Rear Tire Replacement

[ultrafxr]

Been watching this thread ... and a question reared it's ugly head ... con you get the rear tires mounted at a car tire place ... are the rear wheels able to hold up to the machines????

I would bring the wheels to them, wouldn't let the pull them. I would put them on and do the torquing too.

Yes you can get them mounted at a car place. That is what I did. Pulled the wheels and took them to have the tires installed.

Looked for BBB A+ rating and good reviews. Talked to them about how particular I was but even at that there were still some gouges in the rims. Not huge but there were several and very noticeable to me at least. I was not happy! Spoke to the owner who said they have a disclaimer about damage to 'custom wheels' but I pointed out that the counterman said they could mount with no damage. After consultation they agreed to send the wheels to a local wheel repair place called 'Wheel Tech.' This was on a Friday afternoon. Over the weekend I investigated Wheel Tech and saw some of the high end cars with damaged and broken wheels they had repaired so I felt a bit better. No idea how they did it - did not dismount the tires - but when I got them back Tuesday morning they looked great. Better than new even.

So what to conclude? I have no idea and no idea how I'll proceed when I have to replace these. Might see if the Harley dealer would do it. But since this is my first rodeo with rear trike tires I have no idea what would have happened if I'd had the Harley dealer do it.

Added: I'm not all that knowledgeable about mounting tires but I asked the owner why they could not remove and install from the back side of the rim. He took me to the machine (like all the others I've seen over the years) and explained why that was not possible. Can't recall the reasoning but it seemed to make sense to me at the time. And the gouges on the outside edge of the rim was of course from the tools that break the bead and run around the rim to remove and mount the tire.

[jc1300]

I am lucky to have the guys that do all the Rear tire mounting for our HD Dealer. So #1 they guarantee the rim will be without issues. #2 They do remove and install from the backside. So I have no idea what the guy was telling you because I watched them do it.

I am curious how many dealers have now purchased the "Auto Tire" mounting and balancing machinery. I had sort of assumed none of them have...

[ultrafxr]

I am lucky to have the guys that do all the Rear tire mounting for our HD Dealer. So #1 they guarantee the rim will be without issues. #2 They do remove and install from the backside. So I have no idea what the guy was telling you because I watched them do it.

I am curious how many dealers have now purchased the "Auto Tire" mounting and balancing machinery. I had sort of assumed none of them have...

I'm going to check with my Harley dealer about remove and install from the backside. I sure thought that was what the tire store would do.

[PosseRider]

Based on Kevin's and others recommendations I changed my stock rear Dunlops for Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds. The oem tires only had 7,500 miles on them but I needed new tires on my utility trailer (you know they put the cheapest used tires they can find on those) and they were the same size so I justified the change that way.

In any case the Goodyears are fantastic imo. Better ride for sure and while I'm no wuss in the twisties I really don't notice any flex so I guess it's a subjective thing as most preferences are. I wouldn't want any tire that had a sidewall stiffer than the stock Dunlops for sure so be careful about that.

Just ordered Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds Touring. Told me these replace the Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds. Seems every tire I need for my ride has been updated ? Maybe a good thing. Still not in need of the front Avon. My old Avon has 20,000 & still looks pretty good. Maybe the end of this season.

[PosseRider]

Had the Comfort's mounted today on rims, with Dyna beads. Installer was very good. Extra careful & mounted with outside of wheel down so slide bar would nor run on the shiny side. Also he mounted the Dunlops on my Trailer to replace the 10 yr old tires. I got everything put back in place on Trike & utility trailer. Now to rest for a few hrs.

[radismukes]

Had the Comfort's mounted today on rims, with Dyna beads. Installer was very good. Extra careful & mounted with outside of wheel down so slide bar would nor run on the shiny side. Also he mounted the Dunlops on my Trailer to replace the 10 yr old tires. I got everything put back in place on Trike & utility trailer. Now to rest for a few hrs.

It sounds like another trip is coming.

[Firewrench22]

One more vote for the Goodyears. Ride is nice, tread pattern is cooler looking than those boring Dunlops. I think I have 22psi in them. I kind of go by the bulge in the sidewall, that is, I want the bulge to look like a normal tire on a car or whatever vehicle. We all know there is not much weight on our rear tires, compared to a car. So it makes sense that the tire won't need 32 psi in it to look right and function correctly. I have a Goodyear store that I use for the rigs at work, showed them the shiny new Performance Machine wheels, and asked if they could mount them without damage. They assured me they could, and they did. There was plenty of tread on the old tires, 40K miles, but I wasn't going to put them on the new wheels. Took all 3 old wheel/tires to a couple swap meets, no luck. Nobody wants OE take-off stuff. I ended up putting them on the curb in front of where I work. In a few hours they were gone.

[PosseRider]

It sounds like another trip is coming.

God willin & the creeks don't rise. 3 trips planned one over 6000

[BillR]

Just ordered Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds Touring. Told me these replace the Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds.

Had the Comfort's mounted today on rims, with Dyna beads.

One more vote for the Goodyears.

My Comfortreads came in today. Will probably be Monday before the weather cooperates to get them on. I will be Chile-ing now. Note country of origin.

[Cagmo]

My Comfortreads came in today. Will probably be Monday before the weather cooperates to get them on. I will be Chile-ing now. Note country of origin.

Very disappointing that we cannot even make the best motorcycle tires in this great US of A.

Cagmo

[PosseRider]

Well I hope they are better than the Metzlers from Brazil !!!! Several years ago, many had sidewalls go at low miles. Mine rear went out at 6000 miles on I75 in Fl. Kept it upright thanks to a guy behind us that saw what was going on & blocked the 2 lanes of traffic so I had a lot of room.

