wider tire

[bobb52]

can ay one tell me on a 02 softail that has a 16x3 rear " has the 130 tire now" what is the largest tire you can go on that rim? If I did get a larger rim and put in about a 1" wide tire kit , what then would be the max? thanks

[Phat117]

A 150 will fit in there easy, but that's about it without some work.

[Mercury]

Man! That's a good looking bike!

[Phat117]

Thanks!! It took 4 years to do, but it's finally there.

[WEINERDOGBONE]

Originally Posted by Phat117

A 150 will fit in there easy, but that's about it without some work.

I put a 150 on my 2000 Night Train. I also had to buy a different caliper but I understand that the existing one can be machined just slightly and made to work.

HD sells a wide tire kit for these older softails for around $500 bucks. The kit contains a new splash guard,caliper, spacers and a 150 tire. I bought my parts off ebay one at a time.

[jtscuba02]

Originally Posted by bobb52

can ay one tell me on a 02 softail that has a 16x3 rear " has the 130 tire now" what is the largest tire you can go on that rim? If I did get a larger rim and put in about a 1" wide tire kit , what then would be the max? thanks

I have a 2002 FXST and put a 150 Dunlop on it. If your bike is lowered, you may have tire to liscense plate clearance issues. I had to relocate the plate to the swingarm. Since I thought the 150 wasn't big enough, I bought a used 2005 FXST rear rim and stepped up to a 180 back tire. I also changed over to the new, wider fender. This requires cutting the old strut horns off and going to a set of struts for the wider, rear fender. My stock caliper and belt fits with no modifications and I had to grind the spacers to get the tire to fit and the rear brake to not drag. And it looks like I have enough room to go to a 200 back tire.

It was a PITA getting all the parts together by trial and error. But now that I know what will work and what won't work, I would be glad to pass the info on. If you are interested and would like to see pictures, let me know. If you buy the right parts the first time, and have some basic tools, this can be done for way less than a grand. jt

[Phat117]

The 150 should fit on the 02 without the HD kit. I know it will work on the 03.
I just don't remember what earlier years needed the kit.

[jtscuba02]

Originally Posted by Phat117

The 150 should fit on the 02 without the HD kit. I know it will work on the 03.
I just don't remember what earlier years needed the kit.

The 150 rear tire will fit the 2002 FXST with no mods as long as the bike isn't lowered. Or I should say lowered to much. I went thru 2 tires and 3 rims before I got the right combo to be able to fit the 180(this is a Dunlop, which I think run a little bit wider than the Metzler). I have seen alot about having to change swingarms, but that isn't the case with the right rim. I think the key is getting the hub with the right spacing for the pulley and brake disc. And I think this is why I didn't have to grind on my caliper. jt

[mikedc3]

150 tire is EZ. Check here:

http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/so...otsa-pics.html

[bobb52]

jtscuba02, I would really like to see some pics of the 180if you could. that must look really good. thanks for the input every one.

[WEINERDOGBONE]

Originally Posted by Phat117

The 150 should fit on the 02 without the HD kit. I know it will work on the 03.
I just don't remember what earlier years needed the kit.

I didn't use a kit but it would have been easier if I had. I have actually done the mod and it's not hard but, it's not just a slap it together and run either.

I probably spent $300 putting mine together so I saved a couple hundered bucks off the kit. I had the parts guy at the dealership print out a parts list from the kit and away I went.

Now a 180 would be nice. I'd be interested in that too.

[jtscuba02]

I think alot depends on the model and the rim. I tried a 18" with a 200 tire and there was no way it would go. The swingarm was to narrow. With the 17" spoke rim from a 05 FXST with the Dunlop on it, no problem. I did buy one of those bench top belt sanders from the Home Depot to grind the spacers to fit. I wanted to stay with the chrome and I figured for 100 bucks I would use it for something else one of these days.

I tried to take some pics inside my garage tonight, but there is another bike and the motor from my mustang in there and not much room. I will take some out in the driveway by friday and get all the places together that the parts came from.

I am in the process of changing my brake light out. I like the tri-bar, but can't see spending that much money on one. I think I have come up with a plan for a LED that wont stick out as far as the stock, will look as good as the tri-bar, and will cost less than 200 bucks.

[jbtFXSTBI]

Originally Posted by bobb52

can ay one tell me on a 02 softail that has a 16x3 rear " has the 130 tire now" what is the largest tire you can go on that rim? If I did get a larger rim and put in about a 1" wide tire kit , what then would be the max? thanks

A 150 is a perfect fit. I have Avon Venoms on my '02 Night Train, which, when I bought it, had Xtreme Machine wheels. The rear was a 5.5" X 16'. The 150 was stretched over that, and fit fine with *everything* stock. Now I have 16 X 3" Black Bike spokers, and the 150 Venom still fits fine. Stock spacers, stock fender (well, it's a Fatboy fender off an '06), stock belt, caliper, everything.

[jtscuba02]

I figured out how to resize photos. Here are some shots. The fender still needs to have the old tailight housing holes filled and then painted. I filled the back in with some sheet metal and am going to attach a LED taillight to it. I think the 180 looks just right. Not to wide and not to narrow.

[WEINERDOGBONE]

Good job. It looks great.