550r16 tire?

timo482 - 11/28/2010 9:06 PM

Coker just started listing a ... 550r16 radial tire

Hi Tim: I recently checked out "online" the 550r16 radial tire as well. Unfortunately, the 555r16 Coke Classic is 1+ inches taller than the stock Dunlop's on either the 2002 XLR or FLH (Coker-26.88" vs. XLR-25.4" vs. FLH-25.7"). The Coker tire would effectively "un-do" the 4% gearing reduction we've incorporated into our Sportster.

gearing can be dealt with - 30t trans sprocket - width is the issue - im trying to find out how wide it actually is

thanks

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timo482 - 11/28/2010 9:06 PM

coker just started listing a series of bias ply looking & sized tires that are modern radial construction.

they have a 550r16 radial tire

anybody have any idea what that would be in metric size?

it looks like it "might" fit the rear of a harley with little mods and its a 1300 load wt tire

tim olson

I do use bias ply 500/525-16 from coker on my Goldwing CL1500/Frendship III for almost 3000 miles now. No changes to the wheel. Do use inner tube. Outside dia. of this tire just 1/4" biger then 160/80-16 OEM. See no difference in the ride.

timo482 - 11/29/2010 9:32 AM- width is the issue -

According to the published info, the 550r16 Coker Classic has a ~5-1/4 inch overall width, compared to ~5-1/2 inch overall width for the Dunlop MU85B16. Looks like the recommended rim width for the 550r16 tires is 4-5 inches, but most of the Harley rear wheels are either 3 or 3-1/2 inches wide.

Does anyone have any experience as to 1/2 inch variance in wheel width? Vlad, how wide is your Honda GL1500 wheel?

3 1/2"

Some later Harley rear wheels are considerably wider than 3"-3 1/2".

the stock wheels that are over 3 inch have the integrated cush drive in the hub and will only work with the new type swing arm - grrrrr of course it might be possible to mcgyver one.. hmmm....

the 07 - 08 hubs are oddballs - 1" bearings but sprocket mounts for solid sprockets - 09 and on have the wide wheels & a new frame.

my bike is paid for so im not going to fork over a wheel barrow of franklins to get the new swing arm.

the 550 tire - if it fits - will be much better than using the 15" tires - especially if it will mount on a stock rim - that way if on the road and have a tire disaster a stock tire can be installed to get home.

according to a old dennis kirk paper catalog a 550 is very close to a 140 so its probably worth trying one, coker says the very first shipment of these tires will come in late this week.

to

550=5.50"=5.5*25.4MM=139.7MM

it appears from cokers web page update that they have 500r16 as well. that tire is for certain going to fit in the fender - will it fit the wheel - "probably" will it fit a 3.5" wheel "likely"

i think ill order a 500 - if it looks like a 550 will fit the rear ill get one of those for the rear....

its "possible" that the 500r16 will fit the other wheel positions on a fltcu - tle

more to come

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Tim; I gave very serious consideration to ordering the new Excelsior 5.00R16 tire from Coker until I spoke to them and verified that this tire absolutely must have a tube installed to be useable! I find it very curious that a company would bring a new radial tire on the market but not make it tubeless. Oh where are those old Seiberling tires I used to use with my Harley that actually had a rear stand that would hold the bike up and a wheel that would come out with a minimum of fuss. Progress is killing us!!
Don

Were the old Seiberlings tubeless? That's news to me.
I don't miss the recoil of the kicker, the greasy jeans from the rear chain, the puddles of oil, the rough ride, the sore butt, the maintenance beside the road, the hassle involved adjusting a loose primary chain and all thet other fun associated with the vintage Harleys. The chevy points and condensors were a lot cheaper than the ignition modules though (lol).

I'll take the twin cam 6 speeds these days. Back then that choice wasn't an option.
I would like to have a hinged rear fender though.

Lonnie

Lonnie is right....when the grandkids are around I tell them real men used to kickstart motorbikes!! but I swear kickstarting bikes in the mid 1950s starting with a 250 Calthorpe, Norton 750, Vincent Black Shadow, then a Harley panhead
caused me to need both knees replaced in my 50s!! ..... when the right leg got tired you would put down the centre stand and kick with the left one??
the motorbikes with magnetos seemed to be the bigger PITA. Lucky enough in the UK sidecars are on the leftside of the bike ..... which helped some I guess??

Y`all ride safe now ....... Mike ....

tube is OK with me as i have spoke wheels - have to run a tube

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Corker sells the tube that's the right size for that tire, I have that tire on my Shadow 1100T with a 4 1/2 rim, the tire is a real Bitc* to get on because the inner edges are almost touching each other, we had to use a rope and a piece of pipe to twist it to get them to spread enough for the air to start to seat it, if you have access to one of those air blasters that would make it a lot easier,,,,and of course there's always the gas in the tire trick. But your going to use a tube so that won't be a problem.