Tires for 1970 CH

[billpedalino]

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...

[otis71]

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.

[joe fxs fxr]

Tapered beads? Never heard that term before (live and learn). What years had them, and when did they change to standard rims? Thanks

[billpedalino]

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?

[Spag]

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

[Rubone]

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.

[Rubone]

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!

[joe fxs fxr]

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?

[Speeding Big Twin]

Service Bulletin 597.
Eric

[billpedalino]

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.....

[joe fxs fxr]

Service Bulletin 597.
Eric

Ah it's a 1970 only issue. My 72 should use normal tires, right? Same for my 72 FX. Thanks!

[otis71]

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.

[Buster]

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.

[Speeding Big Twin]

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

[Buster]

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.