Wide White Wall tires

dooner · 12-13-2008, 06:38 PM

To all,

I just purchased a 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1600 with the original wheels and tires. The bike has 7000 miles on the Bridgestones and probably have another 500 miles before they need to be replaced. I would like to purchase wide whitewall tires, but have been unable to locate any that fit the original tire specs. I've be able to locate a front tire from Metzeler, but not a rear tire that exactly fits the Bridgestone specs. Can the size of the rear tire be changed without affecting safety or handling? If the appropriate sized rear tire can't be located are there issues if I change the size of the rear wheel from a 16" to 15"? If any one has located a set of new wide whitewalls that will solve my problem, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Dooner

radco · 12-13-2008, 07:09 PM

First WELCOME to the GROUP!! CONGRATs on the new Nomad... Cannt help you with the white walls but someone will soon,,,,,,Rich

nomad · 12-13-2008, 09:21 PM

i believe there is an alternate size for the 1600.

dooner · 12-13-2008, 09:43 PM

Thanks Rich!!! That's encouraging and I'm pleased to be part of the KawaNow family. I love my bike.

dooner · 12-13-2008, 09:45 PM

Nomad,

Any idea what that alternate size might be???

Dooner

Yellow Jacket · 12-13-2008, 09:49 PM

The following sizes will all fit:

160/80-16 This tire has a diameter of 26.08" compared to the stock 170/70-16 with a diameter of 25.4".

180/60-16 This tire has a diameter of 24.5", a little smaller than the stock tire.

180/70-16 This tire has a diameter of 25.9", a little larger than the stock tire.

You may be able to find a white wall in one of these sizes.

There are several guys here that have white walls on both front and rear. I'm not sure which tires they have.

As for changing from a 16" rear wheel to a 15" wheel, that would probably take a custom made wheel. I would think rather expensive to get one made.

P.S. Welcome to KawaNOW!!!!!!

landman · 12-13-2008, 10:12 PM

welcome to the site dooner.

dooner · 12-13-2008, 10:15 PM

Bob,

I assume, in your opinion, by going to a slightly larger or smaller diameter rear tire, there shouldn't be additional safety or handling concerns? I'll check the tire websites to see what's available. Thanks for the input. :)

Dooner

VulcanE · 12-13-2008, 10:38 PM

Dooner, welcome from NW. Georgia. I have a 1600, and all the rear tires after the OEM stone has been 180/70-16 radials. I have gone through 3 Metzeler 880s, and now I'm on Avon Cobras. I can't help with the white walls, but for the tire size, It'll seem like a different bike because it rides and handles soooooooooooooo much better.

dooner · 12-13-2008, 11:38 PM

VulcanE,

The response to my question has been absolutely amazing!!!! I feel like a family member already and I just joined the forum. I've talked to numerous riders who state that Avon tires are the top of the line. I'll definitely keep the Cobras in mind; however, I'll continue my search for the Wide Whitewalls. Thanks again for the response.

Dooner

cactusjack · 12-14-2008, 03:31 AM

Welcome to the Nomad Nation from the Grand Canyon State!

rickyboy · 12-14-2008, 03:56 AM

Hey Dooner,
Welcome from a Canadian member on the west coast. I'm not sure about who makes the wht. walls either. I'll be buying the "Cobras" before spring...... just because they are rated to be a
"top o' the line" tire.

Where are you located?

paul · 12-14-2008, 07:14 AM

Welcome dooner from down south Texas. No end to the info available here. Keep coming back and you'll understand. Take time when you can and dig back through the older threads. You will be amazed, amused, informed, and entertained.

On the matter of the tires, can't help w/ the white walls but, size does matter. A larger tire will help correct the inherent speedo error the metrics seem to have. Usually about 6-10% slow with stock tires.

Good luck, and good hunting!

dooner · 12-14-2008, 09:12 AM

Rickyboy,

I call Spokane, Washington home. Thanks for the response.

Dooner

dooner · 12-14-2008, 09:18 AM

Cactusjack,

Thanks for the greeting. I was just in Phoenix in October playing in the Men's Senior Baseball Tournament. You've got to love the weather in Arizona. I've got 4" of snow on the ground today and by Tuesday it's supposed to be below zero. As you can probably gather, the Vulcan has gone into hibernation :'(. I look forward to further correspondence with the KawaNOW family.

