Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tire Size??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 25, 2008 | 12:59 PM
  #1  
Yachtman's Avatar
Yachtman
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 12
From: SE Florida
Default Tire Size??

I have a Dunlop MT89B16 on the front, a Dunlop MU85B16 on the rear. My rear tire is shot after 7000 + miles. I'm having the alignment, and etc, checked when I go for the new rear tire.

My question is:

Should I stay with the fatter tire, or go back to original size?

Is there really a noticable difference between the two?

Thanks!
 

Last edited by Yachtman; Nov 25, 2008 at 10:22 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2008 | 10:22 PM
  #2  
Yachtman's Avatar
Yachtman
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 12
From: SE Florida
Default

Anyone??
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2008 | 12:37 AM
  #3  
rakanghoth's Avatar
rakanghoth
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Default

I think the fatter the better.. no matter how close it is to the original beleave me those stock are very ugly ... look at the 09 touring bikes and you'll hate HD for not having bigger wheels and tyres on the old models....
I envy those who own 09 models.
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2008 | 07:20 AM
  #4  
Harleypingman's Avatar
Harleypingman
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 46
From: Roswell, GA
Default

22K on a seven year old bike is about 3K per year--so a 7K tire should be good for two years--what's the problem?

How much mileage did you get on the 130 mm stock HD tire?

As for 7K on the 140 mm rear tire, typical mileage in the south is probably between 8-10K. Try running the tire with slightly more tire pressure than HD suggests.

Assuming there isn't a huge difference in mileage between the 130 and 140, I'd go for the 140 just to have a bit more road contact.
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2008 | 07:32 AM
  #5  
FastHoss's Avatar
FastHoss
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,271
Likes: 29
From: Green Country,Oklahoma
Default

It would seem that more air pressure would wear out the middle of the tire first,this is where my tires go bald first,have been considering lowering tire pressure,what am I not understanding?
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2008 | 07:40 AM
  #6  
HDDOC's Avatar
HDDOC
Road Captain
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 602
Likes: 10
From: Bradenton, FL.
Default

Keeping proper tire pressure is the key to tire life, I get 12,000 to 14,000 out of the Dunlop mu85 tires, check the tie pressure before every ride, I run 36 psi frt, 40 psi rear two up riding. Doc
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2008 | 09:07 AM
  #7  
Yachtman's Avatar
Yachtman
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 12
From: SE Florida
Default

I run 36 psi front and rear since I'm riding solo, as per the HD specs. And my bike has had 7K miles in 7 months this year. Which is higher than in other years.

The rear is wearing out center first, so more pressure would be a bad thing, yes? No??

I think it's slightly out of alignment. You can almost look at at it from the rear and see it. But..... the bike handles wonderful and I can take my hands off at any legal speed and nothing shakes or leans. She does have a slight decel vibration sometimes, but I think it's mostly from S. Fl crappy roads. This bike very rarely runs over 65 - 70 mph anymore.

I'll probably stay with the 140/85.

Has/does anyone run different brands front / rear? Dunlops currently.
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2008 | 09:24 AM
  #8  
gmc's Avatar
gmc
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
Default

I would stay w same brand until you change both and then there are many opioions on which are best, I finally switched to the AVon Venoms and like how they handle but only got 3k on them so don't know how they will wear. I got a little better milage and thought the bike was more stable out of the 140 vs 130 on my 92 but never got much over 7500. A Dunlop rep told me that you should run the max tire pressure since the side wall flex builds up heat and contributes to tire wear. I don't know how folks get such good mileage but I tend to twist the right hand and don't worry about it.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 26, 2008 | 09:55 AM
  #9  
Yachtman's Avatar
Yachtman
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 12
From: SE Florida
Default

GMC,

I'm easy on the throttle, almost always. That's why I'm surprised I didn't get more mileage out of this rear tire.
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2008 | 10:21 AM
  #10  
FX4's Avatar
FX4
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
Default

I have to think your rear tire pressure is low with them wearing out that fast.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:00 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE