Darkside on a 1500 nomad - Do you like this choice

[altoni]

Ok, thanks guy's. Look's like it will be either tirerack.com or tiresbyweb.com I can't seem to find any locally. WalMart even dumped on me LOL.

[poppy]

I'm running a Vredestein Comtrac, 175/75/16. It's a great fit. Here is a picture after 9,500 miles....haha! I'm also running a dunlop 404 on front....just a regular front tire.



Ahhh, another view.....

[altoni]

I would rather have had a 175-75 or 65-16 just to get less revolutions per mile. Had to settle for a 195-60-16. I got the Bridgestone EL 400 Turanza, it was a tight fit going in but got it on and really like it. I think it actually handels better than the 404 I took off and it is a better ride for sure. I only have about 40 miles on it so far and I am pretty impressed.

Thanks again everybody for all the input.

[stewdogg]

I run the Dunlop SP5000 195-60/16 on my 2004 1500. When I replace the tire I will go with a more narrow tire. The tire is too wide for the rim and it creates a little bit of wobble if I shake the bike side to side I can see the sidewalls of the tire flexing. I most likely will switch the tire out early due to the wobble. As I pull the bike into my driveway I can feel the back tire flex and that sucks. I like everything else about riding a car tire...
I would highly recommend staying away from the 195 on a 1500 Nomad unless you like a sloppy feeling bike

[altoni]

I now have 550 miles on the 195-60 16 Bridgestone Turanza. The tire is really smooth. The first 50 or 100 miles I felt a little wobble at slow speeds on rough roads or on high speed curves. But after about 200 miles that all was gone. It was almost like the side walls got broke in. The only other thing I noticed was in the morning when the tire has sat all night it seems to get a flat spot where the tire has contact with the ground all night. That makes it corner a little funny untill the tire gets warmed up for the day but even that is barely noticeable. I run 25 LBS of air in the tire and had it spin balanced at the Harley shop.

[blackdogbrian]

at the harley shop.... oh oh!
jk'ing - I appreciate the ongoing field report!

[recumbentbob]

Originally Posted by altoni

I now have 550 miles on the 195-60 16 Bridgestone Turanza. The tire is really smooth. The first 50 or 100 miles I felt a little wobble at slow speeds on rough roads or on high speed curves. But after about 200 miles that all was gone. It was almost like the side walls got broke in. The only other thing I noticed was in the morning when the tire has sat all night it seems to get a flat spot where the tire has contact with the ground all night. That makes it corner a little funny untill the tire gets warmed up for the day but even that is barely noticeable. I run 25 LBS of air in the tire and had it spin balanced at the Harley shop.

I run the exact same tire, but run it at 32 psi, I love the way it rides and handles.
I have never experienced the flat spotting you talk about; probably the difference in the pressure we run.

[macmac]

Bob the 1600 has a wider wheel.

[altoni]

I put mine at 25 psi because of what eveyone in the forum said. After putting the tire on I went to the car wash and when I pulled out I checked the wet tire mark on the cement and it looked like I pretty much had the full face of the tire on the ground. What kind of tire print do you get at 32 psi ? I never tried it but one guy in here was saying he only got 45,000 miles out of his tire at 32 psi, the center tread was gone and the outside edges looked like new. I guess that was my real reason for running 25 LBS of air.

[recumbentbob]

Originally Posted by altoni

I put mine at 25 psi because of what eveyone in the forum said. After putting the tire on I went to the car wash and when I pulled out I checked the wet tire mark on the cement and it looked like I pretty much had the full face of the tire on the ground. What kind of tire print do you get at 32 psi ? I never tried it but one guy in here was saying he only got 45,000 miles out of his tire at 32 psi, the center tread was gone and the outside edges looked like new. I guess that was my real reason for running 25 LBS of air.

Remember I have an 08 1600 so the wheel is wider than yours.
I use white liquid shoe polish, paint a white line across the tire tread and ride a mile or so straight and check it. It wears off evenly.

Even so 45,000 out of a rear tire is nothing to sneeze at......

I set my pressure for the best handling and feel, if the center wears out in 35,000 so be it that is still better than 7,000 miles I got out of the factory Bridgestone.

[altoni]

I thought about trying it at 32 LBS just to see if it handeled better but it handels so good at 25 LBS that I dont really see the need unless I try to straighten some curves out. I'm so sick of paying $180.00 for tires that only last 9,000 miles when you baby them that I think I'll enjoy the extented mileage for now. I've got 1200 miles on it now and its feeling better all the time. No doubt one of the best handeling tires I've ever rode on.

[metricman]

I am Running a 205 60 16 primwell ps830 on the rear of my 01 nomad, replacing the bridgestone el400 195 60 16. had to grind the pinch welds to make it fit. glad I made the swap to the larger tire. raised the bike back up so im no longer scraping the pipes.

[metricman]

one thing about the el400 is they dont last, they ride great and every thing else, but just wear out to soon.

[recumbentbob]

Originally Posted by metricman

one thing about the el400 is they dont last, they ride great and every thing else, but just wear out to soon.

Mine is doing great, 12,000 mile and looks like new only worn down 1/32" from what the tread measured when I mounted it.

[blackdogbrian]

hi all.
got the new tire mounter - so far handles well ( but i've had it on for a very short period of time)
leaving on a 4000 km tri this week...

tire pressure.
consensus is that start it at 40 psi. net gas stop, drop to 38, next one 36, and so on till around 32ish (dependingon the feel?)

what are most people running?