Ryker (not rally) rear tire options

[SportsterDoc]

I did a search, tried to limit search to Ryker but got 7 pages of tire posts, but mainly for Spyders...so a new thread.

Starting to consider tire options, even though not expected to be needed for close to a year.

Looking for good traction on a gravel shoulder, possibly some snow use (I know, not recommended), but I have encountered sudden weather on Mt. Charleston in July.

Prime concern is tire OD.
Stock 205/45R16 is about 22 1/2", rough measure without using a caliper. Will measure better, later, with some assistance.

Initial search found 23.2 and 23.3 OD. That would use up about 1/2 the clearance on my footman loop nuts under the fender, even if they are at the edge of the tire.

BTW, dealer informed me that a Rally client wanted standard Ryker rear wheel and tire, so the dealer traded, as part of the deal. Tried to install Rally on standard and did not clear fender.

Bottom line, any Ryker standard (not Rally) rider installed other than stock tires on rear?

Below are examples of what I am finding:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...6!3!72322456933!!!g!79583449933!&gclsrc=aw.ds

Riken Raptor $77.67 from tirerack.com
23.2" OD, 10/32 tread

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/general-gmax-as-05/p/34756
General gmax $94 from Discount Tire
23.3" OD, 10/32 tread

 

[Peter Aawen]

Firstly, can you tell me what width are the rear rims on the (non-Rally) Ryker's?? :dontknow:

That aside, Kenda tires are (generally) a 'smallish' tire for their nominal sidewall size, so most alternative tires that carry the same sidewall size are likely to be somewhat larger in rolling diameter than the Kendas.

With that in mind, I'd suggest you might want to look at alternative sizes, not just the 205/45R16's - I know of some Ryker owners who have quite happily fitted 195/45R16's on the rear and are as far as I know, they all remain very impressed with them (brands fitted include Nexen, Pirelli, Yokohama, & Michelin) altho I don't know of any who've done more than about 10,000 miles on them (yet)! And there's at least one Ryker 900 Ryder I know of who's happily running a 215/45R16 Falken Road/Track tire on the rear (he tried a BFG g-force back there but wasn't happy, it was a bit too 'track' oriented!) altho I'm not sure that he hasn't got a custom rear fender - he has custom fenders and wiiiiiide tires up front! Did I say his fronts were rrreeeeaaaallllyyy wide?!? They are!! :shocked:

Anyhow, don't fixate on the sidewall sizes too much, look at the actual specs from the manufacturers of the tires you are considering; often, those 'generic tire size comparison charts' or tables, calculators, etc don't really help you much at all, and if you rely on them when looking for alternative tires, you may be over-looking tires that could be exactly what you want! They can help point you in the right direction tho, but always check the manufacturers specs before settling on your tire choice!! :thumbup:

Good Luck with your search! Looking forward to hearing how you go?! hyea:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

The Vredestein Quatrac 5 comes in 195/45-16 , and this tire can be used in cold weather annnnnnnnnnnnnnd even has a good snow rating ( 8.8 in a 10 pt.max ) ..... Mike :thumbup: ....PS, I checked the ratings for the tires you mentioned in your post ....the Riken winter rating was a 6.2 = fair ..... and the G-max was 7.1 = good ..... you be the judge ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Peter Aawen]

The Vredestein Quatrac 5 comes in 195/45-16 , and this tire can be used in cold weather annnnnnnnnnnnnnd even has a good snow rating ( 8.8 in a 10 pt.max ) ..... Mike ......

So there's ^^ an even better looking contender in an alternative size that might well work Doc! hyea:

I still haven't had aany luck getting a Vredestein of any useful size for testing over here in Oz yet Mike, (my own or anyone else's either! ) But I'm not giving up!! :thumbup:

 

[chris56]

I have the Toyo T1R since 12.000 miles on mine - better grip - I used the same on my Rykers ..

https://www.reifenleader.at/autorei...regbng5Gz2Rxbx6DooUVUbu62ZOFBTScaArrYEALw_wcB

 

[SportsterDoc]

Peter: Rear rim is 16 x 6.5" (fronts are 16 x 4.5", with 145/60R16 stock). Smallish comment re Kenda duly noted and that may push me to stock, when the time comes.

