The wife was looking at wheels this weekend which got me thinking about going to a wider tire on her '13 XL1200C. I read a different post where someone used a 17x4.5 Dyna wheel with the only other mod being a 3mm spacer and grinding the strut through-bolts, but she's not interested in a spoke wheel and 17x4.5 is hard to find aftermarket.

I'm wondering if a 16x5 wheel with a 180 tire like on my FLHX will work? I'm going to mock up a template to put on her existing tire that matches my tire and spin it through the fender and past the belt to see what if anything hits. I've already talked to performance machine and they can put an XL hub on a 16x5 wheel but the rep said he's only heard of people using a Firestone tire since they are narrower. I think he was referring to going to the dark side.

Has anyone done something like this? Any tips or concerns?

 

Those wheels will not work as they are designed for a cush drive belt pulley. As far as width I don't know on that. I doubt it would fit but you never know. At least aftermarket manufacturers make 16x5.5 wheels that can be configured with a sportster hub on it.

 

I would use XL hubs and the existing rotor and pulley. I got some measurements on the tire from Avon's site, so I know I'm dealing with an inch wider tire with the same diameter as the exising tire so I can do a mock up with 1/2 inc tubing or something taped to the sidewall and see what hits.

 

My chart says 18x4.25 as the widest rim but never have tried to do an 16x5.5. I could get it for you but you would be responsible for fitment.

 

I'm abandoning the idea. I measured her tire at 5.75 inches wide and mine is 7.25. There is no way I can add another .75 inches to each side without hitting the belt and fender strut bolts. Oh well.

 

There is an excellent thread on installing a 180 tyre, IIRC. Use Advanced Search for '180' in titles, which may bring it up.

 

I should have added that the 4.5"x17" wheel you mentioned was introduced on the Deuce and that size has been used on several other models, so is a standard Harley size, often available cheap and secondhand on Ebay (I have one in my Glide!). You don't have to look at the aftermarket as it is also available new in several styles from Harley dealers.