REally need help on this one

[wobray]

This is a great forum.
I have done a thorough search re: a CT for the rear of my Valk.
I am STILL unsure what size I can run WITHOUT the nut cage mod.
I run one up. NOt heavily loaded.
All suggestions including brand are greatly appreciated.

Morpheus

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

It takes about 10 minutes to cut the nug cage if that long with the wheel off...You should do it then you will never have a problem. I use a Fuzion ZRi 205/55/16 on my bikes and love it...Sticks like baby s**t on a white blanket in the twisties.

[Jess from VA]

What Joe says.  There is really no downside to the nut cage mod.  And you will have peace of mind with any car tire.

A 195 60 may not rub, if you're on 13" shocks in good condition, lightweight, and you get lucky.  A 55 is a tad wider than a 60.

[Thrud]

I too have the same concern.  I got a 2000 Interstate and I'm getting ready to mount my first CT, a Yokohama AVID ENVigor V-rated 205/60/16.  It's got a great directional tread pattern with nicely rounded sidewalls.  Should be easy to handle in low-speed turns.

I ride single and weigh about 190.  I've asked a lot of drivers about their experience with a CT.  Seems that one or more modifications may need to be made based on your selection of CT, your weight, riding two-up and the symmetry of your bike's frame from the centerline.  Some seem to get by with just the nut cage mod.  Some have to turn the fender mounting bolt around and pass it through from the inside, or use a carriage bolt.  Ugh!

[olddog1946]

I use a 205/55/16 tire, with no nut cage mod..I run mostly solo, though have had a passenger on occasion and have never had any rubbing (using stock suspension or with the 13" rocket III shocks).

I didn't want to do a nut cage mod, then find out I didn't like the CT and go back to the MT.

[Jess from VA]

The vast majority get by fine with just the nut cage mod.  A lucky very few get crooked bikes and have to do the fender washer mod (to shim/move the fender sideways).  Some use a carriage bolt from inside out, but all I did was put a little skinny nut on the OE bolt inside to replace the big fat square nut that sits inside the nut cage.  Really, it was easy.

Cut the center of the cage, bend each side back and forth to stress-break the weld off each side... one side comes off clean, the other doesn't and needs a little cleanup of sharp edges.  You do not need to remove the lower fender half, just slide your butt up in there on the jack when the tire is being replaced.  Need to be a bit careful if you use an air/power cut/grind wheel, heat builds quickly and can damage the outside paint.

http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2005/08/24/valkyrieRearFenderNutCageMod.html

Also, I think it is likely that some on stds or tourers get by without the mod more than us interstaters with heavier bikes.   

Lastly, having installed your car tire without the mod, how much fun will it be to pull it off again if you do need it?

[Moonshot_1]

99 Tourer. Goodyear Trip. Tred 205/60/16. No mods.

I'm 250#. Even when with a passenger of substantial weight, no rubbing issues.

[JaysGone]

I use a Conti Vanco2 in 195-65-16 with no modifications.
Its a hard to find size and a light truck tire.
Ride solo and weight in at 220 13 inch shocks.

[Tundra]

205/55/16- Many use this, raises RPM's

205/60/16- Many use this, closest to stock size. No RPM differance.

205/65/16- Many use this,  decreases RPM's. Several I ride with state this raises there seated position slightly. They like the decreased RPM.

I chose the 205/60/16 for me because of the closest to stock size (height) and not lowering or raising my seated position. They will all work, depends on what you want to achieve. Not all makes are available in all three sizes.

[Westsider]

I'm runninng this tire , on 2001 I/S, ran across it by accident at a local tire shop, just poking  around the 205 60 16,s , no rubbing and no mods. even loaded the bike up and purposely bottomed out lightly couple times on my  local whoppty street, (test hops are a good thing) . I see FStop on the Texas board recently got over 18k on a dunlop E3 thats pretty darn good to...

http://www.tires-easy.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=3796930.135.18213&typ=R-144296&ranzahl=4&Breite=205&Quer=60&Felge=16&Speed=V&weiter=0&Ang_pro_Seite=10&Transport=P&dsco=135&sowigan=So


good luck ,keep the shiney side up...

[vanagon40]

If you really do not want to remove the nut cages, you should be able to get by using the 205/55-16.

I use a 205/50-16 and did NOT remove the nut cages but I did do the fender washer modification.

If you mount the tire and it rubs, you can do the fender washer modification without removing the tire.

NON-DESTRUCTIVE REAR RENDER MOD FOR VALKYRIUE

[Cliff]

If you really do not want to remove the nut cages, you should be able to get by using the 205/55-16.

I use a 205/50-16 and did NOT remove the nut cages but I did do the fender washer modification.

If you mount the tire and it rubs, you can do the fender washer modification without removing the tire.

NON-DESTRUCTIVE REAR RENDER MOD FOR VALKYRIUE

That is all I needed to do to stop my Altimax 205/60-16 from rubbing on my 2000 I/S... nutcage still intact,,, and I am the large economy size along with riding fully loaded quite often... slight rub before doing washer mod... I only added 2 washers to the right side (as sitting on bike) didn't touch the other side.  Did thisd mod after mounting and test ride,,, just a slight rub on right side pre washer mod after mod no rub.

[valky1500]

One note about going darkside and when all seems well. Let that be 2 notes.

#1 the leftside rear bearing is smaller than the rightside and it's getting a lot more stress than its designed for and fails sooner.

#2 the rear end drive will also need to be taken apart and checked, cleaned and relubbed more often because of that increased stress.

Once those 2 things are met you can relax and enjoy the ride with the mprovement made from a CT.

[JaysGone]

One note about going darkside and when all seems well. Let that be 2 notes.

#1 the leftside rear bearing is smaller than the rightside and it's getting a lot more stress than its designed for and fails sooner.

#2 the rear end drive will also need to be taken apart and checked, cleaned and relubbed more often because of that increased stress.

Once those 2 things are met you can relax and enjoy the ride with the mprovement made from a CT.

Im not looking for an argument here.
But what causes you to say the left side bearing and rear drive is stressed more when using a CT over an OEM 180 tire?
For all purposes they the tires are dimensionaly very similar if not in some sizes the same.....

[Ricky-D]

#1 the leftside rear bearing is smaller than the rightside and it's getting a lot more stress than its designed for and fails sooner.

#2 the rear end drive will also need to be taken apart and checked, cleaned and relubbed more often because of that increased stress.

These two statements are totally unfounded and cannot be substantiated.

Scare words!

***

[Willow]

#1 the leftside rear bearing is smaller than the rightside and it's getting a lot more stress than its designed for and fails sooner.

#2 the rear end drive will also need to be taken apart and checked, cleaned and relubbed more often because of that increased stress.

These two statements are totally unfounded and cannot be substantiated.

Today is Thursday, 23 August 2012.

I agree with Ricky-D.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Haven't been on the board lately. I've ran a CT for over 8 yrs now so I've got some time in rank. Today is aug 25 2012 and I too agree with Ricky-D, who would have thought it.