Wheels/Tires Questions and discussion about wheels and tires should be posted here.

Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 17, 2021 | 11:30 PM
  #1  
03fattyaz's Avatar
03fattyaz
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 964
Likes: 586
From: Arizona
Default Question

Can you mount a tire that calls for a 4” wide rim on a 3”? And if so would it make it wider with a lower profile?

example: a 5” bias ply that calls for a 4 inch rim would be 127mm, would the same tire on a 3 inch rim end up being 6” or roughly 150?

trying to find a bias ply rear that would be lower profile and wider than the 5.00x16 shinko that I have on the front.

03 Fatboy (stock as far as this goes)

Thanks.
 
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2021 | 06:33 AM
  #2  
Wide06's Avatar
Wide06
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 283
Likes: 44
From:
Default

Originally Posted by 03fattyaz
...example: a 5” bias ply that calls for a 4 inch rim would be 127mm, would the same tire on a 3 inch rim end up being 6” or roughly 150? ...
No. A narrower rim would have a tendency to make the tire profile more narrow and taller.



Originally Posted by 03fattyaz
...trying to find a bias ply rear that would be lower profile and wider than the 5.00x16 shinko that I have on the front...
This would take going from, for example, a 130/60 tire to a 150/50 tire. The first number is the width (on the suggested rim), and the second number is the profile.
Going from a 130/60 to a 150/60 would be wider AND taller.

As far as how wide or narrow of a wheel you can put a tire on...that varies and the manufacturer will have a recommended wheel width range. If one width is listed, then that's the width used to measure the tire size and profile.
 

Last edited by Wide06; Aug 18, 2021 at 06:45 AM.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2021 | 09:15 AM
  #3  
03fattyaz's Avatar
03fattyaz
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 964
Likes: 586
From: Arizona
Default

Thanks. That makes sense. Guess I’ll have to go with the same tire on the back and lower the bike to keep the same stance. Or stick with a 150/60 I just don’t like any of the tread patterns I’ve seen.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
robwlf10
Wheels/Tires
3
May 26, 2021 03:00 PM
CSS_FXD
Touring Models
16
Apr 12, 2013 06:35 PM
LX HEMI
Dyna Glide Models
10
Dec 31, 2009 08:09 PM
05 fxst
Frame/Suspension/Front End/Brakes
6
Mar 9, 2008 11:01 PM
T_Rob666
Softail Models
2
Sep 20, 2007 11:59 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:01 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE