I'm in need of new tires for my GL1800 w/Hannigan GT setup for an upcomming 5,000 mile trip. So far, the standard tires get 10,000 - 15,000 miles or so, which I understand ain't bad for a hack. (Yea, it's driven kinda easylike most of the time... with lots of highway miles) However, from the looks of what I see on many of the photos of others' hacks it looks like there's some pretty big rubber being used, both car-type and bike-type tires. Sooo, any good recommendations of what I could use on my stock rims other than the standard Dunlops, etc.?
several of our Hannigan customers are using 195/50-16 or 205/55-16 on their bikes.you will need to deflate the 205 to get it on the bike,then reinflate it after installation.
Originally written by VLAD on 8/10/2006 7:55 AM
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2006/02/10/darkWingdarksideGoldWingcarTireOnAGoldWing.html
Dan's explanation of why he uses car tires is quite detailed and well thought out. http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/27/theDarkSide.html
And you can't read his writing without reading http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/29/neighborhoodHazardorWhyTheCopsWontPatrolBriceStreet.html "Why the Cops don't Patrol Brice Street". :0)
And try to find one of the books in his "Life is a Road" series.
Thanks guys, good Input! This is the kind on info I was looking for. Really appreciate the links too. Guess what'l fit on a Valk will fit my GL... guess I'll find out.
Tally-Ho!
I put the 195 on mine. I have to "bend" the lower support rod for the sidcar (the tire rubs in hard left turns...just barely touches). The 205 was too wide for the fender under the trunk and rubbed......I think my fender was "warped", it is plastic similar to a fender well on a car, and the 205 could work on your bike, but it's an expensive mistake if it doesn't fit. I know the 195 will fit.
Just remember to deflate the tire when installing and it will rub while in the air because the suspension is un-loaded.....once you put it on the ground it's fine. I will not go back to MC tire on the rear. Much better ride all the way around.
Hope this helps. Email me if you have questions.
Got a Dunlop SP Sport FM901 195/50 - 16... Having it mounted next week. Went and talked to the dealer already so they wouldn't freak out when I hand them a "car" tire. Didn't realize this size needed to be deflated when the wheel is put back on the bike, thanks for the input. I'll pass that along to the dealer.
About the tire rubbing on the sidecar mounting bracket... what type of sidecar/mount set-up do you have? My dealer doesn't work well with thinking outside the box or dealing with supprises... I'll need to give them as much "heads up" as possible if my setup has this problem....
If you look under the sidecar the lower rear bracket that connects to the center stand is "diaginal". That is what rubs when you make a "lock to lock" slow left turn. I spoke with the tech guy at hannigan and I have a friend that is going to help me bend it and cut a spacer to put a curve in it so it won't rub. Mine is a 05' GTL and I don't know if they have changed that mount to fix this problem on later installs or not. You should call and ask Hannigan.
If you have the "rub" don't sweat it too much....I've ridden 5,000 miles with no problems, it only happens in extreme turns when the sidewall of the tire flexs and the frame of the sidecar shifts just right. The right side of the tire touches and created about a 1/2 inch rub in the paint. The tire makes noise that will let you know if it is touching. It never does it at speed or during normal riding. I plan on modifying the bar at the end of the riding season. The rub is minor.
As for your dealer.....
The tire needs to be deflated to go in. The same bar I described above is what you have to work past to install the tire, plus the studs on the wheel hub. If they have the bike on a lift with the swing arm hanging down it will appear that the tire does not fit after they install it on the hub since the bar will prevent it from turning....because the swing arm has no weight and is extended all the way down. Once you lower the bike to it's normal stance the tire is fine. Inflate it and go. Do a series of slow hard left and right turns in a parking lot and you will find out if you have a rub or not.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for all the info... bike's going in the shop today and it'll be good to pass on all the details you went through. I'll post how it turns out in a week or so after I get my rig back. =)
will that 195 fit on 16" harley wheels?
A: You have to have "rims" not wire wheels (unless they are sealed spokes)
B: You should be able to find a "tire" size caculator on the net that will be able to figure out the size you can fit. You put in the size i.e: 195/50 R16 = XX" wide XX" tall XX"diameter
Then you just measure your spaces: width of the rim, fender clearence, from the center of the hub to the top of fender (for diameter) and you can try it!
Originally written by shortcut on 9/7/2006 5:19 PM
will that 195 fit on 16" harley wheels?
It's hard to say. How wide is your rim? How much clearance do you have to the top or sides? Which tire are you considering?
When I was looking for a car tire for my Valkyrie I discovered that the size stamped on it means almost nothing. I found 205/55/16's that ranged from 8.2 to 8.9 inches in width and anywhere from 24.5 to 25.2" in diameter. You almost have to measure what you have, figure out how much room you have, and go to someplace like http://www.tirerack.com and start comparing. Start with your rim width. 195's are a little more uniform for height, most around 24.5 diameter, but widths of 195/55's range from 7.7 inches for a Dunlop SP3000 HR rated to 6.5 inches for the same model in a VR rating. Nothin's ever easy!
I had the same problem. I tried a 205 on my GL1800 first and it rubbed the fender, and at the time I figured a 205 was a 205 was a 205. So you are right, you have to really do your homework. I had a $170 learning experience and have a really nice 205 in the garage if anyone needs one! LOL Remember that this set up was never engineered for this bike, you have to do the work and be responsible for the results.
Having said that, I love my car tire and will never go back to a MC tire on the rear. I have a harley rige too, but will not be putting car tires on it. The Harley is a great bike, but it is a looker, not a touring bike. Also, I have spokes and it would look horrible.
Car tire is successfully mounted; a Dunlop SP Sport FM901 195/50-16 recommended by others who have already used this tire. Fits great.
After a short 450 mile trip to Austin, Tx and back I LIKE IT! Noticeably better traction, to the point that someone could really go through clutches and transmissions if they wanted to. I however will restrain myself from taking it to that point, and expense. I did notice that with this new tire and a new front tire my gas milage improved by 2-3 miles per gallen or more.
Leaving for a trip from Texas to Main in a few weeks. Expect to travel 5,000 - 6,000 miles. I will report back after the trip. Will be carrying passanger and pulling trailer.
Thanks to all that passed on helpful information. Really appreciated 🙂
Hey RocketMan - check that gas mileage improvement. My 'odometer' mileage also improved with that same size tire. However, a 9.1 mile trip that was a 9.3 mile trip on the motorcycle tire became a 9.6 mile trip on the car tire. The circumference of the car tire is smaller, but they looked the same.
I'll never go back to a motorcycle rear tire again.
I'm interested in a rear motorcycle tire for the front next time but I haven't done any research yet. I'm also interested in eliminating the head shake that developed once the side car was installed. I have a fork brace, but don't have the tapered head bearings or the EZ steer, and don't know if EZ steer would change the head shake. Also reading up on Traxxion Dynamics. Also saw a note in October MCN about a GL1800 class action for the Gold Wing Wobble.
I like the Hannigan GTL - it was a real hit in last Saturday's Trail-of-Tears. I should have taken pictures of the crowds taking pictures of the GTL at the Huntsville stop. Just got to figure how to go a little faster in the North Georgia twisties.
Bill