Mike: I will look into the Vredestein.

Chris: I previously noted your Toyo T1R, but need my wife to look at your link in German. BTW, she lived in Vienna circa 1953.

My focus is maximizing traction in gravel, without an OD increase.

Thank you all for your replies.

 

[Tslepebull]

So a question in general (no pun intended) about the gmax design https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tir...-as-05/p/34756
General gmax $94 from Discount Tire
23.3" OD, 10/32 tread

Will the asymetric tread design on the rear be a problem? Will it bias the rear tire traction to one side and consequently influence the direction of the front end? I am presuming that tire design in a paired array would be balanced by the steering bias of the other tire.

I am really new to this three wheel design and may be overthinking it.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

So a question in general (no pun intended) about the gmax design https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tir...-as-05/p/34756
General gmax $94 from Discount Tire
23.3" OD, 10/32 tread

Will the asymetric tread design on the rear be a problem? Will it bias the rear tire traction to one side and consequently influence the direction of the front end? I am presuming that tire design in a paired array would be balanced by the steering bias of the other tire.

I am really new to this three wheel design and may be overthinking it.

Waaaaaaaay back when folks began using Auto tires " asymmetrical " was a Hot topic ..... my research told me the difference in performance is minimal at best .... it's more HYPE than actually achieving a desired result .... The only real plus I could find was for the folks who want to get another 2,000 miles from a set of front tires..... unfortunately very few of those folks will do the swap every 2000 mi., ... Annnnnnnnnnnnd if you have tire wear issues ..swapping is not a FIX it's a band aid..... if you want to maximize your tire mileage - get a proper alignment ( Lazer is best )..... good luck ...Mike :thumbup:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Peter: Rear rim is 16 x 6.5" (fronts are 16 x 4.5", with 145/60R16 stock). Smallish comment re Kenda duly noted and that may push me to stock, when the time comes. When I bought my Triumph in California in 2012, there was no Triumph dealer in southern Nevada. At that time my shop was in SoCal, home in Las Vegas and ranch in northern Arizona. Before I rode it home, I bought a spare rear tire, kept in my garage. When I had it mounted, a year later, just before another across the desert trip, I found it to be much larger, although same numbers and it would not freely rotate on the center stand for chain service.

Mike: I will look into the Vredestein.

Chris: I previously noted your Toyo T1R, but need my wife to look at your link in German. BTW, she lived in Vienna circa 1953.

My focus is maximizing traction in gravel, without an OD increase. Not presently an issue with the Kenda. I have pulled off Lee Canyon, at lower Lee Canyon Meadows, to view wild horses and had no slippage, even up a gravel incline...but I do give it a soft throttle up to clutch engagement and then even more gentle pulling out.

Most people think of Nevada (means snow capped in Spanish) as a flat desert, but it is very mountainous.

I can go from 2200 feet to 8500 feet in about 30 miles.

But, even without the mountains, I pull off asphalt on the Extraterrestrial Highway, Death Valley rides, etc.

Scrambler tires were a substantial improvement on my CB1100.

Thank you all for your replies.

Off on errands, then maybe up to Corn Creek Springs.

I've had the T1r on a Spyder, stickiest tire I've ever had ...... ( in the DRY ) but not nearly as good in the wet ( definately not snow ) as is the Q-5 ..... in colder temps I wasn't as impressed ..... good luck .... Mike ............PS, if you do mostly OFF_ROAD .... look at winter tread tires .... " fitment " could very well prevent this ....

