beaglebasher
    4 months
    Erŕr,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,thanks GM
    I think.
  • markwoumla
    markwoumla
    4 months
    Seems like what you call a major structure failure of the tyre....
    Wherever you bought the tyre, I would take the wheel off bike and take it in ... You may get a replacement.. worth a shot, as the tyre is only half way gone....

  • WideglidingNZ
    WideglidingNZ
    4 months
    Quoting markwoumla on 16 Jan 2024 10:11 PM

    Seems like what you call a major structure failure of the tyre....

    Wherever you bought the tyre, I would take the wheel off bike and take it in ... You may get a replacement.. worth a shot, as the tyre is only half way gone....

    It might be hard for him as he brought the bike 2nd hand with the cracked tyres, with 9000k's plus on them just replace them already
  • TJU
    TJU
    4 months
    Gidday one and all ... there should be a 4-digit number on one side of the tyre that will tell you exactly how old the tyre is, month and year ... for example 0818 ... August 2018 ... which would make that trye over 5 years old ... those cracks look pretty bad.

    I would happily stand corrected, but I believe from an insurance point of view if there was an accident that was down to tyre slippage, or something tyre related and those tyres are older than 5 years then they would most likely not pay out ... they will look for whatever they can, so they don`t have to pay out ... Cynical, yes but sadly True.

    I have heard that it might be 7 years as well so if anyone could clarify then that would be much appreciated.

    If you find those digits it could at least be a starting point to go back to tyre company if the tyre is less than 5 years old.

    Good Luck.  
  • Daz666
    Daz666
    4 months
    Quoting TJU on 17 Jan 2024 01:25 AM

    Gidday one and all ... there should be a 4-digit number on one side of the tyre that will tell you exactly how old the tyre is, month and year ... for example 0818 ... August 2018 ... which would make that trye over 5 years old ... those cracks look pretty bad.


    I would happily stand corrected, but I believe from an insurance point of view if there was an accident that was down to tyre slippage, or something tyre related and those tyres are older than 5 years then they would most likely not pay out ... they will look for whatever they can, so they don`t have to pay out ... Cynical, yes but sadly True.

    I have heard that it might be 7 years as well so if anyone could clarify then that would be much appreciated.

    If you find those digits it could at least be a starting point to go back to tyre company if the tyre is less than 5 years old.

    Good Luck.  

    Pretty sure those 4 digits are the week and year so 0818 would be the 8th week of 2018
  • beaglebasher
    beaglebasher
    4 months
    Quoting TJU on 17 Jan 2024 01:25 AM

    Gidday one and all ... there should be a 4-digit number on one side of the tyre that will tell you exactly how old the tyre is, month and year ... for example 0818 ... August 2018 ... which would make that trye over 5 years old ... those cracks look pretty bad.


    I would happily stand corrected, but I believe from an insurance point of view if there was an accident that was down to tyre slippage, or something tyre related and those tyres are older than 5 years then they would most likely not pay out ... they will look for whatever they can, so they don`t have to pay out ... Cynical, yes but sadly True.

    I have heard that it might be 7 years as well so if anyone could clarify then that would be much appreciated.

    If you find those digits it could at least be a starting point to go back to tyre company if the tyre is less than 5 years old.

    Good Luck.  

    This got me curious so I just had a look. There's heaps of numbers and all sorts of information on the tyres on my bike. ( Pirrelli Night Dragons).  The only thing that looked like it could relate to the date of manufacture is a  four digit number  5015. If Daz is right about the format then it means the front tyre is 9 years old?  FUCK !
    Not only is my head sore from trying to figure all this shit out but I pulled a muscle in my neck when I twisted my head upside down trying to read the fuckin numbers.  
    Thanks TJU ,  might need a couple of coldies to help me recover.
  • STEAMER
    STEAMER
    4 months
    5015,  is 50th week of 2015.
  • Daz666
    Daz666
    4 months
    Quoting TJU on 17 Jan 2024 01:25 AM

    Gidday one and all ... there should be a 4-digit number on one side of the tyre that will tell you exactly how old the tyre is, month and year ... for example 0818 ... August 2018 ... which would make that trye over 5 years old ... those cracks look pretty bad.


    I would happily stand corrected, but I believe from an insurance point of view if there was an accident that was down to tyre slippage, or something tyre related and those tyres are older than 5 years then they would most likely not pay out ... they will look for whatever they can, so they don`t have to pay out ... Cynical, yes but sadly True.

    I have heard that it might be 7 years as well so if anyone could clarify then that would be much appreciated.

    If you find those digits it could at least be a starting point to go back to tyre company if the tyre is less than 5 years old.

    Good Luck.  

    Quoting beaglebasher on 17 Jan 2024 08:03 AMedited: 17 Jan 2024 08:15 AM

    This got me curious so I just had a look. There's heaps of numbers and all sorts of information on the tyres on my bike. ( Pirrelli Night Dragons).  The only thing that looked like it could relate to the date of manufacture is a  four digit number  5015. If Daz is right about the format then it means the front tyre is 9 years old?  FUCK !

    Not only is my head sore from trying to figure all this shit out but I pulled a muscle in my neck when I twisted my head upside down trying to read the fuckin numbers.  
    Thanks TJU ,  might need a couple of coldies to help me recover.

    Yes you would be surprised at just how long tyres sit in warehouses and shops.... I deliver them
  • hmsdude
    hmsdude
    4 months
    Thanks everyone for your comments,  I have updated the original post to include the age of the tyre.  Unfortunately, the replacement is not available atm (two month wait time) unless I want to pay an extra $130 (making it a $500 tyre) and source direct from HD Australia.
  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    4 months
    What about a different brand? Lots of great tyres out there in that size.
  • hmsdude
    hmsdude
    4 months
    Its the specific tire for the Harley designed by Dunlop, which I have just fitted to the front wheel as well.
  • beaglebasher
    beaglebasher
    4 months
    You've just had a bad experience with the Dunlops, why would you buy another one?
    As GM says (he is a Queenslander but) there's plenty of other offerings out there. 
  • hmsdude
    hmsdude
    4 months
    To be fair to Dunlop, the tire was nearly 8 yrs old, and about six mths ago, I had a leaking valve stem meaning I did some kms with low pressure. A perfect storm for a brittle old tire!
  • beaglebasher
    beaglebasher
    4 months
    So youre gonna wait two months for the Dunlop tyre ?
    Each to their own.  I wouldnt wait two days.
    I would recommend the Pirrelli tyres and no doubt other people will recommend something else.
    I vaguely  remember having a  tyre on a bike that I had no faith in and it doesnt make for an enjoyable ride.
    Having confidence in your tyres is everything.
  • Daz666
    Daz666
    4 months
    Quoting beaglebasher on 18 Jan 2024 09:14 AMedited: 18 Jan 2024 09:36 AM

    So youre gonna wait two months for the Dunlop tyre ?

    Each to their own.  I wouldnt wait two days.
    I would recommend the Pirrelli tyres and no doubt other people will recommend something else.
    I vaguely  remember having a  tyre on a bike that I had no faith in and it doesnt make for an enjoyable ride.
    Having confidence in your tyres is everything.

    I just bought a michelin commander 3 for the front of the road king.... worst bloody front tyre ever... thought my steering head bearings were notchy but no its just a shit tyre.
  • brucefxdl
    brucefxdl
    4 months
    ran a set of comm 2,good run out of them,now on a set of comm 3 and should do similar km,good tyres from my experience.
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