Taller rear tires

[slaw32]

After putting on comfort lift kit and mounting low profile led taillights there is a lot of daylight between top of tire and fender . Can you run a taller tire without having to change speedo .

 

[clint44]

IIRC,the oem rear tire size on a FW or TG is 205/65/15. Overall diameter on that size is 25.5". The next size taller would be a 205/70/15 which is 26.3" tall. Revolutions per mile on the 205/65/17 is 817 while it would be 790 on the 205/70/15,,not a big difference.
If you have the room,and I'm sure you do,you could install 205/75/15's with a 27.1" diameter and 770 rev per mile. Taller tires will decrease the overall final drive gearing;i.e. less engine rpm at the same speed. Your actual speed will be higher than indicated speed and sixth gear will be taller than it is,now. Sounds like a good idea,to me.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but most H-D speedos tend to indicate higher than actual speed. If that is so,installer a taller tire will close up that discrepancy.

 

[Bill G]

The taller tires will affect your gear ratios making everything higher/taller geared. You may not like it, I know I would not like it. You will loose over all power through your gear range. I feel the Freewheeler from the factory is already geared tall enough and performs well, again would not want the gearing taller.

You pointed out one of the reasons why I never considered the comfort lift on the freewheeler. It makes it just a tad to tall in the rear in my opinion. It would be nice if they made a lift specific to the Freewheeler with just a hair less lift to it. (The comfort lift was originally designed for the Tri Glide there for making the Freewheeler just a hair high in the rear) I am sure there are many that will disagree with me on this.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

 

[clint44]

The taller tires will affect your gear ratios making everything higher/taller geared. You may not like it, I know I would not like it. You will loose over all power through your gear range. I feel the Freewheeler from the factory is already geared tall enough and performs well, again would not want the gearing taller.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

Strange how people think the gearing on the FW and TG is either too tall or too short. Most seem to think it's too short. I think you're the first FW owner that thinks its gearing is too tall. The 2009-10 TG's were geared 32/70 and most owners complained that 6th gear was too tall. So,H-D lowered the gearing to 30/70 and most owners think engine rpm in 6th is a little excessive. :Shrug:
Our trike is geared 32/68 so you probably wouldn't like it either,Bill.

 

[Bill G]

Strange how people think the gearing on the FW and TG is either too tall or too short. Most seem to think it's too short. I think you're the first FW owner that thinks its gearing is too tall. The 2009-10 TG's were geared 32/70 and most owners complained that 6th gear was too tall. So,H-D lowered the gearing to 30/70 and most owners think engine rpm in 6th is a little excessive. :Shrug:
Our trike is geared 32/68 so you probably wouldn't like it either,Bill.

Clint,

I said the Freewheeler from the factory is already geared tall enough and performs well (let me clarify more clearly, I like the gearing as is stock). I never meant to say the gear ratio was to tall, sorry you got that out of what I said. I did say that I thought taller tires in the rear would make or possibly make the gearing to tall and stated I would not care for that myself.

Thank you for the ratio information that's good stuff.

Take Care Friend & Ride Safe,
Bill G

 

[consitter]

Clint,

I said the Freewheeler from the factory is already geared tall enough and performs well (let me clarify more clearly, I like the gearing as is stock). I never said or meant to say it was to tall, sorry you got that out of what I said. I did say that I thought taller tires in the rear would make or possibly make the gearing to tall and stated I would not care for that myself.

Take Care Friend & Ride Safe,
Bill G

Getting to the other part of that post...the rear comfort lift. I take it from what you are saying the TG and the FW are different heights from the factory? I thought they were pretty much engineered the same in that regard. I though the Free Wheeler was built on the same under frame as the Tri Glide. I'm sure they both use the same size tires. The wheels look different, but I'm pretty sure they are the same size and are interchangeable between the two models.

What I'm getting at, is the lift shouldn't make the FW any taller than it would the TG. Am I wrong?

 

[Bill G]

Getting to the other part of that post...the rear comfort lift. I take it from what you are saying the TG and the FW are different heights from the factory? I thought they were pretty much engineered the same in that regard. I though the Free Wheeler was built on the same under frame as the Tri Glide. I'm sure they both use the same size tires. The wheels look different, but I'm pretty sure they are the same size and are interchangeable between the two models.

What I'm getting at, is the lift shouldn't make the FW any taller than it would the TG. Am I wrong?

Yes true, the suspensions are the same as far as I know (that's what my service manual for the Harley trikes shows). But for what ever reason the Tri Glide sits pretty much even or level with the Comfort lift added to it. The Freewheeler on the other hand sits slightly higher in the rear, just a hair with the same lift. (It even says the Freewheelers sits higher on DK Custom web page and shows pic's, then it goes on to say it will settle in or level out a little with the riders weight).

In stock configuration the Freewheelers mufflers have more ground clearance than the Tri Glides when measured and they are shorter in length as well. (It could be the weight difference, I don't know, or it may be that the Tri Glide has more body length, not sure).

I am sure the owner of DK Custom will chime in concerning the Comfort lift and clarify the differences between the Freewheeler and Tri Glide if any.

Ride Safe,

Bill G

 

[slaw32]

I was thinking about finding out how many teeth on the front pulley of final drive . I know on my softail build I went from *a 24 to a 23 tooth sprocket for the final drive . I wonder if this change would help to offset taller tire size??

 

[clint44]

I was thinking about finding out how many teeth on the front pulley of final drive . I know on my softail build I went from *a 24 to a 23 tooth sprocket for the final drive . I wonder if this change would help to offset taller tire size??

You already have a 30T front. Going from a 205/65/15 tire to a 205/70/15 is not a big change.
I wouldn't change a thing,if it were me.