2009 Heritage

Hi Folks... Just joined your forum today, although I have been a frequent reader here for several weeks. Like most here, I'm fed up with replacing MC tires and am now actively searching for the elusive replacement CT for a 2009 Heritage. Stock tire size is a 150/80 x 16 w/tube, and the standard spoke rim. Having read what is available on this forum the only tire I've seen alluded to is the Austone Taxi tire at Universal Tires. While searching there, I came across the AVON 165R16. It seems to be more in line with the stock 150/80 than the Taxi, although considerably more expensive, and was wondering if my thinking is correct... I haven't seen it mentioned on this site as a replacement.

Also I have at least a minimum of 1 inch belt clearance on the current tire, which would give me about 2 inches to play with, so maybe increasing the size to a 185 isn't out of the question? That would certainly broaden my search considerably.

I tend to take good advice, so if any of you good folks have some to toss my way, I'd surely appreciate it.

Regards,
Jack

I would go with the 175/16 tire. Its only 4/10" wider and 1/4" taller than the 165/16 tire for a lot less money. As for the 185/16 tire, don't forget that the rim that you have is made for a 150mm wide tire and you can only go so big on a rim of that size. My stock size tire was 180/70-16 and I went with the 175/75-16 tire and I put way more rubber on the ground than the motorcycle tire ever did even though I put a so called smaller C/T tire on my bike.

ROD

Thanks Rod, I appreciate the reply... Not a lot of information out there for Harley riders wanting to do this. I've seen several posting that they woulld like to, but seems few of them report back the results. I had wondered about the stock rim width being an issue, is this related to seating the bead as well as keeping it there?

I don't know anything about the Austone line of tires, what kind of wear and such to expect.

I'm really looking forward to doing this, just sick of changing tires as I am on my third set in the last year.

Regards,
Jack

This is off of Tire Rack

Actual Tire Section Width is Dependent on Wheel Width

All tire sizes are assigned specific rim widths upon which they are measured (measuring rim), as well as can often be mounted on slightly narrower or wider wheels (rim width range). Therefore, it is important to note that actual tire section width will depend on the wheel width the tire is mounted on. The rule of thumb is that tire section width changes by 0.2" for every 0.5" change in rim width, being reduced if mounted on narrower then measuring wheel and increased when mounted on wider wheels.

The key word there is slightly and this(there is a limit as to how wide or narrow a tire you can mount on a rim) like it would be impossible to mount a 255mm wide tire on your rim.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=198
Good reading here on tires
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/tiretech.jsp

ROD

I agree on the 175/75/16 as I have one mounted on a 16 x a 3.5"spoke rim on my vulcan 800. It was BEAR to get the bead to seat,but so glad that I did it. Going in I did not see very many middle=weights on the darkside. However the lure of the force was more that I could resist. very satisfied at 34 psi. with 2300 +/- mi. don't sweat the HD pc bit. you must join the legion on dark meat ;}

I pulled the trigger and ordered the Austone today from Universal. Went ahead and ordered a new radial tube for it as well, the old tube has been through several tires now and I figure to have trouble seating the bead. I don't know how prompt their delivery will be, but as soon as it arrives I'll get it mounted. I intended to get it a few weeks ago but got side tracked. I'll be sure and post the results back on here for others to see, probably middle of next week or so.

Jack

70_West,

Glad to have you sir and welcome to our site! My computer has been out of sorts and just now getting back on. We appreciate your decision to try the darkside and hope you love 1/2 as much as we do! LOL

Remember there is more mold release on automotive tires and be sure to take it easy until the tires are scuffed and then you can own it. Tire pressure makes all the difference in the world to how it handles also.


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

Amigo who wore out a Comtrac said he likes the Austone even better. If that's even possible. I love my Commie.

Remember that cartoon guy back in the sixties that used to walk across the screen... he'd jump straight up and yell "Wow...! I saw color TV!"

I got the Austone in today (Just ordered it Wednesday I think) at 11:45. The tire fit perfectly although it's tight in front where some plastic is mounted. Super easy to get mounted by hand, but the Metzler that came off took over an hour.Bah... the last I'll see of it, left me a parting gift of a skinned knuckle though.

Bead seated at 45 PSI, I jacked it on up to 60 and then let it back down to 50. I'll back it off to about 42 PSI for a test ride. I ordered a radial tube along with the Austone and the valve stem required a 7/16" hole instead of the 3/8" on the stock rim, so that was the lone issue that I had to deal with. The plastic I mentioned above will likely need minor trimming as well, but I am going to watch LSU football this afternoon so it'll have to wait til morning as well.There's plenty of clearance all around for the swing arm, belt and such... would be a bear to wrestle in there if you don't have help such as an extra jack to hold it up.

I'll get back on here tomorrow afternoon and let everyone interested know how it rides but I'm sure it will do fine, maybe some pics too.

Thanks for all the great advice and such, I really appreciate it and if I can help others feel free to ask questions.

Any way..."Wow...I got a Car Tire on the back of my bike!".

Regards,
Jack

Now try to wear it out.
Did you measure the height of the tire after you mounted it to your rim?

