Dunlop Motorcycle

Tyres safety

Dunlop Safety Guidelines

Failure to heed may result in accident and injury.

The following guidelines are offered both to assist you in choosing the Dunlop motorcycle tyres that will most closely match the motorcycling needs of your customers, and to provide the service and maintenance advice necessary for customer safety and satisfaction. Please convey this important safety and service information to your tyre fitters and customers.

MATCHING FRONT AND REAR TYRES

Motorcycles are sensitive to tyre combinations. Use only those Dunlop tyre combinations recommended in the Dunlop Motorcycle and Scooter Fitment and Pressure Guide. If the tyres you or your customer have chosen are not listed with the relevant motorcycle in either of the above mentioned guides it means those tyres have not been approved for use on that motorcycle by Dunlop Tyres and fitment may cause instability and/or handling problems. There may also be clearance problems.

• Only mount tyres marked "front wheel" on front positions and "rear wheel" on rear positions.
• Fitting a new tyre to one wheel while leaving a worn tyre on the other wheel can cause instability.
• Mixing different types of radial construction tyres together (e.g. D208 with Qualifier), or mixing radials with bias or bias-belted tyres may adversely affect handling and stability. Always fit Dunlop Sportmax high-performance radials in matching pairs.

It should be noted that many factors other than tyre incompatibility can affect the handling and stability of a motorcycle - these include the weight and height of the rider, mixing worn with unworn tyres, and the fitment of luggage or fairings. Consult the motorcycle manufacturer before making modifications from standard.

MAINTAINING TYRE CLEARANCE

Consult the motorcycle manufacturer if you intend to mount sizes other than indicated in the owner's manual. Remember that a tyre's section width and aspect ratio dimensions are nominal and the tyre's physical dimensions may vary.

• Adequate clearance of fenders, swingarm, forks, etc. must be maintained. A minimum of 4mm laterally and 14mm radially are advised. These recommendations do not take into account suspension travel.
• Increasing tyre size may require an increase in rim width.
• When increasing tyre size and/or rim width, rotate wheel and tyre and inspect closely for sufficient clearance.

RIM SIZE

Correct rim widths are crucial to handling and stability.

• A tyre that is fitted 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 tyre that is fitted on a rim narrower than recommended will have an altered profile, with a smaller contact patch and concentrating tyre wear in a very small area.

TUBE TYPE RIMS

• Not all cast wheels are suitable for tubeless tyre fitment without an inner tube.
• For tube type rims always fit a correctly-sized Dunlop inner tube, even if the tyre is marked as tubeless.
• With a correctly-sized inner tube fitted, a tubeless non-radial tyre may be fitted to a tube-type wheel.
• Consult the Dunlop Motorcycle and Scooter Fitment and Pressure Guide for radial tyres that are approved for fitment with a correctly-sized Dunlop inner tube on tube type rims.

TUBELESS RIMS

• Only wheels that carry the words "Tubeless" or "Tubeless Tyre Applicable" can be fitted with tubeless tyres and without inner tubes.
• Do not fit tube type tyres and without inner tubes on tubeless wheels.

INNER TUBES

Inner tubes are a crucial part of the tube type wheel assembly. They should be treated with respect.

• When fitting a new tyre on a rim that requires an inner tube, a new inner tube should be fitted at the same time. Old inner tubes become stretched and if an old inner tube is fitted with a new tyre it can crease and fail due to thinning of the inner tube rubber.
• Always replace damaged inner tubes.
• After fitting a new inner tube, or a new tyre and a new inner tube, deflate and reinflate the tyre after seating. This is to prevent inner tube wrinkles.
• Inspect the rim band and consult a motorcycle dealer for correct rim band replacement if required.
• Always check the size markings on the inner tube to ensure that the tyre size appears on the inner tube.
• Do not fit inner tubes in radial motorcycle tyres in order to effect a permanent puncture repair. (also see EMERGENCY "GET YOU HOME" REPAIRS below)
• Do not fit radial tyres and inner tubes on tube type rims unless approved by Dunlop Tyres.

TUBELESS VALVES

• When fitting new tubeless tyres, a new valve should also be fitted.
• In service, the centrifugal forces that act upon a valve may cause the spring to become damaged and the valve stem may bend, leading to weakness.

VALVE CAPS

• Always use metal or hard plastic valve caps with an inner gasket.
• They should be screwed finger tight to protect the valve core from dust, moisture and to help maintain a positive air seal.

