Tire questions...........
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 96
Likes: 1
From: Nor Cal
Tire questions...........
There are some tires I really like but they are labeled as 500x16? Im assuming thats the sizes tires were back in the days right? What would that be in todays tire sizes?
Yeah. The reason for the missing measurement is because all of the tires from that era are the same outside diameter. It's a simple label. Tire width & rim diameter. You just know that they're all 27" tall. So a tire that is 3.25-21 will still be 27" tall but fit a 21" rim and is 3.25" wide (in the section...not tread)
Today's tire measurements are a metric formula.
130/90-16 breaks down like this:
130mm wide
90% of that width is the sidewall height
16" rim
The formula equates as follows:
130x.90=117mm (this is the sidewall measurement)
117x2=234mm (multiply by 2 to find the overall diameter because there is sidewall at the top and bottom of the tire)
234/25.4=9.21" (divide by 25.4 to convert to inches)
9.21+16=25.21"
The overall outside diameter of a 130/90-16 is 25.21"
I use the old school sized tires alot. Here's a height comparison between a 5.00-16 and a 130/90-16 for reference
Today's tire measurements are a metric formula.
130/90-16 breaks down like this:
130mm wide
90% of that width is the sidewall height
16" rim
The formula equates as follows:
130x.90=117mm (this is the sidewall measurement)
117x2=234mm (multiply by 2 to find the overall diameter because there is sidewall at the top and bottom of the tire)
234/25.4=9.21" (divide by 25.4 to convert to inches)
9.21+16=25.21"
The overall outside diameter of a 130/90-16 is 25.21"
I use the old school sized tires alot. Here's a height comparison between a 5.00-16 and a 130/90-16 for reference
Last edited by mreed; May 18, 2011 at 12:24 AM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 96
Likes: 1
From: Nor Cal
Thats exactly what I wanted was a comparison between the two. Thanks again for that. Im definitely going with the 500x16 for both front and back.
Next question on a Ironhead bobber build is 16" rims to small for front and rear?
Next question on a Ironhead bobber build is 16" rims to small for front and rear?
Yeah. The reason for the missing measurement is because all of the tires from that era are the same outside diameter. It's a simple label. Tire width & rim diameter. You just know that they're all 27" tall. So a tire that is 3.25-21 will still be 27" tall but fit a 21" rim and is 3.25" wide (in the section...not tread)
Today's tire measurements are a metric formula.
130/90-16 breaks down like this:
130mm wide
90% of that width is the sidewall height
16" rim
The formula equates as follows:
130x.90=117mm (this is the sidewall measurement)
117x2=234mm (multiply by 2 to find the overall diameter because there is sidewall at the top and bottom of the tire)
234/25.4=9.21" (divide by 25.4 to convert to inches)
9.21+16=25.21"
The overall outside diameter of a 130/90-16 is 25.21"
I use the old school sized tires alot. Here's a height comparison between a 5.00-16 and a 130/90-16 for reference
Today's tire measurements are a metric formula.
130/90-16 breaks down like this:
130mm wide
90% of that width is the sidewall height
16" rim
The formula equates as follows:
130x.90=117mm (this is the sidewall measurement)
117x2=234mm (multiply by 2 to find the overall diameter because there is sidewall at the top and bottom of the tire)
234/25.4=9.21" (divide by 25.4 to convert to inches)
9.21+16=25.21"
The overall outside diameter of a 130/90-16 is 25.21"
I use the old school sized tires alot. Here's a height comparison between a 5.00-16 and a 130/90-16 for reference
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
Hey mreed, I have a question for ya on tires. I have a 94 Sporty and the rear tire is a 90mt 16. I work in an auto shop and I know how to read tire sizes, but why don't these tires list the section width. and what is it for a stock rear tire?
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Your tire is MT90-16. MT is 130. MU is 140. Your section width is 130mm but you can fit a 140 (or MU) if you run your fender struts from inside out with no problems. Even lowered. I've used a 150 on a pre-04 (04 is when HD switched to a 150 tire stock) so I know the belt clearance is there but I haven't tried it under a stock rear fender set up. I think it might be a little too tight.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
Your tire is MT90-16. MT is 130. MU is 140. Your section width is 130mm but you can fit a 140 (or MU) if you run your fender struts from inside out with no problems. Even lowered. I've used a 150 on a pre-04 (04 is when HD switched to a 150 tire stock) so I know the belt clearance is there but I haven't tried it under a stock rear fender set up. I think it might be a little too tight.
