1800 Retro Tire help needed

Hey Guys,
New on The Darkside. I have been reading post on tires and sizes and have come to more questions. I have an 02' 1800 Retro all stock. I usually ride alone with little load. I would like to have a hidden hitch and a trailer while I wait to get another highway bike for the wife and I. Yesterday had a tire go on the interstate, road debris i think, coming back from AL. It is now back here at the house and I want to make a good chose on tires front and rear. I'd like to eventualy have a front rake and a 240 rear kit. That'll have to wait until I get a goldwing for my wife and I to ride. I like the wider tires and would like to lower the rear 2-3 inches. I dont mind the lead wheel weights but if the dynabeads are better looking and give a smoother ride id go for it. The whole car tire thing is new to me. What is the widest tire i can put on the rear of a retro? I don't mind grinding the inner fender. Can you tell me would it be a lower profile than the cuurent 180/70r/16? or do I make up the difference in shocks? I'm open to tire brand suggestions I'd like a mid cost range tire. Who would mount it this type of tire a Honda shop? The front is also a dunlap that came on the bike. I have had the bike since coming back from over seas in 02 and have only 6000 miles on the tires but they look thin to me. I think id like more aggressive tire tread on front but i don't know. This is the 5th bike I've owned in 20yrs but never had to change or buy tires.

short version, you can go up to a 205 profile 55 or 60 or 65 series are the most popular with the 65 keeping the speedometer closest to stock...

look around here or search online and pick the tire you like the look or the cost or both of the best and make sure it has a decent speed rating. Sticky at the top of this forum (I think) has a list of different members and their tire sizes/types...

use a tire calculator like the one in the sticky on the general forum or search gogle for "Tire calc" and a miriad of options come up for comparing different sizes...

the stock tires that came on the bike are crap. Take your pick of the Avon, Bridgestone or Metz front tire, or even the Dunflop Elite 3 is a step up from stock (in the stock size) or you can look for a larger front tire like some are doing...

that should get you started. You might have a bunch of reading and research to do before you make up your mind!

Thank You I'll keep searchng and have some proper questions posted tomorrow.

your welcome! Let us know what other questions come up!

I am running a 205 65 16 on my 03 R it works great. My brother is running a 02 Retro with a 205 55 16, he wanted a lower profile and he tells me that he loves it. Most of his riding is on flat roads with very little curves. If you get a chance to ride a bike with the CT already mounted I think you would go out and buy one and install it on yours. I am running a Dunlop E3 with mine and it works great.
Wayne Laton RIDE SAFE, Watch for the cell phone users! :arrow:

I have been remembering the so called good old days. In the 1950's and 1960's more of the 60's than the 50's.I don't recall seeing rounded tires on motorcycles unless they were racing bikes. THE MAIN CRUSER was A Harley and they had biasply tires on them and they were flat tread tires the only thing they were narrow. In then eirly 1970's I built a chopper and everyone thought I was nuts for installing a radial car tire on the rear of my bike. I ran the same tire until I sold the bike in the late 1970's. I had no problem installing a CT on my VTX 1800R it is a 205/65/16 Michelin HE. After riding the bike I would not go back to the standard bike tire.
Wayne Laton Watch for the drivers on there cell phones.