Not really a "new topic" but rather a new question

[Earl in Pensacola]

About 10 years ago, I put air shocks (Progressive 416's) on my '97 Tourer and have always been very happy with them.  I got to thinking about all that high milage available with a car tire (I've been getting 20K with an Avon Venom) and the average of $250. everytime I have to get a new rear tire VS the total cost of going over to the "Darkside"..  So, the question is:  Would I need to do the fender bolt mod.?  I keep 45 to 50 PSI in the shocks and that keeps the bike a couple of inches higher than the OEM shocks did.  I go to 75 PSI when packin' and or pulling the trailer, which is very rare.  Wha' cha think?

[Earl in Pensacola]

PS......... I forgot to ask what would be the best size and brand to use under the No bolt mod./air shock circumstances?  I'm not looking for a big fat show tire, just more miles per tire.

[Chrisj CMA]

Earl.......I dont think the darksiders are getting too much over 20K on them things......I think you are doing good.  How did the new transmission cover thing work to get your waterpump functioning again?

[SANDMAN5]

I don't know how the air shocks will/won't affect anything because I've never
dealt with them. As far as the fender bolt mod, on my 03 I didn't have to do it.
On my 98 I did. Same tire and load. I think it varies from one Valk to another.
As far as which tire to use....that's a whole different can of worms. I "think"
a 205-55 will give you more clearance than a 205-60 (that's what I and most
others use) but, if I 'member kreckly, at least a couple of people ran a 195 series
tire. Not sure what brand. Seems like it would give even more clearance.
As far as mileage...I've not even come close to wearing mine out (GYTT) and it has
about 15,000 on it. YMMV

[Earl in Pensacola]

Anyone know if there is such a size as 195/5516 OR 195/60/16?  It would seem that a 195 would cure any side clearance issues and with the lift of the air suspension the 60 would more closely match the OEM spec tire, thus keeping the gear ratio pretty close to where it is now.  Right???   

[AussieValk]

Yokohama make a 195/55R16 but you should have a wider choice over there. I'm thinking the same thing, about going for a slightly narrower CT to avoid mods and clearance issues.......ahh, so many decisions...

[Ricky-D]

Keep in mind that when you go to a narrower tire but keep the same aspect ratio (a/r), the diameter of the tire will be less than what you may want or can live with.

A 205 width tire  will most closely match the original m/c tire's diameter if the aspect ratio is 60. A 55 a/r is smaller and a 65 a/r is larger. Diameter of the tire affects rpm/mph.

Doing the fender nut holder modification is simple and easy and you can still use the original bolts and nuts.  It's the nut keepers that occasionally rub on the tire on deep cycling bumps.  Especially so if you've a passenger on board.

A 195 width tire is wider than a 180 tire which is the standard Valkyrie tire.

***

[Earl in Pensacola]

That's pretty much why I figured that a 195/60R16 would give me a tire that is "slightly" wider and very close to the OEM spec. height, have no sidewall space problems and with the additional one to three inches I can get with the 416 air shocks, I really should be OK.  However, I'm now checking on doing the nut reversal at the same time of the tire change, just for the extra margin of safety.  I just came in from Walmart.  I wanted to compare some 205/55 and 205/60 vs the 195/55 & 60, but they didn't and any 195's in stock.  The average prices were $100..  That' already a $75.00 savings.

[Earl in Pensacola]

Anyone already got milage experience with a Yokohama 195/60R16?

[Larry]

If you go with a 195/65 you will get a tire that will give you a slight speedometer increase at 65 MPH to 65.15. With the 195/60 your MPH will decrease from 65 to 63..22. You can check this at this handy tire size comparison page:
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.dos

[Larry]

PS I don't see a problem with a 195 width tire and air shocks, but if your bike is skewed to the right maybe. Although a 205 and a 195 are two different animals.

[sugerbear]

the speedometer runs off the front wheel, changing the rear makes no difference in the speedometer.
just make sure the tire has a symmetrical tread pattern, you want the bike to handle the same in right and left corners.
i ground off the nut holder and used a chrome carriage bolt from the inside. worked for me.

[dipstick]

I did the nut cage mod which took about 5 minutes and did not have to replace the bolt, just had to hold the nut in place from the inside while I got it started. I wanted to run the same rpm at highway speed as stock so I run a 205-60-16 Goodyear assurance triple tread and love that tire way more than the MC tire. I ran Avons and Dunflops and the auto tire handles WAY better in all conditions. I also did not come close to getting 20,000 out of a rear MC tire, heck I cant even get that out of an Avon front on the road surfaces we have around where I live.

[CajunRider]

If you get 20K miles out of an Avon, you should be able to get 30-40K out of a car tire... I would THINK, anyway... but I have no method to prove this. 

As for a 195 as opposed to a 205, you have a better chance of not needing the nut cage mod with a 195.  However, the back of these bikes are off a little from one bike to the other.  I rode a 205 without the nut cage mod with no problems.  I eventually did the mod just because I don't like the nut cage on this fender.  I just use a normal "lock bolt" (has the nylon washer built into the bolt so it doesn't vibrate loose). 

Personally, if I could find a 195/65 tire, I'd run that over the 205/60... but I couldn't find a good 195/65 with symetrical tread around here.  The 205/60 works fine though.  I'd just like to try a 195/65 next time around, IF I can find one. 

[Larry]

the speedometer runs off the front wheel, changing the rear makes no difference in the speedometer.

The speedometer running off the front is true. Except that a larger rear translates to a relative higher ground speed at the same RPM compared to a stock tire or relative lower RPM's compared to a stock tire at the same ground speed.  The web site I used just used ground speed as a reference point. Just thought maybe that needed clarification.

[X Ring]

I'm seriously considering going to the darkside.  At the same time, I want to change my my bag and hitch mounts to a quick release.
Is there anyplace where all the darkside info is other than running a search and have to wade through everything anyone has said? Such as tire brands and sizes that have been used successfully, what to look for in a tire, modifications that have been done and how to do them, etc.

The way I'm racking up miles on running PGR Missions, it won't be much longer till I need a rear tire.

Marty

[valkmc]

I have a 205/60 and did not do any mods. I ride two up sometimes, passenger is about 130(I wouldn't tell her that) and I am right at 200. No rubbing ever and I have 24,000 on my Goodyear TT, original shocks. The tire still looks good, I would bet it will go another 10,000- 12,000 miles before a change. I paid $100 for the tire and $25 to have it put on. The most I got on a MC tire rear was 16,000 and it cost about $200 and $25 to install. That means I will get about double the miles for half the price.  The best benefit is I get better wet riding traction and better braking. The down side is the bike handles different, to me it is not better or worse, just different.