air ride and 18 inch wheels

Jul 2, 2011
28
0
youngstown, ohio
I put a Legend air ride suspension on my trike. It sofended the ride about 20 % which I was hoping for more. Decreasing the tire pressure helped some also. I'm interested in 18 inch wheels. I'm wondering how much they will effect the ride with the low profile tires. I don't want to loose the 20% that I gained. Thanks.
 
I have the legend suspension..I stayed with the stock wheels but changed the tires to good year comfort tread..

Some just lower the tire pressure..

Not sure about a larger wheel..I would think a harder ride with less rubber as cushion
 
thanks for the input. will look into the comfort tires.I've heard that low profile tires ride hard, but thought that maybe someone out there might have the setup on their trike. did the comfort tires make a difference? Thanks
 
thanks for the input. will look into the comfort tires.I've heard that low profile tires ride hard, but thought that maybe someone out there might have the setup on their trike. did the comfort tires make a difference? Thanks

They are designed to absorb the bumps better. Read up on the goodyear site..I did notice the steering reacts better too.
I went with the 60's versus the 65 profile .

I felt a difference in the ride and was very happy.
 
They are designed to absorb the bumps better. Read up on the goodyear site..I did notice the steering reacts better too.
I went with the 60's versus the 65 profile .

I felt a difference in the ride and was very happy.


Thanks for the input. I'm leaning more to the Comfort tires. I'm a bit disappointed in the Legand Air ride. I thought I would get more of a softer ride.I figure that I got about 20% better ride. A softer tire would be a plus for sure. I ruled out larger wheels with low profile tires.
 
Thanks for the input. I'm leaning more to the Comfort tires. I'm a bit disappointed in the Legand Air ride. I thought I would get more of a softer ride.I figure that I got about 20% better ride. A softer tire would be a plus for sure. I ruled out larger wheels with low profile tires.

The air ride helped but is not going to ride like you expected. Its like Straight axle versus IRS . I ride with the new tires at 32 psi and was still impressed with the new tire versus stock setup. I know others out there run lot less on theres to soften the ride on the stock tires..

I would adjust the air ride to your needs it does take some time to find that right spot for comfort.
 
I have the H-D Anarchy wheels and they are a harsher ride. My car also has the optional 19" wheels which also are harding riding. Before buying the car I was a little skeptable, but thought how hard of a ride can they make?? Well a lot. I will never buy the optional larger wheels when it comes time to buy another car again.

Why do people even opt for the lower profile tires anyway??? And pay extra for a harder ride.??
I can't imagine the ride with those 1" sidewall tires that the kids buy now days - maybe they think they're cool and put up with the hard ride.
I wish I could afford new smaller wheels with bigger sidewall tires for a lot smoother/softer ride.

Do they even make large sidewall tires anymore?? :)

Can't wait for the first hover car. :D
 
We also put the legend air ride on and the same impression. For what it cost, I was expecting a whole lot better ride. Very disappointed....I also don't know what to do to get a better ride.?.?
 
Nice piece of info shared here. I was thinking about going to 18" rims in the back also but I think I'll stay with 15". Got my ride pretty nice with stock HD shocks, 1.25 Lift Kit, 20psi in the shocks and tires. Up the shocks to 30psi when riding two up but the tires do great and track very well no matter the weather.
 
I have the chrome Freewheeler wheels on my list with Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread tires...but they are a ways down the list...oh and Baby Moons with spinners mounted to them...no thin walls for me...
 
In order to keep close to the same height to what you have and going to 18 inch wheels a 45 series may be needed to keep it. You also need to match the offset. My roadsmith uses 16 inch wheels with a 35-40 degree offset. The offset will need to be the same to clear the rear unit, irs or straight axle corespondents I have the 18 inch wheels on a mystery and there is no way to duplicate the soft ride with these wheels. The 45 series tires looks great but ride very rough. The legend air ride is a good air ride system how ever it is a true air ride not like the HD air ride. With a true air ride you lose some comfort. The air does not add comfort it only raises and lowers the rear end. The shock part remains the same no adjustments to mention.

The 18 inch wheels, depending on the width of the wheels and a true air ride it will handle better, a lot better but comfort is just not there compared to other shocks.

Like the progressive and HD air shocks. If you want comfort the true air ride and 18 inch wheels is not the way to go. I have experimented with different style/types of shocks on my mystery due to the stiffness for my passenger. They are the one to really know how stiff they are. Don't get me wrong it handles like a slot car just stiffer than my passenger can handle at times.

Forgot, I get great mileage out of my front tires when in 2 wheel form. My touring bike usually get from 30,000 to 35,000 miles on a front tire. I have 25,000 now on my street glide and it has at least 4,000 miles left. I have also found using rear tires on the front of my trike it does great to. Mine is a GW based trike and they are known for lousy front tire mileage.

Least wise for me.
This is nothing but adding information.
 
I have the legend suspension..I stayed with the stock wheels but changed the tires to good year comfort tread..

Some just lower the tire pressure..

Not sure about a larger wheel..I would think a harder ride with less rubber as cushion

Did your HD dealer carry these comfort tires?
 

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