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Harley tires

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(@newbedoo)
Posts: 1
New Member
Topic starter
 

I just bought my first rig in 40 years and love the chair. It’s a 2005 ultra classic with a champion legend car getting a little too old for 2 wheels. What tires are harley guys running and how about the dark side?

 
Posted : August 12, 2024 6:11 pm
sheath and FlyingMonkeys reacted
Thane Lewis
(@thane-lewis)
Posts: 414
Moderator
 

Welcome, Bryan.  Excellent questions.  There are likely some older posts on the subject, but I look forward to hearing what our knowledge base have to say.

Illegitemi non carborundum est!

 
Posted : August 12, 2024 9:07 pm
sheath and FlyingMonkeys reacted
(@miles-ladue)
Posts: 834
Noble Member
 

I was going to post up some info on tires for that '05 Ultra Classic, but...Bryan only wants to hear from the "harley guys", so...I will stuff my face with donut holes, and see what the "harley guys" suggest.

Ahem, does it count that I won the H.O.G annual high mileage contest in 1985, and 1986, and 1987, and 1988...over 100,000 miles each year for 4 years in a row, all on H-D's ?????

Okay, back to stuffing my faced with donut holes. Eat  

Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort

 
Posted : August 12, 2024 11:23 pm
Thane Lewis, sheath and Brstr reacted
(@2FLTC)
Posts: 209
Reputable Member
 

 What are you looking to get out of your tires. Is it still a stock 88 cu in. What's your average cruising speed and were you drive mostly highway on secondary roads. Also, how many miles you aveage a year. This all goes into what tires would work for you.

 
Posted : August 13, 2024 6:26 am
(@ned)
Posts: 586
Prominent Member
 

The stock rear tire size for a 2005 Electra Glide is a 130/90-16 which is a horribly skinny tire for a heavy rig.  You'll be buying new rear tires monthly.  Some guys run a MU85-16 on that bike which is the equivalent of a metric 140/85-16.  OK, 10 mm wider but still horrible.  So you definitely want to find a darkside alternative.  Here's the problem -- your rim will mount a 175/60-16 car tire no problem and there are lots of car tires in that size.  But you don't have enough clearance for that tire.  The belt's in the way.

My only suggestion is to get on the internet and start searching to see if anybody else has figgered out a darkside tire that'll work.

 

 
Posted : August 13, 2024 12:53 pm
(@2FLTC)
Posts: 209
Reputable Member
 

MU85-16 is stock for that bike. One of mine I run a MT90-16 with no problems for the last 35 years. The only thing is the mileage.   

 
Posted : August 13, 2024 2:58 pm
sheath and FlyingMonkeys reacted