Heading for the dark side.

[watchman]

I plan to install a car tire on my bike before spring. I am thinking about installing an Achilles Platunum size 195/60R-16. It has a directional tread that I like the looks of very much and it is less than $100.00. I know the 195 is 25.6 inches in DI and the 205 is 26.2 inches in DI. The 195 is about 6 inches wide and the 205 is about 6.5 inches wide. Is there any pro's or con's with the size or would a 205/60-16 be any better?

[markclark57]

What do you ride???

Did you go to the garage threads to see what tires fit?

http://darkside.nwff.info/database.php

I have an '06 Nomad with a 205/60-16 Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread (GYTT) on the rear. It's a little more $ than the Achilles, but IMHO worth every ¢.

I am totally impressed with this tire. After 4k miles it barely shows wear and has better traction, performance and ride than any motorcycle tire I've ever owned.

[watchman]

I have been thinking about this since 2005 but just haven't talked myself into doing it. In several of the later posts some people have noted that the 205's are rubbing on the swingarm. I am just wanting opinions from people I trust. Oh and by the way I am riding my second 1600 Nomad ( 2005 & 2008 )with over 70,000 miles on the pair.

[markclark57]

A properly mounted 205 will fit then. Mine has about 1/16th" to spare. Not much room for error, but no mods required. The tire you choose is up to you of course. Enjoy the ride!

[jesse]

Jim, I have the GYTT in 205 on mine and I really like it. It is starting to show some wear @ 17,000 mi. I haven't seen any sign of the tire rubbing the swing arm yet. I was concerned with the reports of some tire rubbing but still have not figured out why. Mine looks like it did when I installed it, with some wear in the center.

[Lobo]

Watchman,

I installed a 195/60 16 Bridgestone on my 2010 Voyager about three months ago. I have put about 5,000 on it and will NOT go back to a motorcycle tire. Have not had any problems at all. Speedo is still about 5 miles off at 70.

It took me a while to make up my mind to cross over but it was worth it. Here in Texas we get to ride just about the whole year. Got tired of changing tires every three to four months.

Lobo

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by jesse

. . . Mine looks like it did when I installed it, with some wear in the center.

What air psi are you using? I dropped mine to 30 psi and it tracks perfectly. (lower vehicle weight = lower required psi)

[jesse]

Originally Posted by markclark57

What air psi are you using? I dropped mine to 30 psi and it tracks perfectly. (lower vehicle weight = lower required psi)

28 to 30 cold really works fine. I have heard some use the "hot" pressure, although I don't recall what PSI they were running.

[VulcanE]

Watchman, that Achilles Platunum is a good looking treaded tire (UTOG 420), but it does look like it has pretty square shoulders? Three things (in order) I look for in a CT for my bike are... #1) round shoulders, #2) one direction (uni-directional) tread pattern, and #3) the UTOG or tread-wear number. I've got close to 16,000 miles on my GYTT (Goodyear TripleTred) 205/60-16, and it shows very little even wear (UTOG=740). If it is installed correctly, it won't rub on a 1600. I have .090" clearance between the tire and swing arm, and I do run it to where when hot, the psi is 32 (I have a tire pressure monitoring system so it's easy to see the pressures), so the time of year (ambient temperature) will dictate what the cold pressure is. In the summer my cold pressure is about 26~27, and in winter the cold pressure is about 30.
Other than the GYTT, the only other tires I would consider personally are...


Yokohama AVID ENVigor tire 205/60-16
http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.p...ort=P&dsco=135

The Sumitomo HTR A/S P01
http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.p...&nichtweiter=1

[mobandy78]

I have an '05 1600... put on a Bridgestone Turanza 195/60-16 and absolutely love it! I put mine on last winter and it is looking great!

The one problem you'll run into is finding someone to install it, unless you can do it yourself. There is only one place that I found here in my city that would do it, and I had to sign a liability waiver at that.

[watchman]

I think I have decided to go with the 195 instead of the 205. I will install it myself, we have been installing our own tires for years with the Harbor Freight unit.

[markclark57]

FYI, not everyone is that hard on mounting ct's on motorcycles. I had mine done at the Kawasaki dealership (Lynnwood Cycle Barn) in Washington before we moved to Phoenix. The local dealer here (North Vally Motorsports Honda/Kawasaki) will also mount them.

[Monkeyman]

For anyone in my neck of the woods (north central Indiana), Clowntown Cycle in Peru, IN will install CTs.

[ringadingh]

I install and balance my own tires as well, Its not that difficult and there are plenty of how to's on youtube .

[mobandy78]

Maybe... but you gotta have the tools to do it. Unfortunately, I don't have them.