I need to replace my tires soon and would like try an Auto tires all around. Anyone have experience with auto tires on HD 16" wheels? I hoping to benifit from those who know what works as the tire to fender cleance is pretty tight. Thanks.
The Victory site I frequent has a couple people using a sportscar tire on rear wheel without a sidecar. I'd think this would be perfect with a sidecar. Will try to post more info in another message soon.
Roy
Originally written by Kirk on 5/5/2008 11:27 AM
I need to replace my tires soon and would like try an Auto tires all around. Anyone have experience with auto tires on HD 16" wheels? I hoping to benifit from those who know what works as the tire to fender cleance is pretty tight. Thanks.
The Harley-Davidson rims are not correct for radial tires. I could see a car tire on the rear of the motorcycle with a special rim, maybe 15". There's really no reason to run a car tire on the front wheel or the sidecar, for that matter. They generally get very good mileage. If, however, I were to do so, I would change to wheels that would match with a car tire design. I don't think it's safe to run radials on bike wheels that are designed for bias ply tires.
There is very little clearance on the front and sidecar fenders. A wider tire would definitely touch the fenders. The rear might have enough clearance.
Since I have 10K miles on the rig and the front and sidcare tires still have 3/32 of tred depth, I suppose you are right. There is nothing wrong the bias ply motorcycle tires.
What sort of rear tire mileage (with Harleys) are you guys getting?
Originally written by gregbenner on 5/14/2008 5:22 AM
What sort of rear tire mileage (with Harleys) are you guys getting?
The stock 402 Dunlops tend to go bald in the center at around 6,000 miles, for me at least. That's really not that much worse than solo but the wear on the solo rear tire is much more even, of course.
The Dunlop Elite III is a better choice for a bike tire on a sidecar rear. They have a firmer compound.
I've been getting around 18k on the rear with Metzler Marathon 880s. Anyone tried them? (I used one on my V Strom, got nearly 10k).
Originally written by gnm109 on 5/14/2008 9:02 AM
Originally written by gregbenner on 5/14/2008 5:22 AMWhat sort of rear tire mileage (with Harleys) are you guys getting?
The stock 402 Dunlops tend to go bald in the center at around 6,000 miles, for me at least. That's really not that much worse than solo but the wear on the solo rear tire is much more even, of course. The Dunlop Elite III is a better choice for a bike tire on a sidecar rear. They have a firmer compound.
Originally written by gregbenner on 5/14/2008 8:37 AM
I've been getting around 18k on the rear with Metzler Marathon 880s. Anyone tried them? (I used one on my V Strom, got nearly 10k).
Which bike? Solo or sidecar?
I got 6000 miles out of the original Dunlop rear.
