Question on Goodyear Assurance Triple Tred

[Roger]

I have been thinking of trying this tire but have a couple of concerns:

1. There will be virtually no clearance between the tire and the drive shaft, I would have thought there should be at least a half inch.  If this is not of concern, why not?
2.  The specs for the Goodyear Assurance Triple Tred require rim widths from 5.5 to 7.5 inches.  As far as I know the rim width on my 2001 Valkyrie is 5 inches.  Again, why should I not be concerned?

To be compliant with the specs and provide more clearance can anyone suggest / recommend a tire similar to 195x60x16 or a 195x55x16 radial for a 5 inch rim?

Thanks,
  Roger

[dennisraz]

I believe you want a 205/60/16.
 

[Roger]

You're absolutely correct I do want a 205x60x16 but what I don't want and I don't think I will accept is the 1 mm clearance between that tire and the drive shaft.  So, I think I would rather settle for something similar to a 195x60x16 radial which should give me a clearance of about a quarter inch, if a suitable tire exists.

[Valker]

Small clearance doesn't matter at all. As long as it's not rubbing at the start, it never will. The tire does not deform at that level. Even if it goes flat, the part near the swingarm will not change shape.........

[mikehallbackhoe]

roger brings up a good question, since 195/60 16 tires are available, has anybody tried them? would they fit? are there any benefits such as handling? would it eliminate the nutcage mod?what are the pros and cons?

[j2x]

I've been running my 205x60x16 Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread happily for about 5k miles so far this year without any trouble at all.  I've been playing with pressures between 25 and 35 psi looking for a sweet spot, but no pressure so far has been bad- just different degrees of good.  no rubbing anywhere (and I check!) even though I spend a good amount of miles on loose and bumpy gravel as well as peg-dropping canyon twisties.

Of course, I did have to remove the nut cage, but that was VERY quick and easy.

[Roger]

I decided to go with the Bridgestone 195/60R16H (Turanza EL400) and it is great.  Lots of clearance, might try a 195/70 next time, if I can find one.

I didn't really notice any difference in handling with respect to a Dunlop Elite 3 but I think the car tire performance is much better.  In fact I believe it saved me from a serious accident on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I entered a turn going too fast, it may have been a spiral turn, and had to drag my pegs all the way around the turn.  Not even a hint of the car tire slipping.  Remembering the performance of the Dunlop I am pretty sure it wouldn't have held around that turn.

The car tire worked great on the Dragon's Run, but I was going much slower then, although I still touched the pegs occasionally.

A few other riders on the Blue Ridge Parkway saw my car tire and seemed genuinely interested in investigating the option for their cruisers.

[mrflamewerks]

roger brings up a good question, since 195/60 16 tires are available, has anybody tried them? would they fit? are there any benefits such as handling? would it eliminate the nutcage mod?what are the pros and cons?

The one thing I have discovered about this size of tire is the lack of availability. I'd like to try a 195/60-16 or 195/70-16 but can't seem to find any locally and very few online, in particular the 195/70-16. Anybody have any suggestions.?

[twiisted71]

Roger,  I've looked up the Turanza and all the pics I can find have an assymetrical outer pattern (straight siping on one side and angled on the other).  Does yours have this design?  Why did you go this route instead of having both sides the same (either straight or angled)?