2011 Ultra Classic tire selection

Hi all,
I have 2011 Ultra Classic with a 180/65B16 on it and would like your advise on which car tire to select, for both size and brand/model.
I plan on taking long trips that are both highway/interstate and back twisty roads.

Welcome sir and I some HD darksiders should come along soon and give you some great advice.




................................bobby

Not sure if anyone has measured carefully their close points on that bike yet - but you can definitely run a 175 and probably a 185, which will give you more choices. Not too much reading in the Harley sections of DS forums to get you up to speed, since it's just beginning to get popular with our group again.

You might find some info over here too: http://forums.delphiforums.com/DarkSiding/messages/?msg=2310.1

In the database you linked to, shows people running 195/55-16 on '09 HD Touring.
That would be great because there many to choose from in that size, and less expensive, I assume due their popularity .

Hi Darksiders
I have a 2009 gl1800 with the PIRELLI RF 195/55r16 psi two up 32lbs in it. I like it alot.I have a 2011 H-D FLHTK also. When that tire wears out ,I will go with the pirelli 195/55r16. I sure hope somebody will post data on the 195/55r16. before i need a tire.
Ride Safe ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TIRES PSI
TERRY

Maybethe data in this chart will help you.

http://darkside.nwff.info/

Got the General Altimax HP today, it sure looks huge, but it's not wider than the stock MC tire.
Hopefully I can pull the wheel this week and get it swapped out for the weekend.

Dogwood wrote:Got the General Altimax HP today, it sure looks huge, but it's not wider than the stock MC tire.
Hopefully I can pull the wheel this week and get it swapped out for the weekend.

Good luck and let us know how it goes?


...........................bobby

Not wider means less countersteer pressure needed. Uh, that's a good thing, by the way! Not that anyone is having trouble with
the wider tires, but I like my 175mm and it's handling, quickness and massive traction.

Any one know if 205/60 16 will fit? would like to do that to correct the speedometer.

Seems the 195 60 works and not a lot of difference

ranger351w wrote: Any one know if 205/60 16 will fit? would like to do that to correct the speedometer.

Seems the 195 60 works and not a lot of difference

You need to check the belt for clearance. That could be your only hold up.


.................bobby

ranger351w wrote: Any one know if 205/60 16 will fit? would like to do that to correct the speedometer.

Seems the 195 60 works and not a lot of difference

How would the wider tire effect the speedo?
The tire height, or profile, would, so maybe try a 55 or a 65, depending on which way you want the speedo to go.
My bet is that the 205 will be too wide, the 195 barely fits.

I have an '09 Ultra and recently put a General G Max 195/55-16 on it. I have about 1200 miles on it and I think it handles quite well. I haven't had it in the rain yet so I can't comment on that but I think it will do very good. The only thing about it is the 55 series made the speedo error even worse off than it was before. I would put a 195/60-16 on it next time.

Actualy you are right on the speedometer part. My bad.

Still wondering about the 205 though. Alot more tires in that size

I have an 09 Ultra classic and have installed a hankook optimo 426 size 196/60 16. It supposedly matches the factory height exactly.
Hoagie

Thanks for the replies.
I ordered a Hankook 426 195x60 16 and will try it with Dyna Beads for balance.
I put 3oz of the beads in the stock Dunlop and it realy smoothed it out so I will try 4 oz in the Optimo.

Mike

I am running 3oz dynabeads and removed old wheel weight from wheel. I also bought a pair of 82 degree valve stems from Kurveylady-a little pricey but makes checking air much easier.
Hoagie

Hankook Optimo H426 195/60 16 H For the 2011 Road King. Have 12000 on factory tire and it seems to be a good tire but $265.00 plus mount??
I can almost buy three of the Optimos for that.

Hope it is a good tire. Got it to see if all works well and if so will go to a better {higher quality,price} next time. Wanted a 185/65 16 but hard to find unless you want to go to a china Sunny. That would have helped with the 5mph fast speedo.
Not ready to do that.

Will use three oz of dyna beads to bal.

Will be on darkside soon but that said it is winter here for all intentions. I will still try to ride if no ice and snow.

Will post how it works over time.

seen at
SEIPSG.NET

There are several on the GL1800 board using the Sunny tire with good reports.
Let us know how you like the Korean Hankook tire.

Bought a Michelin Primact PA3 205/55R16 for my 2010 Ultraclassic but haven't installed it yet. Will report when I get it on if it fits.

Put the 195/60 16 on the 2011 RK. Got around 200 miles on it and like it on the highway but above 70 if you make a sudden move on the bars it has a wobble. A little disconcerting but never gets worse and goes away in a second or two. A little better at 36psi than at 35 and I am going up to 37 when I ride again. I think the wooble is just the side walls on the car tire being a little softer than a bike tire.

I live on gravel and the Koomho 426 is a handfull but only need to ride a mile and a half on it.

The ride on the koomho is a lot smother on the cracks and tar snakes and such do not bother it. I am taking corners and curves at the same speed I did on the OE tire with no problems. Thats a good thing though.

Three oz of dyna beads seems do the trick for balance.

Will add to this when I get more miles on this tire latter.

I took the pressure to33psi and that made a hughe difference. I think that is either the sweet spot or close to it.The gravel is not an issue now either. Am going down to 31psi and see how that works and if that is better will probably stay there. I will try that today but it is 19 degress now so will wait till around ten or so as it will be in the mid twentys by then.

Some all purpose tires with a long mile life should work just fine for that.

ranger351w wrote: Put the 195/60 16 on the 2011 RK. Got around 200 miles on it and like it on the highway but above 70 if you make a sudden move on the bars it has a wobble. A little disconcerting but never gets worse and goes away in a second or two. A little better at 36psi than at 35 and I am going up to 37 when I ride again. I think the wooble is just the side walls on the car tire being a little softer than a bike tire.

I live on gravel and the Kumhoo 426 is a handfull but only need to ride a mile and a half on it.

The ride on the kumho is a lot smoother on the cracks and tar snakes and such do not bother it. I am taking corners and curves at the same speed I did on the OE tire with no problems. Thats a good thing though.

Three oz of dyna beads seems do the trick for balance.

Will add to this when I get more miles on this tire latter.

I took the pressure to33psi and that made a hughe difference. I think that is either the sweet spot or close to it.The gravel is not an issue now either. Am going down to 31psi and see how that works and if that is better will probably stay there. I will try that today but it is 19 degress now so will wait till around ten or so as it will be in the mid twentys by then.

Well I took the pressure down to 31 psi and that is where it will stay. Rides easy and handles better than the stock tire,works well on the gravel,and am doing some curves faster than with the stock tire.

Bottom line is I like it!

Thanks to the dark siders for the help