TriGlide rear wheels

[clint44]

As most of you know,TriGlide rear wheels are a 15x5.5 size. I'm trying to figure out if a 6" wide wheel will fit. If so,that would really open up wheel selection for them and the Freewheeler. It would be much appreciated if someone could give me some measurements from the outer tire sidewall to the inside edge of the fender lip and from the inside tire sidewall to the inside of the fenderwell.
Putting your TG on a lift to get these measurements would be even better but I'll take what numbers I can get,right now.
Thanks again.

 

[trikermutha]

I am going to say no as it is tight in there now just to get the wheels off the bike..Shorter yes - wider no..

 

[clint44]

I am going to say no as it is tight in there now just to get the wheels off the bike..Shorter yes - wider no..

So,you have already measured it and know this for a fact? Or,are you just guessing? Going from a 5.5" width to a 6" will make very little difference in the tire's section width. You do know this,right?

Let's quit guessing and figure it out for sure,ok?

 

[clint44]

My Harley dealer had a new TriGlide on the showroom a few days ago so I just rode the five miles over there to see if I could get some measurements. Nope,they already sold it! It was only on their floor for two days and they didn't have another TG or a FW on the premises.

Back to the drawing board.

 

[dedhead]

Clint, looks like the outside clearance is 1 inch and the inside about 3/4 inch. Don't have a lift but those are close measurements

 

[RickDeVon]

Looks tight to me...

 

[BOXX3R]

Clint...I can confirm that there is 1' between the inside of outer part of the fender and the tire wall, and about 3/4" of clearance on the inside.

 

[trikermutha]

So,you have already measured it and know this for a fact? Or,are you just guessing? Going from a 5.5" width to a 6" will make very little difference in the tire's section width. You do know this,right?

Let's quit guessing and figure it out for sure,ok?

Have fun..No guessing on my part.. Have you ever taken off the rear wheels on the TRIGLIDE yet? Its tight enough now and you want to add a half an inch to the width..Good luck with out some sort of mods..

 

[clint44]

Have fun..No guessing on my part.. Have you ever taken off the rear wheels on the TRIGLIDE yet? Its tight enough now and you want to add a half an inch to the width..Good luck with out some sort of mods
..

I guarantee it is not as hard as removing the rears on a Boss Hoss trike so what's your point? They require completely deflating the tire,then unbolting the shock mounts so you can drop the rear end down. Only then can you get the wheel & tire out from under the body.

Going to a 6" wheel would add 1/4" to each side. The tire is the widest point and we're not changing the tire size. From other responses to this thread,it sounds like a 6" wide rim will easily fit w/o clearance issues. Just need to crunch some numbers and figure out the back spacing needed. Thanks for your measurements,guys.

 

[Sloufoot]

I guarantee it is not as hard as removing the rears on a Boss Hoss trike so what's your point? They require completely deflating the tire,then unbolting the shock mounts so you can drop the rear end down. Only then can you get the wheel & tire out from under the body.

Going to a 6" wheel would add 1/4" to each side. The tire is the widest point and we're not changing the tire size. From other responses to this thread,it sounds like a 6" wide rim will easily fit w/o clearance issues. Just need to crunch some numbers and figure out the back spacing needed. Thanks for your measurements,guys.

Your reasoning might be solid, providing you can get a wheel that does the 1/4" each way with the correct offset.
I've even thought of buying extra rear fenders & do a wide fender just to clear the tire, but that is some major work ! The other option is find a fender that is wider that you can adapt to the bolt pattern on the trunk.

 

[clint44]

Your reasoning might be solid, providing you can get a wheel that does the 1/4" each way with the correct offset.
I've even thought of buying extra rear fenders & do a wide fender just to clear the tire, but that is some major work ! The other option is find a fender that is wider that you can adapt to the bolt pattern on the trunk.

Many wheel manufacturers offer a 6" width in a two-piece wheel so getting a custom backspace is not a problem,at all. For example,American Racing's TorqThrust II is a two-piece wheel and custom backspacing can be ordered in 1/8" increments. TriGlide and Freewheeler rear wheels are a slight negative -9 offset (more dish) which us old-school hotrodders like. Hannigan,Roadsmith,and CSC all use a high positive offset rear wheels (very little dish) that were originally designed for front wheel drive cars. The 15x5.5 Harley wheels have 2.85" backspacing while the 17x7 Intro wheels on our Transformer have 5.7" backspacing (+40 offset)

Wider rear fenders are just not an option,IMO.

 

[clint44]

Stock 15x5.5 TG and FW rear wheels have 2.83" of backspacing so a 6" wheel with 3" backspace should fit fine. As for tire sizing,I would stay with a 205 as there is a huge tire selection in that width.

Just curious but what's the drill for R&R'ing the rear wheels and tires?

 

[Sloufoot]

Just to be exact for everyone's information on measuring their wheels:

 

[clint44]

Thanks for posting those graphs,Sloufoot. This stuff may seem overly technical but it's really pretty simple once you get the hang of it.

