09 V Star 950 Touring edition

I need some tire recommendations for my son's 09 V Star 950 Touring edition. The MT is a 170/70/16. Any help will be appreciated. Going to post this on the Yammy board also. He does a lot of 2 up riding.

Len

How much clearance has he got around the tire? Go with a 205 if theres room.

Jerry

I have a 09 950 Tourer. I am still trying to figure out what tire to use as well. Some one please help my math. With a 170/70-16 has a side wall height of 119 mm (4.76"). What that tells me is total Diameter of the tire is 25.52" with a circumference of 80.17". Since there are no car tires 170/70-16, I looked for an alternative. If you play with a side wall aspect ratio of 119 mm, with the various tire size aspect ratio (ie. 119MM/Aspect Ratio), I found the closest tire to stock tire sizes is 195/60R16. You wind up with a 25 mm (1 inch) width difference. I need a 1/2" dowel to see if i have the clearance so the tire doesn't hit the inside of the fender and trailing arms. Any body with a better idea I'm all ears.

RidinNE
I think you are on the right track...
Let us know what you find out.

RidinNE wrote:I have a 09 950 Tourer. I am still trying to figure out what tire to use as well. Some one please help my math. With a 170/70-16 has a side wall height of 119 mm (4.76"). What that tells me is total Diameter of the tire is 25.52" with a circumference of 80.17". Since there are no car tires 170/70-16, I looked for an alternative. If you play with a side wall aspect ratio of 119 mm, with the various tire size aspect ratio (ie. 119MM/Aspect Ratio), I found the closest tire to stock tire sizes is 195/60R16. You wind up with a 25 mm (1 inch) width difference. I need a 1/2" dowel to see if i have the clearance so the tire doesn't hit the inside of the fender and trailing arms. Any body with a better idea I'm all ears.

Ok ... since we are BOTH mathematical genius's ... .... I think I will wait to see what you come up with. ... you know ... just to give you some practice. ... Did they use extra long bolts through your fender for the bag mounts? The ones that I see on my son's bike are over an inch longer then they need to be.

Welcome RidinNE.

To you as well as to leon,If the 195 gives too much trouble, check a 185/65-16
Very close to your stock tire and giving a bit more clearence.
Good luck both of you,

Robert.

I may not be two bright, my parents were brother and sister(they have the same last name). I looked into finding a 185/65R16, no luck. My preliminary findings, it looks like i have at least 2" on each side of the tire in the trailing arms and fender clearance. so a 195 will work. As far as the bolts holding the bags into the fender being long, I installed the kit to make the back rest removable. The new hardware is even longer and you will need an extra 1/2" of spacer on each bolt. I went to the hardware store and piled up 10 stainless washers to make up the 1/2". The reason for the washers is to make up the distance that the trim pieces are if they were there. My bike didn't have the decorative trim pieces that come on the regular bike.

Just tried to be a bit of a help. Unfortunately you're right, no 185/65/16 for sale
in the US. A pitty.
Good luck with your search.
Robert.

RidinNE wrote:I may not be two bright, my parents were brother and sister(they have the same last name). I looked into finding a 185/65R16, no luck. My preliminary findings, it looks like i have at least 2" on each side of the tire in the trailing arms and fender clearance. so a 195 will work. As far as the bolts holding the bags into the fender being long, I installed the kit to make the back rest removable. The new hardware is even longer and you will need an extra 1/2" of spacer on each bolt. I went to the hardware store and piled up 10 stainless washers to make up the 1/2". The reason for the washers is to make up the distance that the trim pieces are if they were there. My bike didn't have the decorative trim pieces that come on the regular bike.

My son's bike has the removable back rest also ... that must be what I was feeling up under the fender. I need to find a manual for his bike. Please keep us updated on your journey because I will be helping my son follow in your foot prints.

I do need help with a type or tread pattern. Any ideas? Rain style gator back, omni directional?

