FRONT AND REAR TYRE MATCHING
Correct matching of front and rear tyres is essential in order to obtain optimum performance and handling. Please follow the tyre selection guidelines and consult the motorcycle manufacturer before making modifications from stock.
- Only mount tyres marked “front wheel” on front positions and tyres marked “rear wheel” on rear positions
- A new front tyre with a worn rear tyre can cause instability / Mixing radial tyres with bias or belted bias tyres may adversely affect handling and stability
- Many factors – other than tyre incompatibility – can affect the handling of a motorcycle, including the weight and height of the rider, mixing worn with unworn tyres, and the fitment of luggage or fairings.
TUBES
Tubes are a crucial part of the tube-type wheel assembly and should be treated with respect. When fitting a new tyre on a rim that requires a tube, a new tube should also be fitted. Old tubes can become stretched, and old tubes within new tyres can crease and fail due to thinning of the tube rubber. Tubes should only be repaired by an expert.
- Secure tube valve assembly to rim with care
- Inspect rim band and consult motorcycle dealer for correct rim band replacement
- Always check the size markings on the tube to assure that the tyre size appears on the tube
- Do not fit tubes in radial motorcycle tyres, nor fit radials on rims requiring tubes, unless the tubes bear matching size and radial (R) markings.
TUBE-TYPE RIMS
Only mount tyres as tubeless when recommended by the wheel manufacturer. Some spokeless rims require tubes. With a tube inserted, a tubeless tyre may be fitted to a tube-type wheel.
TYRE PRESSURES
Always follow pressure recommendations shown on the Dunlop Motorcycle Tyre Application Guide. Please contact Dunlop if the year and model are not shown on the current guide, and the owners’ manual does not list pressure settings.
DUNLOP TYRES
Please note that hard cornering, carrying passengers and heavy loads, and sustained high speeds will require higher pressures (up to that indicated on the sidewall). Checking tyre pressures is the most important tyre maintenance function you can perform.
Under-inflated tyres can result in imprecise cornering, higher running temperatures and overheating cracks, irregular tread wear at the edge of the contact patch, fatigue cracking, overstressing and eventual failure of the tyre carcass. Over-inflating tyres does not increase load-carrying capacity, but will result in a hard ride and accelerated tyre wear in the centre of the contact patch.
Always check cold tyre pressure frequently with a good quality gauge that holds a reading, especially before long-distance trips. Loss of pressure may occur due to worn or badly seated valve cores.
Always check valve cores. If necessary, tighten for correct seating, or remove and replace them. A metal or hard plastic valve cap with an inner gasket should be used and installed finger tight to protect the valve core from dust, moisture and to help maintain a positive air seal.
Repeated loss of inflation pressure may result from undetected tyre damage. Visually inspect tyres for punctures, cuts, abrasions, cracks, bulges, blisters or knots. It is necessary to dismount the tyre to complete an inspection for internal damage and any need for repair. Only certain punctures in the
tread area may be repaired, and only if no other damage is present. Please also see the tyre repair section.
Tyres with non-repairable damage must not be used again. Damage caused by impacts, penetrations or continued under-inflated/overloaded use is progressive and can result in sudden and complete tyre failure and accident.
Always seek expert inspection of the dismounted tyre following curb, chuckhole or other impacts, evidence of penetration beyond the tyre surface, bulges or low pressure. Do not continue riding on damaged tyres.
Inspect your tyres frequently for imperfections and always heed warning signs such as vibration, handling instability, rubbing or tyre noise that occurs while riding the motorcycle.
SPEED RATINGS
S, H, V, and Z ratings (where applied) are indicative of high-performance capability based on Dunlop indoor wheel testing and are not valid for damaged, altered, repaired, excessively worn, under-inflated or overloaded tyres. Dunlop does not recommend the use of any of its products in excess of legal speed limits. Please consult the owners’ manual for recommended speed rating.
