Dunlop tires cause wobble? - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

CManT1914 · 05-16-2006, 07:50 PM

I was talking to the Service Manager or our Suzuki (automotive) dealership, and he was telling me about the days he used to ride. He was telling me about how Dunlops back in the day when mounted on the front had a reputation for causing the front end to wobble. He said you could let go of the handlebars and the front would just wobble back and forth, sometimes violently. Now I don't remember what kind of tire my Gixxer had on it when I bought it, but the front NEVER wobbled at speeds above 20mph. Lately, it wobbles up to about 40mph. I thought it had something to do with my steering dampner, but I got to thinking about it and realized I just had a new Dunlop put on the front a couple months ago. Anybody know if the tire could be causing my wobble? It's nothing serious, definitely not enough to warrant a different tire, just curious. I'm getting a new REAR tire tomorrow, and WAS gonna go with Dunlop, but if they have a bad rep for wobbling, I might go with a Metzler or something else. Thoughts? Thanks all.
-Chris

**Clint** · 05-16-2006, 08:51 PM

Just as in everything else, there have been countless models, compounds and tread patterns from any make. Dunlop makes some of the best tires in the world, and while some bike suspensions are more susceptible to uneven wear with a given tire, it would be nothing short of foolish to avoid an entire brand on a rumor. Relax and ride.

TechJD · 05-17-2006, 12:59 AM

I have Dunlop's Rain tires on mine and never noticed any wobble and I have put about 3000 miles on them, I think I would have noticed a wobble

zukiR · 05-17-2006, 02:17 AM

Is it really wobbling or is it just following the grooves on the road ?

GIXXER-Mike · 05-17-2006, 04:20 AM

Still got my original front Dunlop 218. It's got 9,500+ miles on it & still going. No noticeable wobbling. Will replace though when it's time to change out the back tire again!

sunny · 05-17-2006, 04:13 PM

i have dunlops on both front and rear. no wobbling.

myturn · 05-28-2006, 09:38 AM

I had a friend whom took his bike in for new tires. This was back in the early '80s. they put the directional tires on backards. He was driving it home done a back road. he was up to 60 mph and when he let off the gas the bike started shaking. he got back on the gas and it would straigten up. Let off the gas and shake, give it gas and it was OK. So now hes up to about 75 mph with a dead end and cross traffic coming. His only thought was to try and just lock up the brakes. he did and ended up on the grassy shoulder and laid it down. He had some road rash, no broken bones. needless to say the tire shop bought him a new bike.

BudTheGrey · 05-28-2006, 10:51 AM

For years and years, Dunlop has made the venerable F11 front tire, and it can be had in lots of sizes. Great tire, wears forever, sticks well in the rain, all that. It's all I used on the front of my old Magna to ten years, and it was OEM for a lot of bikes in the 70's.

But it will wobble on rain grooves, blacktop that's been ground off, and especially a "carrot grater" steel deck bridge.

Maybe that's what the service guy was thinking of.

Leadfoot · 05-29-2006, 12:31 AM

Dunlops here, 130/70-18 front and 190/60-17 back, no wobble at any speed. No hunting either.

Rickster · 05-29-2006, 01:15 AM

I did hear of a bad batch that came out last year, maybe he got one of those. The riders on the V Strom forum were talking about it.

jaydog19833 · 05-29-2006, 03:44 AM

Nothing to do with your damper. Also; no problems here with my Dunlops wobbling here. Sounds like the guy needed an alignment.

stevie c · 05-31-2006, 01:35 AM

Have used Dunlop 208's in the past with no probs.

05-16-2006, 07:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
CManT1914 Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Aug 2005 Bike: 2003 Suzuki GSX-R600 Location: Killeen, Texas Posts: 745	Dunlop tires cause wobble? I was talking to the Service Manager or our Suzuki (automotive) dealership, and he was telling me about the days he used to ride. He was telling me about how Dunlops back in the day when mounted on the front had a reputation for causing the front end to wobble. He said you could let go of the handlebars and the front would just wobble back and forth, sometimes violently. Now I don't remember what kind of tire my Gixxer had on it when I bought it, but the front NEVER wobbled at speeds above 20mph. Lately, it wobbles up to about 40mph. I thought it had something to do with my steering dampner, but I got to thinking about it and realized I just had a new Dunlop put on the front a couple months ago. Anybody know if the tire could be causing my wobble? It's nothing serious, definitely not enough to warrant a different tire, just curious. I'm getting a new REAR tire tomorrow, and WAS gonna go with Dunlop, but if they have a bad rep for wobbling, I might go with a Metzler or something else. Thoughts? Thanks all. -Chris __________________ Chris 2003 Suzuki GSX-R600 \| 2001 Suzuki GZ250 SOLD \| 1994 Ford Mustang GT SOLD

