Hi all,

I have a 1992 harley softail springer (fxsts). I want to get new wheels for my bike and im having trouble getting answers as to how big a rear wheel i can go. The bike currently has a 16" x 3.0 rim with 130/90-16 tire. I would like to go to an 18" x 3.5 spoke wheel but do not know if it will work without any modifications. If i can go to an 18 inch rim, what size tire can i put on there without any or limited modifications.

thanks for your help

 

The widest tyre you are likely to get in on your stock rim is a 140 or MU (fitted on later Harleys). If you check your bike, the limiting factor for getting in a wider tyre is the clearance between tyre and belt. If you have the wide 1 1/2" belt, you have very limited choices. You MAY squeeze in a 150, but there is no guarantee.

Frankly fitting a wider rimmed wheel is not going to fit without more radical work. If a 150 tyre will go in, your rear fender is only just wide enough. That is the narrowest tyre that will fit an 18 x 3.5 rim.

You would be better looking in on the Softail forum to see what they are up to in there. A later narrower belt will give you more clearance and will run on your front pulley, but will require a change of belt.