RUN-IN PERIOD
Replacements for worn, differently patterned or constructed tyres will not react in the same way. When new tyres are fitted, they should not be subjected to maximum power, abrupt lean-over or
hard cornering until a reasonable run-in distance of approximately 100km has been covered. This will allow the rider to become accustomed to the feel of the new tyres or tyre combination and achieve optimum road grip for a range of speeds, acceleration and handling use.
Check and adjust inflation pressure to recommended levels after tyre cools for at least three hours following run-in. New tyres will have a different contact patch and lean-over edge. New tyres,
mixing a new tyre with a worn older tyre, and mixing different pattern combinations require careful ride evaluation.
MAINTAINING CLEARANCE
Consult the motorcycle manufacturer if you intend to mount sizes other than indicated in the owners’ manual. The tyre’s physical dimensions are important.
Adequate clearance of fenders and swingarm etc. must be maintained. Increasing tyre size may require an increase in rim width. When increasing tyre size and/or rim width, rotate wheel and inspect closely for sufficient clearance.
TYRE MODIFICATIONS
Dunlop neither recommends nor warrants re-treading, re-grooving, siping, inserts, sidewall lettering, inlays or additions, nor any other modification or alteration of Dunlop motorcycle tyres, except as noted in the tyre repairs section.
WHEEL BALANCE
It is essential that tyre/wheel assemblies are balanced before use and rebalanced each time the tyre is removed or replaced. Unbalanced tyre/wheel assemblies can vibrate at certain speeds, and tyre wear will be greatly accelerated.
All Dunlop street tyres should be installed with the yellow balance dot at the valve. Wheels may be balanced with spoke nipple weights, lead wire or self-adhesive rim weights. Please consult the motorcycle manufacturer for approved wheel weights.
TYRE REPAIR
Some punctures in motorcycle tyres may be repaired. Dunlop recommends only permanent patch/plug repairs of small (maximum 1/4-inch diameter) tread area punctures from within the dismounted tyre by a qualified tyre repair shop or motorcycle dealer. Never perform an exterior repair and never use an inner tube as a substitute for a proper repair.
Speed should not exceed 80kph (50mph) for the first 24 hours after repair, and the repaired tyre should never be used at speeds higher than 120kph (75mph). Check inflation pressure after tyre
cools for at least three hours following run-in, or sooner if air loss is suspected.
No form of temporary repair should be attempted because secondary damage caused by a penetrating object may not be detected and tyre or tube deflation may occur at a later date.
Dunlop does not recommend the use of liquid sealants. These are a form of temporary repair, and may adversely affect ply material and mask secondary damage caused by a penetrating object.
Reliance upon sealants can result in sudden tyre failure and accident.
DUNLOP MOTORCYCLE TUBELESS TYRE REPAIR INFORMATION
Dunlop recommends only permanent repairs performed from the inside of the tyre, using a combination patch/plug method. Never attempt a repair from the outside, or inject a sealant, or simply use an inner tube, patch or plug as a substitute for a proper repair.
Only a qualified tyre repair shop or motorcycle tyre dealer should perform repairs. Inspection of the tyre and adequacy of repair becomes the responsibility of the person actually performing the repair and Dunlop does not warrant the results of a repair in any way.
Before any repair is attempted, a tyre must be removed from the wheel and thoroughly inspected. The following are minimum guidelines for the repairer. Tyres should not be repaired if any of the following conditions exist:
- a tyre has been previously injected with a sealant/balancer
- the puncture is larger than 6mm (1/4-inch) in diameter
- the puncture is not perpendicular to the carcass
- the puncture is in the tyre sidewall
- separation of plies, tread separation, separation of any other components
- cut or broken ply cords
- broken or damaged bead wires
- cut or damaged chafers (bead area)
- deterioration of the carcass inside the tyre due to “run flat” or under-inflation
- cracks or other damage to the integrity of the inner liner
- excessive wear – tyre should have at least 1/32 of an inch of tread depth, excluding tread wear indicators
- cracks in sidewall or tread
- impact breaks, cuts, snags or gouges that penetrate the surface.
