general altimax hp

[Valker]

I have the 55 series and haven't noticed a problem. I run as low as 26 one up and unloaded (as unloaded as I get).

[don07tncav]

Don07tncav...Where I experienced the worst side bouncing was 65mph speed limit.  Just south of here, the speed limit is 70mph once it crosses into WV.  As in most places, if you are running much slower than 5-10mph over, you run the risk of getting run over.  You know...I've been thinking...I bought the 60-series tire because it is closest to stock diameter.  But the 55-series would have a smaller side-wall and might be why there would be less side-to-side flex.  This might be why many others do not experience the same things I have.

Bob, I had a 60 series on a Goodyear tripletread and it rubbed. Ruined the tire in a hurry two up. The 55 has been great.

[Nogrey]

Some good points in your observations. I run a 55 series and the sidewalls are very short. I love the way it handles at 26 psi but have recently been running it at 32. Mostly because I was riding it 2 up and haven't changed it back to 26 since. Now that the tire is good and broken in it handles pretty good at 32 as well. May just keep it there. Good luck with it.

[honda*mann]

Hi,

I run the altimax 60 series.

I go 180, little woman goes 113.
 
No problem rubbing until we went grocery shopping on it. The shaft was close but that extra weight must have put it over the edge. Now I cranked up the shocks to 5 to see if that would help??

Thanks
Honda*mann

[MP]

Are you all sure it is rubbing on the swingarm? 
I have a Hydroedge that is so close to the swing arm that you cannot fit a business card in there.  Never rubbed with me on it.
When my wife and luggage got it, it started rubbing.

Or so I thought.  It was NOT rubbing there, it was hitting the nut on the inside of the fender.  I had removed the "nutcage", but with the added weight, it started hitting.

I THOUGHT it was hitting the swingarm, but NO.

I put a carriage bolt in from the fender inside, and it cured the problem.  So, just be sure it is the swingarm, and not the nut.  Easy to make the mistake, I did.

MP

[Bob E.]

Are you all sure it is rubbing on the swingarm? 
I have a Hydroedge that is so close to the swing arm that you cannot fit a business card in there.  Never rubbed with me on it.
When my wife and luggage got it, it started rubbing.

Or so I thought.  It was NOT rubbing there, it was hitting the nut on the inside of the fender.  I had removed the "nutcage", but with the added weight, it started hitting.

I THOUGHT it was hitting the swingarm, but NO.

I put a carriage bolt in from the fender inside, and it cured the problem.  So, just be sure it is the swingarm, and not the nut.  Easy to make the mistake, I did.

MP

Yeah, it is definitely hitting the swingarm.  When on a jack, you can hear it just lightly brushing by on the raised letters.  When on the sidestand, you cannot even slide a paper in between the tire and singarm at that spot.  Actually, there is plenty of room between the tire and the swingarm.  But that welded seam that runs around the middle of the stiffener plates protrudes out a good 1/8" or so and that is where it is actually rubbing. 

I looked up under the fender with a flashlight and it does not appear to be rubbing the nut.  I did remove the nut cages.  I've only ridden solo since putting this tire on.  And although I'm a little heavy at 275lbs, I do have the 13" progressive 440 HD's, so I really don't think it would be compressing down that far.

This weekend, I hope to get some time to pull the wheel and see if there is anything I can do to the swingarm weld to open it up a little.  Maybe I can peen it down flat or something.

[oldman]

I have the HydroEdge, 65 series. I originally just did the "cage Nut" on the right side. Putting a new bolt in from the inside out as per MP's suggestion.  But found when my DW rode with me the tire was brushing the left "cage nut" and the seam edges where the right fender met (not the bolt head).  So I had to do the left cage nut and the the "washer" job to pull the right fender out a bit. Since then have put some 1000 miles without anything rubbing.

I know that I have read where some folks have had to grind their swing arms a bit to keep their tire from hitting.  Mind has at least an 1/8"  gap between the swing arm and the tire.  Honda's jigs that build the swing arms are not all the the same standards.

