Dunlop 404's...one more time. Last chance. Me? or the tire?

dorT500

Against my better judgment, I went ahead and purchased another set of Dunlop 404's for the T500. I am going to give the old set the benefit of doubt and blame the low mileage I got and sidewall cracks within just a couple or three years and blame myself for not checking the air pressure as often as I should,exposing them to brutal sunlight almost everyday as a simi-daily commuter(sitting in a parking lot all day) and using tire dressings. However...THIS time..for the first time... I have registered them via Dunlop Motorcycle Tire website. I have read about very high mileage with 404's and I have read some stories that sound similar to my low mileage/sidewall cracking experience even with tires that the code date shows them to be only 2-3 years old. Dunlops warranties seem pretty fair to me...'Let the test begin' The code date on the new front tire shows it to have been made 2nd week 2010(numbers following DOT designation)... newest 'new' tire I have gotten so far but did notice that it was made in Indonesia rather than the old front tire which was made in Japan. The new rear tire has a code date 39th week 2008. Both tires bought from local motorcycle dealers. BTW...does not hurt to try and talk the price of the tire down at the parts counter. I paid $74.00 plus tax, no shipping cost, for the front and got it the next day(Today). Ron Ayers has a 39% discount going on off the MSRP of $95.00 plus $12.00 shipping which is just a little less than I paid.

Edit: http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/infocenter_tiretips.asp?id=21#tip

MR.CHocko · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:33 pm Post subject:

I am running the same tire on my CB500K. Luckily for me I have had no problems. My Tires were made in Indonesia the date of Production was 1/10. As of last check I have over 1500 miles on these tires. It could be that you had some bad tires.

dorT500 · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject:

Please keep me informed how it goes. Is that the bike you ride all the time? I had mentioned this problem I had been having with late member 'Blue' as he also had just purchased a set. He did point out that they did not get the 'brutal sunlight' (in Michigan) we get 'down here'

dorT500 · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:53 pm Post subject:

Actually....I guess to fair to Dunlop....Maybe I should cover the bike when I get to workplace. Idea

......Nnaaah

05c50 · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:59 pm Post subject:

I had 404s on my wing and only got about 4,000 miles on it and the tread was gone. There was no sign of cracking, but they were only on for one season. I have IRCs on it now and they seem to be doing very well.

............Paul

dorT500 · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject:

Bikegeezer · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:05 pm Post subject:

dorT500 · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:17 pm Post subject:

Yep...part of the 'test' ...no dressings. Thanks

MR.CHocko · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:52 pm Post subject:

Dor,
Yes this is the bike I ride all the time. Because I do not like to take the CB350G out on the highway.

KirkN · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:47 am Post subject:

My litte Ninja 250 had Dunlop OEM tires. They were both used up by 8500 miles. The PO replaced the rear with a stock replacement just before I got it, and I've done the same on the front.

They have about 500 miles on 'em now, and they sit in the full Orlando sun all day every day I ride to work (which is as often as I can).

Unfortunately, my bike is up for sale, so I won't ever know how well they do...

Good luck with your test. I, too, would recommend staying away from tire dressings, esp Armour All. That stuff does terrible things to dashboards, long-term!

Kirk

05c50 · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:55 am Post subject:

dorT500 · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:09 pm Post subject:

How 'bout this....unless I am losing my mind (that is entirely possible) and don't remember buying at least a back tire since I made this post.....I am at 10,000 on the back tire....very little tread left but good for a few more miles in this drought. Front tire still pretty good..bought a couple of months later.

No sidewall cracks on either tire. A little better air pressure monitoring and no dressings or tire cleaner solution at the self car wash along with the chance that the last set were just plain New'Old when I ordered them from a local motorcycle dealership.

A reminder to any T500 owners that want to try Dunlop 404s' You wiil have to remove at least a couple of front fender/fork bolts to remove a front wheel with a fully inflated tire. Other than that there is sufficient clearance in a mounted position.

Here are good tires also....the 'look' and actual size for the T500...
http://www.bikebandit.com/irc-rear-4-00-18-street-motorcycle-tires/c/a642336a623900a5a328a14a634878

http://www.bikebandit.com/irc-3-25-19-street-motorcycle-tires/c/a642336a623900a5a15a634879

link is for tires only and not a recommendation that they be purchased from bike bandit

Bikegeezer · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:13 am Post subject: