Tires

I know of no current automotive tire that will fit. We use to have a tire called a twin tire in a 125 16 that worked however we have been sold out for years and if you did find some, they would be quite old by now and as such I would not run them. If you really want an automotive tire, chances are you will need to have a custom wheel made and run a 135 15 tire.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793

Thanks Jay.......The cost of a custom wheel for bike and hack would buy a lot of MC tires.......I'm still looking but like you say...not haveing much luck.....Maybe some European Mfg.s might have a size like I need..I can't be the only guy with a HD rig that wants a CT..Some of the cars overseas are smaller and take the narrower tire.... Thanks again....Dave

I have been looking for about 15 years, Narrow 16 inch tires were once not all that uncommon however they were much taller, and will not fit. There are several companies that are set up to make custom wheels, We make some but not for Harley. If you were to switch to a wire spoke type wheel you could have a hub laced to an automotive rim. In the 15 inch size, automotive rims and motorcycle rims are not the same diameter. You will need to run an automotive type rim not a motorcycle rim. Then to make it still harder, spoke counts are different between cars and motorcycles so you will need a undrilled rim and have it drilled to the spoke count of the hub. In general, the pay off for custom wheels is at about the 40,000 mile mark. Autmotive tires have other advantages over motorcycle tires, They have a higher load capacity, better traction and as they run at a lower pressure they also have a better ride quality. In the case of the twin tires when we could get them, we had people who ran them on all 3 wheels and reported up to about a 20% gain in fuel economy. The twin tires were kind of an odd idea that came about in the late 1990's they ran two tires on one custom wheel on a car so you ended up with 8 tires on the car. They had an off set tread pattern as they always ran two side by side and as such were always used in a pair to form the tread pattern. They worked very well, I wish they were still made.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793

WOW...It sounds like I'm gonna be useing the MC tire after all...I never would have thought CT's would be that difficult to find........I did see where HD and Dunlap have a tire now with a harder,longer wearing rubber compound in the middle part of tread....Then softer on the edges... But still not flat bottom like works when you don't hafta lean it over......Dave

Hi Dave: I too have been looking over the tire choices as I will need a new pusher tire from the 3.00" x 16" wheel on my Sportster rig.

Here a couple of ideas to replaced the Dunlop 402 MT90B16, which is 5.20" wide x 25.70" diameter:

The Shinko Classic 240 MT9016 with a "flatter" profile -- tube type:

http://www.shinkotireusa.com/product/product.php?id=16

There is also the Coker Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial - 500R16 with 5.40" width x 25.00" diameter recommended for 4" rims - also a tube type:

http://store.cokertire.com/500r16-excelsior-stahl-sport-radial.html

Here is a favorable discussion re: mounting the 500r16 on 3.5" wheels: http://mcdarksiders.forumotion.com/t5017-new-tire-that-will-work , where smith8833 posted:

... I just removed the coker 500r16 from my sportster, with 4000 miles on it the tire has no tread left and was beginin to slip on wet roads. It did a great job and I had no problems with it. Just wish it would have lasted longer for the price.

Maybe smith8833 will opine here as well.

Also, both the Shinko & Coker are tube tires, and I prefer to remain tubeless, but I'm exploring options.

For what it is worth, I have never had any "antique" tires last long enough to consider them a viable option.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793

I just ordered a new Dunlap MC tire for the hack....I still want the car tire option but I need a tire to get on the road..I got the elite 3 with claims of new longer wearing compounds..We'll see.. I'm still amazed that we can't get suitable CT for our rigs.. I'm learning fast,tho...Thanks...Dave

Here is what I know or think I know,
We ride a Sportster rig and have tried the Coker, with the results posted above. We do ride hard, both monkey and rider leaning on curves and some pavement sliding so it might last longer!
We used it WITHOUT a tube and had no problems! (this was oked by Coker, Built to modern radial standards but aimed at old style mounts.)
We are now riding a Formoza FD2 175 r 16 it is a little smaller in dia. but help with our gearing. It went right on the rim and seated aound 60-70psi. We a pushing 7000 miles with no show of wear.
The info out there, on the web site posted by Swampfox, is talking about a new tire
Taxi Dunlop 175r 16
Austone Taxi www.universaltire.com had them the last I checked. The info is that they are a Taxi tire and are built stronger for that reason!!?? This is just what I read, so don't shoot me!
The mcdarksiders site above will have more info.
Swampfox, thanks for the heads up, glade to offer the info.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?customSizeSearch=&width=175%2F&ratio=60&diameter=16
Checked some of my notes looked this up! Not sure what width will fit under your bike!

I wouldn't recommend the new D408 Dunlops. They are dual compound tires designed for good wear on the bottom and good grip on the sides.
I found the tread pattern makes them prone to hydroplaning. I've gone back to the D402s for my bike front and sidecar tire. May or may not last as long, but safer in the wet season.

L.

Sounds like the Coker 500R/16 tire would work,,and can use it tubless..Wow.....But it still costs $225..If I could get 15000 miles out of it, it would be good..I'll try it on rear of bike and hack next time.. .Mine is a 93 FL so I can't use the wider tire like the newer (98 and up,I think) FL,s..The D408 & D407 are wider for the new bikes....
Smith8833 rides ALOT harder than me....You need to ride the "Tail of the Dragon" in my neck of the woods...I live in Sylva N.C.,,About 35/40 miles from there.

I want to continue to be tubeless, but I'm looking at options.

Maruti Swift

Wow thanks for all the info and sites guys. I just bought a used sidecar 3 months ago off Ebay for $1225 drove 60 miles to pick it up and didn't have to paint it to match my bike. But I did replace the tire, don't recall the brand right now but it is already worn out. I think I will try the standard Dunlop 402 since thats whats on my Sportster and I ahve over 17000 miles on them now. I will replace all three at the same time and see what happens this time.