damn,,, got busy after the coffee & plum forgot


ran out there & got a very quick measurement but it was kinda at a weird angle, ( cause it's all locked down & covered ) but it looks to be right at 7" at it's widest

left the measuring devices, ( tape lol ) sitting on the seat,, will remeasure & post again in the morning

 

175R16 AUSTONE
6 5/8" .... exact measurement with tire laying on the floor.
This is on a 4" rim at 40 PSI, hope this helps.

 

I think I'll try the Austone on my '05 Deluxe, the Metzler is right at 6" so the ct should fit. A friend sealed the spokes on his VTX, I think I'll do the same. My wife went darkside on her VN900 this summer and loves it!! Thanks to Quadancer and the rest for the help and info!!

 

Theoretically the 175R16 AUSTONE should fit on the older 3" rims/Softails, but I am not sure what inner tube to run with it on my laced rims.

I am concerned about running the car tube because of the off-set air stem.

Anyone know what works?

I ended up just getting the Drag Specialties tube for 180/65-16

 

For other's benefit, I'll post my pm to ya - stock bike tube is what everyone runs just for the air valve stem. Think car tubes on a river and you'll not worry about it.
Nothing is better than getting alloy wheels and going tubeless though - I carry a hand pump and a plug kit now. No worries...except for the front one. That had to keep the tube.

 

Alright... here it starts!

Austone 175R-16 on 2004 Heritage Classic.


PO's 130-90B-16 (unmounted) vs Austone 175R-16 (mounted) 1.5" difference in height.
.......PO was a short girl that did everything she could to lower this bike, including the 130mm rear tire.




Side view for clearance checks.
The calipers show the tire is 6.25" wide at the widest point. That gives 3/4" - 7/8" of room inside the OEM fender.
Just have to get it centered.



Hand-spooned the tire on the OEM 3.5" X 16" laced wheel. One thing is for sure...... this bead isn't going anywhere!
Beads set at 45 psi / 50 psi

 

Damn, that thing looks huge! That side by side pic looks like it's about 6" taller.

 

Scared me for a minnit there too! I didn't realize that was a 130 and not a 150 next to it.
For the record, I've been posting on the Darkside because I've come to absolutely believe and am completely assured that it is SAFER than MT's, as well as smoother, grippier, tougher, cheaper, longer lasting, and cooler running.
Testing has involved running thru puddles and doing turns to see the contact patch (which is actually irrelevant - long story), braking mine vs MT on a buddy's bike, thousands of miles on the floorboards all over Ga. Tn. and N. Carolina, and long arduous study on the subject of using them on bikes.
But I guess I don't need to sell you guys, and as I've said, it's not for everybody or every type bike. It has, however transformed mine into a road-stickin', rain-runnin', floorboard scrapin', fast-stoppin' BEAST and it's a blast to ride!

 

What I am liking the most about this mod so far is the increased ride height. I am 6'2 @ 225 lb with a 36" inseam. This thing was too short and dragged everything at the slightest corner due to the PO's mods for her short stature (although she was plenty cute).

I am going with NorCal Dog's approach to maximized ride height with ~20% loaded sag, this rear tire, and 2" front fork tube extensions, along with 17" front dual disc wheel.

 

Wow, you iz wun big dawg! I'm 5'11" at 215-220 lbs. and the bike easily scrapes most corners on me with 5/8" PVC slugs over the springs up front, the extra height of the Comtrac, and the rear shocks almost all the way tight, which made the ride better too.
But I'm nutz, they say.
I wish I could afford the tubes - Ncaldog has made a believer of me.