Convert bike tire to car tire

johnnieg2756 - 7/8/2015 3:16 PM

I've spent some time trying to find a car tire that will replace the rear tire on my 1998 Harley Ultra. It is a 130/90/16 and I can't find a car tire that I can replace it with. Been to the dark side forum plus many tire conversion charts. Any help would be appreciated. I am running a hack on this bike of course.
Johnnieg

Johnnieg,

Try www.tirerack.com, just looked, there are three tires 135/90-16, from $89 to $150 each. They also have 125/90-16 sizes.

CCjon

CCjon - 7/8/2015 7:13 PM

johnnieg2756 - 7/8/2015 3:16 PM

I've spent some time trying to find a car tire that will replace the rear tire on my 1998 Harley Ultra. It is a 130/90/16 and I can't find a car tire that I can replace it with. Been to the dark side forum plus many tire conversion charts. Any help would be appreciated. I am running a hack on this bike of course.
Johnnieg

Johnnieg,

Try www.tirerack.com, just looked, there are three tires 135/90-16, from $89 to $150 each. They also have 125/90-16 sizes.

CCjon

Interesting. I've done the same reading on the subject for my '98 FLTR............ Seems the consensus is that nothing will work.

johnnieg2756 - 7/8/2015 4:16 PM

I've spent some time trying to find a car tire that will replace the rear tire on my 1998 Harley Ultra. It is a 130/90/16 and I can't find a car tire that I can replace it with. Been to the dark side forum plus many tire conversion charts. Any help would be appreciated. I am running a hack on this bike of course.
Johnnieg

Unfortunately, the only automobile type tires I've found to fit on the skinny HD 16" rear wheels are temporary/compact spare tires designed for temporary use only with shallower tread depth and lighter-weight construction generally requiring 60 psi cold tire inflation with driving speeds restricted to 50 mph.

Swampfox
I've been calling local tire shops and they are telling me the same thing. The 135/90/16 tires are spare tires. I think I'll have to give up and bite the big one although Micheline 880 might give me more mileage but not sure.
Johnnieg

880 is a Metzeler tire. Been running them for years. My next rear will probably be a Michelin Commander, which is reported to give higher mileage.

The 880's are great tires for rain, but the deep tread pattern is deceptive. They have very soft tread rubber and don't last nearly as long as the Dunlop E3.

Lonnie

I was going to try one of these, if it fits under the fender: http://www.ebay.com/itm/281310921283?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I have a175 /16 taxi tire on my '07 Eglide enough room for 2 credit cards on each side between tire and finder it did rub the wiring harness and I relocated it to outside the finder
the tire is taller and will decrease the the number of turns the motor makes less power on take off and speedometer will read 5+ mph slower.

I have a 175/60/16 Goodyear assurance from discount tire, had to order and got it in one day, on my '07 Heritage tire is shorter than stock tire fits under just a little better and both mounted easily on the wheels. being shorter you lose about 4 mph on the speedometer and a bit of help on starting from stop.

both tires perform great do not get stuck in wet grass like the worn H/D tire

I've been using Dunlop Elite 2 and now E3 tires for 30 years on GL1100 .sidecar rigs. I usually get 10-12000 miles on the rear, 140-90-16 , MU90-16 is the Dunlop size.

The last car tire that was worth running was the old twin tire, in a 125 16, these have not been around for years, nothing made now works well at all.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793

Jay,

Would you be willing to elaborate please? I'm on 1990 GoldWing with CSC Friendship III and after < 10,000 miles the motorcycle tire I had mounted when I bought the rig is about done, so I was thinking of going dark side.

Is your comment specific to the size the OP was asking about? Or in general?

I know you know your stuff, so I'm not questioning you. I just want to be sure we all understand what your input meant, specifically.

Thanks very much,
Phil

10K is pretty good mileage for a rear tire on a hack rig.

My comment was specifically for the Harley size tire. When you can change to an automotive tire it is usually a good thing. For the GL1500 I know of now tire that is not also a bit taller changing your gear ratio making it taller. Tire life is really an issue on the GL1500 so this may be an acceptable trade off for you.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793