White wall tires on valk

[jwebber45]

Has anyone seen white wall tires for the Lady. I think they would look great, but can not find them in our sizes. Just askin'!!!

[John Schmidt]

The new Jake Wilson catalog has a bunch of whitewalls for bikes. I wasn't interested so didn't check sizes, you might want to go online and take a look.

[bigdog99]

i was told the white wall makes the side walls thinner and less stable, they do not make them for tires that wide. i would have definately had some. its too bad car tires are only white wall on one side. 

[Jess from VA]

There's always paint.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.m748&item=170572866399&viewitem=&_trkparms=clkid%3D5355486783293337142

http://vespazine.blogspot.com/2006/01/whitewall-tire-paint-application-how.html

http://rod-your-ride.com/whitewalls.aspx



Personally, I dislike white walls... to each their own.

[R J]

Whitewalls was during the 50 - 70's era.

They are out of season now.

[JimC]

It took me a while to find the sizes that fit the valkyrie, but here is what I have,
The 150-80-17 front was replaced with a 140-80-17 (D404)
The 180-70-16 rear was replaced with a 180-65-16 (D407)

The rear tire is one of the new tri rubber designs and can only be bought at a Harley dealership. The front can be had from any of the major tire dealers.

Both tires are Dunlap bias ply. To be honest, I can not tell the difference between the radials and the bias ply. I will admit to triple digits on a regular basis, but I am not one that rides like a raped ape in the twisties, and that is where the radial is probably better.

One thing for sure, I can find my bike easily in a parking lot full of Valks. And RJ is right, I was going for the 50's lead sled look with it.

Jim

[jwebber45]

Thanks guys, I know they were a thing of the 50/60's but I still like them. I think they would really dress the lady up.

Jim, thanks for the sizes. I was always woundering if another size would fit without altering the safety of the ride. How long have you had them on? Looks sharp on your Lady!

[Hoser]

It took me a while to find the sizes that fit the valkyrie, but here is what I have,
The 150-80-17 front was replaced with a 140-80-17 (D404)
The 180-70-16 rear was replaced with a 180-65-16 (D407)

The rear tire is one of the new tri rubber designs and can only be bought at a Harley dealership. The front can be had from any of the major tire dealers.

Both tires are Dunlap bias ply. To be honest, I can not tell the difference between the radials and the bias ply. I will admit to triple digits on a regular basis, but I am not one that rides like a raped ape in the twisties, and that is where the radial is probably better.

One thing for sure, I can find my bike easily in a parking lot full of Valks. And RJ is right, I was going for the 50's lead sled look with it.

Jim

How do you think mine would look with white walls?  I am considering the ones you used.  Saw your bike at Inzane, liked it a lot.  Hoser
 

[JimC]

jweber,

I have been running the whitewalls since June, (3-4,000 mi.) they have held up very well, I can not see any wear patterns developing at all. 

I bought used tins to paint, and painted the whitewalls just to make sure I would like the look. I could not bring myself to paint the old fenders and tank because they were so nice.  I can always change back, but I doubt I will.

I would not recommend the whitewall paint, I tried that first on my old set of tires. I used a paint that was designed for rubber rafts used on the big yachts, and it held ok, but the black bled through and they looked terrible after only 100 miles. (look at one of the links posted above)  Plus, it is a lot of work roughing up the rubber with sand paper and masking them off. I had 15-20 hours of time invested,  and the paint was about $40.00 for a quart.

Jim   

[JimC]

Hoser,

If you are asking me, I would say it would look great, but then again, I like things to be different, and of course I am biased. 

I will be interested to see what others think.

Jim

[jwebber45]

I too would think it would look great.. I'm trying to post a pic of my Valk.. How do U post pics? Thanks

[MP]

I think it would look good, hoser.  With your color combo, it would be nice.

Plus, going back to the 50's, you would like like you were still in your 40's!  LOL   

MP

[JimC]

Jweber,
I sent you a private message on posting the pictures
Jim

[jwebber45]

Damn, it worked, Thanks Jim, I guess i'll get the hang of this computer thing yet!!!

Well this is my ride that I want to put white-walls on. Some mods are not in this pic and the wooden flag pole is long gone. missing is the OEM windshield and the OEM saddlebag rails, as is the chrome side covers.

So what do ya think...White walls or no whitewalls? Thanks for all your imput.

[hubcapsc]

So what do ya think...White walls or no whitewalls? Thanks for all your imput.

I think that the white walls look good on the red bike, and that they could look good on your bike, and
that I'd be too timid to run non-standard tires on my bike based on looks rather than performance...



We got people running car tires, and rear tires mounted backwards on the front and all kinds of stuff,
and none of them are dead... and some people who run the bestest rightest tire they can find and it
blows up on them... http://www.recalllawsuit.com/2010/05/motorcycle-crash-risk-prompts-avon-cobra-av72-tire-recall/

-Mike "just some data points"

[JimC]

Mike,
 I see your point about the tires, but I have to disagree with the tires being non standard. No they were not standard equipment on a Valkyrie, but then again the tires that came standard on the Valk are no longer made from what I understand.

