Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Whitewall Tires

Just over 10k miles and my front tire needs to be replaced. I want to put the wide white walls on both front and rear. Went into the Tech Vault and looked at some listed.

Anybody use these?

MAXXIS CLASSIC 120/90HB-18 FRONT WWW
MAXXIS CLASSIC 170/80HB-15 REAR WWW

Just over $200 from MotorcycleTire.com not including shipping

Any advice on these or others would be appreciated

Thanks

That's what I have. Like them a lot. You have to modify the front fender or it will rub.

Thanks

Does the whitewall continue to the rim? How long have you had them on?

Yes. here are some pics. I've only had them on since early June.

KaiserSoze-

My buddy who rides Harley says that Maxxims are really soft with respect to their cornering stability for their sidewalls. Is you accurrate or full of ##$YT#. How would you compare them to the Metzlers that came on the bike? I did the look, but don't want to sacrifice performance if I can get away with it.



Thanks.

My bike came with Bridgestones and the front is ready to be replaced at 10k miles, the back appears to be ok but want to change both.

Any other brand tires recommended? The Maxxis do have a nice look, but would prefer reliability and handling.

Does your friend have them on his bike?

Pokey

Hey Kevin,

You and I met a few years back over by Crofton. I have the lowered black bonnie with the flames. I had whitewalls on my bike then. There are 2 companies that I know of which make the whitewalls for our bikes. Maxxis and Dunlop. I’ve used them both but currently I have the Dunlop on mine. The Maxxis is a cheaper tire (cost wise), has a wider whitewall but does not handle as well as the Dunlop in the twistees and does not wear as well as them either. The problem with Dunlops is they are currently hard to get. They went on strike last year for a few months. When they came back on production, they delayed making the whitewalls to manufacture their more popular tires. I had ordered my set in Aug of 2007. I received the rear tire within 5 days but the front tire was on back order. I finally received the front tire in June of this year. Either way you will have to modify the front bracket so it doesn’t rub.

Gene (Fred)

Front tire choices in WWW are somewhat limited for our (Speedmaster & America) wheel size. Maxxis is one, and maybe Dunlop is the other. Both are a bit bigger than stock. To the best of my searching, no one makes a WWW in our stock size. As you likely know we have to go up a notch or two in size to make it work.

Metzler makes a rear WWW in the exact same size and tread pattern as what the Triumph factory issues in blackwall. I don't recall the model name off hand. Whatever it's called, it's an excellent tire wet or dry, in my opinion.

I have a Maxxis WWW on the front of an '05 Speedmaster. With one & 1/2 row of chicken strips left & around 5,000 miles, I can't tell any adhesion or handling difference between the Metzler front and the Maxxis front.

Weird science fact of the day -- didja know a narrower rear tire would make our bikes handle mo' bettah? Yep.

Hey Gene:

I sent you a PM a week or so ago, I do remember you. Nice Bike!

I ordered the Maxxis and received the rear last week and the front today. Going to have them mounted tomorrow.

What did you do to modify the front fender so they will fit?

Thanks

Kevin

You can do one of 2 things. Either cut the middle 2" out of your front fender bracket or raise the bracket. I've done both to mine. If you want to meet up this Sunday, I've got to cruise up to Baltimore Sunday afternoon. We can meet up early Sunday afternoon at the same place I met you last time (301 & 450). I should be up that way around 1:00-1:30 and I can show you on my bike.

Thanks for the info. I'd like to meet up but we are going to the Poker Run up in Thurmont on Sunday and are leaving around 8AM. I'll try again later in the week if you can.

I dropped off my wheels and tires this AM to be mounted and will put them on tonight (I hope).

I'll see what I can do with the fender bracket.