18" Wheels??

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Jul 29, 2011 | 05:39 PM

bald1der

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Road Warrior

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 1,847

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From: FT Bragg NC

18" Wheels??

I've been looking at alot of different wheel combinations. Seems everyone is running 18 rear 21 front, 16 rear 21 front and 16 rear 18 front. But reciently I've seen a few 18 rear 18 front. How does the 18-18 combination ride and handle?

Jul 29, 2011 | 05:40 PM

sesto123

Cruiser

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 157

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From: snohomish, wa

I ride an 18/18 combo and think it rides great and you can see a little more wheel under the bags

Jul 29, 2011 | 05:50 PM

qtrracer

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 6,532

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From: SoCal

The 18/18 combo will be very similar to the 16/16 as the roll out on both tire sizes are the same. The sidewall will 1" shorter giving a firmer ride. Also many will go 4.25 rim width on the rear(pre 09 applications) changing the profile on the rear tire in comparison to the front where a 3.50 is usually used. I went this way in the past and can't say if it's better or worse than going with the same width rims front and back because I never had 18" rims in the same width. But overall I liked the 18" rims and If I were to change my wheels on my 08 FLHX I would only change the front to an 18" and keep the rear a 16". It's very hard to find a rear tire with the proper load rating(I haven't found one) in an 18" size for the rear in a size that fits under the fender of my bike.

Jul 29, 2011 | 05:57 PM

sesto123

Cruiser

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 157

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From: snohomish, wa

I run the moco's 18. Which I think is the same tire that comes on the 2011 flhxse

Jul 29, 2011 | 06:15 PM

Shakeydeal

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2008

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From: Lynchburg, Va

I have Roland Sands 18" front and rear and love the ride and the handling.

Shakey

Jul 29, 2011 | 06:27 PM

OldPhat

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 3,617

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From: Sparks Nevada

21 front, raises front nose higher and you will need to lower front springs for proper ride
height. 18 f& r will allow a wider tire with a lower ride height, and you can end up with the
same ride height as with the stock 16's.

Jul 29, 2011 | 11:57 PM

rock92

Road Captain

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 640

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From: Greensboro, NC

i like my 18/18 combo as well. keeps the bike profile level and rides nice too. metzeler makes a load rated 18 for the rear that you can definitely tell rides better than its predecessor.