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Clincher rim and tire sizing information

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  • Clincher rim and tire sizing information

    Joe Drociuk of jd yahoo groups gave me permission to share his reply to me about clincher rim and tire sizing. i really found it helpful as i really enjoy learning as much as i can. and it tells me my rims and tires are the "matching sizes" tells me very clearly i need to wait for a 90 degree day, do some hand and fore arm strengthening exercises, suck it up and be a man.....

    From Joe:

    "The motorcycle clincher rims of the teens and twentys changed the way they were designated around 1925. In the teens and twenty's 22 inch rims had a 3 inch tire mounted and were called 28X3. That designation was the total diameter of the wheel. 22 inch rim plus 3 inch tires added twice totalled a wheel diameter of 28 inches. Thus, 28X3.

    However, the manufacturers changed the designation when they came out with 18 and 20 inch rims. The 18 and 20 inch rim was the bare rim diamter less the clincher flange as you came up with in your 20 rim measurements. Then they added the 3.85" tire twice to the rim to a total wheel diameter of aprox 27.7 inch but that figure was no longer used to designate wheel size. They now designate the rim size (20)" in your case 20 X 3.85" tire diameter only, hence 20 X 3.85. No mention of total wheel diameter any longer. Drop center rims came in August 29 for Indian and Harley on 1930 models. Tires are still designated this way on drop center rims today, , example would be as in a VL and WLA , or Indian 400-18 of the thirtys on or the more modern newer FLH, H-Dav would be 500-16 or a car tire like 600-16, or 750-16...forget the metric . Also note that on clinchers, the clincher flange is not measured and it has no effect on wheel size, that also applys to drop center rims, that flange is also not in the measurement. it just holds the tire but only then if it has plenty of air in on clinchers or the clincher rim will throw the freakin tire off, happened to me a couple of times, not funny....Joe"
    Last edited by Steve Swan; 03-23-2016, 06:49 PM. Reason: in quotes
    Steve Swan

    27JD 11090 Restored
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClUPIOo7-o8
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtuptEAlU30

    27JD 13514 aka "Frank"
    https://forum.antiquemotorcycle.org/...n-Project-SWAN
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNRB...nnel=steveswan

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSDeuTqD9Ks
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwlIsZKmsTY

  • #2
    Hey guys, first time writer--long time reader here. I have a 1925 JD that I ride quite a bit. I just changed from a 19" drop-center back to the correct (20" clinchers) rims. I bought the rims from Al McRoberts and had them re-laced at Buchanan's. I couldnt be happier with the outcome. The 19" rims made the bike look small, the 20's made a huge difference. I used coker tires and bought the tubes from them as well. SIDEBAR: last weekend I had a flat on the front tire. I was dreading trying to get the tire off the rim with the struggle I had to install--I installed by hand because I didnt want to scratch the powder coat. I used some 'plastic tire spoons' I bought on EBAY with ease and the tires slipped off and back on easy. The valve stem on the old tube had separated. :-( ANYWAY, if anyone needs some 19" chrome drop centers, tires, and spokes..... :-)

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    • #3
      a local is putting together 29, i was pleasantly surprised how easy the clincher tires came of the rims, we used tire iron to get the first part over the rim, i would say the remaining 98% came off using our hands.
      Steve Swan

      27JD 11090 Restored
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClUPIOo7-o8
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtuptEAlU30

      27JD 13514 aka "Frank"
      https://forum.antiquemotorcycle.org/...n-Project-SWAN
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNRB...nnel=steveswan

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSDeuTqD9Ks
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwlIsZKmsTY

      Comment

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