I went to a local motorcycle tire center and showed them my 2007 ultra classic electra glide rear tire. He said he got one and showed me the tire with paper writing which is the size of my rear tire. MU/85B16 77H so I paid for it and got it installed. I rode it over 100 miles making sure its broken in, when I got home I checked the tire and it look good. its a Dunlop Elite 3 but the size of the tire is MU/90B16 78H. What is the difference? I don't know too much regarding tire sizes. Should I go back and complain or its okay? I search the size I guess the 90 is little wider and 78 is taller? Not sure. Can anyone elaborate or explain to me? I even went to dunlop website and it doesn't explain.

Any explaination is appreciated.

Thanks,

tonsa

 

That is the correct Elite 3 for your bike. Dunlop doesn't make an MU85B16 Elite 3 because it is not recognized as a Harley tire, but a lot of people replace the stock D402 with them. The size difference is very small. I put the same size Elite 3 on my 2008 Road Glide. They do make an Elite 3 MT90B16 (72H) for the front.

 

the 78H is a speed rating, which is a tad higher than stock. Your good to go. Theirs not going to be a dimes worth of difference in either tire. And certainly not enough to try to return it. it might be a half an inch larger in circumference only. which might actually bring your speedometer a little closer to being correct.
$0.02

aka Bob

 

Elite 3's are suppose to be good tires.......in fact I am looking in to swapping over to them on my 2006 SG. The 78H is the load index and speed symbol.......you should be just fine on your Elite 3's.

 

A stock 402 MU85B 16 is 25.71" in diameter, 5.51 wide @ 908#'s load rating.

An MU90B 16 is 25.72" in diameter, 5.57 wide @ 930#'s load rating.

Not much difference between the two. The tire dealer upgraded you. You are good to go with the E3.

 

Thanks alot guys!!! Really Appreciate this forum. Soos, I am enjoying the benefits of your extension floor board that I bought 3 years ago..

 

In the numbers 77H and 78H the H is the speed ratings, which is fine, the 77 and 78 are the tyres' load rating. 78 is slightly better than 77!

In the other numbers MU corresponds to a 140mm width, while the /90 and /85 refer to the depth of the tyre, from rim to tread. One is 90% profile, in other words 90% as tall as it is wide, the other is 85%.

What we can see from the data Soos quotes is that nominal sizes do not always translate into actual sizes! The /90 tyre should be larger in diameter than the /85 in theory, but they are almost identical. As a further example I have a 150/80 on the rear of my Glide, which actually measures 153mm fitted. For some perverse reason wheel rim diameters are normally measured in inches (16" diameter 3" wide), but tyre width etc are metric. Great system!

I actually have an 07 wheel and swingarm in my 1990 Glide, so next time you change you could fit a 150/80 tyre if it takes your fancy! Plenty of room.

 

Recently put a MU85-WWW 402 Dunnie on the RKC. Stock called for a MT90. Dunlop website shows the MU to have a higher load rating, and 11/32" of tread depth, instead of 9/32"...same price ($143) from JakeWilson.com

 

The MU is a good choice, especially if you ride 2-up. I asked Avon about tyres for my Glide and they recommended an MU, as the MT is marginal when fully loaded.

 

You will like the E3 MU90 versus the OEM D402. I switched after my second D402 and have not looked back and will not go back unless stranded out of town and need a new tire. I am getting a minimum of 3K and up to 5K more miles with the E3 versus the D402.

You can do a Elite 3 or E3 forum search as see many members have gone to the E3 with favorable results.

Go to www.dunlopmotorcycle.com and you can get the details and size differences btw the E3 and D402