Rear Rim Size 17" or 16"

[fredintoon]

- - - They want to make their margin on the sale of the tire so I get that. - - -

Hi Jeff,
I'm decades past wanting to change my own tires so I take the wheels into the local bike shop and happily pay them the $35.
Last time, I took in my rear wheel and the tire I'd bought from a guy in the USA.
- that tire wasn't bought here -
-tell you what, that's a 125/85-16 radial TwinTire car tire and if you can find me another one I will pay you full whack for it plus install cost right now on top of the install cost for this one -
- pick up your tire & wheel in an hour, sir -

[neJeff]

Hi Jeff,
I'm decades past wanting to change my own tires so I take the wheels into the local bike shop and happily pay them the $35.
Last time, I took in my rear wheel and the tire I'd bought from a guy in the USA.
- that tire wasn't bought here -
-tell you what, that's a 125/85-16 radial TwinTire car tire and if you can find me another one I will pay you full whack for it plus install cost right now on top of the install cost for this one -
- pick up your tire & wheel in an hour, sir -

I took my rear off my GS550 in with new Shinko in hand to a shop a few weeks ago ( I called first and they said they were ok with me bringing it in). That was a Thursday and they said we'll have it AM on Friday. I go in afternoon on Friday and its sitting right where I left it. WTF? I was not thrilled and they said pick it up in an hour. I did, with no apology for the late work BTW and went home and installed. 2 blocks later tire is virtually flat. Air it up and leave it sit overnight. Dead flat next day. They screwed up the valve core somehow and on top of it did not even tighten up the stem screw to the rim. I won't be using those goof off's again! Next time I think I'll just buy whats on the shelf they got or have them order to avoid a "level of service" issue. About having nothing in stock I think its a stupid move. If you go to a shoe store and the don't have your size 10.5 do you wait to have them order or is your first move toward the door? I understand them not stocking a throttle cable for 78' XS1100 (how many of those do they sell a year) but tires can go on multitude of other machines and they are not milk, they do have some shelf life.

[cywelchjr]

I took my rear off my GS550 in with new Shinko in hand to a shop a few weeks ago ( I called first and they said they were ok with me bringing it in). That was a Thursday and they said we'll have it AM on Friday. I go in afternoon on Friday and its sitting right where I left it. WTF? I was not thrilled and they said pick it up in an hour. I did, with no apology for the late work BTW and went home and installed. 2 blocks later tire is virtually flat. Air it up and leave it sit overnight. Dead flat next day. They screwed up the valve core somehow and on top of it did not even tighten up the stem screw to the rim. I won't be using those goof off's again! Next time I think I'll just buy whats on the shelf they got or have them order to avoid a "level of service" issue. About having nothing in stock I think its a stupid move. If you go to a shoe store and the don't have your size 10.5 do you wait to have them order or is your first move toward the door? I understand them not stocking a throttle cable for 78' XS1100 (how many of those do they sell a year) but tires can go on multitude of other machines and they are not milk, they do have some shelf life.

Unfortunately, unless you have a special, very few other bikes run our size tire so stocking tires in our size would mean stocking something they would likely never sell, and taking up limited space for stock they can't sell, and that they can order in usually within about 72 hours or so most times. So most shops stock only the most popular brands and sizes, if you want anything else, it has to be ordered. So knowing this, I know that I had to go in early and order the tire I want about a week before I plan on having it installed, then I go in with my wheel and they install it for me, and next time I'll have them pour some dynabeads in there while their at it to see if they work as advertised, that is unless I put some in myself before that.

[neJeff]

Unfortunately, unless you have a special, very few other bikes run our size tire so stocking tires in our size would mean stocking something they would likely never sell, and taking up limited space for stock they can't sell, and that they can order in usually within about 72 hours or so most times. So most shops stock only the most popular brands and sizes, if you want anything else, it has to be ordered. So knowing this, I know that I had to go in early and order the tire I want about a week before I plan on having it installed, then I go in with my wheel and they install it for me, and next time I'll have them pour some dynabeads in there while their at it to see if they work as advertised, that is unless I put some in myself before that.

You probably do have a point there, didn't realize these were off sizes. I have this set of standards with Conti Blitz on and put the front on yesterday...only to notice today that NEITHER wheel has any weights on the rim! I don't believe they both were perfectly balanced so got to figure this out. More work...

[crazy steve]

...only to notice today that NEITHER wheel has any weights on the rim! I don't believe they both were perfectly balanced so got to figure this out. More work...

Don't get overly excited about that... Remember, a bike tire is considerably lighter than a car/truck tire, and sometimes the amount of weight needed to balance is so small as to not need any.

[cywelchjr]

Don't get overly excited about that... Remember, a bike tire is considerably lighter than a car/truck tire, and sometimes the amount of weight needed to balance is so small as to not need any.

Yes, especially with these heavy rims, most of the need for balancing on these bikes can be balancing of the rim rather than the tire.

[neJeff]

Don't get overly excited about that... Remember, a bike tire is considerably lighter than a car/truck tire, and sometimes the amount of weight needed to balance is so small as to not need any.

Steve & Cy, I got my jackstand out and put the back on there with and extra axle bolt and it does have a light side for sure. Going to go to Autozone and see if they have any of that stick on lead. Don't really want to be in charge of this balancing project but going to give it a go. I'm anxious to get the rear on there and see if I notice any difference in the RPM's

[neJeff]

New Tires will done in the morning!

Update: Went to put back on today and I ran into issues. I could not figure out how to fit the bracket for the 17" (which I am sure is the right one). The special bracket end slid onto a rubber bushing and I couldn't figure out what the hell to do the closed 17" bracket. Clymers was no help (or maybe I missed it) so I took both special wheels and am having Pirelli's mounted as we speak. I can't jerk around about it, I got to get the beast on the road and ride! Guy said they were equivalent to the Dunlop 404's in wear but better in handling (like I'm going know the difference). Anyways that the story...nothing a checkbook can't handle