Motorcycle tire to car tire conversion

[AppleSpyder]

Does anyone know what size car tire converts to a 200/60-16 motorcycle tire? I know I am not really mechanically inclined and I have searched the "net" to try and find an answer but WOW! I don't get it....I am really mechanically challenged. I just don't understand what it means. :banghead: So I was wondering if anyone out there knew the answer? Thanks, Cindy

 

[Eagle1]

Hi, just Google - - tire size chart and there are many of them.. Many Ryders have changed the rear Kendra tires for other brands using the same size. If you change the size, it has to clear the fender etc.

 

[Bob Denman]

This one would be pretty close...

 

[BajaRon]

Hi, just Google - - tire size chart and there are many of them.. Many Ryders have changed the rear Kendra tires for other brands using the same size. If you change the size, it has to clear the fender etc.

Not quite the same. Changing the Spyder factory car tire for another car tire is not a big deal since you're sticking with the same design and general construction. All you are changing is rubber compound, tread design and number of radial belts in the tread area.

Changing from an actual motorcycle tire to a car tire changes every aspect of design, construction, etc., which affects the handling characteristics of the motorcycle.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: Ron has a point... What exactly are you trying to do? :shocked:

 

[BajaRon]

:agree: Ron has a point... What exactly are you trying to do? :shocked:

We may all be assuming too much because there is a bit of detail lacking in the question. I am assuming that they are working on a motorcycle, not a Spyder. On the other hand, you might assume that they are working on a Spyder since this is a Spyder forum.

I have seen motorcycle tires on a Spyder. But that is really the worst of all worlds. They looked awesome (which was the goal) but functionally, they will not perform very well. Probably be in the dangerous range.

I don't think you're going to find a motorcycle tire to car tire size comparison chart since you're NOT supposed to swap one for the other.

The other assumption that people make is that because the Spyder is designated a 'Motorcycle' by most DMV's, that the tires are motorcycle tires. But the Spyder is NOT a motorcycle, regardless of what the government calls them. And the OEM tires on a Spyder are simply very light duty car tires.

I guess we'll just have to wait for the other shoe to drop to see which of us has guessed in the right direction.

 

[Bob Denman]

We may all be assuming too much because there is a bit of detail lacking in the question. I am assuming that they are working on a motorcycle, not a Spyder. On the other hand, you might assume that they are working on a Spyder since this is a Spyder forum.

I have seen motorcycle tires on a Spyder. But that is really the worst of all worlds. They looked awesome (which was the goal) but functionally, they will not perform very well. Probably be in the dangerous range.

I don't think you're going to find a motorcycle tire to car tire size comparison chart since you're NOT supposed to swap one for the other.

The other assumption that people make is that because the Spyder is designated a 'Motorcycle' by most DMV's, that the tires are motorcycle tires. But the Spyder is NOT a motorcycle, regardless of what the government calls them. And the OEM tires on a Spyder are simply very light duty car tires.

I guess we'll just have to wait for the other shoe to drop to see which of us has guessed in the right direction.

In the meantime... I wonder if DocDoru ever thought of trying MCY tires on the front of the "Silver Dream", for his Bonnenville runs? They might offer up less rolling resistance, and be a bit better aerodynamically... :dontknow:

 

[AppleSpyder]

Tire size

I was just trying to help my husband......he has a Suzuki C90T Boulevard with a trike conversion kit on. So he doesn't need the rear motorcycle tire as it really is a trike. (like a bike with training wheels - 4 wheels instead of 3) With that being said I didn't realize it would be so difficult to understand how to find the right size tire to match his. I don't understand what it all means. I know this is a Spyder forum; people ask questions about other things and discuss things like the Slingshot so I thought I'd give it a chance. Thanks for the replies and help already posted I do appreciate it. Please I don't want to start anything, it's ok, I will leave it drop.

Going for a ride for a few days...just headed nowhere and gonna see where we end up.

 

[Bob Denman]

Thanks for this info... :thumbup:
Things are becoming clearer...

I'm not REAL familiar with your conversion, (Voyager??).
Are you trying to find the correct tire for the bike, that'll match up to what's in the kit?
I would imagine that it's fine to continue to use the existing motorcycle tire on the "bike" portion; just replace the "Kit" tires, with whatever size they came with.

Have a great trip! :thumbup:

 

[BajaRon]

I was just trying to help my husband......he has a Suzuki C90T Boulevard with a trike conversion kit on. So he doesn't need the rear motorcycle tire as it really is a trike. (like a bike with training wheels - 4 wheels instead of 3) With that being said I didn't realize it would be so difficult to understand how to find the right size tire to match his. I don't understand what it all means. I know this is a Spyder forum; people ask questions about other things and discuss things like the Slingshot so I thought I'd give it a chance. Thanks for the replies and help already posted I do appreciate it. Please I don't want to start anything, it's ok, I will leave it drop.

Going for a ride for a few days...just headed nowhere and gonna see where we end up.

Ok! Now we're cooking! :thumbup: And I agree, a good move under the circumstances as you no longer have a functioning 'Motorcycle' as far as the rear tire goes. You will increase stability, braking and tire mileage without really any downside as long as you get the correct tire.

It's really not that difficult. You need to know rim width and tire diameter. Once you have these 2 bits of information you can go tire shopping. But I would pay close attention to tread pattern (shedding water well) and rubber compound (traction). Tire mileage would be the least of my concerns as it doesn't matter how long the tire lasts if it does not perform well in these 2 critical areas.

The 200/60/16 should be 25.5 inches in diameter. I am guessing your rim width is somewhere around 6" wide. Since your motorcycle tire is using the same P-Metric sizing as a car tire, you should be able to stay in the same numbers and be fine. The problem is you're not going to find a 200/60/16 car tire. But you can get the very popular size of 205/60/16. This tire will be slightly larger in diameter than your motorcycle tire. But this is insignificant as we are talking just .2"~.3" (about 1/4") difference.

I would recommend an all season performance tire. I would not get a touring tire as they are designed primarily for ride comfort and longeviety. I know this sounds good but to get these benefits you have to give up performance (read traction) and stability. Not a good trade off on a motorcycle.

This Yokohama Avid is an example of the direction I would go. Another possibility is the Kumho Ecsta PA31. What I like about the Yokohama is it gives you a great deal of everything you want (wet/dry traction) and gives up handling in Snow. Not real fond of driving a motorcycle (regardless of how many wheels it has) in the snow anyway! :yikes:

But PLEASE do not take my word for anything. These are just suggestions. It's your ride, it's your life. Take the time to do your own research and know what you're doing before making this change.

 

[NautiBrit]

Please be very careful and check fender clearances on this mod. I own a Valkyrie and several Valk owners have successfully put car tires on the rear, but only after modifying the fender nuts that protrude from the underside of the fender. Because the shape of the car tire was more square, the tire would hit the fender nuts when the suspension was fully compressed.

 

[AppleSpyder]

Thank you so much for the replies! I think we got it now.

We did have a good trip, we ended up in Yuma. It was very HOT and humid....felt like Phoenix in July hot. Great weather for an early morning ride though.

 

[Bob Denman]

Glad to hear that you found some good riding! :thumbup:
You can always fax me a bit of that "excess" temperature... 44 degrees and raining here! :shocked: