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Valk-Obsessed
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« on: May 10, 2019, 09:27:40 AM » |
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I didn't want to hi-jack the other thread about car tires, but I have some questions for the experts.
I recently put on a Goodyear 205/60 (also bought from Wally World) and for the most part I like it, but when I tried riding on the local Interstate (I-70 East of Denver) It was downright scary the way it was tracking in the "ruts" in the road surface. Is that a matter of tire pressure? I haven't felt anything odd with any of the other local road surfaces, just the concrete surface of the interstate.
(The road surface on that portion of the Interstate doesn't look like it is rutted, but you can really feel it when in a car. I didn't really notice it that much with an MC tire on a motorcycle.)
What adjustments have you made for road surface in areas with heavy truck traffic and the like?
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Valkorado
Member
Posts: 10491
VRCC DS 0242
Gunnison, Colorado (7,703') Here there be twisties.
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« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2019, 10:08:54 AM » |
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It's a common trait of the fatter tires. I sure wish the Austone was still available, the tracking was minimal with that tire. I hate to say it but you'll probably have to grin and bear it. Pressures won't make a significant difference unless you're way out of the ballpark.
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Have you ever noticed when you're feeling really good, there's always a pigeon that'll come sh!t on your hood? - John Prine 97 Tourer "Silver Bullet" 01 Interstate "Ruby"  |
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Valk-Obsessed
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« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2019, 11:39:39 AM » |
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started with 34 psi. currently at 40 psi, doesn't seem to be much difference...
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2019, 12:45:55 PM » |
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My experience (all with Goodyear TripleTred) is that all negative symptoms are minimized at 40 PSI (or thereabout). The first night I ran it at 30 (by mistake), it scared the hell out of me on the DC heavy traffic beltway. The tire wallowed and changed my position in my lane, when I didn't want it to.
At any speeds, car tires will do a bit more hopping or bouncing (or quick jerks sideways in your seat) from uneven road surface (especially like running over the edge of a raised manhole cover, or the like). What I discovered in time (not long) was that this did not make the bike unstable or unsafe or fall over, it was just an unsettling new experience to get used to, and eventually ignore completely.
I also use more counter-steer handlebar work, pushing and pulling the bar more than I did on bike tires. The way it always seemed to me was this: with a bike tire in back, you have power steering (just a nudge on the bar and a bit of lean, and you turn); with a car tire in back, it's more like manual steering, so you work the bars a bit more. It's not fatiguing or difficult, just a bit different than you're used to.
Now all riders should steer to avoid potholes, raised or lowered manhole covers, concrete seams, and the like. Car tire riders have an incentive to to do a better job avoiding these things.
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« Last Edit: May 10, 2019, 12:48:36 PM by Jess from VA »
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Valk-Obsessed
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« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2019, 03:01:48 PM » |
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Thank you for the insights!
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #6 on: May 10, 2019, 06:21:31 PM » |
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started with 34 psi. currently at 40 psi, doesn't seem to be much difference...
Higher will make it worse. I'd try 32 and see how it is. But it is kind of inherent with car tires. I don't even notice it anymore. |
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pago cruiser
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« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2019, 07:53:30 PM » |
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It's a common trait of the fatter tires. I sure wish the Austone was still available... Dang. Tell me it ain't so! I have been running one of these about every three years for the last several years on our Valk hack. When did they stop? Maybe just out of stock? Hope hope... Update 5-11-2019 - went to the Universal Tire site late last night, and while the Austone was gone, they had (2) Dunlops in the same 175 size. I used one of these (as opposed to the Austone) 2 tires ago on our Valk Hack - seemed to last as long as the Austone, with no handling differences. There is now (1) left...  |
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« Last Edit: May 11, 2019, 06:40:26 AM by pago cruiser »
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Just because you are not paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #9 on: May 10, 2019, 09:26:05 PM » |
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While all car tires are going to have certain clear similarities on our bikes, it seems like with all the hundreds of different available tires (even just in sizes 195 to 205, with 55/60/65 aspects), with different compounds, UTQG, tread design, sidewall strength/stiffness, rounded edges, etc, you couldn't just assume that they would all handle or feel the same at the same air pressures. Can you?
And everyone doesn't ride in identical road conditions (flat and straight vrs. hills and mountains).
And of course there's individual preference, and I've always liked a harder and more precise suspension, and tires. But I didn't like wallowing (could that be a sidewall issue?).
Harder can cause quicker center wear in some tires, including mine (just a little bit quicker), but I was fairly happy with 37 thousand miles. And I want the best handling I can get more than the longest tire life I can get (though even a shorter life car will usually outdistance most bike tires). Some guys run summer sport 55s that only go 10-12K and are happy with them (still better miles than my ME880 rears).
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