I want to change out the rear wheel on my '98 softail, but I'm not sure if it will fit.

Can I fit an 18" X 4.25" wheel with a 160/60/18 tire with the stock swingarm? (chain final drive).

Will I have to offset anything or do any modifications? Do I have to change out the swingarm for a later model?

Thanks for any advice.

 

If you didn't do any fit mods putting on the chain drive the wheel and tire above is the max without fender and swingarm changes.

 

I'm not sure about it... I do know that with the stock setup the widest you can go is 150 but with a belt drive... In the right side of the bike there is plenty of space to fit the 160 but in my case with the 150 and belt drive there is no space on the left side for a hair in between the belt and tire. I'm running the stock 1.5" belt. My rear wheel is a 18x3.5 and 150 Metzeler. You would also need to check for space inside the fender (clearance against bolts, screws, etc.)

My ride is 1999, same factory specs than yours. Let us know how it turns out.

Mimo.

 

160 fitment will depend to some extent on tire itself...I have a 150 on my 99 FXSTC and changed to a later model 1 1/4 belt...I'm running a Dunlop tire (that came with wide tire HD package) which actually measures 157mm so I have no additional room unless I change fenders to something wider than my 7.5" bobtail. My tire seems to be on the wider side of the 150's available (I've read on here that the Metzler's are narrower than Dunlop's). If I remember correctly, 2000 and up bobtail fenders are 8" so that little bit of room makes a difference. I like how my Dunlop bulges/sits on the stock rim....looks kind of fat so I would say get some exact measurements to see what your options are but in my opinion, go to the 2000-05 1 1/4 belt to gain a quarter inch of clearance and run a 150 Dunlop....will look the same as most 160's.

As far as an 18 on a 4.25" rim, there are several on here than have done it with 2000-05 softtails...but again, I think they have an extra 1/2 inch in fender width over 1999 and earlier bikes so the answer may be chain drive or 2006 and up 20 mm belt and pulley to get the room you need.

 

Thanks for the reply. I need to know If by changing to a chain will I get the necessary clearance I need to run a 160mm on a 4.25" wide rim..... The fender is not an issue cause I'm getting a custom fender made after the wheel is on. Basically I dont want to have to offset the tranny/driveline or offset the rear wheel because either of those situations are more trouble than its worth.....

BTW do you have any rear and side views of the 150 tire on the stock rim? (is the stock rim 3" or 3.5"?) I may just go for that depending on how complicated this mod gets!

 

Thanks for the reply - I am planning on using a 160/60/18 Metzler on the 18" X 4.25" DNA custom spoked wheel.

Its not the fender I need to worry about - its the clearance of the chain, and whether or not I have to offset the wheel or tranny to get clearance??

 

Sorry, I don't, I believe the stocker is a 3.5 and my bike came with a 130 rear, if you wanted to upgrade to a 150, Harley would tell you that you needed a "Wide tire kit" (which they no longer make nowdays) this kit consisted in a narrower pulley and belt (1 1/8) among other stuff such as belt cover and some new seals for the primary... It turned out that I could get away with the wider tire and not a damn thing from that kit which Harley offered was needed.

Mimo.

 

Check with forum member Chazmanian...saw that he recently moved to an 18 on a 4.25" rim on his NT so I bet he could give you some feedback about spacing, offset, etc.

 

Thanks, will do.

 

If you cut your frame horns off and use a 20mm pulley&belt you can fit a 180mm in a 99 stock swingarm and dont have to offset the primary or trans. If your using a chain I believe you can actually fit a 200 in there, not positive though. Im in the process of putting a 18x5.5 wheel w/ a 180 on my 99 NightTrain right now.