In racing you shave tires in order to increase handling, wear, and reliability of the tire at the high heat loads you put into a tire. It has nothing to do with weight, and it only impacts speed by making it safer to run at speed for a longer period of time. You only are saving a few grams by shaving the tire, but you help the carcass not heat up as much which can lead to a premature failure at speed, by reducing the squirm and "wiggle" in the deeper treaded tire. In addition a shaved tire, and we'd typically shave them to 3/32 of an inch, is just about as bad as a racing slick in the rain.

 

Shaved tires work well on a short term race where something is at stake but not for weight saving... for improved traction that matters but not everyday riding. If you want to save rotational weight (which is worth 2 lbs for every pound saved...or so i have read) look at reduced weight alloy wheels. I suspect you will save way more weight and add individuality and your style at the same time.

 

I really really like them shaved. Tires, not so much.

 

If you are in such a hurry, why did you buy a Harley?