Fat Tires - Harley Forum

BaggerDad · #1 06-13-2008, 08:18 AM

So what's the deal with the super fat tires on so many of the customs?

I think a 180 looks pretty good but who really needs anything bigger than that?

Don't these huge tires make the bike handle poorly?

EZE RIDER · #2 06-13-2008, 08:54 AM

Harley sells at least two models with a 240. The VRODS and the Rocker. The Fatboy is up to 200.

I love the way my 240 rear tire looks and it handles very well. I think it is mostly for people who like the look. Like me.

milindh · #3 06-13-2008, 12:42 PM

The wide and flat rear tires, like you see on a lot of stretched out choppers, affect the flickability of your bike.

It works like this;

If you have a narrow or ordinary width front tire and a wide and flat rear (like my ex girlfriend) everything is cool when you're going in a straight line. As you lean over, however, the contact patch of the rear moves to the inside of the turn because of the width. This causes the bike to want to go straight in the turn and you have to compensate some with your steering. No big deal to some folks but I prefer a nimble and steady handling bike so I have gone from a Metzeler 880 150/80x 16 rear on my FXR to a Metzeler Lasertec 150/80x16 rear because the Lasertec has a more rounded profile than the 880 and it makes the bike turn into the corners more easily. As far as steadiness in the turn goes, I haven't noticed much difference. About equal I think, but the Lasertec tires have a more point and go feel to them.

If you look at the big fat rears on crotch rockets you'll see that they have a pronounced V shaped profile which allows them to flick easily back and forth in the turns but still have a big contact patch when leaned over.

Bottom line here is that big fat and flat tires give you a better ride and look cool but for quickly flicking around the corners narrower and less flat tires are more groovy. All this theory is actually based on my own personal experience with different bikes and various tire setups over the years so, yes it is true that I'm just laying out some internet style gospel here. My two cents worth anyway.

frisco-rigid · #4 06-13-2008, 03:07 PM

You're correct Mil
But-- the crotch rockets have a shorter wheel base that's how they get away with it and the tires are usually matched in size..

With us however....
If the tires have too much diff in size it's like riding two diff sickles..

They are useless as titts on a boar hog.. Especially if on a long raked frame..

Next time you come up on one with a big motor challenge him/her to a race-------around the parking lot.. Any course with curves..

150 is my biggest and I'm going back to 140 for the shovel..

It's been my experince so far that fat tire guys are extreme noobs that you don't want to ride next to cuz there's no telling where they will end up in the lane..

Ooh yeah,,, Can't wait to hear what's coming..!!

milindh · #5 06-13-2008, 04:05 PM

All 150/80/16's are not created equal even in the Metzeler line. The Lasertecs are a good 3/8" narrower (according to my own tape measure) than the 880's of the same exact rated size even though the specs in their catalog call out only a 3mm width difference.

One of the big reasons I tried the 150 instead of a stock size 130 was to lower the cruising rpm a bit in fifth gear because of the larger diameter.
I'm diggin' the Lasertecs for now. We'll see after a few thousand miles.

frisco-rigid · #6 06-13-2008, 07:16 PM

Hey Mil
Forgive me for temporarily hi-jacking the thread Bagger..

I am going to go back to my all-time 2nd fav Avon..

The 150 H Venom I ran got---- believe it or not----over 20,000 miles and also gave me the best handling AND it still has 1/8" tread on it with countless hole-shots..

I didn't realize how good it was until I installed another 880..
I've run a few diff Metz,, 880 was the best but,, goin back to Avon..