General Information
WARNINGMatch tires, tubes, rim strips or seals, air valves and caps to the correct wheel. Contact a Harley-Davidson dealer. Mismatching can lead to tire damage, allow tire slippage on the wheel or cause tire failure, which could result in death or serious injury. (00023c)
WARNINGHarley-Davidson front and rear tires are not the same. Interchanging front and rear tires can cause tire failure, which could result in death or serious injury. (00026a)
Tire Pressure
WARNINGBe sure tires are properly inflated, balanced, undamaged, and have adequate tread. Inspect your tires regularly and see a Harley-Davidson dealer for replacements. Riding with excessively worn, unbalanced, improperly inflated, overloaded or damaged tires can lead to tire failure and adversely affect stability and handling, which could result in death or serious injury. (00014b)
Tire pressures should be set using information in Table 1 and Table 2. Tires are considered Cold Tires if the vehicle has not been recently ridden. The tire pressure increases as the tire warms. Tires can warm due to both riding and high ambient air temperatures. Tires can remain warm for up to 2 hours after riding. For the most accurate reading, check tire pressures with a good gauge before riding while the tires are cold.
Check tire pressure:
- As part of the pre-ride checklist.
- At every scheduled service interval.
For Cold Tires with an Ambient Air Temp of 20 °C (68 °F) or less: Table 1
Table 1. Specified Tires
MODEL | MOUNT | SIZE | SPECIFIED TIRE | PRESSURE (COLD 20 °C (68 °F)) * | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
psi | kPa | ||||
FLHTCUTG | Front | 16 in | Dunlop D402F MT90B16 M/C 72H | 36 | 248 |
FLRT | Front | 19 in | Dunlop D408F 130/60B19 M/C 61H | 36 | 248 |
FLHTCUTG, FLRT | Rear | 15 in | Dunlop P205/65 R15 92T | 26 | 179 |
For Cold Tires with an Ambient Air Temp higher than 20 °C (68 °F): Refer to the first column in Table 2 to determine the tire pressure adjustments. For example: If the motorcycle has not been ridden for 2 hours or more and the ambient temperature is 31 °C (88 °F), the recommended front and rear pressures are Table 1 pressures plus 14 kPa (2 psi).
Tires warm due to riding which increases the tire pressure. If the vehicle has been recently ridden, refer to the second column in Table 2 to determine the tire pressure adjustment. For example: If the motorcycle has been recently ridden and the ambient temperature is 31 °C (88 °F), the recommended front and rear pressures are the Table 1 pressures plus 48 kPa (7 psi).
If a tire pressure adjustment is made when the vehicle has been recently ridden, re-adjust the tire pressure per recommendations when the tires have cooled. Tires can remain warm for up to 2 hours after riding.
Harley-Davidson does not perform any testing with only nitrogen in tires. Harley-Davidson neither recommends nor discourages the use of pure nitrogen to inflate tires.
Table 2. Tire Pressure Adjustment
AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE | MOTORCYCLE NOT RIDDEN FOR 2 HOURS OR MORE: ADD TO FRONT AND REAR PRESSURES IN SPECIFIED TIRES TABLE | MOTORCYCLE RECENTLY RIDDEN: ADD TO FRONT AND REAR PRESSURES IN SPECIFIED TIRES TABLE |
|---|---|---|
20 °C (68 °F) or less | 0 kPa (0 psi) | 34 kPa (5 psi) |
26 °C (79 °F) | 7 kPa (1 psi) | 41 kPa (6 psi) |
31 °C (88 °F) | 14 kPa (2 psi) | 48 kPa (7 psi) |
37 °C (99 °F) | 21 kPa (3 psi) | 55 kPa (8 psi) |
42 °C (108 °F) or higher | 28 kPa (4 psi) | 62 kPa (9 psi) |
Inspecting Tires
WARNINGReplace tire immediately with a Harley-Davidson specified tire when wear bars become visible or only 1 mm (1/32 in) tread depth remains. Riding with a worn tire could result in death or serious injury. (00090c)
Check tire tread:
- As part of the pre-ride checklist.
- At every scheduled service interval.
| 1. | Inspect each tire for punctures, cuts and breaks. |
Harley-Davidson tires are equipped with wear bars that run horizontally across the tread.
A tire is considered worn when the wear bars are visible or if only 0.8 mm (0.031 in) tread depth remains. A worn tire can:
- Be more easily damaged leading to tire failure.
- Provide reduced traction.
- Adversely affect stability and handling.
See Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5. Arrows on tire sidewalls pinpoint location of wear bar indicators.
Figure 1. Dunlop Sidewall Tread Wear Indicator Bar Locator
Figure 2. Tire Sidewall Wear Bar Locator: FLRT
Figure 3. Dunlop Tread Wear Indicator Bar Appearance
Figure 4. Wear Bar Appearance: FLRT
Figure 5. Rear Tire Tread Wear Bar Indicator
Figure 6. Dunlop Rear Tire Wear Bar Appearance
Replacing Tires
WARNINGTires are a critical safety component. Contact a Harley-Davidson dealer for tire repair or replacement. Improper tire service can adversely affect stability and handling, which could result in death or serious injury. (00057a)
WARNINGHarley-Davidson recommends the use of its specified tires. Harley-Davidson vehicles are not designed for operation with non-specified tires, including snow, moped and other special-use tires. Use of non-specified tires can adversely affect stability, handling or braking and lead to loss of vehicle control, which could result in death or serious injury. (00024d)
WARNINGOnly install original equipment tire valves and valve caps. A valve, or valve and cap combination, that is too long or too heavy can strike adjacent components and damage the valve, causing rapid tire deflation. Rapid tire deflation can cause loss of vehicle control, which could result in death or serious injury. (00281a)
WARNINGReplace punctured or damaged tires. In some cases, small punctures in the tread area may be repaired from within the removed tire by a Harley-Davidson dealer. Speed should NOT exceed 80 km/h (50 mph) for the first 24 hours after repair, and the repaired tire should NEVER be used over 129 km/h (80 mph). Failure to follow this warning could lead to tire failure and result in death or serious injury. (00015b)
WARNINGReplace tire immediately with a Harley-Davidson specified tire when wear bars become visible or only 1 mm (1/32 in) tread depth remains. Riding with a worn tire could result in death or serious injury. (00090c)
New tires are needed if any of the following conditions exist (refer to Table 1 for the specified replacement tires):
- Tread wear bars become visible on the tread surfaces.
- Tire cords or fabric become visible through cracked sidewalls, snags or deep cuts.
- Bumps, bulges or slits in the tire.
- Punctures, cuts, or other damage to the tire that cannot be repaired.
When installing tires on rims, do not rely on tread design to determine direction of rotation. Always be sure the rotational arrows molded into the sidewalls point in the direction of rotation when the vehicle is moving forward.