Inspection
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)
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)
Harley-Davidson tires have wear bars that run horizontally across the tread. When a tire is worn to the point the tread wear indicator bars become visible on the tread surfaces, or 0.8 mm (1/32 in) tread depth remains, the tire can:
- Be more easily damaged leading to tire failure.
- Provide reduced traction.
- Adversely affect stability and handling.
See Figure 1. Arrows on tire sidewalls pinpoint location of tread wear indicator bars.
See Figure 2. Always replace tires before the tread wear indicator bars appear.
When To Replace Tires
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)
NOTE
Always replace tires with the specified tires. Refer to Specifications → Specifications → Specified Tires.
New tires are needed if:
- Tread wear indicator 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 make sure that the rotational arrows molded into the sidewalls point in the direction of rotation when the vehicle is moving forward.
Figure 1. Tire Sidewall Wear Bar Locator
Figure 2. Wear Bar Appearance