If my memory serves me correctly, the whitewall on the rear of my bike has a load rating 200 or 225 lbs heavier than the tire I took off. The front tire was a little higher, but not much, so that should not be an issue. The only thing different is the way the plys are laid when the tire was made.  

Like I said in my first post, I do not run the twisties like some do, (I can only remember scraping a foot peg twice and that was not at a high speed) so I feel comfortable with them.  

Jim

[Jess from VA]

How do you think mine would look with white walls?  I am considering the ones you used.  Saw your bike at Inzane, liked it a lot.  Hoser

Hoser, not to be contrary, but while some think WW's would look good on your bike, don't you think pure "white" wall tires would clash pretty badly with your cream colored bike?  As opposed to the nice contrast on the red and white and black and silver (or even the pink) Valks.

I'm just sayin  


 

[Hoser]

Hell, the way Valks go through tires, if I don't like em, it won't take long to wear em out!  And thanks MP, for your dig, you must learn to respect your elders. Fifty-nine for a high today, by the way.       hoser

[MP]

Hell, the way Valks go through tires, if I don't like em, it won't take long to wear em out!  And thanks MP, for your dig, you must learn to respect your elders. Fifty-nine for a high today, by the way.       hoser

The 50's temp is enough of a dig to get back at me!   

MP

[Redline +]

How do you think mine would look with white walls?  I am considering the ones you used.  Saw your bike at Inzane, liked it a lot.  Hoser

Hoser, not to be contrary, but while some think WW's would look good on your bike, don't you think pure "white" wall tires would clash pretty badly with your cream colored bike?  As opposed to the nice contrast on the red and white and black and silver (or even the pink) Valks.

I'm just sayin  


 

+1, the white and cream isn't going to work, JMO.

Redline

[Hoser]

Somebody photoshop some whitewalls on my Pic above, pleez?    It's on photobucket, if that has anything to do with it,  I have no clue.  Hoser 

[Jess from VA]

Something like this.  (I cannot photoshop)



Or just go out and hang a pure white tshirt up under your front fender, draped over the tire.

[MP]

What if hoser just let them get dirty and crudy?  Would they then match the creme on his bike?  LOL   

MP

[Jess from VA]

What if hoser just let them get dirty and crudy?  Would they then match the creme on his bike?  LOL   :evil:MP

Actually, what I was thinking, was to get the special white wall tire paint (using proper size tires) and then enlist the help of a paint mixer (at a custom auto supply shop), to tint the paint for the wheels to match the cream color of the bike.

Again, I do not like WW tires on cars or bikes.  I mean, if I had an old Cord or Deusenberg, then I'd have gangster white walls, otherwise, no. 

[Hoser]

What if hoser just let them get dirty and crudy?  Would they then match the creme on his bike?  LOL   

MP

Now Mp, yah know my bike is never dirty, except when I'm tailing you in your hack in the rain.     hoser

[B]

Best thing they ever did was lose the whitewalls on cars ... NEVER on my Valk! i ALWAYS hated cleaning those damn things. Color me TOO DAMN LAZY for whitewalls     I'd rather be polishing all that "safety chrome"!      What was I thinking adding more and more chrome?

[PharmBoy]

I was looking through the Jake Wilson catalog (www.jakewilson.com) last night and was surprised to find that they do carry Metzeler 880R's in Wide White Wall that are the correct size for our Valks.  Just in case anyone is interested...JTL 

[39 Chev]

I personally like whitewalls (I'm an old guy), but I think they look best with wire wheels, especially on BLACK bikes.

When I bought my Valk, I looked around to see if anyone made wire wheels for it.  I think there's one outfit somewhere that supposedly makes them, but I emailed them and never got a response.

Here's my old VTX 1800 R/S with whitewalls.  I got compliments everywhere I went with that bike, but the Valk is a much better bike to ride (in my opinion).

[JimC]

39 chev,
I agree 100% that they look better with wire wheels, but like you said they do not make em for the valk or I would be saving up for them.
Sweet VTX by the way!
Jim

[JimC]

pharmboy,
I just checked again, and could not find the correct valk size on their site.
It shows a front tire in a 150-80 but is a 16 inch wheel, not 17 inch

I could find nothing close in Metzler for the rear in white wall.

If you could PM me with the link.
Thanks, Jim

[PharmBoy]

On page 158 of their catalog:  150/80R-17 White Sidewall V-149mph    Front  (load 783lbs.)
                                         180/70R-16 White Sidewall H-130mph    Rear    (load 908lbs.)
Both are ME880R.  I had to go back and look for sure, since I was just skimming through the catalog to pass the time.  I couldn't find a catalog #, but their phone # is 800-721-8253.  Not affiliated in any way, ETC., ETC...JTL

[f6rider]

if the valk wasnt my daily rider I would put ww on her. just looks great on a cruiser. And Harley spec,d tires can handle the weight, but wont have the handling qualities of the radials..

[idaida98]

I was speaking to someone at Jake Wilsons while ordering a rear Avon Cobra and he said they come with whitewalls.

[BradValk48237]

Im a child of the Eighty's.....

Spent a lot of time scrubbing those raised White letter tires... had em on my Car and all my road bikes...

Used to go thru a lot of Comet..LOL

But I kinda still like the look... but they are hard to find....

B