Wider Tires - Pro/Con?
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,086
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Wider Tires - Pro/Con?
I recently traded up to a 2010 CrossBones and have the itch to do SOMETHING with it. I love the bike as is, but part of the joy of owning a bike is customizing it out and making it uniquely your own. Anyway, I went to my local Harley store to see about fattening up the rear-end. I know, the CrossBones does look pretty sweet with the 200mm tire...but, I'm thinking 250! What I'm looking at is redoing the rear-fender, etc., and when I was discussion my plans with the tech personell, they started talking me out of going wider and sticking with my current tire size. Outside of cost, I was told that the 200mm tire is the optimum size, and that wider than that you start to lose advantages. For instance, horrible gass mileage, increased weight, decreased handling/mobility, and worst of all: hypersensitivity to wet surfaces. So, my question is, are all these things true? Even if they are, I may still go with it, but it does have me thinking of only going for a conversion on that rear fender. I would prefer that rear fender look more like a Nighter/Wide-Glide. I have to say I mainly don't like that bulky brake light.
Any help with figuring out any advantages/disadvantages of going wider would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Any help with figuring out any advantages/disadvantages of going wider would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
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From: Farmington ,MS
All the things they said are somewhat true...sounds like they don't want to do it.
- Cost... it will suck
- Gas Mileage...minor difference
- Weight...minor difference
- Handling...most 250 bikes I have seen handled like crap, BUT they were raked out...I don't see the handling changing dramatically if you stay with the stock rake.
- Hypersensitivity to wet...yes
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,928
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From: Desert S. West
You have already mentioned the most important reasons. They were right. The weight of a bike isn't enough to compensate for a tire wider than 200 mm in the rain. You start to need to muscle the bike around turns. A 250 mm wouldn't be all that bad but you would spend a lot of money for very little gain in the looks dept IMHO. At some point you will have spent the same amount for a CVO without actually having one.
The wider the tire the more expensive they are and they don't last very long which is why I'm actually going to a car tire on my Night Train. I expect to get 9 times the mileage out of it over the stock 200 mm.
The wider the tire the more expensive they are and they don't last very long which is why I'm actually going to a car tire on my Night Train. I expect to get 9 times the mileage out of it over the stock 200 mm.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 347
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I have never ridden a softail with a real wide tire, but I'll share what I do know. I have ridden a V-Rod with a 240 rear and I was not having any issues with leaning. As a matter of fact, I couldnt keep the pegs off the ground in turns. Harley did put a 240 on the rear of the screamin eagle springer a year or 2 ago. I too am a big fan of the wider tire, but like the bobtail fender over the heartland style fender. The SE springer is the only softail I have ever seen with a 240 and a bobtail fender. You may have to end up using a fender and tri bar led tail light off one of them if you can get one.
If performance and ridability was that bad, then HD wouldnt have put them on their bikes.
If performance and ridability was that bad, then HD wouldnt have put them on their bikes.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 373
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From: Lincoln, ND
Ive riden a few victorys with the 250 rear. My personal opinion is cornering sucked. They looked good but i felt uncomfortable trying to lean into a corner and the bike was trying to keep me straight. Im not used to it by any means so that has to be added in to it. Good luck with your decision and snap pics if you do it.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2009
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All the things they said are somewhat true...sounds like they don't want to do it.
- Cost... it will suck
- Gas Mileage...minor difference
- Weight...minor difference
- Handling...most 250 bikes I have seen handled like crap, BUT they were raked out...I don't see the handling changing dramatically if you stay with the stock rake.
- Hypersensitivity to wet...yes
1. Yeah, looking at cost, it will likely cost about twice as much as sticking with what I have.
2. Nice to know...I wouldn't want to suddenly start having fuel up at every town. lol.
3. Also good to know. I think the shop was trying to exaggerate the downsides? That, or they had a personal bad experience...I'm not sure? Regardless, if I went this route, I may have someone else do the install for me.
4. With handling, I'm unsure...as most I have seen do have the raked out front ends as well. I don't plan on changing anything up front. I love the springer front end, and think it currently has a timeless look to it. Can't change it...lol. And, there aren't a lot of people that have wider back tires around here to ask...
5. The hypersensitivity scares me a bit, as it seems to rain a lot around here. I don't like riding in the rain, but I also don't want to run my chances...I guess I am a little confused on this as I thought the increased size of the contact patch would help gain traction in wet surfaces. At least, that's what the car people tell me. Guess I just need it explained a little more. So far, the way I'm seeing it is that the wider surface helps FIND slickness to increase the chance of hydroplaning...you stay atop the snow with snow boots and go through without kinda thing...
Thanks for the response. At least I have my answers now.
Last edited by DocJ; Mar 14, 2010 at 11:42 AM.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2009
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I want to think the rest of you as well...guess I took awhile typing in my response!
The handling with the 250, in overall opinion, seems to be on the poorer side. Although, with time I think one would learn to accomodate and it wouldn't be too much an issue. As stated, if it were that bad, HD would likely not be putting out bikes with the 240. I know that argument isn't a good one, but it seems to work...lol.
BoomerBob...you have a good point regarding the CVO...however, as far as I've seen, none of the CVOs came with the bobber rear-end that I'm wanting to get into...but, that 110 would be nice! I don't know...I just prefer to spend the money where I'd prefer it, not where I don't.
Either way, I am greatly considering a Heartland bobber kit. Even stock, I think it will look AWESOME. However, at this point, it's looking like it will have to be next winter's project. I don't think I have what it takes to give up riding time when the weather is nice.
Thanks again for your responses...any more opinions are appreciated!
The handling with the 250, in overall opinion, seems to be on the poorer side. Although, with time I think one would learn to accomodate and it wouldn't be too much an issue. As stated, if it were that bad, HD would likely not be putting out bikes with the 240. I know that argument isn't a good one, but it seems to work...lol.
BoomerBob...you have a good point regarding the CVO...however, as far as I've seen, none of the CVOs came with the bobber rear-end that I'm wanting to get into...but, that 110 would be nice! I don't know...I just prefer to spend the money where I'd prefer it, not where I don't.
Either way, I am greatly considering a Heartland bobber kit. Even stock, I think it will look AWESOME. However, at this point, it's looking like it will have to be next winter's project. I don't think I have what it takes to give up riding time when the weather is nice.
Thanks again for your responses...any more opinions are appreciated!
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 373
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From: Lincoln, ND
Dont know about heartland but Kurt at seeger is good to deal with. Very knowledgable man about what he does. Perhaps give him a call and ask questions.
http://www.seegercycle.com/harley_10.aspx
http://www.seegercycle.com/harley_10.aspx
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 347
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BoomerBob...you have a good point regarding the CVO...however, as far as I've seen, none of the CVOs came with the bobber rear-end that I'm wanting to get into...but, that 110 would be nice! I don't know...I just prefer to spend the money where I'd prefer it, not where I don't.
No doubt, the 240 is a little tougher to lean, but I didnt find it to be enough to make me not want to own one.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 320
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I have the 200mm tire and it looks huge, I love the look, makes those 150' &30's look so small. Why spend all that money? I mean it is your bikes, just saying isn't it big enough now? Nothing else you want for your ride?