Just for info but an advertised 5.5" wheel is measured from tire bead to tire bead. It would measure 5.5" but actual wheel width is measured from outside edge to outside edge of the rim. That advertised 5.5" wide wheel is actually 6.5" wide.

 

[Downtown Cowtown]

Thanks for posting those graphs,Sloufoot. This stuff may seem overly technical but it's really pretty simple once you get the hang of it.

Just for info but an advertised 5.5" wheel is measured from tire bead to tire bead. It would measure 5.5" but actual wheel width is measured from outside edge to outside edge of the rim. That advertised 5.5" wide wheel is actually 6.5" wide.

The 5x5 1/2 is a ford truck bolt pattern, or ford van. I at one time would never have contemplated doing to the trike what i now don't hesitate to do, cut the opening with whatevers handy, and make it work, to pull the wheel, kinda like on my 55, jus pull it, no drop no unbolt shocks and all the drama.

Don't forget you can add a lip to the fender if ya wish, either aftermarket off road, or home made, after cutting it out you can dress it up a little, choices.

On one trike i built i used softail fenders widened, and on a pivot, pull the rear bolt, tilt the fender to the front and pull the wheel, which was a 20in Harley truck wheel, it was trick. pics on a crashed pc of course.

Tape it off cut it out, to a pleasant size and pull your wheel, or install, I like a little more than a little less to get what i need done. Surely others must protest the procedure, best to ya.

 

[clint44]

The 5x5 1/2 is a ford truck bolt pattern, or ford van.

TriGlides and Freewheelers use a 4 lug, 4.25" bolt circle wheel that is 15" diameter by 5.5" wide.
Bolt circle can also be expressed as 4x108mm.

 

[Downtown Cowtown]

TriGlides and Freewheelers use a 4 lug, 4.25" bolt circle wheel that is 15" diameter by 5.5" wide.

sounds like an outdated falcon comet wheel lug pattern. Needs to be 8 or 10 inch wide get some meat on the ground.

Buy some adapaters, make it 5 maybe and pull the fenders and have some made and put 8 or 10inchers on the back, now the cookie cutter look is going going gone.

Run some tomb stones on the fenders led of course. Make these bikes to your desire, not the moco, after the warranty issue expires i guess.

 

[Sloufoot]

sounds like an outdated falcon comet wheel lug pattern. Needs to be 8 or 10 inch wide get some meat on the ground.

Buy some adapaters, make it 5 maybe and pull the fenders and have some made and put 8 or 10inchers on the back, now the cookie cutter look is going going gone.

Run some tomb stones on the fenders led of course. Make these bikes to your desire, not the moco, after the warranty issue expires i guess.

If you put a tire on the rear that wide it must be for looks only. You couldn't hardly move in snow or even heavy rain. The rear end would be all over the place.

 

[Downtown Cowtown]

If you put a tire on the rear that wide it must be for looks only. You couldn't hardly move in snow or even heavy rain. The rear end would be all over the place.

Ive done it without issue, but thats me. As for looks, oh yeah. You get too wide in the back it pushes the trike in the corners.

Ive got 8 or 10s on my shovel trike and never had a problem, even up pikes peak. Funny thing is Ive had the same tires on it since 77. Not much weight on them, and i used to run 12lbs air.

Ive built probably 6 trikes and designed a swing arm in 82 that many have copied since, older motor trike is similar to my design.

Ran the first disc brakes on the rear of a Harley trike rear end that i or anyone else had ever seen, and designed a sprocket kit to put a 51T on a Harley rear end designed for 37 tooth, funny you look at Frankenstein and you see what i sketched out in 82 and still have the paperwork.

Im not new to the process, but i retain an open mind, so i think, as for the rear wheels Ive never ridden a tri glide or a v rod, the more i ride my street glide i think of triking it, and the more i ride it i get tired of the heat.

So Ive been eyeballing v rods, mmm, put that engine in an extra touring Harley i have on the table, mmm, anyone ever seen that ?

Ride safe i value and respect your opine, and keep the rubberside down.

- - - Updated - - -

If you put a tire on the rear that wide it must be for looks only. You couldn't hardly move in snow or even heavy rain. The rear end would be all over the place.

You close to mountain home ? My uncle died there in a training plane crash B-17 WWII.

My dad was the gunnery instructor there at that time, until he shipped out for 50 missions from north Africa into the belly of the beast. Germany.

 

[Sloufoot]

Ive done it without issue, but thats me. As for looks, oh yeah. You get too wide in the back it pushes the trike in the corners.

Ive got 8 or 10s on my shovel trike and never had a problem, even up pikes peak. Funny thing is Ive had the same tires on it since 77. Not much weight on them, and i used to run 12lbs air.

Ive built probably 6 trikes and designed a swing arm in 82 that many have copied since, older motor trike is similar to my design.