TYRE PRESSURES

• Checking tyre pressures is the most important tyre maintenance function you can perform.
• Check tyre pressures at least once a week and always before a long journey.
• Always check tyre pressures when the tyres are cold.
• Correct tyre selection, fitment and maintenance are essential for safety.

Where possible, the pressures in the Dunlop Motorcycle and Scooter Fitment and Pressure Guide are shown for two categories

1. For a load of up to 90kg, which includes rider, pillion passenger, luggage or other type of load or any combination of those.
2. For a load of over 90kg up to the motorcycle's maximum weight carrying capacity (see vehicle manufacturers' owners handbooks for this figure) and/or for sustained high speed use.

The pressures shown are intended for use in the UK and with a machine to the manufacturers' standard UK specification. The cold inflation pressures shown are the minimum for safe motorcycle operation at these service conditions. It is advisable that inflation pressures should not exceed those quoted by more than 0.2 Bar (3 psi), since a deterioration in ride will result. Where no pressure advice is given for a motorcycle in the Dunlop Motorcycle and Scooter Fitment and Pressure Guide, or if pressure advice is given for only one weight/speed category, please refer to the vehicle manufacturer's owner's handbook for further advice.

It is emphasised that for sustained high speed use, the carrying of pillion passengers or the carrying of luggage or other heavy loads, the cold tyre inflation pressures should be modified in accordance with the Dunlop Motorcycle and Scooter Fitment and Pressure Guide, or if the information is not available there please refer to the vehicle manufacturers' handbook for that particular model. These cold inflation pressure recommendations should be regarded as a minimum and should not be exceeded by more than 0.2 Bar (3 psi) since a deterioration in ride will result. The differential between front and rear tyre pressures given by Dunlop Tyres or the motorcycle manufacturer must be maintained.

Under inflated tyres can result in imprecise cornering, weaving and increased running temperatures. Over inflated tyres can result in reduced ride comfort and a reduction in the size of the contact patch. Under inflation and over inflation will cause accelerated tyre wear and reduce your control of the motorcycle.

TYRE FITTING

Danger: Only specially trained persons should fit tyres. Improper fitting can cause tyre explosion and serious injury.

• Dunlop road tyres have arrows on the sidewall. The arrow indicates the correct direction of rotation.
• Dunlop road tyres have yellow balance dots in the bead or sidewall area to indicate the lightest point of the tyre. All Dunlop road tyres should be fitted with the balance dots positioned by the valve. By positioning the lightest point of the tyre by the heaviest point of the wheel (the valve) the amount of balance weights required is kept to a minimum.

BALANCING TYRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES

Dunlop road tyres have yellow balance dots in the sidewall or bead area to indicate the lightest point of the tyre. All Dunlop road tyres should be fitted with the balance dots positioned by the valve. By positioning the lightest point of the tyre by the heaviest point of the wheel (the valve) the amount of balance weights required is kept to a minimum.

• It is essential that tyre and wheel assemblies are balanced before use and rebalanced each time the tyre is removed or replaced. Unbalanced tyre and wheel assemblies can vibrate and tyre wear will be greatly accelerated.
• Wheels may be balanced with spoke nipple weights, lead wire or self-adhesive rim weights. Consult the motorcycle manufacturer for approved wheel weights.
• Dunlop does not recommend the use of dry or liquid balancers/sealers.

RUNNING-IN PERIOD

When new tyres are fitted they should not be subjected to maximum power, sudden acceleration or abrupt and/or hard cornering until a reasonable running-in distance of approximately 100 miles has been covered. This will permit the rider to become accustomed to the feel of the new tyres or tyre combination and to gradually scuff the tyre's surface from shoulder to shoulder in order to achieve optimum road grip.

• Check and if necessary adjust the cold inflation pressure to the recommended level after the tyre(s) cools down following the running-in period.
• Fitting a new tyre to one wheel while leaving a worn tyre on the other wheel can cause instability and requires careful ride evaluation during the running-in period
• Mixing different tread pattern combinations is not advised and requires careful ride evaluation during the running-in period.

TYRE REPAIRS

It is permitted to repair Dunlop motorcycle and scooter tyres in accordance with BS. AU 159/f. The damage limits of BS. AU 159/f are:

A tyre must not be repaired if it has any of the following:

1. Damage larger than 6mm in tyres up to and including 'J' speed rating.
   Damage larger than 3mm in tyres above 'J' speed rating up to and including 'V' speed rating.
   Damage not reasonably perpendicular to the casing.
2. A speed rating above 'V'.
3. Ply separation or local removal of inner lining and/or ply cutting by penetrating object (secondary damage).
4. Tread separation.
5. Broken bead wire or bead damage.
6. Damage due to under inflation in service.
7. Sidewall damage.
8. A penetration occurring outside an area of the tread, measured about the centreline, which is 50% of the nominal section width of the tyre.

