205/55 16 On My Valk

The good news is I've got 300+ miles on the CT and I really like the ride [most of the time :> ]. Bad news is I should have gone taller, as I'm getting some contact with the inside of the driveshaft. Even then I'm not convinced a 60 or 65 size would have made any difference as the driveshaft runs straight and it would still - to my eye - be a v tight fit. Solo it's just enough to give a slight polish to the shoulder of the tire, but tried 2-up today and had to abort the ride to the smell of burning rubber. Shoulder area where tread meets the sidewall was warm to the touch when I got back to the yard... I'm bummed. Am running 40psi and next thing is to try it at 42psi, but I dont have any great hopes... there isnt enough room on most of the shoulder's circumference to fit a dollar bill between the tire and the driveshaft.. Forgot to mention: it's the General Exclaim UHP

Any ideas guys?

That is a shorter than stock tire.
I run a Triple Tread 205/60-16 with 30 psi and all is good !
Anything over that and the tire wears down the middle.

JJ

JJ - did you have to remove the nut cages on the underside of the rear fender seam with the 60 or was there enough clearance? and with the TT you have plenty of room along the driveshaft?

and 30psi? did I see that correctly?????

40 psi is terrible.
At 40psi uneven roads have you driving all over the road.
Even at 36psi the tire wears unevenly................down the middle.
With less air the tire gives a nicer ride & better road holding & braking.
28 - 32 psi.
I pull a trailer with the valk.
JJ

It's not the driveshaft rubbing. It's the nutcage. I had the exact same issue and thought it was the driveshaft just because of where the tire was rubbing coincides with where you would think it would rub if it were the drive shaft.

Trust me. Remove the nutcage and put in a carriage bolt or one with a small head on the inside. Problem solved.

Enjoy the CT. I encourage others to do the same.

Brewmaster

i have the general exclaim hp not the uhp on my 1999 valkyrie interstate. the side clearance next to the drive shaft is 3/8 inch when aired to 40psi. have no side rub trouble solo or 2up. run it on a 4500 mile trip in june to grand canyon and up to yellow stone and back, still looks new. i keep 40psi frt and rear. have avon cobra frt. bike handles like a dream. if you did the tire replacment your self check to make sure you did not reverse the axle shim when you put it back on. the small end should face toward rim.

My guess its hitting the " nut cage " and not the swing-arm .

I just put those on by a recommendation of a friend. He used "60R" size because he isn't 6' 5" and 275 lbs of lean fat like me. I went with the"55R" size and have the 48psi for starters. It was a close fit, about 3/8" on the R side. I was told by the MECH, that if I ren 52psi, it would make the tire ride higher, and not be as thick on the side wall, thus giving me more clearance. I hope this helps. Now does anyone out there know how to replace the FAC "whip" antenna's with the "shorty" rubber ones on the Harleys. I need some help!

I run my Triple Tread at 28 to 32 #'s of air.
48 to 52 pounds would deliver a lousy ride,wear down the center,and follow every irregularity in the road.

JJ