[timk519]

I've got a SmarTire tire pressure system on my bike, and I've observed a variance of upwards of 4-8 psi on my rear car tire - while riding - depending on the outside temperature, road temp, and how long I've been riding. 

So for the poster who'se been experiencing "wiggly" problems, I'd suggest checking your tire pressure before and after riding some of these roads and see where the pressure really is - I'd guess it's not what you think!

I'm going to get my tires filled with Nitrogen when I get home, and hopefully that'll reduce the amount of variance in my tire pressure.

[Bob E.]

I've got a SmarTire tire pressure system on my bike, and I've observed a variance of upwards of 4-8 psi on my rear car tire - while riding - depending on the outside temperature, road temp, and how long I've been riding. 

So for the poster who'se been experiencing "wiggly" problems, I'd suggest checking your tire pressure before and after riding some of these roads and see where the pressure really is - I'd guess it's not what you think!

I'm going to get my tires filled with Nitrogen when I get home, and hopefully that'll reduce the amount of variance in my tire pressure.

Generally, I check my tire pressure in the morning before riding...so it is cold pressure.

[MP]

"cold" pressure is what all standards go by.  Check before riding.  All tires will warm up riding.  If you stay in the same area, do NOT adjust for riding temp increases, or daily temp swings. 
The only exception is if you check it here in ND in Jan at -20, then trailer it to FL for bike week.  You should then adjust the pressure.  Otherwise, FORGET about any increases.

This is from an owner operator of a trucking company with over 2 million miles under my belt, and many more with other drivers in the company.

MP

[Bob E.]

Just wanted to follow up and let you all know I have solved my rubbing problem.  I had previously posted that my car tire was rubbing the swingarm on the protruding welded seam from the corner bracing/stiffener plates.  Well, I was wrong.  When I removed the tire, I found that the welded seam ends right in the corner, but the plate continues unwelded along the driveshaft tube, then the weld picks up again at the rear edge and runs under the plate.  Well, it's kind of a silly design because this unwelded seam has been collecting water, dirt, roadsalt, debris, etc. behind the plate and had actually started rusting.  This was causing the edge of the bottom plate to bulge out from the driveshaft tube rather than lay flat like the top plate...I wish I had taken a pic to show you.  Anyways, after using a very small screwdriver to dig all the debris out from behind the stiffener plate, then using a small wire brush to clean it all up, I coated it with Rustoleum Rusty Metal primer and hammered it back down flat.  Then I gave it a quick coat of black paint and, after it dried, reassembled the bike.  I now have close to 3/16" of clearance (3 credit cards and an electronic security key card which is at least as thick as 2 credit cards).  I was really happy it was a rather simple fix.

So now, I'm back to evaluating whether I like the handling of this tire or not.  Like I had said before, it is fine about 3/4 of the time.  But that highway bouncing in the curves is still a little unnerving.  I'll run it at least until the front tire wears out...and may be until the car tire wears out.  Then I'll decide whether to order another car tire or go back to a bike tire.  I guess I'm not sold on it yet...but I haven't ruled it out yet either.

[Nogrey]

Sounds like a very open minded evaluation. Let us know what you think. I've ridden about 5k miles now on my Ultimax hp. Mine is a 205/55 so a little shorter. At first I didn't think that was going to work for me but like it more each time I ride. I like the looks of the very short sidewalls. Almost like a low profile tire. I've been running it at around 32 psi for about 1k miles now. It handles fine but may drop it back down to between 26 and 30. I liked the way it handled a little better at lower pressures. Funny thing is, the only time it gives me any grief is when I'm on my own street. It "dips" a little to the right. For drainage I suppose, but seems like it's more so than other streets. Any ways, it catches me every time just to remind me I have a car tire on. I have to correct my steering just until I get to the stop sign (about half a block). When I hit the road, it's just like an MC tire after that.
Best regards,
Nogrey