Darkside tire size options?

[Rams]

I've already asked a couple of folks I trust and they indicate they don't know the answer, I've researched and read the advice and words of wisdom from many several times on the subject of going Darkside.  I haven't found an answer so, I'm showing my ignorance and asking here.   I'm wondering just how much room is available for the switch to a CT.  I've looked at a bunch of different recommended tires.  I've also looked at what size seems to be the most popular.

It appears that most folks are running the 205X60X16, some are running a 205X65X16, is anyone running a taller tire, a wider tire, ect.........  I'm just try'n to figure out what the limits are.  I definately am not going where it would require any modications to the swing arm or bike frame but, I am interested to know, how tall can I go?

I've run the tire calculations and just for schucks and grins, I ran several different options.
Here are the results.

215X65X16
Sidewall Height 5.5 inches
Tread width 8.46 inches
Diameter 27.00 inches
Revolutions Per Mile 746.86

205X65X16
Sidewall Height 5.25 inches
Tread width 8.07 inches
Diameter 26.49 inches
Revolutions Per Mile 761.29

205X60X16
Sidewall Height 4.84 inches
Tread width 8.07 inches
Diameter 25.69 inches
Revolutions Per Mile 785.21

195X70X16
Sidewall Height 5.37 inches
Tread width 7.68 inches
Diameter 26.75 inches
Revolutions Per Mile 754

205X55X16*
Sidewall Height 4.44 inches
Tread width 8.07 inches
Diameter 24.88 inches
Revolutions Per Mile 810.68

175X70X16*
Sidewall Height 4.82 inches
Tread width 6.89 inches
Diameter 25.65 inches
Revolutions Per Mile 786.41

I guess my question is, has anyone experimented to find out what the limits are on our Valkyries?  What tire sizes will the fender and suspension/swing arm allow.  Honestly, I am not interested in a wider tire but, I am interested in a taller tire.  What are the limits?  Not that I want to go to the limits but, I thought you might know where the limit is.

It would appear to me that the 195X70X16 maybe a good choice if, there's room.  I haven't gone there yet and surely don't want to screw something up try'n to do something that just won't work.

* Edited to add a couple of options I hadn't included.  Thanks to those that suggested additional options.

[Dubsvalk]

I'm running a 175R/70 Austone Taxi Tire and it is the closest thing to the original m/c tire I could find.  It isn't cheap but it is a bargain with the increased wear I get.  It is smooth, plenty of traction, good in wet weather and lowers my RPM about 200 RPM.  A very good tire with no clearance issues for mounting.  It works for me!
Dubs

[Valkahuna]

While I do not have one, and don't know the details, several on this board, Grumpy for one, use the Austone Taxi tire. It is quite a bit taller thereby dropping the RPM at cruise nicely, and so far all the reports are very positive.

I am sure that others that are using it will chime in, or you can do a search on the board and get a lot of info. I know that if (or when) I go darkside, that is what I will be using.

[Rams]

Thanks for responding, I was/am afraid that this topic has had so much attention and questions asked that most would just skip over it and say research it.  I have looked but, haven't found what the clearances are, I know I may have missed it but, asking isn't a sin.  At least, I don't think it is.    Thanks again.

Ron

[Rams]

I'm running a 175R/70 Austone Taxi Tire and it is the closest thing to the original m/c tire I could find.  It isn't cheap but it is a bargain with the increased wear I get.  It is smooth, plenty of traction, good in wet weather and lowers my RPM about 200 RPM.  A very good tire with no clearance issues for mounting.  It works for me!
Dubs

Found the Austone site, here's what it said.

175R16 Austone Taxi Blackwall

Details/Options
SKU U66235
Construction Tubeless 6 Ply Poly/Steel
Load Capacity 1650 @ 36 psi
Overall Diameter 26.90"
Tread Width 5.50"

* The tire calculator I'm using comes up with different numbers than Austone has.  I'm pretty sure there will be slight differences in different tires from different Manufacturers but, thought I post the results anyway.

