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[ultracobbie]

Any one else notice that the tread direction has changed on the later 2009 front tires?  Seems Dunlop built the earlier tires with the direction of the tread going the wrong way.  All the lettering and the tire direction arrow on the sidewalls are correct but the tread isn't.  Of couse according to Dunlop and the MOCO putting the tread on backwards hasn't caused any problems and the fact that my front tire is cupped all to heck at 11,000 miles is normal on a dresser.   That's BS IMO because on my 2006 Ultra I was able to get at least 20,000 miles on my front tires.

Makes me wonder why they changed the tread direction if it wasn't causing any problems.

P.S.  NO MORE DUNLOPS FOR ME!

          

[Eqcons]

So what's the "early" direction, and what's the "later"?  How do we know which we have?

Jim

[Screamin]

A couple of threads on the "issue".

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=37383.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=36170.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=33074.msg533665#msg533665

[ultracobbie]

Thanks Screamin.  I looked for something on tires but evidently didn't look hard enough.

Eqcons..the rear tire is correct so the tread pattern should be the same direction if you have a later one.

Talked to my Dealer this morning and neither the MOCO or Dunlop plan to do anything that he is aware of.

No more Dunlops for me!

[Unbalanced]

Posted this back in late April.

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=36258.0

Check out the attachment in the link.

[Eqcons]

Thanks Screamin.  I looked for something on tires but evidently didn't look hard enough.

Eqcons..the rear tire is correct so the tread pattern should be the same direction if you have a later one.

Well, mine has the later direction, but it's marked 407F... (and yes, it's the right way round) 

Jim

[LarryB]

Well, mine has the later direction, but it's marked 407F... (and yes, it's the right way round) 

Jim

the old tire is D407F HD part # 44026-09
the new tire is D408F HD part # 44026-09A

[Eqcons]

the old tire is D407F HD part # 44026-09
the new tire is D408F HD part # 44026-09A

I know, Larry - though my front is marked D407F, the sipes are the same direction as the rear....

Jim

[LarryB]

if it says 407, then it's the old one. the rear is not in question.
the 407 with rotation had the V, the 408 has /\

[grc]

I've got a question.  If you were to ride backwards for 5000 miles on the original 407F tire, would it still cup?  

I hate to say this, since by now everyone on the site most likely thinks I'm one of those nutcases who see's conspiracies everywhere, but I don't believe for one moment that someone at Dunlop seriously thought the front tire pattern should be opposite of the rear tire pattern (might be a good idea on a four wheel drive to allow better traction in reverse though).  Let me propose another theory.  Folks familiar with these tires know that there is a little arrow molded into the sidewall of a motorcycle tire that indicates the proper direction for mounting that tire.  What if the real problem is that they made the molds for the tires with the arrow pointing the wrong way?  So now they have a huge pile of tires where the tread design and the rotation arrows do not match properly.  What do you do in that instance?
1.  Look the other way and hope nobody notices your screwup (that seems to be a very popular choice these days).
2.  Accept the fact that you screwed up and tell the boss you just caused the company to lose a few million dollars (not a very popular choice at all).
3.  Advise the customer to ignore the rotation arrows.  (I somehow think the legal department would have a big problem with this one.)
4.  Mount the tires per the rotation arrows even though that means the tread is backward which will compromise the life of the tire and possibly also compromise the traction characteristics.
5.  Quit your job and let the next guy worry about it.

If you read the dealer letter from the MoCo on this issue, you will note that they specifically mention NOT mounting the 407F backward to solve the problem.  If you search through Department of Transportation regulations you will probably find the reason why they will not now or at any time recommend mounting tires with the arrows backwards.  I wonder, though, if you were to take a dremel tool and grind off the arrows   ......................

Jerry  

btw, I think Dunlop and MoCo chose options number 1 and number 4.

[1abastarsmda]

I know, Larry - though my front is marked D407F, the sipes are the same direction as the rear....

Jim

Larry is correct with the part #'s, etc.  Your front and rear will be different directions after the change.  It's a bunch of BS that they have obviously admitted that there was a problem when they made the change, and then to have the dealers continue to sell the stock of the original tires is even more BS.  I had to drive about 150 miles to find a dealer with the new stock available when my tire was flattened, which made it difficult for me to try to get it warrantied...although I did try.  It was cupping bad around 7000 to 7500 miles when this happened.

Also, the comment was made, "No more Dunlops for me".  The problem is that I could not find any other tires available for the 09 SEUC from any other company.  I replaced the rear with just over 11000 miles and I found that to be satisfactory mileage on a rear tire, especially considering I could have probably squeezed another 1000 miles out of it.  About 90% of my mileage was on long trips though.  I'm wondering how I will fare with normal localized riding.  From what I heard at the dealer that replaced my rear tire, they hadn't seen another rear last anywhere near what I experienced.

[Eqcons]

if it says 407, then it's the old one. the rear is not in question.
the 407 with rotation had the V, the 408 has /\

I was going by what Ultracobbie said above:

"Eqcons..the rear tire is correct so the tread pattern should be the same direction if you have a later one."

So I assume he's got that the wrong way round? 

Jim

[1abastarsmda]

I was going by what Ultracobbie said above:

"Eqcons..the rear tire is correct so the tread pattern should be the same direction if you have a later one."

So I assume he's got that the wrong way round? 

Jim

Both tires originally came with the tread patterns going in the same direction.  The front tire had a problem with cupping, so they decided to turn the front tire around to go the other way.  Yes, it's ridiculous, but that's what they did.  Next thing they'll have us rotating the tires, but not from front to rear, but maybe changing direction every 2000 miles.  I'm surprised they didn't offer to duct tape the ripped seats that some people have.

Dunlop made the problem and Harley is standing in the way of Dunlop taking a huge hit to take care of this problem properly.

[Eqcons]

Both tires originally came with the tread patterns going in the same direction.  The front tire had a problem with cupping, so they decided to turn the front tire around to go the other way.  Yes, it's ridiculous, but that's what they did.  Next thing they'll have us rotating the tires, but not from front to rear, but maybe changing direction every 2000 miles.  I'm surprised they didn't offer to duct tape the ripped seats that some people have.

Dunlop made the problem and Harley is standing in the way of Dunlop taking a huge hit to take care of this problem properly.

I hate to ask, but what is "cupping"?  I'm assuming it means wearing in the middle like a tyre that's been run overinflated - am I right?

Jim

[1abastarsmda]

I hate to ask, but what is "cupping"?  I'm assuming it means wearing in the middle like a tyre that's been run overinflated - am I right?

Jim

If you run your finger across the tread, you will feel concave areas in the tread...like little cups... all over your tire