Opinions? 18s on RK with low profile tires

[clancy]

Have a deal to do great quality chrome 18X3.5 wheels , suggested ME 880 140 front, 150 rear low profile...any experience with a set up like this?

[joefl]

clancy, i test rode a RK with 18 " rims and low profile tires. I'm not sure if it was a 130 with a 140 or just 2- 130"s but it handled perfect. if i could pull the trigger on that much cash i'd do it. joe

[Scuba]

I would check but I believe a 3.5" wheel is too narrow for a 140 or a 150

[Praetorian]

3.5 is fine for a 140 or 150

[Paladin1]

I have seen several Kings w/ 18s. Looks teriffic!. If you can get a second set of the wheels you are getting, send me a PM. The only reason i haven't done it is $$.

greg


BTW, I have a 140 880 on my stock 3.5 " 16 wheel. Fits perfect

[SLICK02]

I have PM Wrath's 18"x 3.5 wheels with 140 Metzler ME 880 marithon and the 140's are what Metzler reccomends on that size wheel, the bike lost no ride, which surprised me, even though I was told it would not, the tire looks, rides and handles as well as you could want, plus the shorter side wall reduces the heavy steering responce that comes with a 4" side wall tire, like any tire air pressure is the key to performance and lastability, and one other thing, the tire dia. of the 18" tire is a nats breath from being the same as a 16" tire, so you don't have to play with the speedo or gear ratio, I am running this on a Heritage softail, where a 150 is the max You can run w/o modification.

SLICK

[craig]

Hi Clancy, Slick02 is dead on. I also installed 18 x 3.5 PM Hooligans on a EGlide Standard 02. Am running 140x70x18 Metzelers front and rear and also went with a 13'' single front brake disk and their 6 piston caliper. Braking power is THE SAME AS STOCK and they send you front and rear spacers and the fit is perfect with no clearance issues at all. I don't think I'd worry about the 150 rear, that might rub. 140's are right. Metzelers feel great, superior to stock. Also have front and rear lowering kits and looking to lower rear some more somehow, but the ride quality is a little firm but fine, I love it. Hope this helps.

[clancy]

Appreciate all the feedback. I've made the order, I'll post a message to let folks know how it goes. Thanks again!!

[yzf996fxdwg]

only reason I haven't done it is I have had flats on some trips and replacement tires are easier to find in standard 16" sizes for my RG. 18" wheels look awsome though.......

[SLICK02]

Two Part

1) 150 will fit on the rear of a stock bike, and that is the max without any mods, and if you run a 150 Metzler it will have to be a radial,(do not run a radial on the front!!) I talked to the Metzler engineer about this and he says that the radial and the belted tire are closer in design than they have ever been and that I would not notice the difference if that is what I ran, I wondered about this because I found this combo on a bike in a custom bike builders shop, so I checked it out, but my 140s on 3.5 wheels are just great.

2) If ya get a flat with this type of tire on the road side in the middle of BFE then you have a couple of options, carry a can of fix a flat or a plug kit that comes with a little CO2 type cartridge to refill tire post repair, also (this is what sold me) 18" tires are common on metric bikes and in a pinch I would run a front tire on the rear till I could get where I could get right, this is a common tire on the Gold wing and several other bikes, just good to know, and traveling I have noticed that their are mor metric bike shops than Harley shops, and Clancy, you know the tune, any port in a storm, hope this helps.

SLICK

[clancy]

Update.

I discussed the deal at Sturgis, made the deal after your feedback. Have EVO (Weld Racing) Charger 5s, 18X3.5. They were working with Metzler and the tires were incuded as a package. The Metzler guy convinced me to do 140s on both front and rear. I've got about 1000 miles on the set up and the ride and handling are just terrific.

appreciate the advice and help...and Slick...any port in a storm is a motto for life!

[BaggerDad]

All - I'm thinking of doing 18" wheels and all your inputs have been helpful. But what is the advantage of going to 18". Do the tires look wider? What about handling? Is it just primarily for looks?

[clancy]

Originally Posted by BaggerDad

All - I'm thinking of doing 18" wheels and all your inputs have been helpful. But what is the advantage of going to 18". Do the tires look wider? What about handling? Is it just primarily for looks?

Bagger Dad,
I now have about 5000 miles with the 18 inch wheels, and yes I went to 140s compared to the 16 stock 130s. My .02, the bike handles better, but they are also different tires. The new tires are Metzler 880s, great feel dry and in the rain. And yeah! the scoot looks better.

[MOOOOO Glide]

Clancy and Slick02, How about some pics!? I'm wanting to put 18's on also and I'd love to see more bikes with them on. Thanks!

[tfstrum]

Good link

http://bikersimage.com/18vs16.htm