Dooner

12-13-2008, 06:38 PM	#1
dooner Jr. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11	Wide White Wall tires To all, I just purchased a 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1600 with the original wheels and tires. The bike has 7000 miles on the Bridgestones and probably have another 500 miles before they need to be replaced. I would like to purchase wide whitewall tires, but have been unable to locate any that fit the original tire specs. I've be able to locate a front tire from Metzeler, but not a rear tire that exactly fits the Bridgestone specs. Can the size of the rear tire be changed without affecting safety or handling? If the appropriate sized rear tire can't be located are there issues if I change the size of the rear wheel from a 16" to 15"? If any one has located a set of new wide whitewalls that will solve my problem, please let me know. Thanks in advance. Dooner Login or Register to Remove Ads
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12-13-2008, 07:09 PM	#2
radco Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dedham Maine Posts: 4,199	Wide White Wall tires First WELCOME to the GROUP!! CONGRATs on the new Nomad... Cannt help you with the white walls but someone will soon,,,,,,Rich __________________
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12-13-2008, 09:21 PM	#3
nomad Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: central mississippi Posts: 443	Wide White Wall tires i believe there is an alternate size for the 1600.
	0

12-13-2008, 09:43 PM	#4
dooner Jr. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11	Wide White Wall tires Thanks Rich!!! That's encouraging and I'm pleased to be part of the KawaNow family. I love my bike.
	0

12-13-2008, 09:45 PM	#5
dooner Jr. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11	Wide White Wall tires Nomad, Any idea what that alternate size might be??? Dooner Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

12-13-2008, 09:49 PM	#6
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	Wide White Wall tires The following sizes will all fit: 160/80-16 This tire has a diameter of 26.08" compared to the stock 170/70-16 with a diameter of 25.4". 180/60-16 This tire has a diameter of 24.5", a little smaller than the stock tire. 180/70-16 This tire has a diameter of 25.9", a little larger than the stock tire. You may be able to find a white wall in one of these sizes. There are several guys here that have white walls on both front and rear. I'm not sure which tires they have. As for changing from a 16" rear wheel to a 15" wheel, that would probably take a custom made wheel. I would think rather expensive to get one made. P.S. Welcome to KawaNOW!!!!!! __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009
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12-13-2008, 10:12 PM	#7
landman Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: wheatland,wy. Posts: 3,642	Wide White Wall tires welcome to the site dooner. __________________ bob wittman VBA # 745 COG #11621 wheatland,wy. rallies-custer 09,kalispell 10,crescent city 11,kanab 12,estes park 13,orifino 14.,red lodge 16 2015 ninja 1000 abs 2014 concourse 14 2012 concourse 14-sold 2011 vaquero-sold 2008 nomad-sold 2005 classic-sold
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12-13-2008, 10:15 PM	#8
dooner Jr. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11	Wide White Wall tires Bob, I assume, in your opinion, by going to a slightly larger or smaller diameter rear tire, there shouldn't be additional safety or handling concerns? I'll check the tire websites to see what's available. Thanks for the input. :) Dooner
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12-13-2008, 10:38 PM	#9
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	Wide White Wall tires Dooner, welcome from NW. Georgia. I have a 1600, and all the rear tires after the OEM stone has been 180/70-16 radials. I have gone through 3 Metzeler 880s, and now I'm on Avon Cobras. I can't help with the white walls, but for the tire size, It'll seem like a different bike because it rides and handles soooooooooooooo much better. __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
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12-13-2008, 11:38 PM	#10
dooner Jr. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11	Wide White Wall tires VulcanE, The response to my question has been absolutely amazing!!!! I feel like a family member already and I just joined the forum. I've talked to numerous riders who state that Avon tires are the top of the line. I'll definitely keep the Cobras in mind; however, I'll continue my search for the Wide Whitewalls. Thanks again for the response. Dooner
	0

12-14-2008, 03:31 AM	#11
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Wide White Wall tires Welcome to the Nomad Nation from the Grand Canyon State! __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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12-14-2008, 03:56 AM	#12
rickyboy Top Contributor Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 108 Mile Ranch B.C. Canada Posts: 5,472	Wide White Wall tires Hey Dooner, Welcome from a Canadian member on the west coast. I'm not sure about who makes the wht. walls either. I'll be buying the "Cobras" before spring...... just because they are rated to be a "top o' the line" tire. Where are you located? __________________ Nomad'a What ! "rickyboy" Richard Cole Canada West Region 108 Mile Ranch, British Columbia Canada Vulcan Bagger Assoc. #00722 Black 2006 Nomad https://cdn2.iconfinder.com/data/ico...Book_32x32.png
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12-14-2008, 07:14 AM	#13
paul Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: magnolia, tx Posts: 1,500	Wide White Wall tires Welcome dooner from down south Texas. No end to the info available here. Keep coming back and you'll understand. Take time when you can and dig back through the older threads. You will be amazed, amused, informed, and entertained. On the matter of the tires, can't help w/ the white walls but, size does matter. A larger tire will help correct the inherent speedo error the metrics seem to have. Usually about 6-10% slow with stock tires. Good luck, and good hunting! __________________ The beatings will stop when morale improves.
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12-14-2008, 09:12 AM	#14
dooner Jr. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11	Wide White Wall tires Rickyboy, I call Spokane, Washington home. Thanks for the response. Dooner
	0

12-14-2008, 09:18 AM	#15
dooner Jr. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11	Wide White Wall tires Cactusjack, Thanks for the greeting. I was just in Phoenix in October playing in the Men's Senior Baseball Tournament. You've got to love the weather in Arizona. I've got 4" of snow on the ground today and by Tuesday it's supposed to be below zero. As you can probably gather, the Vulcan has gone into hibernation :'(. I look forward to further correspondence with the KawaNOW family. Dooner
	0

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