ROD

Rode the bike this morning, handled great, really could tell a difference in rolling it side to side through a few twisties. I'm an old sport bike ride and only counter steer, so that may a account for some of it, but the rear height difference is noticeable, about an inch taller than before. I think on the Heritage it actually improved it through the turns by changing the rake a bit, seems to roll in easier and faster. Nothing else to really report on other than it handled better, in my opinion of course.

I did do a height measurement before installing the tire, but I was in a hurry and fairly worn out from fighting that dang Metzler. It was 26.875 in diameter @ 60 psi, but that could be off an 1/8" or so. Below are a few pictures of the wheel mounted, clearances look tighter in the photo than they actually are. Excuse the dirty bike as it gets rode a lot through all sorts of weather, besides, I buy 'em to ride, not polish... (I actually washed it before taking these, it deserves a more considerate owner)

Rear View



Swing Arm Front



Belt Clearance and Plastic Shroud



Right Side Plastic



Left Rear Fender

So far I've only got about 250 miles on the new tire, bad weather and such. I didn't take advice and dropped the pressure to 35 psi for 75 miles and didn't like it even a little bit. Bike was terrible, felt like I was getting buffeted by a semi when running 70 mph. Bumped it back up to 42 psi and I was back on rails again. I'm going to leave it there until it gets 1k on it, then maybe drop it down per instructions read here. Right now I am thinking the Austone/Heritage combination may do better at a higher psi than some of the other brands/bikes are running.

Can't say for the pressure since I'm still on the Comtrac, but it looks exactly the same as mine in there.

70_West: Thanks for posting your results. To me that's very valuable information. Seeing that the Austone tire raised your bike an inch is probably something that I should have recognized long ago, but didn't. I had to have my cycle lowered an inch, and it cost me a bunch, or I'd have to wear boots like Elton John's or borrow some from a stripper in order to be able to touch the ground with both feet while stopped. From your photos it also looks like any 185 width tire would really rub on the plastic, so it looks like those are out of consideration too. So...
now I'm wondering if the Bridgestone Touranza EL400-02 in 175 60R 16 would be a better fit for me, a short guy. It's a standard touring all season round profile radial that my notes show was available at Tire Rack for $109. It's an 82H rated tire (1047 lb load and 130 mph), with specs of: diameter 24.3" and a section width of 6.1" (probably on a 4" or larger rim, mine is a 3" rim). You stated that the Austone has a diameter of 26.875 so there's a difference of 2.575". I want to know if that would lower my cycle an additional 1.28"? or just keep it approximately as low as it is now?
There's also a Federal Formosa FD2 in 175 60 R 16 with a diameter of 24.3 " that I need to check on availability, price, and section width.

It's 22 degrees here today--nothing is happening soon. And---

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU

Dan - the 185 would hit the upper left fender first for sure on mine - no way will they fit. You can run that 175/60/16 just fine from what I see, but expect your engine to feel like it's screamin' on the highway unless you have a 6 speed. Your speedo will read faster than you're going too, so you'll have to use your GPS or get a correcter. Bumps won't be as smooth as the 175.
Another alternative that won't have you scraping the Heritage's already low floorboards on every turn (which I do anyway) is to use the 175/75 or R and get your seat modded, which you probably should have done anyway. This can drop your legs to where you want them, move you forward or back and down. I have a post showing how to do it on HD forums - plus some pics from another guy:
http://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models/521191-seat-modification-step-by-step.html
Here's my free one:
http://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-glide-models/173504-how-to-under-fifty-bux-153.html
You'd want a little more cut out for the legs than I did; I'm 5'11"
The technique for removing foam is pulling a 4-4-1/2" angle grinder backwards, raking the foam with the spinning wheel, using a grinding disc.
Others use dremels and stones, you could use anything that will spin a stone very fast and pull, again, backwards, or it will dig in and ruin your day.

Dan, I don't think you can run a 185 either. After getting the 175 Austone mounted, there's no room left. What you might look in to is a pair of jump boots from an Army Surplus? The Heritage has such low ground clearance from the get go... Maybe a seat mod could help but there is very little available there as well.

I respectfully disagree with that. I only wish I'd taken just a bit more out under the hamstrings to drop my heels just a bit further. I was fine until dishing out the posterior, but didn't realize that when fully seated and relaxed, the lower position of my spine correlated to a slightly higher position at the knees, or you could say, more up pressure on the hams when stopped. It's perfect when riding, and not "bad" when stopped, since I did take out some as you'd see in the pics; just not enough.
After the mod, I stopped wearing a kidney belt on long rides. Don't need it.

Quadancer-- With hindsight, LOL, do you wish your gel pads were any larger now that you've been on them for a while? Thanks for the links. I've been reading/researching all day. I like the idea of customizing my seat and lowering my butt closer to the ground in addition to different tire size options. I'm concerned about heat from the oil tank on my right leg, and leg numbness on my left thigh. Cutting foam and/or adding or replacing foam with gelpad under the hamstring area is what I need to analyze in regard to heat and numbness.