Will a Michelin Commander 2 140/90/16 fit a 2001 Wide Glide
Thread Starter
|
Stage I
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Will a Michelin Commander 2 140/90/16 fit a 2001 Wide Glide
I am going to Sturgis and looking to put a new set of tires on my 2001 Wide Glide. The stock tire is a Dunlap 130/90/16 but I wanted to go wider if possible. As anyone installed the Michelin 2 Commander in size 140/90/16 on a 1999-2001 Wide Glide and did they go on without Modification? I will be riding 2 up with camping gear and the 140 is rated a 100 lbs more in max load capacity. Thanks in advance for all your help.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 3
From: West New york, NJ
I know a lot of guys have even gone up to a 150, but I believe the belt gets changed. If you do decide on the commander, they run narrow. I would say that the 140 would dit no problem. Probably not much wiser than the Dunlop 130. My 150 only measure 5-5/8" wide at the widest. The stock Dunlop was 6"+. Take some measurements and see if their 150 will clear.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
If you have a wide belt, you should find the 140/90 will just fit. I used an Avon on my Glide and had just 3/16" clearance between belt and tyre, but had to trim the rubber curtain on the belt guard. I have since run a 150/80, but only by going to a narrow belt.
Unfortunately the width of a tyre can be quite different from its nominal size and also different between brands, so when fitting wider than stock tyres there is a bit of a gamble! Also check Michelins website, for tyre pressures. Some brands recommend higher pressures than stock. Running tyres on low pressures can spoil the ride and also give the tyre brand an undeserved bad reputation!
If you take your belt guard off and measure the gap between tyre and belt we can help a bit more. The widest tyre it is wise to fit on a stock 3" rim is 150/80.
Unfortunately the width of a tyre can be quite different from its nominal size and also different between brands, so when fitting wider than stock tyres there is a bit of a gamble! Also check Michelins website, for tyre pressures. Some brands recommend higher pressures than stock. Running tyres on low pressures can spoil the ride and also give the tyre brand an undeserved bad reputation!
If you take your belt guard off and measure the gap between tyre and belt we can help a bit more. The widest tyre it is wise to fit on a stock 3" rim is 150/80.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Although this reply is not directly related to Dyna tire fitment, I believe this info might be useful for those considering the Michelin Commander II (and potentially upgrading one size in the rear tire).
I ride a 2003 RoadGlide with the following spec's.
-SE Air Cleaner andBreather Kit P/N 29440-99B
-SE 1550 Big BoreCylinders P/N 16546-99 or 16549-99
-SE 1550 Flat TopPistons P/N 22851-99A
-SE 203 Cams P/N25937-99B
-SE PerformanceHeads P/N 16952-99A
-Rinehart True DualExhaust
...Not an overly hot bike, but has a fair amount of power and suits my sometimes aggressive riding very well.
Ever since the stock Dunlops wore out I have been using Metzler ME880's ( Stock 130/90/16 Frt. and [one over stock] size 140/90/16 Rear).Make no mistake - they're great tires and handle and stop extremely well in the southwestern Colorado mountains where I live. Only problem with them is that they just don't last (at least the rear anyway - am lucky to get 6K out of therear before it becomes potentially dangerous).
Anyway - after reading numerous reviews on the MC II Ithought I'd give them a try. Went with the stock size in the front and the same one over (i.e. 140/90/16 in the rear). To that end I have to respectfully disagree with the previous post that indicated the MC II's run narrow - whereas I could fit a ME880 @ 140/90/16 inthe rear of my bike (to be sure I had to remove the belt guard curtain but it did fit with a couple of millimeters of clearance) the MC II @ 140/90/16 did not fit as there is a significant amount of belt rubbing on the edge of the tire. Some have suggested you can shim out the rear pulley to compensate, that's not something I wanted to do. Essentially, from my experience the MC II's are a bit fatter at the outer edge so I had to go with the stock size on my RoadGlide.
All that not withstanding - the MC II's are a great tire -handling is great and you can throw a big touring Harley into a "slow to 45" curve at well over 60 mph and they will stick with virtually no lateral flex or unnerving handling characteristics. After a couple of thousand miles they're holding up well and am fairly certain I'll get at least 10 - 12K out of my rear tire(far better than the ME880). My only issue is that even though it's only a slightly smaller footprint in the rear, the bike will get a little loose in the back end if you hit the rear brakes hard.
So - just thought I'd post for those of you considering going with 140/90/16 MC II on the rear of your FLT - it won't fit properly. I found out the hard way and hope I save you some grief if you're considering it.
I ride a 2003 RoadGlide with the following spec's.
-SE Air Cleaner andBreather Kit P/N 29440-99B
-SE 1550 Big BoreCylinders P/N 16546-99 or 16549-99
-SE 1550 Flat TopPistons P/N 22851-99A
-SE 203 Cams P/N25937-99B
-SE PerformanceHeads P/N 16952-99A
-Rinehart True DualExhaust
...Not an overly hot bike, but has a fair amount of power and suits my sometimes aggressive riding very well.
Ever since the stock Dunlops wore out I have been using Metzler ME880's ( Stock 130/90/16 Frt. and [one over stock] size 140/90/16 Rear).Make no mistake - they're great tires and handle and stop extremely well in the southwestern Colorado mountains where I live. Only problem with them is that they just don't last (at least the rear anyway - am lucky to get 6K out of therear before it becomes potentially dangerous).
Anyway - after reading numerous reviews on the MC II Ithought I'd give them a try. Went with the stock size in the front and the same one over (i.e. 140/90/16 in the rear). To that end I have to respectfully disagree with the previous post that indicated the MC II's run narrow - whereas I could fit a ME880 @ 140/90/16 inthe rear of my bike (to be sure I had to remove the belt guard curtain but it did fit with a couple of millimeters of clearance) the MC II @ 140/90/16 did not fit as there is a significant amount of belt rubbing on the edge of the tire. Some have suggested you can shim out the rear pulley to compensate, that's not something I wanted to do. Essentially, from my experience the MC II's are a bit fatter at the outer edge so I had to go with the stock size on my RoadGlide.
All that not withstanding - the MC II's are a great tire -handling is great and you can throw a big touring Harley into a "slow to 45" curve at well over 60 mph and they will stick with virtually no lateral flex or unnerving handling characteristics. After a couple of thousand miles they're holding up well and am fairly certain I'll get at least 10 - 12K out of my rear tire(far better than the ME880). My only issue is that even though it's only a slightly smaller footprint in the rear, the bike will get a little loose in the back end if you hit the rear brakes hard.
So - just thought I'd post for those of you considering going with 140/90/16 MC II on the rear of your FLT - it won't fit properly. I found out the hard way and hope I save you some grief if you're considering it.
Last edited by RG2459; Jun 24, 2013 at 11:59 AM.
i have a 2001 fxd, shoudl eb same rear end as the fxdwg and i run a 150 mcommander 2 on the stock belt/pulley setup, fro mthe look of it i "could" go up to 160 burt might run into some rubbing in the fender itself. but plenty of room with the 150 on it
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 799
Likes: 25
From: Milan,Tennessee
I have a 2001 fxdl ..I have been running a 150 for bout 10 yrs ..there is a lil clearance issue ..when you get the tire off ..look where the rear fender /struts bolt together ..I took my bolts off and turned them around ..so the bolt head is on the inside ..or you can take a dremel tool and shave the threaded part down to the nut ..I even took the ny lock nut and shaved it down leaving the nylon part to help lock it in place ..lock tite it still..
Trending Topics
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,164
From: Oxford, Nc
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post