What Brand Tire

I have a 03 Vulcan Classic VN1600A and about to go to the DS. What brand of tire would you recommend and what size ?
Thanks,
Steve

There are plenty of good brands out there. Hankook Optimo, Good Year Triple Tread, Bridgestone, do a search for tire brands, and you'll see several threads about various brands. Personally I'm using the Hankook Optimo on my Classic 1500.
Depending on the year of your 1600, you can install either a 195/60/16 or maybe a 205/60/16, again, do a search for Vulcan Classic VN1600, and I'm sure you'll find several threads of owners and the tire size and brand they chose.
Hope this helps.

Mine is an 05 1600 nomad ,I have been running 205-60-16 gytt for over four years now.It has always performed exceptionaly.It is a tight fit with credit card clearance on shaft side,you have to install it deflated.

I think the Nomad 1600 has a tad wider swing arm than the 1600 Classic. I know a guy who has a 1600 Classic, and he purchased a 205, only to find out it wouldn't fit, so he is now running a 195/60/16, Bridgestone Turanza.

Both the 1600 Classic and Nomad are exactly the same for rear dimensions. We tried a 205 on an 09 Nomad and it was rubbing the driveshaft housing. Meanwhile, others with 1600 Classics and Nomad have mounted the same tire successfully. Just differences in tolerances.

Fly wrote:Both the 1600 Classic and Nomad are exactly the same for rear dimensions. We tried a 205 on an 09 Nomad and it was rubbing the driveshaft housing. Meanwhile, others with 1600 Classics and Nomad have mounted the same tire successfully. Just differences in tolerances.

Not sure what you mean by "tolerances" , but my friend tried the 205 on his 1600, and it rubbed on the drive shaft. Another guy I know, has a 205 on his Nomad, with no rubbing. If what you are saying is true, then maybe it depends on the tire brand.

Size will vary from one brand to another,sometimes greatly but credit card clearance doesn't leave much tollerance to start with.

After doing a little research, it turns out that the Vulcan Classic 1600, and the Nomad 1600 do NOT have the same width between the swing arm.....the Nomad is a fraction wider...hence why a 205 will fit the Nomad, but not the 1600 Classic.

I have a 03 Vulcan Classic 1600 and just went to the Dark Side.
I used a Yokohama Avid Touring S (205.60.16) on the rear and a Shinko 230 Tour Master rear tire on the front.
I have a little over 150 miles on it so far and I think I'm going to like it.
It really does ride softer than a motorcycle tire.
I tried 40lb on the rear and had just a little vibration so I lowered it to 38 and it rides a lot better. I'm still going
to experiment with the pressures and I will let you know the results.
I'm currently running 38 lbs in the front tire.

Dudester55 wrote:After doing a little research, it turns out that the Vulcan Classic 1600, and the Nomad 1600 do NOT have the same width between the swing arm.....the Nomad is a fraction wider...hence why a 205 will fit the Nomad, but not the 1600 Classic.

Just curious as to where you got these specs. Not really questioning them, as I'm only using what I measured on one 1600 Classic and one 1600 Nomad. The rims are the same width on both, the tires are the same and so is the drive train.

About 4 years ago I altered my swing arm to accept a wider tire.
I have been running 200.60.16 motorcycle tires on the rear for years
and when I put the 205.60.16 car tire on rear I was surprised to see
how much room I actually had.
I have more room with the car tire than I did with the motorcycle tire.

Any thoughts on using a 175/60/16 Bridgestone? I am wondering about the clearance next to driveshaft, if using a larger diameter tire. I, myself, am going to install this tire on a 2001 Nomad.

Bud2Rat wrote:Any thoughts on using a 175/60/16 Bridgestone? I am wondering about the clearance next to driveshaft, if using a larger diameter tire. I, myself, am going to install this tire on a 2001 Nomad.

From my understanding the Nomad has more clearance than the Vulcan Classic, so it should be no problem with that size tire.
In fact my bike came with a 180.?.16.

I finally ordered a Bridgestone 175/60/16 tire from Tire rack. Should be here on Tuesday and I can finally mount in on Wednesday. Hope everything goes well. Will post reply on the results.