quote:

ORIGINAL: Sabaka454

The tires I have on there now are Metzlers
140/90 16 in the rear and 90/90 21 in the front. I would like to go with something a little wider.

quote:

ORIGINAL: cardboard

I had the MH 80 21 on front, I went with the MH80 21. the 80 rides better than the 90. I got them at a Indy shop.
Don't know how much room you have for wider tires.
I had the  160/70 17" on back, the tire was flatter in the center making it walk around on the road. I didn't like changing lanes when they was uneven and I've been riding since the 60's. When I went with the  170/60 17" metzler it was a more rounder tire and rode better. It's just  hit's bumps a little harder because the sidewalls are not as thick, But I really like the tires.
Brian at RC componets or Wesley at bikersimage have manuals to asnwer yer questions on what will fit yer bike.
My buddy has a 96 wide glide, he has 16" on the back of his bike. He has custom wheels on his bike. I posted this on another web site, it may help explain about differnt kinds of wheels to you.

Cast or Forged wheels

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Did you want to know this before you buy yer next wheel !

Custom designed show-grade polished aluminum wheels and pulleys for all Harley Davidson Motorcycles by Altered Wheels.

FORGED WHEELS “Why is FORGING the Best?”
There are 3 ways to build motorcycle rims; Casting, Billet, and Forging.

Cast Wheels. These are usually stock items from the factories. Casting is essentially pouring molten metal through a mold.

+ Advantages - would be mainly for the manufacturer, very little machining is required and is inexpensive and factories can maintain high production volume. The customer does get a break on price as cast wheels are the low end of the motorcycle wheels family.

- Disadvantage - for the consumer primarily is that there is NO Particular Grain to absorb the load, thus allowing cracks to propagate in any and ALL directions. They are very porous (like a sponge) this allows for structural weakness and also make them VERY difficult to polish, cast wheel do not chrome very well either.

> Tensile Strength - Approximately 34,000 pounds psi (per square inch).


Billet Wheels. Usually created by an extruding process where the wheels are actually machined out of a bigger piece of metal and then they are heated and compressed.


+ Advantages - would be mainly for the manufacturer, a bit more costly than cast wheels to make but less than Forging. Once the company purchases or leases the massive “Play-Doh” like compressing machines the wheel making process almost a fast as cast production. The Billet wheel is the second step in the wheel evolution.

- Disadvantage - for the consumer there still is a problem with pits and void, but not as great as the cast wheel. The billet wheel does have a grain, but because that grain is a strait grain, like in wood, allows for propagation of fractures inline with the grain (like chopping lumber, it is easier to chop with the grain).

> Tensile Strength - Approximately 62,000 to 65,000 pounds psi (per square inch)


Forged Wheels. A totally space age process that takes the Billet Wheel to the next level using science, alchemy and metallurgy to create the strongest wheel today.


+ Advantages - Customers get a VERY clean, non-porous rim, that when polished looks better than chrome. Forged wheels DO NOT need to be balanced!!! NO weights to clean around or mess up the look of your custom bike. Forged wheel will ABSORB impact because the design allows them to be flexible, and they can be repaired if the wheel gets minor damage. Forging also has the BEST polishing properties, whether it is left as shiny aluminum or chromed. Forged aluminum wheels are by far the safest and strongest of the 3 three wheel choices.

- Disadvantage - The process takes longer for manufacturers because of the steps involved, would be very difficult to mass produce without huge upfront costs and a an even larger labor force…it wi

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(in reply to cardboard)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GBeck

My friend just got a rude awakening about customer service or lack there of when he ordered a new 18x5.5 rear wheel for his Softail Standard. He wanted a wire wheel to replace the solid stock wheel. He ordered through California Customs (http://www.smartcart.com/calcustoms/welcome.htm) which advertised a replacement for all stock softails 2000-2008 (A.K.A. Y2K wheels). Unfortunately he realized after installing the disk and pulley that the axle was 1" and NOT the stock .75". He's stuck with the wheel and now trying to get a local shop to swap the hub or install a conversion kit. Make sure you state your axle size to any retailer or you may get put in the same position. The retailer was unapologetic about the sale and acted as if the customer was responsible for asking the correct questions while the retailer is not responsible for accurate advertising of their products. A damn shame, but a lesson learned the hard way.


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Sabaka454

The tires I have on there now are Metzlers
140/90 16 in the rear and 90/90 21 in the front. I would like to go with something a little wider.