Load Rating on new tires - Help!
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
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Load Rating on new tires - Help!
I recently purchased new wheels and tires for my Road King and went with the ME 880 150/70/18 on the rear. At the time, it honestly did not occur to me that there could be such a huge difference in load ratings vs. stock.
I mostly ride solo, soI am not concerned about the load rating for 95% of my riding, but I'm VERY concerned right now about riding 2-up. My wife and I probably run 375lbs total.When you add a tour pak and some luggage for overnight trips (nothing longer), we are probably pushing the edge.
Should I be concerned? I looked at the load rating for the 140, but the load rating seems only marginally better. Do I need to think about going back to the stock wheels?
Help!!
I mostly ride solo, soI am not concerned about the load rating for 95% of my riding, but I'm VERY concerned right now about riding 2-up. My wife and I probably run 375lbs total.When you add a tour pak and some luggage for overnight trips (nothing longer), we are probably pushing the edge.
Should I be concerned? I looked at the load rating for the 140, but the load rating seems only marginally better. Do I need to think about going back to the stock wheels?
Help!!
RE: Load Rating on new tires - Help!
Dont take this to the bank but you should be fine.untill I wore out my cop tires I rode 2 up.That is a no no but they were fine.In this day and age it seemsthat if you manufacture something you really have to cover your a$$
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,210
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From: Milwaukee, WI
RE: Load Rating on new tires - Help!
Just recently noticed this. I almost pulled the trigger on new wheels last week but didn't. Load rating was one of the main reasons I didn't. Not to mention parting with the cash
Now I'm not sure what to do. Maybe 16" rear and 18" up front???
Now I'm not sure what to do. Maybe 16" rear and 18" up front???
Administrator Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,704
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From: Walker Basin, CA
RE: Load Rating on new tires - Help!
The load range waries greatly with tire manufacturer.
The Dunlop 402 came stock on the Trouing bikes for years and meets HD's spec for load range rating.
Check with the manufacturer of the wheels and see what they rate their wheels at....... some don't cut it.
The Dunlop 402 came stock on the Trouing bikes for years and meets HD's spec for load range rating.
Check with the manufacturer of the wheels and see what they rate their wheels at....... some don't cut it.
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 792
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From: LQ
RE: Load Rating on new tires - Help!
I ran the 150 rear for close to 10K. I had no problems and rode 95+% 2-up. Having said that when I replaced it I went with the 140.
We rode the entire summer here in the Palm Springs area, with temps 105-110+ for 4 months and again no problems. Long interstate runs up to Montana, Wyoming, Idaho etc... Andall was good...I wouldn't get too freaked out.. But I'm always checking tire pressure, carry a gauge in the saddlebags... I think thats a must, I was talking to the Metz rep the other day at my Indy's shop and he said for every LB a tire is underinflated it raises the tirestemp. 10 degrees!!!Pretty amazing...
We rode the entire summer here in the Palm Springs area, with temps 105-110+ for 4 months and again no problems. Long interstate runs up to Montana, Wyoming, Idaho etc... Andall was good...I wouldn't get too freaked out.. But I'm always checking tire pressure, carry a gauge in the saddlebags... I think thats a must, I was talking to the Metz rep the other day at my Indy's shop and he said for every LB a tire is underinflated it raises the tirestemp. 10 degrees!!!Pretty amazing...
RE: Load Rating on new tires - Help!
Yes load rating is important.
Tyre makers like all designers build in a safty margin. This is to allow for minor imperfections,unusual circumstances, and of course the tendancy of we the end user to abuse the product supplied to us.
Now this means that if a product is rated at say 150 lbs, in all probility it is designed to withstand loads of at least 170 lbs. But we use up that safty margin at our own peril.
In the UK using tyres of the wrong load rateing can get you a big fine and even in certain circumstances loose your licence. It can be viewed by the courts as using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
Thankfully the designers do a very good job and even when their products are badly abused they still do their job. The downside is that we start to believe that the design specs just dont matter.
Take this hyperthetical chain of events...............
Your tyre is overloaded but continues to work fine, unfortunately at some point you fail to check your tyre pressure, just this once, and run your tyres with an abnormally low pressure which causes incresed heat and stresses in your tyre. Yet still all is well and the tyre holds up. Unfortunately you hit a sharp bit of flint or broken glass in the road that cuts the tyre down to the chords. Normally your tyre would take this damage, but because of the other factors........................it fails at 70 mph.
WB
Tyre makers like all designers build in a safty margin. This is to allow for minor imperfections,unusual circumstances, and of course the tendancy of we the end user to abuse the product supplied to us.
Now this means that if a product is rated at say 150 lbs, in all probility it is designed to withstand loads of at least 170 lbs. But we use up that safty margin at our own peril.
In the UK using tyres of the wrong load rateing can get you a big fine and even in certain circumstances loose your licence. It can be viewed by the courts as using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
Thankfully the designers do a very good job and even when their products are badly abused they still do their job. The downside is that we start to believe that the design specs just dont matter.
Take this hyperthetical chain of events...............
Your tyre is overloaded but continues to work fine, unfortunately at some point you fail to check your tyre pressure, just this once, and run your tyres with an abnormally low pressure which causes incresed heat and stresses in your tyre. Yet still all is well and the tyre holds up. Unfortunately you hit a sharp bit of flint or broken glass in the road that cuts the tyre down to the chords. Normally your tyre would take this damage, but because of the other factors........................it fails at 70 mph.
WB
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