Riding a 2002 FLHT with a HD hack. Problem is EXCESSIVE SIDECAR tire wear. I believe the toe in needs adjustment. I will have to look at that. BUT, the HD mechanic told me he believes the SIDECAR tire should be a REAR Tire, while mine is a front....? Thoughts? Also, I have heard about auto tires being used. thoughts again?
PS, bought a used 99 hack, had it installed 1400 miles ago. Tire was maybe a little less than "Half tread", after 1400 miles, NYLON THREADS showing....... sounds like EXCESSIVE wear to me! Bob
Check out the responses to my post a few items down ("Excessive Tire Wear"). Got some good responses to that. My FLHT rear tire is nearly through the tread at about 4200 miles (3000 with hack). My toe-in was 2 3/4". I changed it to about 3/4". I hope that helps but I probably won't know for sure till I put a new tire on an keep an eye on the wear.
Oops, sorry, I just noticed your tire wear is on the sidecar. You're more fortunate than me as it's much easier/cheaper to r2 a sidecar tire!!
The manual for my '99 Ultra says use a rear tire on it. Its printed on the outside sidewall by the rotation arrow whither its a front or rear. Your dealer might be able to order a '99 manual, if not, then check ebay. That will give you your toe-in and lean settings as well as installation and wiring.
Remember on the lean, have about the same weight on the bike that you ride with, including passenger and luggage. Otherwise you'll get a false reading when you check for square.
I've got a '94 HD Bagger with a '78 HD Hack and it wouldn't set up by the manual. This thing was all over the road and pulled hard to the right. It says 2 deg lean out and I ended up setting it up with 2 deg lean in and 7/8" toe-in. Which this winter, I'm giving it some more toe-in. I really think the manual is just a starting point and you have to do a ride and adjust for each individual rig. A good Bro of mine also has a HD Bagger with HD Hack and his is set up with lean in instead of lean out like the manual says. As far as tire wear goes, you've got a heavy bike with a heavy hack hangin' on the right side of it, and more than likely a load in the hack, I just deal with it. Just my .02, do I get change?
We have auto tires that will fit right on the stock Harley 16 inch wheels. They are called twin tires and can be seen on our web site www.dauntlessmotors.com They sell for $95 each.
Thank you.
Jay Giese
Dauntless Motors Corporation
I've got Jay's Twin tires on my rig front and rear. Now about 8000 miles on them with no wear visible!!! As soon as the sidcar tire is worn some more I'll be switching that one also.
Front tire - Dunlop D402F PT (PT = Police Tire)
Rear tire - Dunlop D402 PT
Hack tire - Dunlop D402F PT
These are an OEM item for Harley Police bikes - you will not find them listed in the Dunlop cataloge or on their web-site. Most Dunlop dealers will deny any knowledge of them because for the most part they really have not heard of them!
Most H/D dealers also won't know what this tire is unless they do the local Police business.
These are run-flat tires of a very hard, long wearing compound with an incredibly thick sidewall that prevents the tire from coming off the rim during a puncture.
The biggest side benifit is that they are a very long wearing tire - my front is just getting changed out with over 28,000 on it and I routinely get 15,000 on my pusher. The hack tire has never worn out!
Hope this helps....
Happy Motorin'
Dean & Betty
00 FLHPI w/hack
98 Ural w/hack
Dean & Betty
As noted by your post on(PT)the Front & Sidecar tires are the same.
That is how I always run mine.
The H-D Sidecar usually comes with a rear tire on it.
On the Police Tires with being very hard & a thick sidewall.
How do they ride?
What Hwy speed to you cruise at?
Have you modified your shocks?
Wiskers,
I run the stock air shocks that came on the bike - and I usually run the rear set of shocks at almost a max pressure of 30lbs with 35 being max. Always run the front at 25lbs.
With the combination of the air-shocks and the air-ride seat (it's a bone stock Police bike) I have never had an issue with the ride.
As for our usual running speed - 70-75 is a pretty normal cruising speed on the slab for us.
I have found the price of the 402 PTs to be the same as the regular, but much shorter wearing, Dunlops. The service guys absolutely hate to spoon these things on - the sidewall is that thick. However I have also found that a dozen - or two - donuts for the boys in the service department is a very cheap way to get both good and fast service on my bike!
Happy Motorin'
Dean & Betty
Hello,
Any problem with traction because of the longer-wearing tire compound?
Thanks very much.
about the dunlop pt tires 402pt I find the 491 to out wear the the 401 and 402 have you compared the 491 to the402pt
harryho tennessee
Sorry for the long delay - just got back from 3 weeks in Germany.
About the traction - we also run these tires on our solo bikes at work and routinely drag the boards on tight, high-speed turns. Have never had a traction issue. Now I'm sure they are not as "sticky" as a normal softer tire, but for how we use them - and especially for a sidecar rig - they are great tires. I have had to lock the brakes on a couple of occations and they stop the bike just fine also.
Hope that helps!
Happy Motorin'
Dean & Betty
Harryho,
Have never tried the 491's.
My main reason besides the long wearing abilities of the 402PTs is the "run-flat" capability. I have actually let all the air out of my tires and I can still make it down the road on these - not fast mind you - but can still motor along, hopefully to the next town!
After a friend took a gutter nail through his rear tire and went down due to a blow out - he too, switched over to these because of the run-flat/tire stays on the bead design.
Happy Motorin'
Dean & Betty
I can vouch for the Dunlop 491 s doing a good job for us....but..Ya can't run 'em with no wind inside, BEEN THERE DONE THAT..IT DON'T WORK :=)
Claude (who is heading outside right now to fix a flat..lol)
