The best darkside tire for a Gold Wing GL1800

Search this question and you end up in forum threads that are ten years old, arguing about tires that aren't made anymore. So here's the short version from somebody who just did it. I run a Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season in 195/55R16 on the back of my Gold Wing. I bought it from SimpleTire, mounted it myself in the garage, and I've been very happy with it.

The size: 195/55R16

The GL1800 from 2001 to 2017 comes with a 180/60R16 rear. Run the math and that stock tire stands about 24.5 inches tall. A 195/55R16 stands about 24.4 inches. That's roughly a quarter of a percent shorter, close enough that your speedometer and gearing barely notice.

It's also the size Wing riders report more than any other on GoldwingDocs. Some go to a 60-series or a 205 width, but 195/55R16 is where most of us land. On the 2018 and newer Wing, which comes with a 200/55R16, one rider reports the 195/55 fits fine because it's actually narrower than stock.

Check the numbers yourself in the size tool.

Run-flat or regular?

A lot of Wing riders pick run-flat car tires, and the stiff sidewall is a big part of why. The Bridgestone DriveGuard comes up over and over. The trade-off is that a stiff run-flat is harder to get on a motorcycle rim and harder to seat. One GL1500 rider needed about 80 psi to seat a used run-flat, and the forum rightly called that risky.

Whatever you choose, read the sidewall before you buy so you know exactly what you're getting.

What to check before you buy

• Rim size. It has to be a 16-inch tire for a 16-inch wheel. No exceptions.
• Load index. Compare it to the stock tire's load index and to how you ride. Two-up with a trailer is a lot of weight.
• Speed rating and tread. A longtime darksider on the Valkyrie forum advises a symmetrical tread and an H or V speed rating.
• Shoulder shape. Riders keep coming back to all-season radials with a rounder edge. They roll into a lean a little easier.
• DOT date code. A cheap tire that sat in a warehouse for five years isn't a bargain.

Other tires Wing riders report

• Bridgestone DriveGuard 195/55R16, a run-flat. Reported on the GL1800 and the 2018 and newer Wing.
• Pirelli Cinturato P7 195/55R16 on a GL1500. That rider called the swingarm clearance tight.
• Michelin Primacy Alpin. A rider liked it on his 2012 Wing, but it isn't made anymore.

Where to go from here

If you're doing this yourself, start with the mounting guide and the gear I used. The GL1800 page has every rider report I've collected in one place. And if you go double dark like I did, the double dark page has my front tire too.

This is one rider's experience and research, not professional advice. Read the full disclaimer.