A tire question.. *GASP!!!

[BA80]

Even at what has been said here I believe I'll replace my E3 with another E3 when this one is done. I'll pay the extra $ just so I can ride a whole season without having to swap out tires.

I like the way it handles too.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Tod,

I can't find a text note that I thought I had made to myself on my computer(s) to keep track of my tire/miles? I found where I had bought this last rear tire a couple of years ago(2010), an E3 that I put on when my 7+ year old E2 was getting long in the tooth. I did find my first note about the E2, put on in 2004 with ~14k miles on the Odo, it now has ~24k on it. I think I only put on a couple of k's since the E3 has been on there.

SO....I think I got 8k out of my last E2 and it still had useable tread. This E3 is already a couple of years old, so hopefully it's similar to your early E3's you got, and that I've got some 10+ k miles left in it, however, I'll probably end up changing it due to it's age before I put that "many" miles on it in the next 3-4 years!

But yeah, you're probably right in that they changed the compound to make it stickier and also less mileage/wear so that they can sell more of them more often! Planned Obsolescence !

[3Phase]

Speed Rating Correct?

Tod,

I don't see anything on Dunlop's web site, it says their E3 bias ply tires are all H rated. Is it possible that they make/made V rated tires too and you got one of them? That would wear out faster than an H tire.

[jetmechmarty]

I believe then "V" rating goes with the GT501.

[3Phase]

I believe then "V" rating goes with the GT501.

Yeah, I couldn't find a V rated E3 either. I ran into that problem when I was running Lasertecs, that's why I quit using them. The online catalogs and the Metzeler website were... uh, wrong.

[trbig]

I finally go taround to contacting Dunlop about this Elite 3 tire. Here is my email to them:

I used to run your Elite 3 tire exclusively on all my street
bikes. A few years ago, I could get 14-16k miles out of a rear tire. This
average started dropping each tire I bought until I could barely get 7-8k
miles out of them. In this same time, the tire cost increased from $105 to
$159. I'm a pretty consistent rider averaging @ 25k miles a year. I realize
changing road conditions and such can account for some of this, but it was
a consistent dropping of mileage tire after tire. This happened with the
Avon Venom as well before I switched to the Elite 3. I belong to a web site
with thousands of members with the same style bike, and many of them
reported the exact same findings I have. So, I just wanted to let you know
that you have lost literally hundreds of tire sales annually. The only
reasoning we can come up with is that the tire lasted TOO long and you
weren’t getting, in your minds, enough repeat business. Unless I can get
assurance that you've changed back to the original compounds of several
years ago, I will never buy another one of your tires, nor will I recommend
this tire to anyone else. I used to be one of your biggest supporters who
would argue that you had BY FAR the best tire available for our bikes. The
tire I speak of is your MT90x16 bias. I can get the same mileage from a
Shinko 712 for 1/3 the price. Just letting you know, whether you are
actually interested or not.

And here was their reply:

Good morning Tod,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.
We always appreciate hearing from consumers and the feedback they provide.

The Elite 3 has not been changed since the onset.

Should you require further information, a brochure sent or assistance,
please call Dunlop Consumer Affairs @ 800-845-8378
or e-mail us.

We are available Monday through Friday....9:00 am - 4:00 pm EDT

regards,
Consumer Affairs
Dunlop Motorcycle & ATV Tire Division

Goodyear/Dunlop Tires N.A., Ltd
PO Box 1109
Buffalo, NY 14240
Ph: (800) 845-8378 Fax: (716) 879-8425

I wrote back:

LOL.. Well, I know of literally dozens of ex-customers who would disagree,
but that's apparently the story a consumer affairs person must stick to.
Literally every single person I know of has said the same thing, that they
don't get even half the mileage from the tires that they used to. So, for
whatever reasons you guys decide, as the people that actually use the
product and have been for some time so we have something to compare to, we
can assure you that the tires are NOT the same as they used to be. It's
almost as if the dual compound with the sticky rubber on the edges goes all
the way across the tire now. Trust me, I'd love to be wrong on this and
used to promote the Elite 3 to everybody who even mentioned the word
"Tire". I loved the way it handled and I loved the longevity even more. The
handling is still with the tire, but as I said, for 1/3 the price, I can
get an equally performing tire with equal longevity, so it's become a
no-brainer.

Honestly, I'm not trying to come off as a hateful or spiteful person, and
I'm sure not here to argue with you. I was just trying to bring to your
attention that despite what you say, or despite maybe even what lab results
may be telling you, in the real world where the rubber meets the road,
SOMETHING has changed. If you ever figure out what that something is,
please let me know and I'd be willing to give the tire another try, because
mounting a new tire every few months isn't my favorite chore.

And their well thought out reply:

Good afternoon Tod,
Again. thank you for your time and feedback.
We do like hearing from you.

If you need further info or assistance, please give us a call or e-mail us.

regards,
Consumer Affairs
Dunlop Motorcycle & ATV Tire Division

So.. if somebody from here tells me they're getting the great mileage out of these tires like they used to, I MAY try them again. Until then, for the price of one E3, I can get nearly three of the Shinko 712's which get's me nearly 21k miles combined. But, as I said, I have to change the tires 3 times to get that which is sometimes a PITA.

[GLoweVA]

If you're changing the rear out more often, then that gives a chance to look at and add grease (if needed) to those splines on the rear drive more often.

My first rear tire, as a new XS owner 7 years ago, was an E3 too, but since then I found the Shinkos and like you, I can't shake a stick at the price.

I just put a 712 on the rear 3 months ago and already have almost 6K on it and probably can get another 2-3k more.

[natemoen]

Well they were helpful!

[Fix]

I ended up going the same way. The Shinko 712 on the rear lasts me about 8-9k of trips to The Dragon, weekenders to Cleveland, and rides to Barbers in Alabama.

For 1/3 the price, and good manners, it's a tough tire to beat.