 

[SportsterDoc]

I've had the T1r on a Spyder, stickiest tire I've ever had ...... ( in the DRY ) but not nearly as good in the wet ( definately not snow ) as is the Q-5 ..... in colder temps I wasn't as impressed ..... good luck .... Mike ............PS, if you do mostly OFF_ROAD .... look at winter tread tires .... " fitment " could very well prevent this ....

I do not intend to ride in the rain, just be prepared for a sudden weather change, but mainly easily climb a gravel shoulder back onto the highway. The First 4 photos show typical shoulders.

Zero off road, but dirt/gravel driveways.
The Ryker is not my idea of a dirt road vehicle.
The rally has a bit more clearance, but not as much as I would prefer.

Last 2 photos are typical dirt "roads" in the Spring Mountains and Sheep Mountains, west and north of Las Vegas.
Would not want to take Ryker there.
Maybe up Alamo Road from Corn Creek Springs, but certainly not Upper Joe May or Red Rock Rocky Gap.

 

[SportsterDoc]

I have the Toyo T1R since 12.000 miles on mine - better grip - I used the same on my Rykers ..

Found this

https://www.onlinetires.com/tires/view/47223/toyo-proxes-t1r-205-45r16/

10/32 tread, 23.2" OD

Did a bit more careful measurement on the stock Kenda.
Held a board flat to the rear to measure against and eyeballed the front to be 23 1/4", which is comparable to most contenders.
When wife gets home, I can do a more accurate measurement.

 

[chris56]

I ryde here in the Alps, so I have to calculate with rain every day, in the mountains is still snow, so in the curves the street is wet, rest is dry... thats the problem with the Kendas,
I hope to find better tires for the front, my Girl hates it, when the tires slip away !
I use longer and stiffer shocks (400mm instead of 380mm) on the front, so she is now more than an inch higher, also a better grill, makes a better feeling on gravel roads !
(12.000 miles now, we love her !!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMlDtJwZDv0&t=45s

 

[Tslepebull]

Does anyone know what the OD of the Rally rear Kenda 205/55-15 is when new? I can measure mine but my tread depth is down to 5/32 so I cant judge if an aftermarket tire will fit under the fender.

 

[SportsterDoc]

If 10/32 new, then it lost 5/32 per radius or 10/32 diameter (5/16").
So measure current diameter and add 5/16 or maybe 3/8" for good measure.
Expect to find it be be just under 24"

 

[Tslepebull]

Most of the aftermarket 205/55-15's list an OD of 23.9" so I am guessing your calculation is right in the pocket. What I didn't know was tread depth new on the Kendas. These East Texas chip seal roads have really done a number on my rear tire. At 6,700 miles I am already down to the "rain" wear bars and I do ride in the rain (both intentionally and unintentionally).

Thanks again

 

[Tslepebull]

SportsterDoc, this is the tire I am considering for my Rally model. The tread pattern is not quite as aggressive as the Kenda I have worn out but it is a compromise and hopefully will last longer. It might meet your needs in gravel if you can find it in a suitable size.
https://www.ntb.com/sku/sku20425/nt450-extreme

 

[SportsterDoc]

Like the looks of the tread, but note that it starts out life at only 9/32 depth.

 

[Tslepebull]

I saw that but also saw that it has a 45K mile warranty when used on a car. I have no idea how that translates to the Ryker. On the other hand it looks like I will only get about 8K out of my stock Kenda so it won't take much improvement to justify the change and this tire is less than half the cost of the Kenda. Besides, if it doesn't work out I can always switch back to the Kenda and will have learned something.

 

[SportsterDoc]

Most tire warranties require rotation periodically, such as every 6000 miles, to be in effect. Not an option on the Ryker, therefore, the warranty is probably not applicable but it is a decent indication of expected life. Pls keep us posted.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Most tire warranties require rotation periodically, such as every 6000 miles, to be in effect. Not an option on the Ryker, therefore, the warranty is probably not applicable but it is a decent indication of expected life. Pls keep us posted.

" periodic tire rotation " .... this is news to me ..... What manufacturer requires this ???? ..... Mike :thumbup: