Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200X Forty-Eight - Owner's Manual > Tire Data

Match tires, tubes, rim strips or seals, air valves and caps to the correct wheel. Contact a Harley-Davidson dealer. Mismatching can lead to tire damage, allow tire slippage on the wheel or cause tire failure, which could result in death or serious injury.

Only install original equipment tire valves and valve caps. A valve, or valve and cap combination, that is too long or too heavy can strike adjacent components and damage the valve, causing rapid tire deflation. Rapid tire deflation can cause loss of vehicle control, which could result in death or serious injury.

Use only Harley-Davidson specified tires. See a Harley-Davidson dealer. Using non-specified tires can adversely affect stability, handling or braking, which could result in death or serious injury.

Refer to Specified Tires for specified tires and recommended pressures.

Tubeless tires fitted with the correct size inner tubes may be used on Harley-Davidson laced (wire spoked) wheels. Install a new rim strip and correct size inner tube each time a new tire is installed on a laced wheel.

Harley-Davidson front and rear tires are not the same. Interchanging front and rear tires can cause tire failure, which could result in death or serious injury.

Be sure tires are properly inflated, balanced, undamaged, and have adequate tread. Inspect your tires regularly and see a Harley-Davidson dealer for replacements. Riding with excessively worn, unbalanced, improperly inflated, overloaded or damaged tires can lead to tire failure and adversely affect stability and handling, which could result in death or serious injury.

Always maintain proper tire pressure as specified in Specified Tires. Do not load tires beyond GAWR specified in Weights: XL883 Models. Underinflated, over-inflated or overloaded tires can fail.

Replace tire immediately with a Harley-Davidson specified tire when wear bars become visible Replace tire immediately with a Harley-Davidson specified tire when wear bars become visible or only 1/32 in (0.8 mm) tread depth remains. Riding with a worn tire could result in death or serious injury.

Do not use liquid tire balancers or sealants in aluminum wheels. Using liquid tire balancers or sealants can cause rapid corrosion of the rim surface, which could cause tire deflation. Tire deflation can cause loss of vehicle control, which could result in death or serious injury.

Harley-Davidson tires have wear bars that run horizontally across the tread. When a tire is worn to the point that the wear bars are visible, or 1/32 in 0.8 mm tread depth remains, the tire can:

• Be more easily damaged leading to tire failure.

• Provide reduced traction.

• Adversely affect stability and handling.

Harley-Davidson does not perform any testing with only nitrogen in tires. Harley-Davidson neither recommends nor discourages the use of pure nitrogen to inflate tires.

India Tire Compliance Statement: Harley-Davidson Motor Company declares that the tires listed in the specifications section (India Only) meet the Indian Standard 15627 requirement of the Bureau of Indian Standards (as amended from time to time) required for registration of vehicles assembled/manufactured in India. These tires also comply with the Central Motor Vehicle Rules requirements, 1989.

Gasoline Blends

Your motorcycle was designed to get the best performance and efficiency using unleaded gasoline. Most gasoline is blended with alcohol and/or ether to create oxygenated blends. The type and amount of alcohol or ether added to the fuel is important.

Do not use gasoline that contains methanol. Doing so can result in fuel system component failure, engine damage and/or equipment malfunction.

• Gasoline/METHYL TERTIARY BUTYL ETHER (MTBE) blends are a mixture of gasoline and as much as 15 percent MTBE. Gasoline/MTBE blends use in your motorcycle is approved.

• ETHANOL fuel is a mixture of ethanol (grain alcohol) and unleaded gasoline and can have an impact on fuel mileage. Fuels with an ethanol content of up to 10 percent may be used in your motorcycle without affecting vehicle performance. U.S. EPA regulations currently indicate that fuels with 15 percent ethanol (E15) are restricted from use in motorcycles at the time of this publication. Some motorcycles are calibrated to operate with higher ethanol concentrations to meet the fuel standards in certain countries.

• REFORMULATED OR OXYGENATED GASOLINES (RFG) describes gasoline blends that are specifically designed to burn cleaner than other types of gasoline. This results in fewer tailpipe emissions. They are also formulated to evaporate less when filling the tank. Reformulated gasolines use additives to oxygenate the gas. Your motorcycle will run normally using this type of fuel. Harley-Davidson recommends using it whenever possible as an aid to cleaner air in our environment.

• Do not use racing fuel or fuel containing methanol. Use of these fuels will damage the fuel system.

• Using fuel additives other than those approved for use by Harley-Davidson may damage the engine, fuel system and other components.

Some gasoline blends might adversely affect starting, driveability or fuel efficiency. If any of these problems are experienced, try a different brand of gasoline or gasoline with a higher octane blend.

Fuel

Always use a good quality unleaded gasoline. Octane ratings are usually found on the pump. Refer to Octane Ratings.

Avoid spills. Slowly remove filler cap. Do not fill above bottom of filler neck insert, leaving air space for fuel expansion. Secure filler cap after refueling. Gasoline is extremely flammable and highly explosive, which could result in death or serious injury.

Use care when refueling. Pressurized air in fuel tank can force gasoline to escape through filler tube. Gasoline is extremely flammable and highly explosive, which could result in death or serious injury.

Modern service station pumps dispense a high flow of gasoline into a motorcycle fuel tank. This can cause air entrapment and pressurization.

Octane Ratings

Certain market Sportster model motorcycles have catalytic converters.

Do not operate catalytic converter-equipped vehicle with engine misfire. If you operate the vehicle under this condition, the exhaust will become abnormally hot, which can cause vehicle damage, including emission control loss.

Use only unleaded fuel in catalytic converter-equipped motorcycles. Using leaded fuel will damage the emission control system.

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