Has anyone tried automobile tires on the stock 16 inch Kawasaki Nomad wheels? I'm three wheeling it now with my 03 Nomad hacked (installed a side car). I heard all the arguments against using automobile tires on a motorcycle and I still want to try it if I can find appropriate sized 16 inch tires. the current, stock, front tire is a 150/80-16 the rear is a 150/80-16.
I just went darkside with my VTX1300 and Velorex
and can't say I notice much difference in ride or
handling. I've been up to an indicated 90 mph
momentarily on the freeway without any noticeable
difference with the old MC tire.
A handy tire dimension calculator:
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.dos
The argument is in regards to 15" motorcycle wheel rim seats being of a larger diameter than auto rims, making it very hard to stretch the car tires enough to seat on bike rims without excessively stretching the tire at the rim beads and causing potential injury, tire failure or even death.
The 16" motorcycle wheel rims are also different sized but the difference is small and they are close enough in dimension that auto tires can be installed.
When choosing a tire be sure there will be adequate side clearance available after the tire is inflated.
One can also try differant profile heigth tires and achieve a small change in final drive ratio if desired.
Lonnie
Hack'n wrote:
The argument is in regards to 15" motorcycle wheel rim seats being of a larger diameter than auto rims, making it very hard to stretch the car tires enough to seat on bike rims without excessively stretching the tire at the rim beads and causing potential injury, tire failure or even death.
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See attached picture.
Yes, some have been installed with no issues. Some have had failures during installation.
The question is whether any damage was done to the tire that did not show up during installation.
The 15" motorcycle rim is larger in diameter than the 15" car rim at the bead area according to specs so the tire is potentially stressed too much to get it on the rim.
It could be than in some cases maufacturing tolernces are on the large end on the tire and the small end on the rim and things slip on okay. Dunno.
There is still the concern though if any damage did take place during mounting.
If anyone wants to debate this don't bother. It has been discussed here and at other forums time and time again.
Fact is that just because someone mounted a 15" car tire on a 15" cycle rim with no problems it does not mean the next person will have the same outcome.
Fact is according to specs the combination is not compatable.
We would be irresponsible if we did not make this known.
If you want to try it that is your decision and you are responsible for the out come.
If it works for you big deal.
If you blow a tire up in your face and lose and eye or worse it was your decision.
If it mounts just fine and blows a sidewall after a few thousand miles and you crash...well...remember that you were warned.
If you pull it off once and tell someone it is just fine to do as you did and they have an issue you are the one who may have to carry that load.
Sound harsh? Not as harsh as the results that can happen to the unwary. Pretty simple really.
Ive been looking trying to find a size that will fit my shadow 1100 16" rim to no avail, the smallest 16" tire that won't drastically change the final drive is a 195/55/16 but it's to wide to fit between the swing arm, you may have this problem also, to check things out go to :
http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi to check out tread width and sidewall height, do the math on your bike to see how much room you have.
Claude,
For someone who doesn't want to debate, he managed to carry on a one man debate. The intent of the thread was asking about a 16" auto tire.
AKAtheTroll wrote:
>>Claude,
For someone who doesn't want to debate, he managed to carry on a one man debate. The intent of the thread was asking about a 16" auto tire.<<
Read the original post again. He stated something about the concern of mounting car tires or something to that effect. That is what the post by Hack'n and myself was related to. That being there is no real concern related to a 16" tire, which he was asking about, only a 15" tire.
You read the original "Has anyone tried automobile tires on the stock 16 inch Kawasaki Nomad wheels? I'm three wheeling it now with my 03 Nomad hacked (installed a side car). I heard all the arguments against using automobile tires on a motorcycle and I still want to try it if I can find appropriate sized 16 inch tires. the current, stock, front tire is a 150/80-16 the rear is a 150/80-16."
They only asked about feedback on 16" automobile tire that anyone has used. You decide to go off topic for your own personal crusade.
Relax, they were going on over me as I've put a car tire
on a 15" rim. I shouldn't have answered your post about
a 16" tire. Forget it and move on as will I.
Despite all warnings to the contrary, I'm doing well.
I'd like to thank everyone for your thoughtful input. I'll follow-up on your suggestions and let you know how it works out. Thanks again.
Measure the width between the swing arms keeping in mind that the tire isn't nessesarely in the center of the swing arm, if you have more that 7.625 from center line of the tire a 195/55R/16 will just fit, on my Shadow I'm .250 to narrow.
