Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Tires for 1970 CH

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Tires for 1970 CH

    I'm assembling my '70 CH for future judging as a 'Period Modified' machine, with almost everything as factory-installed, but with a few changes I made to the bike when I bought the bike when I was young (around 1973), and that I'm keeping for nostalgic reasons.
    One sticking point is tires. The bike cam with an 18" Goodyear All-Traction on the rear and, if memory serves, a 19" Goodyear Sport-Rib on the front. I've been trying to find useable All-Traction tires for years without luck and, while I haven't looked for the Sport Rib tires yet, I'm guessing that they're scarce as well.
    Can anyone recommend replacement tires that look similar to the original ones?
    Thank You...
    Last edited by billpedalino; 09-02-2024, 08:33 AM.
    Bill Pedalino
    Huntington, New York
    AMCA 6755

  • #2
    Duro makes a front tire that looks similar to a sport rib and don’t cost a bundle, only problem is they’re not tapered bead and that’s a safety concern if still running tapered rims. I don’t think anyone ever made tapered bead tires other than Goodyear. The motor company put out a service bulletin back in the day when supplies ran out for dealers not to mount tires on tapered rims. The solution in the bulletin was to lace new standard rims.

    Comment


    • #3
      Tapered beads? Never heard that term before (live and learn). What years had them, and when did they change to standard rims? Thanks
      AMCA #41287
      1972 FX Boattail Night Train
      1972 Sportster project
      1971 Sprint SS350 project
      1982 FXR - AMCA 99.25 point restoration
      1979 FXS 1200 never done playing
      1998 Dyna Convertible - 100% Original
      96" Evo Softail self built chopper
      2012 103" Road King "per diem"
      plus 13 other bikes over the years...

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by joe fxs fxr View Post
        Tapered beads? Never heard that term before (live and learn). What years had them, and when did they change to standard rims? Thanks
        OBS and Joe,
        I agree and appreciate both responses, but I'm also not familiar with the term 'Taper Rim' Maybe it refers to what was then called 'Safety Beads'? Anyway, I'm running the OEM aluminum rims. Would that be a concern for the tires in question?
        Bill Pedalino
        Huntington, New York
        AMCA 6755

        Comment


        • #5
          Bill,

          My 1970 restored Sportster. Rear tire: Continental 4.00x18. Front tire: Continental 3,25x19. If you want a close to stock look on your restoration.

          Richard
          You do not have permission to view this gallery.
          This gallery has 3 photos.
          Richard Spagnolli
          AMCA #6153

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by billpedalino View Post

            OBS and Joe,
            I agree and appreciate both responses, but I'm also not familiar with the term 'Taper Rim' Maybe it refers to what was then called 'Safety Beads'? Anyway, I'm running the OEM aluminum rims. Would that be a concern for the tires in question?
            Safety bead rims and taper bead rims are not the same. H-D did taper bead to have a proprietary tire and tire supplier, it didn't work out so they quit for liability reasons.
            Robbie Knight Amca #2736

            Comment


            • #7
              Sorry Bill, thought I could help. After looking through a pile of Dunlop K-70s and Pirelli MT53s I found the one All Traction...and it is a 4.00-19. So no joy!
              Robbie Knight Amca #2736

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Rubone View Post

                Safety bead rims and taper bead rims are not the same. H-D did taper bead to have a proprietary tire and tire supplier, it didn't work out so they quit for liability reasons.
                Were there particular years for the taper bead rims?
                AMCA #41287
                1972 FX Boattail Night Train
                1972 Sportster project
                1971 Sprint SS350 project
                1982 FXR - AMCA 99.25 point restoration
                1979 FXS 1200 never done playing
                1998 Dyna Convertible - 100% Original
                96" Evo Softail self built chopper
                2012 103" Road King "per diem"
                plus 13 other bikes over the years...

                Comment


                • #9
                  Service Bulletin 597.
                  Eric



                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Rubone View Post
                    Sorry Bill, thought I could help. After looking through a pile of Dunlop K-70s and Pirelli MT53s I found the one All Traction...and it is a 4.00-19. So no joy!
                    Unfortunately, I had the same luck. I have an 18" All Traction tire that's in almost perfect condition, except that someone very neatly hacksawed straight through 50% the tire it at one location! I know that we did a lot of dumb things back in the 1970's, when we were young and dumb. But the reason why somebody would do that to a perfectly good, almost new tire remains a mystery to me. But I save it because it's such a beautiful example (except fort the cut).
                    Thank you so much for looking.....
                    Bill Pedalino
                    Huntington, New York
                    AMCA 6755

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Speeding Big Twin View Post
                      Service Bulletin 597.
                      Eric



                      Ah it's a 1970 only issue. My 72 should use normal tires, right? Same for my 72 FX. Thanks!
                      AMCA #41287
                      1972 FX Boattail Night Train
                      1972 Sportster project
                      1971 Sprint SS350 project
                      1982 FXR - AMCA 99.25 point restoration
                      1979 FXS 1200 never done playing
                      1998 Dyna Convertible - 100% Original
                      96" Evo Softail self built chopper
                      2012 103" Road King "per diem"
                      plus 13 other bikes over the years...

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I believe they ran tapered beads from 1970-76. Definitely more than a year or two. The tires are marked with a T after the size numbers on the sidewall.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I believe 1970-76 is correct, my basket 1974 has them. Lot of info on these in Sportsterpedia web page. Going to replace both rims to standard type rims.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by joe fxs fxr View Post
                            Ah it's a 1970 only issue. My 72 should use normal tires, right? Same for my 72 FX. Thanks!
                            Joe, sorry if I created confusion about how long those rims were used for.
                            Eric



                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Sportsterpedia says 1970-78 have CM rims. I know many put regular tires on them. I wouldn’t, I would lace in a modern rim.
                              Attached Files

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X