GOOD NEWS!!!

Thanx to VStar in a convo with me about the Comtracs, I did some figuring from a chart he posted. Seems that a 185 will only be a hair over 3/32" per side wider. For Fatboyz and Heritages, it may work.
Just put her on the lift and measured about 1/4" (more than I thought I had) clearance!!!
185/70/16 will be VERY close to the diameter of the 175/75 comtrac, which I loved right off for the speedo correction and lower revs on the motor.
Somebody with more money than me and the need for longevity put one on and let us know how it fit. Mine won't wear out for maybe another 10k or more.
I can't be the first for everything!

Vredestein makes a 185/75r/16 in the Comtrac and I think there are 4 of them available for $209. Do you think there's much difference in size/fit between a 185/75/16 and a 185/70/16. If there is a significiant difference due to the higher aspect ratio, have you found a manufacturer and/or retail distributor of a 185/70/16?

I see you're right - did the math on the stock numbers, and it comes to .39" wider, or half that per side at .195", much less than the .25 of the 175.
Now, a new conundrum arises inasmuch as we are not putting it on a 5" rim or so. The sidewalls pull in on the Harley 3" leaving that 1/4" clearance to the fender, but I wonder how much difference either way that will make on the numbers above? We still need that .195 or thereabouts if anyone is going to experiment with this.
The speedo correction I got with the 175 will now be in error just under 1-1/2 mph, reading 65 at 66.46 mph. I could easily live with that.
edit: yow, the difference between .25 and .195 is .055, or just a tad over 3/64. Man, the raised lettering is higher than that. Might have to shave the fender.
With a chain, I'd shim the wheel over, but not with a $400 belt.

ok I have a 05 flhti it has a 08 wheel with one inch bearings installed in it.
new dunlop feb 21st. bald now.
not going to put another mc tire on my bike.
so i see success with the coker 550r
but this tire requires a tube...
I have cast wheels ...
comtrac vredestein ?
clocks ticking any help greatly apreciated

Vredestein not made any more.
Austone Taxi tire or the Coker are all the choices left.

Ordered 185 75 16 Vredestein Comtrax on 5/5/11, from Tires by Web,salesman said might be end of June before tire gets here. I believe he said the tires were coming from Holland. $209.00 each, no shipping charges. Going to try to fit it to a 1992 Heritage. Quad said he had 1/4" on fender clearance. I did the math also, several times.Just over .050" isn't much. "ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME". Wife rides a 2000 Fatboy, if tire works on my heritage I might be able to talk her into one also.

COOL! I was hoping for someone to try it for me! Should work; the fender edge could be ground away a bit and coated with nail polish or paint if needed - the belt should be no problem at all, according to our math.

Actually, I was wondering if someone would try the 185/75/16 Firestone, but this will do.
https://www.universaltire.com/185hr16-firestone-blackwall.html They said it was 7-3/8" or something, but on a 5" rim.

I dunno if this is much help, but this site has a few 550R16 size tires that looked interesting...

http://www.performanceplustire.com/products/otherTires?subSection=antiqueTires&searchType=searchBySize&sizeShort=550-16


Goodluck.

Bluedog 50 PanShovel wrote:Ordered 185 75 16 Vredestein Comtrax on 5/5/11, from Tires by Web,salesman said might be end of June before tire gets here. I believe he said the tires were coming from Holland. $209.00 each, no shipping charges. Going to try to fit it to a 1992 Heritage. Quad said he had 1/4" on fender clearance. I did the math also, several times.Just over .050" isn't much. "ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME". Wife rides a 2000 Fatboy, if tire works on my heritage I might be able to talk her into one also.

Any news on your Comtrac arrival? I'm also anxiously waiting to see how the 185 fits on your Heritage. I'm still several thousand miles away from needing a new rear tire and I don't know if 1992 Heritages and 2009 Heritages have identical rear ends as far as tire fitting goes, but I sure want to see and hear your reports on how your installation goes and how well it rides, what your air pressure sweet spot is, etc.

Quad; On your last post here you said the belt should not be a problem. But I read today that Harley started using a narrower belt in 2000. I looked at my wife's Fatboy and it has a narrow belt and it is a 2000. And yours is a 2005 ( I saw that posted somewhere ) is that right. So I'm thinking now that I will have some problem with my belt. Comments anyone!!! I knew Harley had started using a narrower belt but I didn't think it was that early.

I dunno, my belt is a bit close, but the fender's a lot closer, which is why I said that. Yours...well, I had 14mm to spare from the stock 150 and now have 1/4" to spare from the 175 - and more than that on the belt. Maybe that will give you an idea.

Bluedog 50 PanShovel wrote:Quad; On your last post here you said the belt should not be a problem. But I read today that Harley started using a narrower belt in 2000. I looked at my wife's Fatboy and it has a narrow belt and it is a 2000. And yours is a 2005 ( I saw that posted somewhere ) is that right. So I'm thinking now that I will have some problem with my belt. Comments anyone!!! I knew Harley had started using a narrower belt but I didn't think it was that early.

The belt on my 05 NightTrain is 1 1/8th". HD went to an even narrower belt in 07, and some 06's, I looked at some new ones at the dealer today and they look to be about 3/4" definately narrower than mine.. There are belts available from Drag Specialties down to 20MM. Not sure about the 2000 models. How wide is your wife's FLSTF's belt? No way to use FatBoy in the previous sentence...

