Only Dunlop's, myth or reality?
EdY had a good point about a tire's ability to stay on the rim when going flat. So, I contacted Cooper-Avon and asked them the question up front. Here's the entire e-mail communication:
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Ron,
to the best of my knowledge and the knowledge of the rest of the staff
at Avon Tyres, we do not know of any type of special bead that Dunlop
or any other motorcycle tire manufacturer uses.
Sincerely,
John Leach
Logistics - Avon Tyres Customer Service
Hoppe & Associates, Inc.
407 Howell Way
Edmonds, WA 98020
Toll Free 1-800-624-7470
Local 1-425-771-2115
Fax 1-425-771-4246
Avon Tyres, Your Only Contact With The Road ! !
www.avonmotorcycle.com
----- Original Message -----
From Ron
To: John Leach
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 4:14 PM
Subject: Re: Avon Tyres
Thanks John. So primarily you're saying, a bead, is a bead, is a bead? And there's no bead seating or bead adhesion difference in the 'high speed flat' characteristics say, between your Venom X and Dunlop 402, given all other variables are the same? There are rumors, maybe you've heard them, some Harley dealers say the Dunlops have a safety bead design to stay on the rims, in case of a flat (they also said this 30 years ago about the Goodyear tires). Is the 402 any better than the Venom X when it comes to bead design or visa versa?
Thanks Again,
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: John Leach
To:
12-string@msn.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 6:20 PM
Subject: Avon Tyres
Ron,
tires are not tested for "high speed flats", there are too many variables
involved to justify such a study.
if the tire stays on the bead after it has gone flat, that is just good luck.
it is more likely for a tire to stay beaded on the rim after it has gone flat
when mounted on a tubeless wheel. i do not know of any motorcycle tire
maker that makes such claims with their products.
Sincerely,
John Leach
Logistics - Avon Tyres Customer Service
Hoppe & Associates, Inc.
407 Howell Way
Edmonds, WA 98020
Toll Free 1-800-624-7470
Local 1-425-771-2115
Fax 1-425-771-4246
Avon Tyres, Your Only Contact With The Road ! !
www.avonmotorcycle.com
Name: Ron
Address: Simpsonville, SC 29680
Email:
12-string@msn.com
***Comments:
Are your Avon Venom X tires safety tested for high speed flats, on Harley
spoked rims. Will your Venom X stay on the rim, in case of a flat, such
as the Dunlop D402's ?
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After reading Avon's response, I got my owners manual and carefully read the tire data section. Disecting the tire data, nowhere does it say that Harley uses 'special ' tires. They only say quote- "For your personal safety, the tires, rims and air valves must be correctly matched to wheel rims. See your Harley Davidson Dealer. Mismatching tires, tubes, rims and air valves may result in damage to the tire bead during mounting, allow tire slippage on the rim and cause tire failure, which could result in death or serious injury." end quote. Where does it say you have to use original OEM tires? It doesn't, no more than a car manufacturer would say that. My conclusion for my '02 Heritage is to put on any tire that is matched to my wheels, according to the manufacturer's fitment guide, the same as one would do for their car.