Tires: New versus old.

[portagepan]

Just a note here, and not to knock anyone. Finally got my '65 FLH back on the road recently, with Coker Classic whitewalls. Before, it had those silly looking "gangster" whitewalls by Dunlop. It handled fine with them, but I just couldn't stand how they looked. I rode it over 300 miles with the Cokers, but I have switched back to new Harley thin whitewall Dunlops. The Cokers had some odd handling traits, and honestly, I felt a little unsafe. From about 20 to 40 MPH, the bike would seek it's own direction, and on certain surfaces, at higher speeds, it would want to go one way or the other occasionally. Not good. I am just saying this so others may have more info on problems they may run into. No pun intended. I changed the fork oil this year, and the head bearings, and swingarm seem good. The shocks are OK. No breaks in the frame. I think there is a limit to what these old style tires can do, especially on the later, heavier Panheads. They may work great on lighter hardtails. Before long, I will contact Coker to see what they might say about this. But I have a feeling that this is just the way it is. My bikes are for riding, not looking at, so.............. And yes, the new Dunlops handle great. One more thing. I had cheap repro fishtails on it, and now I put my NOS "extra quiet" mufflers on it. What an improvement! They don't sound loud and tinny, and I swear to you, the bike runs better with them on. I am sure there is a logical reason for the improvement, but I like to think that doing it right with good old parts just sometimes makes the machine happier. Mike

[bmh]

We saw a set of cokers a few years ago that were horrible. While the wheels were true to under .030 " the tread on the tires had a run out of almost half an inch. The bike handled very poorly to say the least. It took a while to find that, we re-checked the wheel bearings first, followed by the head bearings and steering damper. Didn't really think that brand new tires in this day and age would be to blame. especially ones that cost that much. Cokers reply was that the tires are for restoration only and not intended for highway use.

[exeric]

I've had good luck with Coker tires, especially 5.00 x 16. I think the most critical thing with this size of tire for a Hydra-Glide is tire pressure. H-D recommened pressures under 15 lbs. and I know for a fact that higher pressures will reek havoc with the riders sense of security. In other words, the bike will not handle.

[portagepan]

I don't know what Cokers you had, but these say right on them 32 PSI cold. I tried them with 22, but it didn't make any difference.
Mike

[Chris Haynes]

The Coker Commanders have the old style tread pattern. The reason tread patterns on motorcycles took a diagonal pattern was because all the major highways where being built with rain grooves in them. It is the rain grooves that give you the ill handling on old design tires.

[Lonnie]

The air pressure listed on the sidewall is the maximum pressure as determined by the manufacturer. My van, for instance, has tires with 85 psi listed but I run them at 65 psi. A previous set, same size but different manufacturer, was listed at 65 psi max.

I had a set of the Cokers Classic Cycle Diamond Treads, 4.50x18 on an early knucklehead that exhibited the same weird handling traits and were also out of round. I scrapped them and went to the same size in their Firestone Deluxe Champion - a world of difference! I have since run the Champions on several old rigid frame Harleys with no problems whatsoever though I do run them about 2-4 PSI higher than the Harley manual says, max rear about 18 psi. I prefer the 18's. I also ran the 5.00x16 Coker Classics (not Diamond Tread) on a '50 pan but did not like them as much as the Firestones.

Perhaps the extra weight of the Electra-Glide is too much for these repro tires. And you are right, though, about the Dunlops. A good friend ran a set on his otherwise restored '52 that he took on many AMCA Nat'l road runs and he swore they were the best thing he did to the bike.

[Ohio-Rider]

I've been using the 5x16 Cokers on my fullsize panhead with springer front end and the only time they give me an uneasy feeling is in construction zones where the asphalt has been strip. Mine are also stamped for 32psi, but at that pressure they handle like I'm riding thru an oil slick. I keep em at 18psi even when two up riding and I can't complain.

I wonder why there are so many differant opinions about the same tires?

[exeric]

Coker had nothing to do with designing motorcycles for Harley Davidson. If H-D says to run 12 lbs. in the front and 14 lbs. in the rear and adjust for weight increases then that's what you do.

[Ohio-Rider]

Cokers reply was that the tires are for restoration only and not intended for highway use.

Brian, I have heard this said, time and time again, but have never really seen it stamped on a tire. It may just be a folk lore.

[bmh]

Ohio Rider,
I can't remember if that reply came straight from Coker or thier distributor, It was verbal over the phone though. In just a quick look across the desk at least the J&P catalog carries a disclaimer under Coker tires" For antique restoration only". The tires I seen did not come from them though, most likely Tiawan Tedd. If I hadn't seen them on the truing stand with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it either. They were 5.00X16 Goodyear style if memeory serves. This was the only set I have seen but have heard similar complaints from others. This was also the last set of cokers we dealt with. Could've been a bad batch or Tedd selling rejects, don't know. Was about 2 years ago.

[Paps]

If they were not seated all the way around the rim, they will runout that bad also. Air pressure alone will not seat all tires. Unlike automotive tires, where you hear a loud pop, when the tire bead seats on the rim, many a bike tire, doesn't provide such indication, of a good 360 degree bead seating. I have run across this situation many a time. There is a way to make the tire seat completely though. That would be best explained in another topic, such as tool or maintenance. Most of the tires have a small thin rib which runs the diameter of both sides of a tire. When this rib is spaced away from the rim edge equally, on both sides of the rim, the tire is completely seated. Paps

[portagepan]

I think we had a set of posts on tires a while back. I have heard many tales about Coker, and the other repo tire makers. I do know that some of the Coker auto tires are strictly for show/parade, because they are modeled on VERY old tire styles. I talked to people before I bought mine and some said they work great, some "be careful, get the USA made ones", etc. I started this thread simply on the thought of that day, and the fact I was happy that the Dunlops worked so well. I would expect any modern tire to perform better than the old style. I just had to say that, honestly, I wasn't comfortabe with the handling of the Cokers. I have too much time and money tied up in my bike, and former injuries from riding, to take a chance on tires just for "correctness". If you see me at a meet, I hope it is because I rode there. I only take the van when I am going dumpster diving for greasy old parts, and women. As long as we are honest about our concerns, I don't think it hurts to bring them up here.
Mike

[Paps]

Mike, I agree with the ride em principles completely. I have Coker replicas with the firestone name on them, for putting purposes only. If I were to ride the bike on any long journey, I would go with modern tire tread designs as well. I'll be purchases Cokers for my WLA also. It is a less than 50 mph bike. They will handle that speed fine. For the record though, Cokers do have the DOT class on all of them. The disclaimers made by vendors is strickly for their own protection. Paps

By they way, Are you gonna make that meet Denise mentioned in another topic ? I still don't know the details of it.

[INLINE4NUT]

Just my two cents worth here but the only true word on PSI should come from the TIRE Manufacter,They are the ones that set up the specs for their tires and vary from tire company to company.

[Paps]

Yep ! That is a given also. Play around with the pressures though. Don't exceed the manufactures specs but play untill you hit what works best with your machine. Paps