Darkside for a 1500 Wing?

Howdy Gents, been awhile since I've posted (I'm a Valkyrie darksider) as I've been busy tryin' to make a living.

Trying to help a friend with a 1500 Wing who is looking for a car tire. I offered some suggestions, but he says there isn't any room for such a wide tire (205/55). Claims to only have about 1/4" clearance now with his stock mc tire (180/60) at the swing arm. If so, a 205 is out of the question.

I thought the 1800 Wingers were using a 195/55? or such, but I'm not aware of anyone with a car tire on a 1500, so thought I'd ask here.

Has it been done? TIA

Paul

I don't knoe of any 1500's running darkside. We have been asked before but I don't think we were able to find a tire that would fit. It is hard to find a narrow tire for a 16 inch rim.


Good luck
Smokey

Thanks Smokey, guess we're just the lucky ones 195 seems to be the narrowest available.

This guy recently went with the Voyager trike kit (so his wife would ride) and could really use a car tire.

Paul

Is the Voyager one that keeps the original drive unit and uses it to power the trke along? If we could get some measurements across the inner of his swingarm and drive unit we might be able to come up with something definate.

See you out there
Smokey

Correcto Smokey, the Voyager is like a set of (training wheels ) and power comes from the original drive line. This guy lives upstate of me so I haven't been able to take a look or measure his bike yet. And like you say, haven't seen a car tire on this type bike yet either. If I ever find a cure for the 1500 Wing, I'll be sure to let it be known

Paul

Hi all I live in the UK and run a 1500 with a Squire RX4 two seat sidecar http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_W849_zrF_iw/SL72gLWs8DI/AAAAAAAAAUM/Jv9oqfZc_3U/s1600-h/2008_0726SouthWales080019.JPG there is a tyre that will fit the rear of the 1500 it is made by Avon tyres but is only available from Vintage tyre suppliers this is the main supplier in the UK use this link for the Tyre Spec ( http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/productPage.php?productID=1719&categoryFilename=radial.php&PHPSESSID=a943f4cb52fad711b7ea4df6d2b68ebb )it is only 7 mm bigger in diameter than the original tyre but is slightly narrower, however the footprint on the road is huge, will post some pics of it shortly if interested. Graham Flint from the Round Britain Rally

I just read about a guy using a 175/60-16 Formoza tire on his Gl1500 without modifying the wheel or swing arm. I saw this on the Steve Saunders Goldwing Forum.

I was also told that the 175/60/16 c/t would fit.
the only place that i could find them is here.
tires-easy.com
I have no knowledge of if this tire will fit but read that it would with no mods to the wheel
price is about 75.00 plus shipping.
I will try it when i need a new tire.
If someone has one on please let us all know how its doing on your bike.

On the GL1800riders.com Darkside board there is a discussion about it. You might check it out and get some first hand info.

I am running the 175/60/16 80H Formoza car tire. Smooth as silk. Feels like your running higher RPM, but my buddy and I think it is only about 300 more RPM. Interstate riding, you dont hear the tire like MC tire, very smooth. Bumps are a thing of the past, glides over them. Don Hubbard put me onto them, run min. 37 lbs. I run 42 lbs. Curves are a thing Iam still getting use to, You have a larger patch on the ground than MC tire, it will hold in a curve, I know, but it takes a little getting use to.. Never go back to MC tire.. 89 GW 1500 143000 miles.. Go for it.. Easy tire is the only place you can get them , to my knowledge... Mack R

hi all, new member here and new to the dark side but not new to riding. been riding and racing for 48 years and still going strong . i live in sw washington. just got back from a nice 3 day ride to eastern oregon and wa. did the rattlesnake grade. cool ride.
anyway here i am and i have a couple of questions. i have a 1993 goldwing gl1500 with only 136,000 smiles on it and it's just now getting broken in. hehehe
i have looked through the 1500 forum and found what could be a couple of choices for rear tires but can't seem to find a vendor. so i am either really slow or maybe my computer is in retard mod. looks like a "formosa" or a "Maxxis" or Avon turbosteel" would be a good choice. but then there is the
"Kumho run flat" although i think it may not be available in a 165 or 175 x 16. would someone be kind enough to let me know what works best for them and a link to where i can order it. or if you guys and gals have found other options please feel free to add them as well. my stock tire is a dunlop k-177 and it has been a good tire. 160x80x16. it now has 24,000 miles on it and is getting a little then on the outer edges. center tread is still not bad . hehehehe
i like them twisties . anyway, thanks in advance and glad to be here.

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