2002 Nomad 1500

[rewindgy]

I need advice for a buddy who has above Nomad. What is the biggest rear tire he can fit under the 1500 Nomad? Not a car tire but a motorcycle tire! I think he has 150/80-16 front and rear? I have a 1600 so I am no help!

[ringadingh]

I'd say about a 160mm width, the rims are an inch narrower on the 1500's. It would be harder to squeeze a stiff bike tire onto the rim. I have a 175mm wide car tire and it just clears the swingarm, it took some muscle to get it on the rim.

[MAS Tequila]

I ran a 180/60/16 from a couple of different manufacturers.

Up to a 195 will fit.

MT

[rewindgy]

Thanks - I will let him know he can go 180/60-15.

[ringadingh]

I think you meant a 180/60/16 not 15

[rewindgy]

Yep! Me no type so good!

[BagginAndStreakin]

Originally Posted by BigDoug17

Anyone currently running/rolling on Metzeler ME880 180/60/16 on a (2001) 1500 Nomad? I like the idea of a wider tire but want to make sure it's been done before, before I do it. What are you running up front?

When I bought my Nomad from the PO, he was running a 180/60 on the rear. There was a portion of the sides that were never used, leaving a ridge. I also have a Mean Streak. I'm used to really leaning into the curves. When I hit that ridge on the tire, it was very unsettling. I replaced both tires, and just went one size up on the rear: 160/80/16. I did the Tail of the Dragon shortly afterward. Handled excellent! I use all of the tread pattern. Now don't loose a point I almost missed myself. I used more sidewall than the previous owner. Otherwise I wouldn't have rolled past the ridge he wore into it. But you can only lean so far before you start scraping something. Once you get to a certain size on that rim, there's a portion of the tire that'll never get used. I run a 180/55ZR17 on the rear of my Streak. I REALLY lean on it. Scraping pegs on my Mapam forward controls, which are higher than OEM. And looking my rear tire on it, even with a wider rim, there's still a small portion of the tread that doesn't get used. In spite of my best efforts to do so.

'05 Mean Streak rear: 180/55ZR17
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366247281.873996.jpg

There is such a thing as getting bigger than is practical.

'99 Nomad rear: 160/80/16
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366247472.287859.jpg

I'm closer to using all of the tread on the Nomad, but not enough to run out of it.

[BigDoug17]

Thank You. Makes sense to me. A 180 would look nice but maybe not practical.

[BagginAndStreakin]

Unless you're really going to push it and continually scrape floorboards, I just don't see the need for a wider tire. And honestly, with the rear fender, saddle bags, bag bottom guard rails, and rear fender guard rail, you can hardly see the rear tire.

[OmahaShadow]

So, is anyone running the Michelin Commander II? What size?

[Jllm02199]

I run a 180/65 16b Commander II but I have a 1600 swing arm.