Tire width on Featherbed Swingarm?

Johnnymac

Johnnymac

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Guys,

What tire size is the maximum size that one could fit in a slimline featherbed swingarm? I have a 4.00 x 18 Avon Roadrider on mine and I've only got about 1/16 of an inch clearance on each side.
 
As long as its not rubbing on the swing arm it will be ok, they didn't have to many wide tyres in the days they were built, they still handle pretty good with the slimmer tyres as long as the tyres are a good gripping tyre.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
As long as its not rubbing on the swing arm it will be ok, they didn't have to many wide tyres in the days they were built, they still handle pretty good with the slimmer tyres as long as the tyres are a good gripping tyre.

Ashley
Click to expand...

I thought that the 4.00 tire was about the same size as the 100/90. I just measured the difference and the 4.00 - 18 is a half inch wider than the 100/90 19 that is on my Commando. I really have zero room. I'd probably be ok if the chainguard mount wasn't there, but it is too close. The 4.00 tire is actually 4.6 inches wide...
 
4.00 - 18 Avon is the Factory recommended size....according to my original Norton owners manual. My rear tire is de- mounted now, so I cannot give you a measurement.

My original and 1st and 2nd replacement Avon 4.00 - 18 had a wide flat profile.

Slick
 
The Atlas came with an 18 inch rear wheel as standard, usually with a Avon G.P road tyre.
 
texasSlick said:
4.00 - 18 Avon is the Factory recommended size....according to my original Norton owners manual. My rear tire is de- mounted now, so I cannot give you a measurement.

My original and 1st and 2nd replacement Avon 4.00 - 18 had a wide flat profile.

Slick
Click to expand...


Yeah, a 4.00 - 18 should fit. -And should probably be 4" wide. But the Roadrider is 4.6 inches wide which is entirely too wide for the Featherbed swingarm. the only way I could get it to fit is to grind off the chainguard mount (which is what the tire rubs against).
 
Hey John,
I ran a 110/90 18 on my Atlas for a while, and it's entirely too wide. The clearance is basically none, and it would rub on one side just the slightest bit once the tire got hot. I'd get rid of that wider tire, and stick with a 100/90 19. That's the proper fit.
The Avon website gives the actual width of their tires. For instance, I think the 110 is actually 116 in their measurements, so it's misleading.
You'll be bummed if you leave that wide tire on.
And you don't need a wide tire like that for it to handle great.
If I was you, I'd use a 100/90 19 Avon Roadrider Universal. Plenty of clearance, matches the front, looks great and handles perfectly. And I can attest to that after running different sizes and different widths, both on my Atlas, and my old Commando.
Do yourself a favor and just make the switch. You'll save a lot of headache and trial and error.
Jeff
 
wilkey113 said:
Hey John,
I ran a 110/90 18 on my Atlas for a while, and it's entirely too wide. The clearance is basically none, and it would rub on one side just the slightest bit once the tire got hot. I'd get rid of that wider tire, and stick with a 100/90 19. That's the proper fit.
The Avon website gives the actual width of their tires. For instance, I think the 110 is actually 116 in their measurements, so it's misleading.
You'll be bummed if you leave that wide tire on.
And you don't need a wide tire like that for it to handle great.
If I was you, I'd use a 100/90 19 Avon Roadrider Universal. Plenty of clearance, matches the front, looks great and handles perfectly. And I can attest to that after running different sizes and different widths, both on my Atlas, and my old Commando.
Do yourself a favor and just make the switch. You'll save a lot of headache and trial and error.
Jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff! I ordered another tire... 100/90 18 Roadrider Universal.

Anyone wanna buy an 4.00 - 18 Avon Roadrider with zero miles on it ..... I will make you a deal?
 
Do what most do and cut the chain gaurd mounts off, I found they sit to far on the inside of the swing arm, I run my Featherbed without a chain gaurd.

Ashley
 
It would be sacrilege to hank off the chain guard mount, just to fit a tire that's the wrong size anyway. Certainly tires are available that will fit without making such drastic modifications to an original swing arm. They're too rare to monkey them up like that, for quite literally no reason at all.
Collectively, we should all be preserving original bits at all cost.
 
wilkey113 said:
It would be sacrilege to hank off the chain guard mount, just to fit a tire that's the wrong size anyway. Certainly tires are available that will fit without making such drastic modifications to an original swing arm. They're too rare to monkey them up like that, for quite literally no reason at all.
Collectively, we should all be preserving original bits at all cost.
Click to expand...

+1

I try to make mods in a way that can be reversed.

Slick
 
I have 3 swing arms and 2 Featherbeds, 1 Wideline and 1 Slimline, I run 19" wheels on my Wideline and the old 410 KD1s fit well in my swing arm with plenty of room to spare, as for the chain gaurd lugs are easy to replace if I went that way and caferacers look better without a chain gaurd in my opinion.

Ashley
 
Johnnymac said:
wilkey113 said:
Hey John,
I ran a 110/90 18 on my Atlas for a while, and it's entirely too wide. The clearance is basically none, and it would rub on one side just the slightest bit once the tire got hot. I'd get rid of that wider tire, and stick with a 100/90 19. That's the proper fit.
The Avon website gives the actual width of their tires. For instance, I think the 110 is actually 116 in their measurements, so it's misleading.
You'll be bummed if you leave that wide tire on.
And you don't need a wide tire like that for it to handle great.
If I was you, I'd use a 100/90 19 Avon Roadrider Universal. Plenty of clearance, matches the front, looks great and handles perfectly. And I can attest to that after running different sizes and different widths, both on my Atlas, and my old Commando.
Do yourself a favor and just make the switch. You'll save a lot of headache and trial and error.
Jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff! I ordered another tire... 100/90 18 Roadrider Universal.

Anyone wanna buy an 4.00 - 18 Avon Roadrider with zero miles on it ..... I will make you a deal?
Click to expand...

How did the 100/90/18 tire fit? Just got my 1966 Atlas on road with AM26 400x18 and as previously said, very small clearance....
 
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