05-17-2006, 04:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
GIXXER-Mike U.B's LoveChild Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: 2004 GSX-R600 (Blue/White) Location: ALABAMA Posts: 1,113	Still got my original front Dunlop 218. It's got 9,500+ miles on it & still going. No noticeable wobbling. Will replace though when it's time to change out the back tire again! __________________ "I'm here to fight for truth, and justice, and the American way."

05-17-2006, 04:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
sunny Leaned over, knee down Joined: Nov 2004 Bike: '97 suzuki savage, '90 honda shadow, '75 kh400, and a broom Location: fort worthless Posts: 4,678	i have dunlops on both front and rear. no wobbling. __________________ "blah blah blah, the world revolves around me, blah blah blah, your perception of events can't possibly be valid, blah blah blah, i wasn't there but i know everything about everything, blah blah blah." - 95% of the male population. you WISH this post was brought to you by rum.

05-28-2006, 09:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
myturn In Training Joined: May 2005 Bike: '05 C50T Location: right dab in the middle of OK Posts: 128	I had a friend whom took his bike in for new tires. This was back in the early '80s. they put the directional tires on backards. He was driving it home done a back road. he was up to 60 mph and when he let off the gas the bike started shaking. he got back on the gas and it would straigten up. Let off the gas and shake, give it gas and it was OK. So now hes up to about 75 mph with a dead end and cross traffic coming. His only thought was to try and just lock up the brakes. he did and ended up on the grassy shoulder and laid it down. He had some road rash, no broken bones. needless to say the tire shop bought him a new bike. __________________ I won the first race I raced. I won an egg

05-28-2006, 10:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
BudTheGrey Third gear and cruising Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2005 Suzuki C50 LE Location: Keeseville NY Posts: 486	For years and years, Dunlop has made the venerable F11 front tire, and it can be had in lots of sizes. Great tire, wears forever, sticks well in the rain, all that. It's all I used on the front of my old Magna to ten years, and it was OEM for a lot of bikes in the 70's. But it will wobble on rain grooves, blacktop that's been ground off, and especially a "carrot grater" steel deck bridge. Maybe that's what the service guy was thinking of. __________________ If you can't stand behind our folks in the military, feel free to stand in front of them

05-17-2006, 12:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
TechJD Found second gear by accident Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: 1996 Shadow ACE VT1100C2 Location: 50 miles south of Lexington, KY Posts: 339	I have Dunlop's Rain tires on mine and never noticed any wobble and I have put about 3000 miles on them, I think I would have noticed a wobble

05-17-2006, 02:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
zukiR Newbie Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 2005 GSX R600 Location: Irvine Posts: 10	Is it really wobbling or is it just following the grooves on the road ?

05-29-2006, 12:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
Leadfoot Where Am I ? Joined: Apr 2006 Bike: 2006 Roadliner S Location: Oklahoma Posts: 49	Dunlops here, 130/70-18 front and 190/60-17 back, no wobble at any speed. No hunting either. __________________ One 2006 Roadliner S and 9 Beautiful grandchildren. http://www.leadfoots.com/bike.htm

05-29-2006, 03:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
jaydog19833 U.B's LoveChild Joined: Jun 2004 Bike: 04 GSXR 600 Location: Lake George, NY Posts: 1,288	Nothing to do with your damper. Also; no problems here with my Dunlops wobbling here. Sounds like the guy needed an alignment. __________________ Anyone can fire a bullet. Only the good ones can steer one. Bend your elbow, move your arse, and stick the knee out.

05-31-2006, 01:35 AM	#12 (permalink)
stevie c Sit speling cheker Joined: Mar 2004 Bike: GSX-R 600 K1 Location: Northants,UK Posts: 1,631	Have used Dunlop 208's in the past with no probs. __________________ Stevie C '02 Gixer 600 K1,Yellow and Black (fastest colour!), always beats red ones!! Why put off until tomorrow what you can get someone else to do for you today.

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