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Looking at that video, along with Dr Hess' tire project, got me thinking that I really should do something about the rear wheel and tire.
Right now, it's got the stock wheel off the '97 donor bike and the cheapo stopgap Shinko I put on.
I'm pretty sure I want to find a spoke wheel. My real question is on the tire. I like the look of these retro tires like this:
I think that would look right on the bike.
But I've never had one like that and wonder if I'll be sorry. Anyone have any experience with those? Anyone have any specific recommendations on a brand? Any advice?
Best I can add is Coker Tire, they were pioneers with vintage tires in the street rod world many years ago and still around plus have a line of motorcycle tires
Yeah, I was looking at those Coopers. One thing I really like about them is they offer them with the Firestone lettering. That's cool, right there.
TC Bros has MotoIron wheels for about the same price as OEM takeoffs are going. I'm leaning that direction.
Other than not knowing how those tires will ride, the only other thing that I'm worried I'll run in to is clearance with the fender. It's pretty snug as it is. Not much to do other than get stuff mocked up and see what's what.
We put Coker retro tires on an 1969 Shovelhead. The tires looked great in every way ..with a few exceptions
Was nearly impossible to get the tire balanced and get it seated to the rim.
The tires rode ok .but compared to modern tire designs .they sucked. With those tires the bike got designated to ride in parades.
Results may vary .that was our experience.
Pretty much sums up my experience with the them. Pan owner had a set she HAD to have on the bike, fought them quite a while to get them seated and no pinched tubes. She rode it maybe 2 months and changed them. When I rode it brought back bad memories of my cheap british bike days with the original old hard tires on them.
I run the Firestone Deluxe tires from Coker on my '46 Flathead. In lieu of balancing, I use the dyna beads. I was cruising in the highway yesterday at 65 MPH, tire doing everything I needed. I also run about 22 PSI due to rigid frame, never had an issue.
I saw a rigid Ironhead at a show in Philly a couple of years ago with the same tires, he then used white lettering pen on just the "Firestone", looked really cool.
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Vintage/Retro Tires?
