Has anybody tried a 165/65R13?

Has anybody tried using a 165/65R13 on their scoot? Especially anyone that has ABS on their Silverwing?
I was originally thinking of using a 155/70R13. But the 165/65R13 would seem to be a better fit and it is  
available so I'll most likely go with that instead.

Diameter wise, it is closer to stock than the 165/70R13. Even closer yet than the 155/70R13
I am interested in this because it seems to me that a car tire this size (165/65R13) would be less likely to have an
adverse affect on the ABS system. It would seem reasonable that the ABS system would allow for some variability
that can occur with stock tires, yet still operate as it should. For instance when the tire pressure on a nearly worn
front tire is a little bit low while at the same time it has a new and slightly over pressured rear tire. Surely it must
have some allowance for something like that. I just wonder if the 165/65R13 fits within the parameters.

Stock sidewall height = 105mm
165/65 sidewall height = 107.25mm and is just 2.1428% taller than the stock tire.
155/70 sidewall height = 108mm and is 3.3333% taller than stock.
165/70 sidewall height = 115.5mm and is a full 10% taller than stock.

A search finds a few different brands of the 165/65/R13 from various sources. tires-easy.com has a few.
1010tires.com has one; the Kumho I-Zen XW. I found something called Roadstone Classe Premier on ebay.
The Kumho is a winter tire so it will have a deeper tread than an all season or summer tire. Still, that should
be OK.

If nobody has yet, then I may be one of the first? Actually, if I get it done, it won't be until spring that any appreciable
amount of riding gets done with it anyway since the riding season is quickly coming to a close here in Michigan.  But, I
may have a chance right around the new year if I load it up on my pick-up truck then and haul it down to Florida for
a camping/riding event.

It could happen.

Mike B.

(Rochester Hills Michigan Dark Side Rider)
(4 Honda Reflex scooters and a FSC600A Silverwing too)

I had been using a Sumitomo 165/70-R13 on my non-ABS '03. Ran it for 40,000 miles before I decided to change it because the "sidewall" tread was a bit too worn and I wasn't comfortable with that. There was still plenty of tread left on the main contact-patch tread though and the tire could have easily lasted another 20-30K miles.

When it came time to change to another Sumitomo, my go-to, very dependable & experienced (20+ years) shop wasn't able to mount the tire on my wheel. In fact they tore the bead on two Sumitomos attempting to get the tire mounted.

I'm still looking for the secret to getting the Sumitomo mounted. 'Till then I'm using Michelins

Tim

From what I've read on other forums dealing with getting a car tire mounted, it works best when the wheel rim and especially the bead area is clean, smooth and clear of any nicks and rough spots. Plus, having the tire warmed up in the sun and using plenty of the slippery stuff helps get the tire on and seated on the bead easier.

Mike B.

(Rochester Hills Michigan Dark Side Rider)
(4 Honda Reflex scooters and a FSC600A Silverwing "Jester"   too)

My 165/65R13 Roadstone Classe Premiere tire arrived today. I'll probably get it to the shop for mounting onto a new Silverwing rear rim later this week or by the middle of next week.

No big hurry as most every thing around here is still under a couple feet of snow and ice. The roads are mostly clear but the temperatures have remained well below freezing. When it finally does start to warm up and the snow melts, it will be a soggy flooded mess with the water just sitting atop the frozen ground until it can get past the ice chunks that often block the drains. And patches of ice will form again when the night temperatures get below freezing. It's what we have to put up with around here in winter....... and it sucks... I'm beginning to entertain the idea of moving somewhat further south.

Anyway, I can't wait to start wearing this tire out. I'll try to remember to post an update after I put at least a couple thousand miles on it.

bandito2 wrote:

My 165/65R13 Roadstone Classe Premiere tire arrived today. I'll probably get it to the shop for mounting onto a new Silverwing rear rim later this week or by the middle of next week.

No big hurry as most every thing around here is still under a couple feet of snow and ice. The roads are mostly clear but the temperatures have remained well below freezing. When it finally does start to warm up and the snow melts, it will be a soggy flooded mess with the water just sitting atop the frozen ground until it can get past the ice chunks that often block the drains. And patches of ice will form again when the night temperatures get below freezing. It's what we have to put up with around here in winter....... and it sucks... I'm beginning to entertain the idea of moving somewhat further south.

Anyway, I can't wait to start wearing this tire out. I'll try to remember to post an update after I put at least a couple thousand miles on it.

Well I got the tire mounted yesterday. It was quite nice out comparatively speaking; sitting outside on a park bench with my coat off soaking up the sunshine while they mounted the tire.  But we got dumped on with another 6 -8 inches of snow from last night and up til this afternoon. This winter has been relentless..

They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.... If the weather we just had is any indication then I'd say it's not done being a lion just yet. And if it keeps up like this, then the lamb that the month is going out with will still have rapacious claws and a full set of flesh rending canines.

I place Tires to be Mounted atop my Hot Water Heater the Day Before the Mounting Job, Lux Liquid makes the mounting Job Go Smoothly. Happy Motoring Lloyd193.

Having Experimented With Auto Tires on Many of my 16 Bikes currently in my Shops, I have Learned a Few Things Concerning Flat Face Auto Tires on the Rear of Motorcycles or Scooters. A flat surface Auto Tire causes the rear of a Bike to move Around depending on the Road Surface, Become a Little Squirrely, Especially at high speed. That increases the possibility of a High Speed Wobble, I have Experienced Five over the Years and do not Like Wobbles. In the Fifetys when I could not get Motorcycle tires for my 74's I ran Car tires on Route 66 Between Louisiana and California, Yea I have had some Experience. A Motorcycle Tire is the Best on the Rear of your Bike, A car tire will last four times longer and cost less. If you Wobble, Stiff both arms and hang on as you decelerate. Happy Motoring lloyd193.

The Honda Silver wing Scooter uses an especially Shallow center Rear Wheel, It is imperative that the First mounted tire bead be kept in the center of the wheel as that second bead is forced over the Rim. Watch that arrow, I hate doing this Job Twice. Always Replace that valve Stem with a New one and use that Stem Support. Happy Motoring lloyd 193.

lloyd193 wrote:

The Honda Silver wing Scooter uses an especially Shallow center Rear Wheel, It is imperative that the First mounted tire bead be kept in the center of the wheel as that second bead is forced over the Rim. Watch that arrow, I hate doing this Job Twice. Always Replace that valve Stem with a New one and use that Stem Support. Happy Motoring lloyd 193.

Have you experienced a Run Flat tire on a motorcycle yet?

Modernman 1953, No I have not tried any of the run flat Tires, I for my own use have settled on the 155-70-13 Bridgestone as the Tire I am Happiest with. Happy Motoring lloyd 193.