[RickDeVon]

Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread...

[DakotaTG]

On my 2011 TG I had to replace the rear tires at 30K. When I did that the dealership quoted me $189. a tire for the HD Dunlop and would give a 10% discount for being a local HOG member making the tires making them $170. each and $340 for the pair plus $120. for removing, mounting, balancing and reinstalling for a total of $$460. I went to QuickLane and checked on the Dunlop Signature II from them for $115. each plus $10. mounting and balancing. They would not take them off the trike so I would have to bring them in. Jacked up the trike, took the tires off and went up to QuickLane. Total of $250 for tires mounted and balanced and about 2 hours of my time total. Saved over $200. doing that. Was very pleased with the tires.

Now I have a 2016 with 30K on it and it needs new rear tires. Dealership charges $189. each for the HD Dunlop tires and has free mounting and balancing but does have a labor charge for removing and reinstalling the tires. Checking with an independent that will do whatever tire you want. Haven't gotten a quote yet as I still need to decide which tire to go with. Tire Rack rates the Goodyear Assurance Comfortred as #6 of 23 in the 205/65/15 but rates the Bridgestone Toranza Quiettrack as #1 in 205/65/15. Both are 80K tires and just about the same price ($120 vs $124). Not quite sure which one I will go with but pretty sure it will not be the HD Dunlops. Can't believe rear tires wear out at 30K on a trike when those tires are rated as 50K/60K tires.

2016 Deep Jade Green and Black TG with lots of DK Custom parts on it.

[Fearless]

On my 2011 TG I had to replace the rear tires at 30K. When I did that the dealership quoted me $189. a tire for the HD Dunlop and would give a 10% discount for being a local HOG member making the tires making them $170. each and $340 for the pair plus $120. for removing, mounting, balancing and reinstalling for a total of $$460. I went to QuickLane and checked on the Dunlop Signature II from them for $115. each plus $10. mounting and balancing. They would not take them off the trike so I would have to bring them in. Jacked up the trike, took the tires off and went up to QuickLane. Total of $250 for tires mounted and balanced and about 2 hours of my time total. Saved over $200. doing that. Was very pleased with the tires.

Now I have a 2016 with 30K on it and it needs new rear tires. Dealership charges $189. each for the HD Dunlop tires and has free mounting and balancing but does have a labor charge for removing and reinstalling the tires. Checking with an independent that will do whatever tire you want. Haven't gotten a quote yet as I still need to decide which tire to go with. Tire Rack rates the Goodyear Assurance Comfortred as #6 of 23 in the 205/65/15 but rates the Bridgestone Toranza Quiettrack as #1 in 205/65/15. Both are 80K tires and just about the same price ($120 vs $124). Not quite sure which one I will go with but pretty sure it will not be the HD Dunlops. Can't believe rear tires wear out at 30K on a trike when those tires are rated as 50K/60K tires.

2016 Deep Jade Green and Black TG with lots of DK Custom parts on it.

I just installed Viva 3 Goodyear 205X70RX15 Made in the USA. Gearing change I think it is a great change, the tires are quiet and solid in turns.They increased ground clearance app.1/2" speedo 2 mph slower. actually seems to corner better than before with the new shocks and tires who knows. travel safe. Fred

[Fearless]

I just installed Viva 3 Goodyear 205X70RX15 Made in the USA. Gearing change I think it is a great change, the tires are quiet and solid in turns.They increased ground clearance app.1/2" speedo 2 mph slower. actually seems to corner better than before with the new shocks and tires who knows. travel safe. Fred

Finally got Pictures

[gfaltersack]

The stock Dunlops are fair and last a long time (my brother-in-law) has 60,000 on his and plenty of life left. I continue to start each trike with Goodyear comfort treads and my last trade in had 48,000 with 50% treadlife left. I like them much better as I agree with others in this forum in that they give a softer ride providing you stay 20-22# pressure. Even at 20# they stay flat on the road with even wear across the tread width.

The reason for this reply is to remind all riding trikes to consider rotating the tires side to side. Some may want to try and others may not want to spin these "car tires" backwards........your choice. I laughed when my brother-in-law started doing that from advice given to him by a seasoned trike rider. So I did a side by side test with him. After 48,000 miles my right tire was worn noticeably more than the left as measured by my Harley service tech while his were worn evenly!!

I have had no ill effects of rotating my Triglide rear tires from side to side.

[k-dog]

Finally got Pictures

do the 70 give you any better softer ride

[Fearless]

do the 70 give you any better softer ride

I do believe they are as good as... if not a little better. It's really hard to say I changed to the 70 series to drop rpm's at 65 mph and faster. these Viva III are quiet handle well in curves and don't dog walk on open grid bridges. I swapped shocks from OEM Air to Pro Action so the ride improved 1000%. I can't say the tires ride softer when you change more than one part. I will say I like the rpm's I run in sixth gear now. The motor is not screaming at 70 MPH anymore, still at 2700-2750 it just seems to be pulling strong. I made the change for gearing if it rides better great the shocks gave us the ride and especially after I did the fork kit from Pro Action as well it now handles extremely well for an Old guy and a ten year old trike. I do know that the front tire has more traction on curves than it has ever had with the higher tires on the back an excellent Plus as far as I'm concerned. Ride safe Fred

I picked up theses viva III on sale for a little bit of nothing figuring if they didn't work my utility trailer would get them. I will wear these out on Old shiney LOL...

[RickDeVon]

Goodyear Triple Tread Assurance....