Ran the first disc brakes on the rear of a Harley trike rear end that i or anyone else had ever seen, and designed a sprocket kit to put a 51T on a Harley rear end designed for 37 tooth, funny you look at Frankenstein and you see what i sketched out in 82 and still have the paperwork.

Im not new to the process, but i retain an open mind, so i think, as for the rear wheels Ive never ridden a tri glide or a v rod, the more i ride my street glide i think of triking it, and the more i ride it i get tired of the heat.

So Ive been eyeballing v rods, mmm, put that engine in an extra touring Harley i have on the table, mmm, anyone ever seen that ?

Ride safe i value and respect your opine, and keep the rubberside down.

- - - Updated - - -



You close to mountain home ? My uncle died there in a training plane crash B-17 WWII.

My dad was the gunnery instructor there at that time, until he shipped out for 50 missions from north Africa into the belly of the beast. Germany.

There was someone doing an engine swap on the Tri with the V-rod engines. He was in Florida somewhere. I can't find the web site anymore.
Here in Pocatello, which Chubbuck is right beside, is the base they flew the B-17's & B-29's among others out of during the war. Our airport used to be the biggest in the state. They are still using the same strips as in WW2. Just a bit of rebuilding a couple years ago.
Now the Salt Lake airport uses the strips for training their commercial pilots with their jets doing touch & goes. We have had a lot of problems keeping Jet service here because of loading $$$ ! We are up to 2 flights a day (jet) HA !
We are about 160mi from Mountain Home. That is now the main AFB in Idaho. They still have the range there.

 

[mcdonaldroadcapt]

Just wondering, with the straight axle, going through hard leans, would it not decrease the space you need? Not an expert but on my straight axle conversion I tried wider tires and had rubbing problems in turns..

 

[clint44]

Just wondering, with the straight axle, going through hard leans, would it not decrease the space you need? Not an expert but on my straight axle conversion I tried wider tires and had rubbing problems in turns..

That's very possible and one of the reasons I think wider tires are not needed. 205's on the rear are more than adequate.

 

[clint44]

Well,got some good news on the rear wheels from the Harley TriGlide Riding Group on Facebook. One of their members discovered that a 15x7 w/3.5" backspace fits fine on his TG. Since the bolt pattern is the same as the later model Ford Mustangs,he bought a pair of wheels at his local tire shop that fit perfectly and has ridden the trike many miles without any clearance issues. He said neither he nor his wife were lightweights either,if anyone was wondering whether a lightweight rider had anything to do with it. The oem rear tires have a lot of ballooning from the narrow oem wheels so the wider wheel gives a nice straighter sidewall.

A 7" wheel with 3.5" backspacing will be easy to get and for sure won't break the bank,unless you like exotic wheels. If you want to change wheel diameter,that width with that backspace number should fit like a glove,as long as you stay with a 205-width tire. You guys with TriGlides and Freewheelers now have a good selection of custom wheels to choose from.

 

[Fearless]

Thanks for info.

That may prove useful if I go with larger rotors for a brake project thanks Clint :goodjob: ride safely fearless

p.s. what year Mustang. [maybe mustang II?]

 

[clint44]

That may prove useful if I go with larger rotors for a brake project thanks Clint :goodjob: ride safely fearless

p.s. what year Mustang. [maybe mustang II?]

1979-1993 Mustang. It doesn't really matter,though. Any 7" wheel with 3.5" backspacing and 4x108mm bolt circle will work. (15"-20" diameter)

 

[SeanSean1]

1979-1993 Mustang. It doesn't really matter,though. Any 7" wheel with 3.5" backspacing and 4x108mm bolt circle will work. (15"-20" diameter)

All i can say is ... YUP. Saw the pics to confirm the fitment too. ThumbUp

 

[Sloufoot]

Almost everything I can find is polished aluminum & not Chromed. These are coated with a protectant though. But there is quite a lot to pick from from under $200 to around $400 each. Still a lot less than Harley selection.
One style I like a Centerline Fuel & is about $279ea.
Both in 15"X6" & 7". w/4.25 bolt circle with 2-3/8" offset to 3-1/2".

 

[clint44]

Almost everything I can find is polished aluminum & not Chromed. These are coated with a protectant though. But there is quite a lot to pick from from under $200 to around $400 each. Still a lot less than Harley selection.
One style I like a Centerline Fuel & is about $279ea.
Both in 15"X6" & 7". w/4.25 bolt circle with 2-3/8" offset to 3-1/2".

If you get a 15x6 w/3" backspace or a 15x7 w/3.5",you should be "good to go".

 

[Sloufoot]

I like the 6x3-3/8 backspace. I put 2-3/8.... my bad.
I don't like shoe horning a wheel inside a fender. Looks great, but unforgiving !
There is one that has a better pattern, but almost $400. If I go that much it better be chromed !

 

[Sloufoot]

Today I came across one of the Cragar spoke wheels with 4/4.25 lugs. They have only 4 heavy spokes, but they were in 13". Tire guy is trying to find a set in 15".