01 Nomad

Looking to install a new tire on my Nomad and was wondreing what size would fit under the rearend , no one around here has done anything like this for me to talk to about it, so I was looking for more information about how those tires ride in a curve and on hills? Any information would help. Thanks.

I went to a CT in March of 2008. Found a used (just for trial) 205/60-16 Goodyear Eagle LS and it worked so well that I left it on. 1/8" clearance on the drive shaft, 3/16" on right side. This tire has very soft sidewalls so when you let the air out, it goes flatter than any motorcycle tire I've had. But with Slime inside that hasn't been a problem even though I've picked up a few nails. Didn't even know they were there until I changed the tire.
Very happy with the ride although the wider tire does tend to tip the bike more at very low speeds (coming off driveways at an angle, idling through potholes in roads.) Now on my second tire. Handling at speed is very much the same as a MT without the tendency to follow grooves in the highway (big plus.)
I did try a BF Goodrich Traction T/AT last time but it wouldn't fit in the swingarm so I went back to the Goodyear. I got 15,000 miles out of the first one, don't know how many I'll get out of this one yet. 12,000 so far. All my riding is done solo, sometimes towing a tent trailer.
I'd like to try something with a little stiffer sidewall next time if I can find one that'll fit. The 1600s have a wider/longer swingarm so they have more choices than we have on our 1500s.
Hope this helps. Good luck, God bless.
Randy

I have a 2001 Nomad that I've been running a Bridgestone 175/60/16. The local Honda dealer installed for me. i have approximately 4,000 miles so far. It looks just like the day I mounted it. I love the ride. There is approximately 1/4" clearance on the drive shaft side and 1/2" clearance on the other side. I run 38 psi in the tire with dyna beads used for balancing. Hope this helps.

How much smaller is the 175 than the stock tire? I found the 205/60 to be the same diameter.

No longer have a Nomad, but have helped a couple of people mount a ct on Nomads. Mounted both with 205/16 tires, on one of them, the 205 was too wide and rubbed on the driveshaft housing, on the other, there was plenty of room.

So, will the 205 width be ok, it seems to depend on the bike, even Nomads of the same year manufacture.

Stump. Here is what I found out about the size difference between the 205/60 and the 175/65. The 205 has a diameter of 25.7" and a circumference of 80.7". The 175 has a diameter of 25" and a circumference of 78.4". There is a difference of 1.6" in circumference. The 175 has a lower profile, thus this will increase your RPM's slightly. I have not noticed any real difference in my RPM's versus the stock MC tire. I prefer the clearance that the 175 provides. Hope this info helps you with your decision. I believe that the 205 will be to wide. You might consider the 195.