Tire calculator results:

175X70X16*
Sidewall Height 4.82 inches
Tread width 6.89 inches
Diameter 25.65 inches
Revolutions Per Mile 786.41

[Jess from VA]

Your poll should have included 205 55 16, certainly the 2d most popular behind 205 60.  A good number of favorite tires (especially Summer Sport tires) only come in 205 55, and not 205 60.  I was unaware anyone ran 215s.

[Rams]

Your poll should have included 205 55 16, certainly the 2d most popular behind 205 60.  A good number of favorite tires (especially Summer Sport tires) only come in 205 55, and not 205 60.  I was unaware anyone ran 215s.

Jess, thanks for pointing that out, I can fix that.   

[Jabba]

Jess, thanks for pointing that out, I can fix that.   

You fat fingered it.  Now it says 295/55.

that WON'T fit.

 

Jabba

[Rams]

Jess, thanks for pointing that out, I can fix that.  

You fat fingered it.  Now it says 295/55.

that WON'T fit.

 

Jabba

Cain't gett nutt'n by you.  Fixed it, thanks. 

[Whistler]

I have a 205/65/16 on the Standard and a 205/55/16 on the Interstate. Why the difference? ??? I used what was available at the time! Real scientific! They are both the Falken tires and I do like them. The 65 does seem to lower the rpm just a bit, but not by leaps and bounds. I do perfer the 65, feels better to me. But, then again they are totally different bikes when it comes to handling in my opinion.

Remember if we didn't talk tires, oil, filters, seats, cleaning products, and where to have InZane we'd have to talk Politics then the BS would really fly!

JDW

[Rams]

I have a 205/65/16 on the Standard and a 205/55/16 on the Interstate. Why the difference? ??? I used what was available at the time! Real scientific! They are both the Fuzion tires and I do like them. The 65 does seem to lower the rpm just a bit, but not by leaps and bounds. I do perfer the 65, feels better to me. But, then again they are totally different bikes when it comes to handling in my opinion.

Remember if we didn't talk tires, oil, filters, seats, cleaning products, and where to have InZane we'd have to talk Politics then the BS would really fly!

JDW

Did you have to cut the nut cages on both tires?

[Whistler]

Yes both had the nut cages cut. Don't know if I needed to, just did it while the tire was off and easy access!

JDW

[csj]

I've used a 205-60-16, and a 205-65-16. Both have just a
credit card spacing to the swingarm.

I really doubt that there's enough space for a 215 in there.

[Master Blaster]

I ran a 215/60 17 Michelin Hydroedge on my custom.  Was a bitch for clearance due to the height.  Width was fine after I modified the driveshaft tube.

[old2soon]

My first D/S was a General Altimax 205-60-16 and my 2nd and current one is the Falken Ziex 512 in 205-65-16. Very pleased with both of my choices. Nut cage mod done on 1st D/S upgrade. The distance to the swingarm to the tire side wall is better(more clearence)with the Falken then it was with the General. I DO NOT KNOW WHY.   On the General i had 1 credit card thickness 2 if i jammed it. With the Falken i have 3 credit card thickness 4 if i jammed it. Different make tires-size-grinned different-who knows.   I have a daughter who is close to my weight(219 lbs according to my doctor this morning-me not her)and my shocks stay at the 3 setting and no rub issues. There is a noticable difference in my ride height-Falken higher-that i can feel when stopped at a light. My R P Ms are down at any given speed in 5th approx 200 R P Ms. The revs per mile-according to your calculator look better on a 205-65-16 than the others listed-lower revs per mile. And i use Mobil 15-50 full synthetic and i hasn't washed my M/C in awhile due to the drought.   RIDE SAFE.

[Rams]

I sincerely appreciate the responses I got, wasn't as many as I hoped for but, close to what I expected.   I'll be going darkside on my next tire swap, this information helps me.  Thanks to those that responded.

