Harley-Davidson Touring Wheel and Tire Sizes by Model, 2000 to Present

One of the most common questions we get is simply: "What fits my bike?" The answer depends on your model and year. Harley-Davidson has made a number of changes to the Touring models since 2000. Some of them, such as the triple trees and forks, do not affect which wheel you can fit. Others directly affect wheel size and fitment: the new rear swingarm in 2009, and the front brake rotor sizes and bolt patterns, which have changed several times since 2008. The tables below list the factory wheel and tire sizes for Touring models from 2000 to the present, together with the largest rim and tire that can be fitted without modifying the motorcycle's chassis.

How to read this table

Rim sizes are shown as diameter x width in inches: a 16 x 3 rim is 16 inches in diameter and 3 inches wide at the bead seat. Tire sizes are shown in the standard metric format: a 130/90-16 tire is 130mm wide, with a sidewall height that is 90 percent of that width, for a 16-inch rim. (For a full explanation, see How to Read Motorcycle Tire and Rim Sizes.)

"Max without modification" means the largest combination that fits the stock chassis — without a raked triple tree, swingarm change or frame work. It does not mean nothing else changes. A taller front wheel still needs a fender solution (a lift bracket or a larger fender), and the calipers must still be checked and shimmed as needed. Treat these figures as the practical upper limit for a bolt-in upgrade, not a guarantee that every tire of that size will clear every bike. Tire dimensions vary between manufacturers and models, so always check clearance.

Front wheels — Touring models

Rear wheels — Touring models

What the table tells you

Read down the columns and a few patterns stand out — patterns that explain most of the Touring upgrade questions we hear.

2009 was the big rear-wheel year. Up to 2008, Touring models ran a 16 x 3 rear rim with a narrow 130 or 140 series tire, and the largest rear that fit without modification was an 18 x 4.25 but note, clearances are exceedingly tight. In 2009, Harley-Davidson introduced a new Touring frame and swingarm, and the stock rear went to a 16 x 5 rim with a 180/65-16 tire. From 2009 onward, every Touring model can take an 18 x 5.5 rear with a 200/50-18 tire without modification. If you own a 2008 or earlier bagger and want a wide rear tire, the swingarm — not the wheel — is the limit.

Our recommendation : a 180 rear. The table shows that every 2009-and-later Touring model can take an 18 x 5.5 rear wheel with a 200/50-18 tire. That it fits does not make it the better choice, and we always recommend a 180/55-18 instead. On a Touring motorcycle, the clearances around the rear tire are already tight: the belt runs close to the tire on one side, and the swingarm, fender and saddlebag supports are close on the other. A 200 uses up most of that margin. And there is very little to gain in return. The two tires stand almost exactly the same height, so the 200 does not change the stance, and with the saddlebags in place, most of the extra width is hidden from view. The 180 leaves room for the belt and the fender, gives a wider choice of replacement tires, and keeps the steering light and neutral as the bike leans into a turn. It is the size we fit, and the size we recommend.

Every Touring model takes a 21-inch front. Whatever the stock front diameter, every Touring model from 2000 to the present can take a 21 x 3.5 front wheel with either a 120/70-21 or a 130/60-21 tire without chassis modification. The 2014 change to 49mm fork tubes did not change that. It does mean that parts built around the front end, such as raked triple trees and fat-front fenders, are specific to 2013-and-earlier or 2014-and-later models, and clearances on the later forks are tighter for fat front tires. A 21-inch front stands taller than the stock front, so it still needs a fender solution: a lift bracket or a 21-inch fender, or at least enlarging holes and rocking the fender. Anything larger than a 21 x 3.5, such as a 23-inch, a 26-inch or a 21 x 5.5 fat front, needs a raked triple tree and a new fender. (See Going Bigger Up Front. For what a 21-inch front does to stance, fender clearance and steering, see Sizing and Fitment: Front vs Rear, 16, 18 and 21 Explained.)

The overall diameter barely changes. Notice that the stock fronts run from 16 inches to 19 inches, yet the tires shrink in sidewall as the rim grows: 130/90-16, 130/80-17, 130/70-18, 130/60-19. Work out the overall diameter of each and they all come out at about 25.2 inches. Harley-Davidson has kept the front tire's outside diameter nearly constant while increasing the rim size, so steering geometry, speedometer calibration and fender clearance stay the same. This is the principle of "plus-sizing," and it is the single most useful idea to understand before choosing a custom wheel. A larger rim with the correct low-profile tire can be a bolt-in change.

Late models already run the big rims. From 2017 the "Special" models and, by 2020, most of the Touring range left the factory on 19-inch fronts and 18 x 5.5 rears. For these bikes, a custom wheel in the stock size is a style change, and the upgrade path to a larger front is the modification route described above.

Since 2021, only the diameters have moved. The hub and rim widths have not changed since 2020. What has changed from model to model is the front diameter, and the tire that goes with it. The Road King and the full-dress Ultra Limited and Road Glide Limited ran an 18-inch front with a 130/70-18 tire. The Street Glide, Road Glide and their Special and ST variants ran a 19-inch front with a 130/60-19. The Electra Glide Standard kept the 17-inch front and 16-inch rear. By 2026, with the Limited models replacing the Ultra Limited and Electra Glide, the whole standard Touring range had settled on a 19-inch front and an 18-inch rear.

The 2024 redesign did not change wheel fitment. The 2024 Street Glide and Road Glide brought new bodywork, a new fairing and more rear suspension travel, but the chassis is an evolution of the 2009 frame with the 2014 front end. The largest bolt-in sizes are unchanged: a 21 x 3.5 front and an 18 x 5.5 rear.

Remember plus-sizing. An 18-inch front with a 130/70-18 and a 19-inch front with a 130/60-19 stand within a tenth of an inch of each other in overall diameter. That is why an 18-inch-front Ultra Limited or Road Glide Limited can take a 19-inch wheel with a 130/60-19 as a bolt-in change: the rim is larger, but the tire height, geometry and fender clearance stay the same.

Before you order

The table is a starting point, not the final word. Confirm your model code and model year from your registration or VIN, not from memory — mid-year changes and special editions are common. Factory specifications differ by market, and a previous owner may have changed the front end, fender or swingarm. When in doubt, call us with your VIN and we will confirm the correct wheel for your motorcycle.

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