Can't mount 2010 wheel to hub with 195/55R16 Kumho

Has anyone else had problems mounting a Darkside tire and wheel to the '010 Wing?

My '02 had a clean open wheel well. I had no problems mounting a Darkside tire/wheel to the hub.

The '010 has "new" stuff on the left side of the wheel well: a metal box with 4 orange wires coming out of it and the well liner is offset on the left hand side. The offset runs the length and hight of the well except where it encounters the metal box, which is situated at the lower left front corner of the well. This "stuff" causes a pinch point between the hub and the left wheel well side.

The Kumho has the same dimensions as all 195/55R16 car tires to within a mm.

I first thought the changes to the wheel well were the result of the "new" TPMS. Even if true, others have had success with Darkside tires on '010s. But, my '010 is from the end of the 2010 run, purchased in late 2010. It still only has about 500 miles on it. Perhaps Honda made an Darkside confounding change to the '010 late in the run!!? Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Has anyone noticed a change in their wheel well configuration for the 2010 model year (as compared to earlier GL1800s - perhaps the change started with TPMS)?

Has anyone been able to overcome this change and mount a Darkside tire/wheel to a '010 hub?

What technique did you use to get the tire past the pinch point? I tried deflating the tire. That narrows it to 7.5" but, that is still too wide. The section width for most 195/55 tires is 7.8" to 7.9".

Once past the pinch point, I am not confident that a 195/55 will clear the left side of the wheel well wall. The OEM m/c tire has a section width of 7.0" and a clearance of 1/4"-3/8". Will a 7.9" wide tire even fit at all??

Thank you for any information/help you can give.

A buddy put a Falken 195/55/16 on his Wing with the TPMS and he has had no problems.
Do you have Nav or ABS?

Success!! Thank you.

The approach I took was to go to a friend with a lift table, remove the back panel, deflate the tire, and bring it in from the rear over the top of the hub. That done, it dropped down about 3-4" and was a matter of aligning the lug holes. Even experimenting with just forcing it past the pinch point a couple of times, the whole process took less than an hour.

Once mounted, there was plenty of clearance. But, I wouldn't want to squeeze a 205/55 in there. That little extra 1/2" in width would make it a very close fit. Don't know how those guys do it. Maybe they don't own '09s or '010s.

It is sooooo nice to be back on the Darkside. Those m/c tires are just to high strung for me

Take it easy for the 1st hundred miles then ride it like ya stole it.

Air it up to set the seat on the tire. Then let the air out of the tire and try agan.

With the bike on the center stand I deflate the tire, rotate the hub so the top lugs are at about 11 and 1 o'clock. I spray the inner fender liner with 409 or similiar spray detergent and it slips right in. I've also heard some use waxed paper to help the tire slip passed the inner fender.
Others have said it is easier to lay the bike on it's side on the grass or a chunk of carpet.

robw wrote:With the bike on the center stand I deflate the tire, rotate the hub so the top lugs are at about 11 and 1 o'clock. I spray the inner fender liner with 409 or similiar spray detergent and it slips right in. I've also heard some use waxed paper to help the tire slip passed the inner fender.
Others have said it is easier to lay the bike on it's side on the grass or a chunk of carpet.

It is so much easier laying it on the right side. The first car tire I put on the scoot was on a lift table. It took two of us pushing prying and cussing to get the tire in. Next tire I laid it down and it slid right in with just a little love nudge. I am also stuffing a 205-65-16 in that little hole so I know how tight it is. My next one in a few thousand miles will be a 195-55 or 65 run flat.

See you out there
Smokey

lay it down spray the tire with water or even use wax paper on tire and it slips right on in no problem

smokey2255 wrote:

robw wrote:With the bike on the center stand I deflate the tire, rotate the hub so the top lugs are at about 11 and 1 o'clock. I spray the inner fender liner with 409 or similiar spray detergent and it slips right in. I've also heard some use waxed paper to help the tire slip passed the inner fender.
Others have said it is easier to lay the bike on it's side on the grass or a chunk of carpet.

It is so much easier laying it on the right side. The first car tire I put on the scoot was on a lift table. It took two of us pushing prying and cussing to get the tire in. Next tire I laid it down and it slid right in with just a little love nudge. I am also stuffing a 205-65-16 in that little hole so I know how tight it is. My next one in a few thousand miles will be a 195-55 or 65 run flat.

See you out there
Smokey

Yep this is the best way..Lay it down on her right side on some padding..I use a couple of the lawn chair pads....Then pull the center stand out to give yourself a little more angle to work with and push it right up and in..soap or wax paper helps alot then blow your tire back up...You can do the whole job this way in about 20 minutes start to finish and be riding....