Update....
09 swing arm and axle is here, haven't had time to measure it, been insulating and dry walling the garage prepping it for heat. 18 degrees here this morning.
The new rim came in yesterday from MSI. Nice rim and hub in 16" diameter x 5.5" wide.
Still looking for a rear 09 or newer fender.

Going to have the GF turn me a couple of aluminum pucks to replace the wheel bearings for the trial fitting.

Garage should be fully insulated and heated by Saturday. Then on to the fun stuff.

 

I would highly recommend that you do NOT put a 200/55 16" rear wheel/tire on your bagger. I did this when I went to a 21" front wheel on my '13 Street Glide and I would go through rear tires like crazy.

Average life on a tire would be 5K miles. Tried Metzler ME880/888, Dunlop, and Michelin. Doesn't matter what tire I would try but the short life caused to be really inconvenient when planning for trips.

 

You seem to be one of the few that wear out tires so fast. Just wondering why they're wearing out so fast?

 

The consensus was the size of the tire on a touring bike. I'll be upgrading the wheels on my new Road Glide and will only be going to a 180 on the rear.
I went with the 200 on my Street Glide for looks and then ended up adding a fender extender so you couldn't even see the damn tire anymore anyway lol.

 

Metzlers are only lasting me around 7-8k miles. looks like I'm averaging about 15k miles a year, done about 5 tires since I started riding my RK.

I don't think that a fender extender would work with my hitch setup installed. However, I do like the filler panels between the saddlebags and the fender. Might have to see about getting a pair of them to install with the wider fender. Have to see how things line up.

 

Tires wearing out.
Now have 3 sets of the stock OEM Dunlop tire. The last front lasted 42,000 KM and last rear ended at 27,000 KM. That is why I never changed to the many mentioned here. No complaints in the rain etc, so why change, while still wondering why others wear out tires 5-10 K miles

 

I won't run the stock dunflops. Would cause a wiggle going over the tar snakes and the cracks in the middle of the roads. Went to the 888's and the wiggle and the unsure feeling went away.

Don't know how its done, but over 16,000 miles on a rear dunflop tire? Kinda find it a bit rare.

 

OK, some clarification. you appear to have a 2007 bike, I have 2010. In 2010 the tire was changed and has a hard wearing center stripe, soft sides. I have no issue with tar snakes. For some reason I do not understand stock Dunlop remained the same for older bikes. I also fill front 38 and rear 42 which has proven to me at least a longer wear and better control.

 

You are correct, I have a 2007. I run 38 psi in the front tire and 40 in the rear tire. Which is what HD recommends for the stock size tire.

Doesn't the 2010 already have a 180 tire on it? If so, shouldn't take much to change it to a 200 from what I've been reading.

 

I thought HD recommends 36/40 and I upped that 38/42 yes I have the 180/65/16