Quad you say on the Heritage that it's the fender on the right that is in the way, for me it is definitely the belt. Plenty of room on the right side.

Eidolon; Wife's belt on FLSTF is 1 1/8. Belt on my Heritage is 1 1/2.

The belt on my 09 Heritage is 1.0 inch wide. But the critical measurement on my bike appears to be fender clearance. It's only 1/2 inch from the tire on right side and 7/8 inch on left side. I had my bike lowered 1 inch however, so that may account for the small clearance (with the 150mm Dunlop still in place) compared to your softail models. I'm doubting that the 185mm Comtrac will fit on mine and I'll be trying the Austone Taxi tire in 175mm.

One thing I have figured out with these tires is, to a certain extent you don't know till you try. I just put a 195 65 15 on a 2008 Honda shadow 750 C2. Thought it was going to be close. Discount Tire (tire calculator) showed width to be 7.68" don't know what rim width, but on 3.5" rim it was 6.89". I still got a good .5" clearance, this is on drive shaft tube. Could have easily put a 205 on. 175 to 185 you're looking at close to .200" on same rim width, on one side. But who knows till you try it the 185 might pull in more!! Also as Quad said earlier there is a lip on fender, mine turns in about .250" that could be worked for clearance. I have never minded doing some modifying for a better thing!! By the way,Thanks for all the information, dimensions, web sites, oppinions, etc., & BS from everyone. I have learned alot. Need to learn more especially about posting, all the little faces, quotes, pictures, websites, etc. My wife's trying to help me!! She loves her Fatboy ?? Humor sometimes ! When I get started. Mostly just a " Shade Tree" mechanic !

Bluedog 50 PanShovel wrote:One thing I have figured out with these tires is, to a certain extent you don't know till you try. I just put a 195 65 15 on a 2008 Honda shadow 750 C2. Thought it was going to be close. Discount Tire (tire calculator) showed width to be 7.68" don't know what rim width, but on 3.5" rim it was 6.89". I still got a good .5" clearance, this is on drive shaft tube. Could have easily put a 205 on. 175 to 185 you're looking at close to .200" on same rim width, on one side. But who knows till you try it the 185 might pull in more!! Also as Quad said earlier there is a lip on fender, mine turns in about .250" that could be worked for clearance. I have never minded doing some modifying for a better thing!! By the way,Thanks for all the information, dimensions, web sites, oppinions, etc., & BS from everyone. I have learned alot. Need to learn more especially about posting, all the little faces, quotes, pictures, websites, etc. My wife's trying to help me!! She loves her Fatboy ?? Humor sometimes ! When I get started. Mostly just a " Shade Tree" mechanic !

Bluedog,,, You take care of the wife's Fatboy...

quadancer wrote:I dunno, my belt is a bit close, but the fender's a lot closer, which is why I said that. Yours...well, I had 14mm to spare from the stock 150 and now have 1/4" to spare from the 175 - and more than that on the belt. Maybe that will give you an idea.

Quad,
What is the Section Width on the 175/75x16 Vredestein on what I assume is a 3.5" stock Heritage wire wheel?
Thanks for all you have posted on this and other forums... really helpful!

I thought I'd posted it somewhere - I recall 6-1/8" if I'm correct, but have to remeasure to be sure. Right now we're heading out to church - get back to ya.

eidolon wrote:

quadancer wrote:I dunno, my belt is a bit close, but the fender's a lot closer, which is why I said that. Yours...well, I had 14mm to spare from the stock 150 and now have 1/4" to spare from the 175 - and more than that on the belt. Maybe that will give you an idea.

Quad,
What is the Section Width on the 175/75x16 Ved on what I assume is a 3.5" stock Heritage wire wheel?
Thanks for all you have posted on this and other forums... really helpful!

I think the stock Heritage wire wheel is 3-inches, not 3 1/2 inch. I could be wrong.

You are correct. I haven't had time to go measure it (section width) and I'm in a late meeting now, need to hit the sack for an early job.

Dan Koich wrote:
I think the stock Heritage wire wheel is 3-inches, not 3 1/2 inch. I could be wrong.

Dan you are correct 16X3. Should be even better cause I am going to need all the skinny I can get on my NightTrain.

quadancer wrote:You are correct. I haven't had time to go measure it (section width) and I'm in a late meeting now, need to hit the sack for an early job.

Hey Quad,

Any time to measure the section width yet?

Aw man, sorry; I'm working some long hours getting a job started, but I'll get to it this weekend if I remember to. I'm slammed.

No problem, when you get time.
Thanks!

Got to it tonight - I get 6-1/4" exactly, say 3/8" for safeties sake.
Oddly enuff, I had a noise that turned out to be the tire rubbing with the wife on last night. We stopped for a while and it was quieter going home. Tonight I check everything out from top to bottom and can't even MAKE the tire move over to the fender, which has about a 2" spot without paint inside at the top. We tried to move the swingarm; it checks out, checked air, everything - the tire isn't touching a thing.
I'm thinking I must have had a branch stuck up there or something.
One thing is for sure: a 185 won't go in there.