Tires
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Passaic County, NJ
Tires
I've been doing some searches here and through various sites. I need a new rear tire. Stock 160 rear has close to 12k miles and is almost bald in the center. I was going to install the gt502 180/60-b17 on my wide glide. I like the look of filling up that fender a bit.
Since I'm not willing to just accept what the dealer has to offer I've been searching around.
My question is, and I don't claim to be a mechanic at all, but theoretically wouldn't a lower profile 180 fit under there too? Like a 180/55-17, because isn't that how the gt502 works because it is a 60, as opposed to the stock 70 which means it's a lower profile? the 180/55-17 seem to be slightly more common. Only downside is that finding a matching tire for my 21" rim is near impossible, in my research.
While I was at the dealer the other day talking to the service dept about the gt502 they told me straight up it wouldn't fit on the stock rim. I didn't debate but did tell him I've seen it done without issue.
Would changing the tire size affect the speedo or is the speedo running off the motor/trans and not the wheel like on most metric bikes.
Since I'm not willing to just accept what the dealer has to offer I've been searching around.
My question is, and I don't claim to be a mechanic at all, but theoretically wouldn't a lower profile 180 fit under there too? Like a 180/55-17, because isn't that how the gt502 works because it is a 60, as opposed to the stock 70 which means it's a lower profile? the 180/55-17 seem to be slightly more common. Only downside is that finding a matching tire for my 21" rim is near impossible, in my research.
While I was at the dealer the other day talking to the service dept about the gt502 they told me straight up it wouldn't fit on the stock rim. I didn't debate but did tell him I've seen it done without issue.
Would changing the tire size affect the speedo or is the speedo running off the motor/trans and not the wheel like on most metric bikes.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
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My .02. First off, the dealer in my hometown also said the 502 wouldn't fit my stock rim. I brought it to another dealership down the road and they put it on, no problem. That was almost 6000 miles ago and no problems. I would go with the SE gt502 and never have to worry about a different rim.
As far as the different profile and the speedo effect. I did notice that after trips in which me and my brother-in-law road together (he has a stock tire on his ultra classic) our mileage would always differ even though we went together! I forgot if his was more or less than mine but I couldn't figure out for the life of me why it was happening. Then it dawned on me my tire is not the stock tire. So there will be a difference there. Also, he would set his cruise control on 75 and it seemed I was always two or three mph different then he was after we talked about it. Again, the tire size. I can't remember if I was faster or slower though.
As far as the different profile and the speedo effect. I did notice that after trips in which me and my brother-in-law road together (he has a stock tire on his ultra classic) our mileage would always differ even though we went together! I forgot if his was more or less than mine but I couldn't figure out for the life of me why it was happening. Then it dawned on me my tire is not the stock tire. So there will be a difference there. Also, he would set his cruise control on 75 and it seemed I was always two or three mph different then he was after we talked about it. Again, the tire size. I can't remember if I was faster or slower though.
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
Funny thing I just remembered...the service guy told me I could reuse my stock tube for the 180. I can't help but think that's not a good idea, I don't know why I think that, just do. Am I wrong?
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