Rear tire or wheel issues

Howdy, the 85xj700x I have came with a wider than stock rear tire 150/90 and of course it rubs on the drive shaft housing. What gets me is the contact area at which it rubs. You can clearly see where it rubs a lot more than other parts. You can feel it when spinning the rear by hand while it's on the centerstand.
Of hand, would this be a wheel issue or a tire manufacturing fail? I don't feel a wobble or vibration when riding, but I'm stumped kinda. The tire is being replaced this week but I would like to know before if I need a wheel too. I can't have the bike down for too long as it's my daily driver.
By the way, the tire is a Bridgestone so I wouldn't think it is just a cheap tire problem, but who knows?!

Thanks for you time and effort,

Gary N.

 

It's a tire issue. Get the correct width tire and you won't have any rubbing. Despite commonly held beliefs tires aren't entirely round; they all have some runout.

 

+1. Similar to a straight line.

Gary H.

 

Thank you for the replies. I understand that tires are not perfectly round, but did assume that they would be vertically straight, comparatively speaking.
Any suggestions on a rear tire?

 

Actually, I will look for that answer on this forum or start a new thread in the correct forum.

 

tire run out or rim run out or an unlucky combination of the two
check you rim as well

 

Your choice of tire in 130/90-16.

 

Was looking at Dunlop 404's...

Thank you again!

 

Had the Dunlop 404's on my previous X. Nice cruiser style tire.

Started with the Kenda on my current bike, and ran them for about 2000 miles. They were too hard and didn't have very good cold or wet weather grip. Next up was a pair of Metzler Lasetecs. Great in cold and wet weather, but they tracked the concrete grooves.

So I just got a set of Avon RoadRiders but have yet to try them out. I hope they will give me the combination I'm looking for, i.e: decent damp/wet weather grip, and not have the tracking issues of the Metzlers. They are also V rated too. Not that I ride at over 130mph, I just like the reassurance that they are capable of running at higher speeds.

All the tires I've used are stock sizes for the X. Anything wider than the 130mm rear tire will have clearance issues with the swingarm.

Tony

 

Thanks Tony. I have been trying to decide on what tire to replace the over sized tire that the PO had put on. Not only is it the wrong size but it's a front tire as well. I hate both the things you describe (low wet grip and tracking on grooved surfaces. I heard that tracking can be caused by a center water displacing groove running in the middle of the tire. Not sure if it's true or not.

Cheers,

Gary N.

 

I have the centerline groove on my front tire have had no tracking issues, runs well in the rain or dry road
I do not have any grooved surface roads to try it on unless there is repaving going on, then i am moving slowly or rerouting.
I would think if it were a real issue tire makers would do away with the straight groove,

 

A lot of the handling characteristics of a given tread design will vary from one model of motorcycle to another, and can even change on the same motorcycle under different loads.

 

The Metzler Lasertecs front tires do have a center groove with a diagonal block pattern. Not sure if they are contributing entirely to the tracking concerns I have over all the new concrete they poured for the "Q" bridge that I cross back and forth on my commute to work?

All I know is the rear Metzler that's on it now is totally spent and decided on a new set.

So for comparison sake, this is the Avon "Road Rider" front that I will be putting on this season:

The rear Avon's have the same style pattern, and I hope to give some feedback soon on their overall performance.

Tony

 

i think you'll find you really like the avon's

 

I have the avon's on my bike and they work great.

 

have you checked your wheel bearings and head stock bearings. you should do that when you change your tires, could be part of your problem

 

Also check the swing arm bearings.

Gary H.

 

So that's 2 thumbs up for the Avon's. Looking forward to breaking them in this spring.

As you may already know, the Maxim X has tapered headstock and swingarm bearings. They both were in good shape when I did a bare frame rebuild three years ago. Part of my upgrades this winter do include a Seca swing arm (with properly lubed and adjusted bearings), and new set of wheel bearings. I'll check the headstock adjustment as well.

Tony

 

The way I understand it, all front tires with a straigth center groove will perform poorly on concrete highways, or "steel-bed" (tablier d'acier in French) bridges. If both tires have a center groove, this is even worse.

 

I like the Bridgstone Battle Ax BT45's. The wear well and handle great. Thet also come in our sizes.

 

I put a pair of BT45s on my X and I've been very satisafied with how the bike has handled after. Front tire thread looked like that:

 

Didn't even consider the Bridgestones.

Just make sure it's a 130/90 16 Rear tire you put on, and you'll have no problem with it rubbing.

Tony