Ron   

[Gavin_Sons]

Wasnt it you at the mothers day ride that was not very impressed with the car tires?  I remember reed talking to you about them, he converted me a couple months ago and I love it. Went with a falken ziex 512 in 205 65 16. and an avon road rider rear tire on front 

[ulflier2001]

Just ordered a Hancook Optimo H426....really liked the looks and rounded shoulders of the 205/60/16.

 This is a tire calculator I've used . http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.dos

[Rams]

Wasnt it you at the mothers day ride that was not very impressed with the car tires?  I remember reed talking to you about them, he converted me a couple months ago and I love it. Went with a falken ziex 512 in 205 65 16. and an avon road rider rear tire on front 

Don't think that was me, I've been considering one for quite some time.  Nope, couldn't have been me, that guy was fugly, I'm pretty darn good look'n. 

Ron

[Gavin_Sons]

Haha, maybe you were just interested in them. I didnt catch much of the conversation. Do it, you'll love it, but if I had to do it over I would go with the 60 series. Mine rubbed with my wife on the back when shocks were set at setting 2. Cranked them up to 5 and dosent rub.

[lifguardct]

Who is running a 195X70X16, what mods were needed and how is it????

[Rams]

Who is running a 195X70X16, what mods were needed and how is it????

It was just an option I pulled up to have comparative sizes, I don't believe anyone up to this point has indicated they are running such a tire size.  If I'm wrong, someone please correct me.

Ron

[Stone_Lake]

I am a new Valkyrie owner, and a street rider for 29 years now.
I want to thank all of you in this post for sharing your experience on "dark siding"
I had an Auston put on the rear of "Vader" my 2001 black standard, and now have 1,000 miles on it.
I am happy with the tire, only thing I encounter is that it tends to be a little twitchy when riding on the edge of the "horse ruts" we get up here in Amish country.. Not a "problem", just my observation.
I now need to replace the front skin, but I will wait on a "double dark side" until I am completely happy with the Austone,, (I am a conservative guy to a fault)
Thank you again for all of your comments! I hope my contribution is useful as well.
Mark & Vader

[Valkorado]

I sure like the Austone.  It definitely has more bite than a bike tire, and it handles well.  I don't push a tire to the edge like some on the board, but I don't baby it either.  Tha Austone Taxi Tire has always held tight in the twisties, and it handles a heavy load well.  I have not experienced any squirrelly behavior others have reported from fatter and/or shorter car tires.  If there is a confidence inspiring car tire for first time dark siders, this is probably it.

[Rams]

I agree with the post above.   I did a lot of reading and researching prior to deciding on which darkside tire I was going to try.   I'm staying with a MC tire on front, I normally get about 10K miles out of a front tire so I use it as a gauge for when it's time to do rear end maintenance.   So far, I'm very happy with the Austone. 

[Cabin_dweller]

So, I got my 205/55r16 today, it measures 8.5" wide.  It is a KUMHO Run-flat.  It sure looks wide!  I am putting on a 2000 Interstate with a trailer hitch.  Can I make it fit in there??  I had a tough time taking the stock size out of there.  I know about the cage mod, but I think I am going to put a hex head bolt in from the inside to gain some room.  Should I send it back and get a 195 or do you think it will fit??  This is my first time with this, crossing my fingers.  I have read all of the stuff on here and everything pointed me to that size, it's just so darn big!!

Your poll should have included 205 55 16, certainly the 2d most popular behind 205 60.  A good number of favorite tires (especially Summer Sport tires) only come in 205 55, and not 205 60.  I was unaware anyone ran 215s.

[Crackerborn]

You are reviving an old thread and like asking what is the best motor oil you will get a lot of different answers. I have a 205/60/16 with the nut cage mod and have never rubbed. The 205/55/16 will be ~ 8/10ths of an inch shorter than the tire I use so the nut cage mod may not be necessary, but if you are using smaller shocks (13" OEM), not a bird-butt, ride two up, or any combination of the mentioned, the nut cage mod won't hurt. 205 width should measure ~8.1" once inflated on the rim. Of course tires will vary even from the same manufacturer. Running a 55 height tire will cause your speedo to read high versus actual speed and Mother Honda already has indicated speed higher than actual.