Please note:
- There should be no more than one repair per tyre
- The wheel itself must be in good condition. A cracked or bent wheel may lead to loss of air and cause subsequent deflation of the tyre
- Following repair, the valve assembly should be replaced and the tyre/wheel rebalanced
- Speed should not exceed 80kph (50mph) for the first 24 hours after tyre repair and the repaired tyre should never be used at speeds higher than 120kph (75mph)
- The repairer is solely responsible for instructing the motorcyclist as to the restrictions to be placed on tyre use following repair. In summary, no form of temporary repair should be attempted. Motorcycle tyre repairs leave no room for error and any doubt as to inspection or adequacy of repair should be resolved by discarding the tyre
Be sure to consult our Motorcycle Tyre Limited Warranty, Care and Maintenance brochure for additional information regarding the use of Dunlop tyres. Seek a qualified motorcycle tyre repair centre for more details. Never attempt to repair a damaged tyre without the assistance of an experienced tyre mechanic.
RIM SIZE
Correct rim width is crucial to handling and stability. A tyre that is installed on a rim wider than recommended will have a flattened profile and a rider may easily reach the edge of the tread during cornering. A narrow rim will alter the tyre profile, concentrating tyre wear in a very small area during cornering, with a smaller contact patch during braking. Please remember that tyre clearances are important.
DYNAMOMETER TESTING
Never put a tyre in use that has been subjected to on-the-motorcycle dynamometer engine testing. This severe use of the tyre may result in tread compound degradation and subsequent failure.
MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE
Dunlop strongly recommends regular inspection of the motorcycle generally, and of wheels in particular. Tyre mileage and performance are adversely affected by a poorly maintained vehicle.
Take your motorcycle to your dealer for regular maintenance checks, inclusive of tyre inspections.
Maintain suspension settings in strict compliance with the vehicle owner’s manual. Improperly maintained components and incorrect or unbalanced front fork pressures will affect stability. Low suspension pressure will generate excessive tyre stresses.
TYRE MOUNTING
Caution: only specially trained persons should mount tyres. Improper mounting can cause tyre explosion and serious injury. Please follow these mounting precautions:
- always wear approved eye protection
- clean and lubricate beads without grease but using soapy water
- centralise rim band and tube to prevent pinching if tube-type rim
- note directional arrows on sidewall where applicable
- lock assembly on mounting machine or place in safety cage before inflating to seat beads
- set air hose relief valve at 40 psi
- use extension gauge and hose with clip-on air chuck. Stand back with no part of your body within the perimeter of the assembled tyre and rim
- inflate with core in valve stem
- never inflate above 40 psi to seat beads*
- spin wheel to check bead seating and alignment
*If the beads do not seat by 40 psi, deflate and repeat above procedures. Never use a volatile substance or rubber “donut” to aid bead seating. If the tyre is a tube-type, deflate and re-inflate after seating to prevent tube wrinkles.
IMPORTANCE OF MOTORCYCLE TYRE INFLATION MAINTENANCE
To ensure optimum safety and maximum enjoyment of your tyres you should:
- check air pressure at frequent, regular intervals, particularly just before and during long trips. Always use an accurate tyre gauge** and check pressures only when the tyres are cold (i.e. wait one hour after running)
- inspect your tyres as often as possible. Look for irregular wear, any signs of cracking in the sidewalls and tread, blisters, knots, cuts or punctures
- immediately remove and replace damaged tyres
**Please note: for any dual riding or fully loaded use, 0.3 bar must be added in all Dunlop rear tyres.
In addition to following these recommendations, pay attention to your tyres while riding. If your steering response is slow or mushy, or if cornering and braking response is heavy, your tyres could be under-inflated. Vibration or wobbling may indicate that actual tyre damage has occurred and failure is imminent.
If you conscientiously follow our recommendations, you will enjoy better, longer and safer tyre performance and many kilometres of riding pleasure.
