need to replace the rubber and was wondering if anyone tried this or know if a 180 will replace the 160 on my W Glide? i see that the stealership sells a wide tire kit, but really, do you need a kit to use this size?

 

it seems to me that if your sitting at stock height it could possibly fit. but if you've lowered the rear it looks like it would scrape and chew up the taillight wiring. ive tossed the idea around about trying a 180 on mine, but ill probably stick with 160. i dont want to spend money on a wide tire kit or have the bigger tire chew up my wire or have the fender chew up the tire. not worth it in my book.

 

I believe SC-Longhair has been running a 180 on his 07 Wide Glide without any problem. PM him and ask if he had to mod anything to fit.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/membe...-longhair.html

 

I have the SE180 tire installed. The dealer I purchased the tire from did not force me or even mention the "kit". All you have to do is make sure the turn signal wires are tucked up away from the tire. Otherwise, it's a direct replacement.

Enjoy.

 

I've been running a 180 tire, both the SE 180 on the stock wheel and a Metzler 180 on an 18" wheel, since '07. As long as you keep the wiring away from the tire you'll be fine.

 

Thanks guy's, i appreciated the input, will begin tire shopping now

 

You're only going to find the SE180/GT502 tire at a dealer. So, the cost is what it is, if that is what you want...although you also have the Pirelli Night Dragon but it's a little different. Still a 180 designed to fit on the stock 17x4.5 rim.

 

The Michelin Scorcher 31 is available in the 180/60B17.

I just ordered the brackets only from the wide tire kit for my 06 Superglide because I don't want the Dunlop tire that comes with the "kit"

 

more good info guys, i appricate it

 

I have 45,000 miles on my wideglide since I bought it new in 2006. Since 2007 I've been running the Dunlop GT502 180/60/17 replacing the stock 160/70/17. I've had several of them. By the way the HD wide tire kit is a joke and not needed. I bought the kit back in 2007 for about $350 (can't remember the exact price). I only used the GT502 tire. The template and metal bracket to re-locate the turn-signal leads are still in the original packaging. I have not modified the rear suspension other than I installed the HD 11.5 shock which is 1 inch shorter than the stock shocks. No top/left/right clearance problems.


As you likely discovered there are limited 17" rear tire options for the 06 Wideglide with the stock 4.5" rim. The Dunlop GT502 is one of them. Man, has it gone up in price. I decided to try the Michelin Scorcher 31 in the 180/60/17 size but the Michelin fitment guide states a 5" rim is required. This tire is now stock on the 2010-2012 Wideglides and my research showed they have a 4.5 inch rear rim. So which is correct regarding the Scorcher 31, 180/60/17 fitting a 5" or 4.5" rim? I e-mailed Michelin corporate (I think they are in Spartanburg, SC) and the following is the e-mail they sent me: (note, this tire and the Dunlop GT502 are about the same price (January 2013, $240) and both can only be purchased at a Harley dealership. After reading the below e-mail, I just ordered a Scorcher 31 hoping I get better mileage than the GT502 (6000 miles). Time will tell regarding performance and wear. Here's the Michelin Corporate e-mail response to my inquiry:



Hello Glen.
The preferred rim width for this dimension is 5.00 inches per industry tire and rim standards. However, this Michelin bias construction tire will work with (is fully compatible with tire and rim standards) when it is mounted on a 4.50 inch wide rim.
Please note: You 180/60B17 Scorcher "31" is a bias-belted tire. As such, it is compatible with a 4.50 inch rim. However, the same size in a radial tire construction (that is, a 180/60R17) is NOT compatible with this rim - the rim is too narrow for this tire per industry tire and rim standards.