The maximum number of repairs is not to exceed:

• 2 repairs per tyre in tyres up to and including 'J' speed rating (100km/h / 62mph). Patches must not overlap.
• 1 repair per tyre in tyres above 'J' speed rating up to and including 'V' speed rating (240km/h / 150mph).
• No repairs in tyres with speed ratings above 'V'.

EMERGENCY "GET YOU HOME" REPAIRS FOR TUBELESS TYRES

• To effect an emergency "get you home" repair to a tubeless tyre it is permissible to fit an inner tube of the correct size and type, providing that the tyre is not damaged beyond the specified repair damage limits - see TYRE REPAIRS section above for damage limits.
• Remove the puncturing object from the tyre before fitting the inner tube in order to prevent it causing chaffing damage to the inner tube.
• The inner tube must be removed and a permanent repair made to the tyre (if permissible) at the earliest opportunity.
• It is recognised that externally applied temporary repair plugs are available and are sometimes used, although this is against industry advice. This should be regarded as an emergency measure only used in tubeless tyres on motorcycles to enable the machine to be moved, with caution, to the nearest place where a permanent tubeless tyre repair (if permitted) can be carried out.

LIQUID AND AEROSOL SEALANT/BALANCERS AND BALANCERS

Some motorcycle owners use liquid or aerosol sealant/balancers or balancers, which can be applied internally to tyre and wheel assemblies. Warning of penetrations normally identifiable by pressure loss can be masked by their use. There may be no indication or warning of another more severe deflation occurring subsequently, through secondary damage caused by the puncturing object.

It is possible that these liquid or aerosol sealant/balancers and balancers can adversely affect ply material, in which case any warranty given by Dunlop Tyres would be invalid.

In the light of these risks, Dunlop Tyres does NOT recommend their use in motorcycle or scooter tyres.

TYRE INSPECTION

It is important to carry out, at least weekly, examination of tyres to ensure that any penetrations by foreign matter are detected at the earliest possible stage. The removal of such foreign matter and the expert repair of the puncture (if permitted) will minimise the possibility of damaging the tyre beyond repair.

UNAUTHORISED MODIFICATIONS

Ant modification to tyres marked Dunlop will render any warranty invalid.

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

• Be sure to align the wheels each time the rear wheel is removed or the chain or belt is adjusted.
• Each revolution of an incorrectly aligned wheel can scuff off tread rubber, reduce tyre mileage, and impair steering and cornering.

WHEEL INSPECTION

• Bent wheel rims and bent or cracked cast wheels should be replaced immediately.
• Bent rims may cause wheel wobble, bead unseating and, in the case of tubeless tyres, gradual air loss.
• Sudden wheel failure may result from the use of cracked cast wheels.

SIDEWALL CARE

• Use a mild soap solution to clean sidewalls, white sidewalls, white striping or white lettering, and rinse off with plain water.
• Never apply any other material, cleaners or dressings in order to enhance sidewall appearance. They may degrade the rubber and remove inherent ozone cracking or weather-checking resistance.

TYRE STORAGE

The treatment that tyres receive in storage before fitting and during extended periods of inactivity following fitting may directly affect their mileage and performance.

• Tyres stored in direct sunlight for long periods of time will harden and age more quickly than those kept in a dark or dimly lit area.
• Do not keep tyres next to radiators or sources of heat. Tyres subjected to these conditions will age more quickly than those stored in a cool, constant environment.
• Avoid frequent and varied extremes of temperature during storage.
• Contact with oil or petrol causes contamination of the rubber compound, making the tyre unsuitable for use. Immediately after contact wipe off any oil or petrol with a clean cloth. Do not use a tyre if oil or petrol has been in contact with it for an unknown period of time.
• Do not use any tyre that has been exposed to corrosives or non-rubber compatible liquids.
• Do not store tyres where electric motors are present. The high concentration of ozone will accelerate tyre ageing.
• Tyres should be stored in shaded, ventilated area and at a temperature below 25° C.

DYNAMOMETER TESTING

• Never use a tyre on road or track that has been subjected to dynamometer engine testing. This severe use of the tyre may result in tread compound degradation and subsequent failure.
• For dynamometer testing always use a worn out tyre that will be discarded immediately afterwards.