My new car tire won’t fit!☹️

[FranksST1300]

I am requesting some help from experienced darksiders..

I just bought a Falken 205/50 R17 to dark side my 2006 ST. It won’t fit. My understanding from reading other postings that a 205 CT should fit there. My measurements show it is about 3” too wide. Shouldn’t a 205 be the same width for any other 205 tire?

luckily I bought it from Amazon so it is getting returned.

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

For me to put mine on I had to let the air out and apply lubricant as I caressed (wiggle, push, wiggle, push) it in... It would not fit with air in it.

 

[Obo]

You needed a 205/50R17 for starters. A 55 is wider. *edit, I see from the photo is says 50

Even with a 205/50R17 some fit fine and some require grinding the swingarm.

I don't recall the ze950 being on the list. I know some here used the Ziex ZE-512, but in the 205/50R17 size.

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

That looks about right

 

[FranksST1300]

For me to put mine on I had to let the air out and apply lubricant as I caressed (wiggle, push, wiggle, push) it in... It would not fit with air in it.

Thank you for your reply. The width of 205 won’t clear the swingarm without air and mounted on the rim.

 

[FranksST1300]

That looks about right

How so? The unmounted tire won’t even clear the swing arm.

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

I used no magic, and no grinding.

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

How so? The unmounted tire won’t even clear the swing arm.

lubricant, wiggle, push. I used Simple Green. I don't know all the riders that run DS, these guys may be able to chime in when they're around. @970mike @W0QNX @The Dan

 

[Obo]

@Willsmotorcycle you're also using a different tire (BFG vs Falken)

BFG needs no grinding. Same size Hankook Ventus v12 & General Gmax as03 both need grinding. Same size stamped on the tire. The profile often makes the difference.

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

@Willsmotorcycle you're also using a different tire (BFG vs Falken)

Yes, but I would think the numbers should make them the same, no? (Don't tell anyone[my wife], I'm trying to sneak up to Woodstock...)

 

[Obo]

...tell your wife what?.....

 

[jodog]

Thank you for your reply. The width of 205 won’t clear the swingarm without air and mounted on the rim.

Yes it will.

 

[jodog]

Yes it will.

Get some gallon milk jugs and cut then into 6x6 flat square peices. Put them between the tire and the hub as you slide it in and it will make them slide by easier. Once the tire is in air it up. Car tires are more "squared off" or "rounded" at the shoulders. The squarish ones rub the swingarm and the rounder ones don't. The squarish ones also make riding the bike harder and are the source of many of the complaints about the handling of the CT. Before buying any CT look at the profiles. The more it resembles a mc Tire the better its going to work all around.

 

[FranksST1300]

@Willsmotorcycle you're also using a different tire (BFG vs Falken)

BFG needs no grinding. Same size Hankook Ventus v12 & General Gmax as03 both need grinding. Same size stamped on the tire. The profile often makes the difference.

Sounds like I just need to get a BFG.

 

[970mike]

After mounting the tire before airing it up I use silicone spray on the tire and swing arm which make it go right between the swing arm. Air it up and ride. You do need to look for the roundest profile on the tread of the tire as the square ones don't handle good.

 

[Larry Fine]

I would think the tire would be a bit easier to get in if you don't seat the beads until it's in place.

 

[Valker]

And then there's me. After about 250,000 car tire miles, I much prefer the square/flat profile tires running a touch under 30PSI.

 

[FranksST1300]

I used no magic, and no grinding.

Looks good! Picking up the same tomorrow.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

You needed a 205/50R17 for starters. A 55 is wider.

205/50 and 205/55 are the same width tires- 205 mm. The 55 is a taller tire, but is still 205 mm wide.

 

[John Galt]

You can't compare the apparent width of the unmounted car tire.
I did that with my first CT, and was convinced it would never mount nor fit the swingarm.
But it did both.
And performed very well.
Mount it, seat the beads, then remove all the air AND valve core, and use the lubed milk carton trick, slowly and back/forth.