im running a 500r16 radial car tire on the rear of my harley - its now got near 7500 miles and is about one half the tread worn, i typically replace when they wear bars are not yet quite visible and at the rate its going that should be this fall - that means a winter tire job - whew thats a relief....
so the question, when i first got this tire the mfg listed 4" to 5" rim, the widest i was able to find was 3.5" and the valve stem position SUCKS. now the mfg says the tire should be one a 3" to 4.5" rim. the stock bike wheel is 3" - so will the tire behave as well on a narrower rim? i HAVE sourced a 4" x 16" rim now so i can go that route but the cheapest lowest maint rim to use is the stock original rim and it has a side valve stem thats much better for maint.
ideas? thoughts?
next related question - on this one rear tire im near time for the second front replacement - the stock type front tire is about 40 bux cheaper all in than the 500x16, but its now obvious that the 500/r16 lasts longer - mount one on the front as well? it does plow a bit in dirt with the round front tire, but its just fine going and stopping on the paved roads and the stock tire is very stiff and thats good on the front.
ideas? thoughts?
to
Normal tire /wheel recommendations seem to go 1" over to 1" under in rim widths. You are well within those specs with your rear.
Since the front tire turns in the direction of travel the softer radial sidewalls won't make much difference (if any).
Most tire mfgr's recommend using radials all around and not mixing bias ply with radials for the best handling.
Lonnie
your hd has the wider rims - are you running stock tires or car tires? is the front and sidecar 16 or ?
since mine is a 07 put in service in the summer of 06 its now "old" the newer bikes seem to have a plethora of different and ever changing front tire sizes
thx
to
I run this 175R16 austone taxi tire on a standard sportster rim with no problems and great wear!
https://www.universaltire.com/dunlop-tires/dunlop-radial-tires/175r16-austone-taxi-black.html
My Street Glide has a 16" rear wheel that is 6" wide. I'm running a 195/55/R16 Hankook on it.
The front wheel and sidecar wheel are narrow 17" wheels and I haven't found auto tire sizes to replace them. I am running Dunlop Elite IIIs on them since I found that the new Dual compound Dunlop tread design will hydroplane badly and the older Elite III tread design does not. This may be due to the new design that is like sport bike tires with no center groove and just smooth rubber with no pattern in the footprint area.
Lonnie
