pro's and con's wide tire kits ( handling) : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

Snowtrav · 10-17-2003, 06:50 AM

I was considering the wide tire kit (200) for my fatboy and i would like to know how the bike handles with the wide tire and the tanny offset?

Flyer · 10-17-2003, 11:04 AM

Cons
Too much rubber on the road=harsher ride
Too much unsprung weight (bigger=heavier) may/will overload your rear suspension
Cornering clearance?? There isn't any. You're riding a softail.

I would imagine the only pro would be looks

ndwgolf · 11-07-2003, 09:39 PM

I have a 240 Phatail Kit coming from PM, i will let you all know how it handles once it is on.

Diffuser · 11-08-2003, 06:32 PM

Don't know first hand but have a friend that had a custom with fat tire and he said cornering was scarry had to learn how to ride all over again apparently since they are low profile and so wide there is no flex and no grip he said wet roads were a nightmare. Just passing on what I was told.

Kimyung · 11-10-2003, 12:47 PM

Snowtrav,

After doing some research on this topic, what I've learned is that anything over a 180mm, you will start to compromise the handling of the bike. You need to decide what you're trying to accomplish, do you want a certain "look" to the bike or are you trying to make it handle better? Or maybe something in between?

-KIM

fatboy02 · 11-10-2003, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snowtrav
I was considering the wide tire kit (200) for my fatboy and i would like to know how the bike handles with the wide tire and the tanny offset?

Which kit are you considering?

Snowtrav · 11-12-2003, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fatboy02

Which kit are you considering?

fatboy02, I have only seen a couple of kits for 200 mm both are using a new plate for the tranny offseting the hole tranny 1" out.
This initially conserned me for the balance of the bike but the alternative is changing the five gear shaft and shimming the primmary.
I am leaning towards buying the from different suppliers, PM offsets, santee swingarm, etc. The tranny issue is still up in the air.

AustinFXDWG · 11-16-2003, 08:13 PM

The guy that does the bike reviews on one of the speed channel Tuesday night bike shows reviewed a Phattail kit on a Softail standard last week. He likes it a lot. Much better braking, the ride only barely noticable harsher with the low profile tire, and no detrimental handling effects. I forget it is was American Thunder, or Corbin's ride on, or Two Wheel Tuesday. It was one of em,.
AustinFXDWG

El Mongo · 11-17-2003, 04:40 AM

I'm running a 210 on my bike and it handles great. The older wide tires had a square profile while the newer ones are more rounded. This makes all the difference in the world.

As for ride height, you control that with your softail shocks. You can sit the bike down or keep it at stock height so your new 200 tire really won't affect you there.

It will be a little harsher ride with less sidewall but it's not bad at all.

geauxbob · 11-17-2003, 01:58 PM

Anytime you have a tranny offset you affect the balance of the bike. I honestly don't know why right side drives are not the thing (obviously the $$).

As you will see here I have a 250 on a chopper. Yes it does lean/corner better to the left. Low profile.....hmmmmm.....after you consider that everyone pretty much lowers their bike anyway,,,,,,,there will be cornering problems regardless, but if you add a 200 series you have multiplied the problem.

I guess from what I see and hear people add the fat tire, etc for looks because they are not for performance or cornering/

I'm a cruiser not a hot rod or a tire smoker so I'm happy with what I have but yes, you do have to drive in a different manner and be cognizant of setup for the entire bike, not just the rear tire.