Good Evening:

I am also changhing to Metzler 880's as I enter this conversation. My dealer here in Chattanooga and I have been researching the same nomenclature issues trying to get the right fitment. I believe we have; however my Springer is a little different. I bought it this time last year with 126 miles already on it from a Dealer in NC that had purposely tricked it out and given it a "retro" look. The rear tire was a 160 60-18 Dunlop 220 and the front was a 130 70 - 18 Dunlop Elite (I think) on the front. After about 5500 miles I took it in for the tune up etc. and there was a good deal of wear on the Dunlop 220 rear (Soft Compound). Ok Cool, I had it changed for the same tire ( the dealer had fits putting it in)....1200 miles later I come back from a long ride and notice it was so close to the fender that the side had a nice quarter inch line all the way around the tire. It had rubbed against the fender and made its own extra space. OK time out....time to re-elvaluate and dig into this whole tire thing.

I had checked into Metzlers originally but didn't want to change the front tire too so I opted for what came with it. Probably should have gone to the Metzlers then but I'm a newbie so this is a "learning lesson" ouch...

Now after much discussion and education the plan is this... I am having a 140 70-18 rear put on the same rims and the 130 70-18 on the front just like before with the exception of the brand. I am going with the Metzler 880's so hopefully this will do the trick. I'm also adding the rear seat and
sissy bar and planning on some doubling up with the wife once I'm sure of the tire thing.

I don't expect the bike back until late next week but I think this may work. I will read and listen to y'alls opinion. I just really dig these powder coated rims so I'm hoping this is the right direction.

Wilbur

 

Breeze,

Just checking to see if the 140's went on without a problem. I have a 1996 Fatboy with the 130 rear tire and would love to get a larger size without going to a chain. Let us know how it came out.

 

Hey SDozier...I thought this thread was dead.......Anyway the 140/90 went in perfect
there is so much room left I'm gonna try the Metzler 150/80 next year....
and handling is great.....Lots of confidence in the twisties..........

 

That is great news! I am going to look to change out at Christmas. Does the rear of the bike look wider with the 140? I am sure the 150 will look wider.




[IMG]local://upfiles/9653/64181CD1282F4962B03B81D67166E58A.jpg[/IMG]

 

Hey SDozier

Actually you can't tell the difference on the bike.....However I can tell the difference
because I had the 2 tires next to each other.........

 

Hey guys i`m looking to change my tires on my `77 FLH and looking to get the same Metzeler`s,i have 130s on there now and i want to get the widest tire possible for the rear what size you think i can go with?

Thanks

 

As far as I know the 140 is no problem, 150 will rub against the chain a bit but with an offset sprocket and offsetting the primary 1/4" it will work fine. With 1/2"offset you can go 160 to 170.

info
http://www.bikernet.com/garage/PageV...asp?PageID=168
http://www.cas4.com/Wide-Tire/Shovel...80-1980-FX.htm

 

i went from a 130/90/16..to a 140/90/16...and now my bike sits higher than it did before...im on my tip toes now ..as before i was flat footed
i had no idea it would raise the hight

 

I prefer Avon Venoms and wrote to Avon earlier this year on this very subject. They replied that for a fully laden dresser they reckon a 130 is marginal and suggested I fit a 140, which I have recently done. That size tyre is both wider and taller than their 130, but I honestly don't notice! We just returned from a trip from the UK to Holland, Germany, Czech and Slovak Republics and Poland (over 2,500 miles), using many scenic routes, without hitch and the bike handled beautifully. We weigh around 1200 pounds fully laden and I used 44psi front and 50psi (max recommended) rear.

On my 1990 bike the tyre gets very close to the belt and I removed the rubber curtain (held on with three rivets) from the belt guard. Sighting down the edges of the tyre, before refitting the wheel, I could see that there was no more than 3/16 inch to where the belt runs on the pulley, so I installed the wheel with that clearance between tyre and belt (I checked using an allen/hex key!).

 

What made you go with the 140/90 instead of the 140/85 like Shovelhead Bob suggested? Just picked up a '91 Heritage Softail Classic and am looking to do the same slightly wider rear tire idea. Cheers!