Need a tire for '03 1300S

Hey everyone. I'm looking at getting a CT for my 1300S in the next few weeks. What is the tire size I need without doing any modifications since I have spoke rims? Also, do I use a car tube or a motorcycle tube? Thanks for the help.

205/70/15 and you want to use a MC tube from what I've read.

You will have to turn the exhaust mounting bolts around though. Sorry

Jerry

argyle64 wrote:Hey everyone. I'm looking at getting a CT for my 1300S in the next few weeks. What is the tire size I need without doing any modifications since I have spoke rims? Also, do I use a car tube or a motorcycle tube? Thanks for the help.

Congrats on your decision and thanks for coming by to ask! First of all...there are two ways to do this!

1).....is seal your rims! Here is a link to wayne's work. A lot of people have done this and they love it.

https://mcdarksiders.forumotion.com/vtx-1300-tech-f11/sealing-rims-t68.htm?highlight=sealing+rims


2).....using the stock motorcycle tube (car tubes will not work on a motorcycle rim) Of course this makes for a lot more patience to get the tire to bead if you go with something like a 205/65 or 70 series tires. People have had greater success with the tube using a VW tire like a 165/80/15. Great tire, I ran it for 1 1/2 years, but they are harder to find. Both have been done with 100% success!

Both tires are not easily mounted but will do you a great job! If it was easy girl scouts would be doing it! LOL

Remember...seating the bead on tire is dangerous and should be done by professionals! I just have to warn you how dangerous this is...because you will have to go as high a 100 psi to get this accomplished!!!


.............................bobby

i recently as in the last month converted my 1800S.here is what i learned. I purchased a Michelin HE 205/70/15. I tried every trick I had read on the forums here and others to get the tire to bead with a tube but none of them worked.(yes it was a motorcycle tube) I eventually sealed the rim with 3m 5200 about $30.00 a tube. i was able the get the tire to bead at about 125 psi and setting it out in the texas summer sun. I didn't have to reverse the bolts on the exhaust but i did have to let all the air out of the tire to get the tire wheel back in the bike to reinstall. I also found that Dyna beads work better than trying to balance the tire. You will in all likely hood need to replace your shock bushings. The wider contact patch loads the shocks independently giving you a wobble at hi speeds. if you are running just below the speed where the wobble starts and go into a curve the wobble starts. if you can see the bushing you need to replace them. the dyna beads also helps with this. i have had it to some pretty good speeds now with no issues and the faster you go with dyna beads the smoother it gets. if i had it to do over again i would have purchased a cheaper tire to get past the learning curve. i damaged the bead on the 1st tire and had to buy another. Also most of the motorcycle shops i went to wouldn't touch it. i got it mounted at a used tire shop. $10.00. I have about 400 miles on it now and it is good, great in the rain, a night and day difference. you have to get aggressive to break it loose in the wet. good luck, i have heard there were cookies

We put a Dunlop Signature 205/70/15 on my friend's 1300 and he won't part with it. It has somewhat rounded edges that I thought would help with the crossover effect, and evidently it did.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Signature&partnum=07TR5SIG

Thanks for the replies everyone! One last question. Do the Dyna Beads go in the tube or the tire?

In the tube if you have a tube, in the tire if you don't. Dump in the tire when mounting tubeless or pour thru the valve stem using an engraver to vibrate them down in.

How about Firestone tires? My grandfather retired from Bridgestone so we get a very nice discount on tires. Any suggestions? Yay or nay?

I can get a: Potenza G019 Grid Bridgestone P205/65R15 H Black Letter/Black Wall w/ 50,000 miles for $60.00 with my grandfather's discount. It's an H rated tire. Will this work okay?

The 65 series will be a little harder to mount than a 70 series. So be very careful. Mounting a tire is dangerous.

Jerry

jedishon wrote:The 65 series will be a little harder to mount than a 70 series. So be very careful. Mounting a tire is dangerous.

Jerry

Will that 65 series work with the tube? I would do a 70 series but Firestone only has one tire that would work and it's a Primewell brand. Here it is: http://www.firestonecompleteautocare.com/catalog/product.action?id=61946&pricing=true

A few have had luck mounting a 65 series with a tube. Again I stress be very careful. Read some of the threads and see what people have done to get their tires to mount.

Jerry

Thanks for the heads up jedishon. I'll pick up the tire tomorrow and get it mounted next Tuesday.

What size tube and where can I get one that will fit the 205/65R15 tire?

I used the stock tube from my 150 in my 175 - they stretch pretty well - you know they use them for floats on the rivers.

I picked up my new tire yesterday. I went with the Bridgestone Potenza G019 Grid 205/65/R15. A friend of mine who is already on the DS is helping me install it next Tuesday. At the same time we're going to be replacing my rear shock bushings.

When the guys at Firestone were asking why I just wanted one tire I told them it's for my bike. They said they had to see this. So the first place I'm stopping next Tuesday after I the tire on....Firestone.

argyle64 wrote:I picked up my new tire yesterday. I went with the Bridgestone Potenza G019 Grid 205/65/R15. A friend of mine who is already on the DS is helping me install it next Tuesday. At the same time we're going to be replacing my rear shock bushings.

When the guys at Firestone were asking why I just wanted one tire I told them it's for my bike. They said they had to see this. So the first place I'm stopping next Tuesday after I the tire on....Firestone.

Congrats on your decision to go darkside!


......................bobby


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Don't forget to get rid of any mold relese before you push it to hard.

Jerry

So how many psi do I need to get this tubed 205 to set?

It took us two hours to get the bead to set but I'm on the road and loving it so far!