The tread pattern you go with is totally subjective to your personal tastes. I have run both directional and non directional and can tell you there is no difference in the handling of them. They all shed water like a mofo and they all stick like glue. I am running omnidirectional on my wing (second one) and I ride it somewhat aggressive (my story here....although some think I ride like a madman and others say I ride like a girl, which I take as a compliment after riding with Kermit ) these car tires stick no matter how hard I throw it over or how fast I am riding when I do it. I can count on one ....two fingers the times my tires have slipped under me, one was romping it hard coming off an intersection making a left hand turn and gassin it hard to pass the car in front of me. I crossed the double yellow right in the sand from the recent snow and the ass got a wee ...ok a whole lot squirrely, The other time was on a tire with only a few blocks riding on it and I threw it into a hard right at take off while hammer down on a super hot day on a chip seal road with no chips for way too long, it stepped out for just a split second then all was happy, that was on a directional tire and the other time on an omnidirectional. Neither time would it have made a difference what tire I was on. They were both due to my uhh ummmm, unique riding style
Find a tire you like the looks of and run the piss out of it.
See you out there
Smokey

Hey NeonLeon,
I have a Vstar 1300 and the original tire size was a 170/70/16, I used a Dunlop sport 5000 195/60/16 to replace the 7000 mile P.O.S M/C tires I was using. The 950 and 1300 are pretty similar bikes so I don't see why this tire would not work for you.

NYStar wrote:Hey NeonLeon,
I have a Vstar 1300 and the original tire size was a 170/70/16, I used a Dunlop sport 5000 195/60/16 to replace the 7000 mile P.O.S M/C tires I was using. The 950 and 1300 are pretty similar bikes so I don't see why this tire would not work for you.

Appreciate the info!

Hi Everyone,
Quick note, the 950 & 1300 actually have the same chassis. I asked at the dealership and they told me on DL.

Hi again,
I just wanted to let everyone know what is happening. I just had the bike inspected. The rear tire is still good, but this is its last year of service. I ride into Sept. up here and will be replacing the tire then. This Sunday I will be taking official measurements of the clearance issues that we will be coming up against. Tune in next time, same Bat channel, same Bat time.
I will update on Sunday with those numbers.

Hi Yet again.
Does any one have an idea of how much balance weight worth of Dyna beads I might need in the tire? 195/60R16?

RidinNE wrote:Hi Yet again.
Does any one have an idea of how much balance weight worth of Dyna beads I might need in the tire? 195/60R16?

Go with 3 oz.

NYStar wrote:Hey NeonLeon,
I have a Vstar 1300 and the original tire size was a 170/70/16, I used a Dunlop sport 5000 195/60/16 to replace the 7000 mile P.O.S M/C tires I was using. The 950 and 1300 are pretty similar bikes so I don't see why this tire would not work for you.

Mind if I ask how well that tire is wearing? Evenly? More on one side or the other? I saw these tires, one is a blizzak for winter, and the other 2 are all season. The Dunlop is a high perf tire w/ a high UTQG wear number of 340 and a standard tire w/ a UTQG of 300. I think the Dunlop is going the way to go. So, Leon That is what will be done by the end of august. Check out this link.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?width=195%2F&ratio=60&diameter=16&manufacturer=Michelin&startIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&x=12&y=11

NYStar wrote:Hey NeonLeon,
I have a Vstar 1300 and the original tire size was a 170/70/16, I used a Dunlop sport 5000 195/60/16 to replace the 7000 mile P.O.S M/C tires I was using. The 950 and 1300 are pretty similar bikes so I don't see why this tire would not work for you.

Ok Everyone, there is 1-3/4" on each side of the trailing arms. But, there is only 3/4" clearance between the tire and an inner fender underneath the actual fender. So, that is a total of 37.5MM plus the 170MM tire for 207.5 MM. I figure the widest tire that will fit is a 205 series. I have two last question, what tire pressure are you running? Higher than 35psi or less? Also, did you have to prep the rim at all w/ a degreaser or clean it with a mild Scotch Brite pad and what pressure was used to seat the bead?