Minimum Tire Load Ratings

[dynabagger]

The bike is a FXDXT (T-Sport).
- Listed running weight = 678.26 lbs.
- GVW = 1085 lbs
- Rider Weight = 190 lbs.
- Passenger weight 130 lbs less than 10% of the time.
- Rear Tire with a Load Rating 70 = 739 lbs.
- Front Tire with a Load Rating 59 = 536 lbs.


Most of the recommended tires for HD are 73 and higher. The don't see why a 70 would be unacceptable when the GVW is much less than the combined load rating of the front and rear tires. Am I wrong?

I'm trying to decide on a new rear wheel/tire sizes that will work. The Avon Storm 2 is the tire I want. It would be easy if I could get my hands on a 17" x 4.5" wheel cus they make a 160/70R17 (79V). Otherwise I'm looking at a 160/60ZR18 (70w)

DynaBagger

[PC_Hater]

You have to consider weight transfer.
Have you ever wheelied the bike two up when heavily loaded? (I did on my sportster will too much weight towards the rear. She made me stop and re-arrange the luggage!)
If so, you exceeded the Load Rating on your rear tyre, and nothing terrible happened.
For the front tyre, heavy braking when heavily loaded could exceed the Load Rating.
If your front brake is good enough to do stoppies then again you overloaded the front tyre. Mind you I've only seen Buells do stoppies, I doubt any Harley could manage it.

The thing with tyre load ratings is that they are the maximum load a tyre can take at its rated speed. Lower the speed, the amount of load the tyre can take increases. This used to be on the Avon website, and it used to be in their printed material, and I have in the past talked to their technical department about it.

So as long as you don't make a silly choice you'll be fine. Go for the 17" rear wheel, you have a much larger range of tyres to choose from. Your main problem will be finding a 17" wheel that will fit!