[Jess from VA]

Yes, a 205 55 should fit.  Except I cannot say with certainty your particular run-flat will fit.  As I understand it, they have thicker as well as stiffer sidewalls.  I know some here have successfully run run-flat tires, but I know nothing of the manufactures they used.

Cut your cages out.  You can use carriage bolts inside out with acorns on the outside.  You can probably reuse the OE big square nuts with no problem.  I used skinny regular size hex nuts.  

When I got my 1st 205 60 (not a run-flat), I tried shoving it up in there without the wheel and it didn't fit.  Luckily, when you mount it on a wheel and add air, it does fit.

If you haven't already, get rid of your OE rubber valve stems with elbows (which often crack right at the wheel from age, stress/torque and abusive inflation techniques/bending, and can lead to a traumatic deflation at speed), and replace with 90* metal stems.  Some tighten on the inside, but people seem to prefer the ones that tighten on the outside.  

[Gavin_Sons]

So, I got my 205/55r16 today, it measures 8.5" wide.  It is a KUMHO Run-flat.  It sure looks wide!  I am putting on a 2000 Interstate with a trailer hitch.  Can I make it fit in there??  I had a tough time taking the stock size out of there.  I know about the cage mod, but I think I am going to put a hex head bolt in from the inside to gain some room.  Should I send it back and get a 195 or do you think it will fit??  This is my first time with this, crossing my fingers.  I have read all of the stuff on here and everything pointed me to that size, it's just so darn big!!

Your poll should have included 205 55 16, certainly the 2d most popular behind 205 60.  A good number of favorite tires (especially Summer Sport tires) only come in 205 55, and not 205 60.  I was unaware anyone ran 215s.

I use to run a 205/65/16 with a hitch and it fit fine. It bottomed out from time to time so I went to a 60 series. That was before I replaced shocks with barley used IS shocks.

[John Schmidt]

FWIW(probably not much), the last CT that I installed was the Kumho Ecsta PA31, a 195/60-16. Running it with a bias ply stock size Metz in front. I got 17k from the last front Metz in conjunction with a CT, only changed the front due to age....not wear. The picture shows a nice rounded shoulder, the slightly narrower size gives a bit more clearance and I can't tell any difference from running a 205 which was my last CT(.3937" difference in width). I run 3 oz. of beads in the back, 2 oz. in front, and I have a smooth ride all the way to the triple digits. So far, I'm pleased with the handling....especially at low speed. Doesn't seem to follow the tar snakes, bump steer, etc.

[The emperor has no clothes]

FWIW(probably not much), the last CT that I installed was the Kumho Ecsta PA31, a 195/60-16. Running it with a bias ply stock size Metz in front. I got 17k from the last front Metz in conjunction with a CT, only changed the front due to age....not wear. The picture shows a nice rounded shoulder, the slightly narrower size gives a bit more clearance and I can't tell any difference from running a 205 which was my last CT(.3937" difference in width). I run 3 oz. of beads in the back, 2 oz. in front, and I have a smooth ride all the way to the triple digits. So far, I'm pleased with the handling....especially at low speed. Doesn't seem to follow the tar snakes, bump steer, etc.

I've run 205/60, 205/65, 195/60. Like the 195 best. Michelin Pilot Actic rear tire up front. Same amount of beads. 

[John Schmidt]

I've not run a 65, after using this 195/60 I don't plan to. So far I also like the 195 the best, really like the way it corners and I can lock up the rear and it doesn't want to hi-side.

[Cabin_dweller]

What is missing from this awesome information is why the tire fits after it is put on the rim.  The MTC rim is about 2" narrower than a car rim which causes the tire to crown and narrow.  With this information, I would have just put it on without question.  It is on and quite a change from a MTC tire.  It hates dirt roads, which is where I live, but otherwise, I like it   Thank you everyone, Cabin_dweller, out.