HOME 2.29 TIRES GENERAL CLEANING, INSPECTION, AND REPAIR 1. Clean the inside of tire. 2. If rim is dirty, clean with a stiff wire brush. Use only Harley-Davidson approved tires. See a Harley- Davidson dealer. Using non-approved tires can adversely affect stability, which could result in death or serious injury. (00024a) 3. Wheels should be checked for lateral and radial runout before installing a new tire. See 2.28 DISC RIM RUNOUT . 4. Inspect the tire for wear and damage. Inspect tread depth. Replace worn tires. Be sure tires are properly inflated, balanced and have adequate tread. Inspect your tires regularly and see a Harley-Davidson dealer for replacements.
Riding with excessively worn, unbalanced or under-inflated tires can adversely affect stability and handling, which could result in death or serious injury. (00014a) Replace punctured or damaged tires. In some cases, small punctures in the tread area may be repaired from within the demounted tire by a Harley-Davidson dealer. Speed should NOT exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) for the first 24 hours after repair, and the repaired tire should NEVER be used over 80 mph (130 km/h). Failure to follow this warning could result in death or serious injury. (00015a) New tires should be stored on a horizontal tire rack. Avoid stacking new tires in a vertical stack.
The weight of the stack compresses the tires and closes down the beads. 5. Tubeless tires may be repaired in the tread area only if the puncture is 6.4 mm (1/4 in.) or smaller. All repairs must be made from inside the tire. Tires should be inspected for punctures, cuts, breaks and wear at least weekly. REMOVAL 6. Acceptable repair method involves the use of a patch and plug combination. NOTE Care must be taken when removing and installing tire to prevent cosmetic damage to wheel.This is especially true with wheels that feature painted surfaces. TIRE REPLACEMENT Inspection 1. Remove wheel from motorcycle. See 1.13 TIRES AND WHEELS . 2. Deflate tire.
Harley-Davidson tires are equipped with wear bars that run horizontally across the tread.When wear bars become visible and only 1/32 in. (0.8 mm) tread depth remains, replace tire immediately. Using a worn tire can adversely affect stability and handling, which could result in death or serious injury. Use only Harley-Davidson approved replacement tires. (00090b) 3. See Figure 2-92 . Loosen both tire beads from rim flange. In most cases, a bead breaker machine will be required to loosen the beads from the rim. 4. Remove tire. See Figure 2-93 . Arrows on tire sidewalls pinpoint location of 2009 VRSC Service: Chassis 2-75 wear bar indicators.
sm03118 Tread wear indicator bars will ap when 0.8 mm (1/32 in.) or less Figure 2-94. Always replace tires b ator bars appear. When To Replace Tires New tires are needed if any of the 1. Tread wear indicator bars be surfaces. 2. Tire cords or fabric become vi walls, snags or deep cuts. 3. A bump, bulge or split in the ti Figure 2-92. Loosening Beads from Rim Flange (Typical) 4. Puncture, cut or other damag repaired. 2009 VRS wear bar indicators. Tread wear indicator bars will ap when 0.8 mm (1/32 in.) or less Figure 2-94. Always replace tires b ator bars appear. When To Replace Tires New tires are needed if any of the 1. Tread wear indicator bars be surfaces. 2.
Tire cords or fabric become vi walls, snags or deep cuts. 3. A bump, bulge or split in the ti eads from Rim Flange (Typical) 4. Puncture, cut or other damag repaired. 2009 VRS Figure 2-92. Loosening B