Re thinking car tire, help me out!

[HBFL]

Man I’m rethinking this. The PO of my I/S had one on at purchase, I think it was a 195, don’t recall, but just had a hard time adjusting to the turn in/ fall over feeling. Plus I used to ride it a lot initially in the NGA mnts but I’ve decided that flatter and straighter roads are the best option for my wife, me and the bike. I just don’t care abt hustling it corner after corner at 30-40 mph all day. That’s what my CB11 is for. My Avon has a few miles left for me to decide. And the longevity of the ct is a teaser for me.
I’m interested in opinions and experience with a tire y’all think comes closest to a mc tire in terms of profile. Thanks.

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

Some folks love the Car tire , others hate it . It is a different feel most noticable when you first make the change to it. Tire pressure must be adjusted to suit . I am sure many Valk riders will be along soon and offer their thoughts.

I use a Dunlop Wintersport 195 run flat on my 1800 gold wing.  I find 38 - 40  most comfortable to me.

[98valk]

this is the tire I use. u want a narrow width. The G Fit transitions like a m/c tire.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,90637.0.html

a few other narrow width tires all 205/65-16

Hankook Optimo H724    26.5 OD  tread width 5.7 

Dunlop Signature II   26.5 OD   tread width 5.5  on tirerack cannot verify TW on dunlop site

compare to
Austone  26.9 OD  tread width 5.5

[gordonv]

Austone  26.9 OD  tread width 5.5

The Austone Taxi Tire was the one of choice, most like a MC tire. But is no longer available. Having had both a flat bottom CT and the nicely rounded ATT, in 5-10 min you forget you have the flat one, until you start turning in a parking lot or those windy roads.

Don't forget a CT needs servicing every 10K miles.

[jag39]

I run a CT on my 98se Goldwing, also a CT on my 2000 Valk. I've never, ever felt the issues a lot of folks describe when they try a CT for the first time. I'm thinking maybe some people are using too low air pressures, which causes the tires to flex more. Just an opinion. I run around 40lbs in my CT's and have never had any issues in thousands of miles. Just something to try, but check the max pressure on the side of the tire, to make sure you can run the 40 lbs ok. One of my CT's can be aired to 60, one to 41, suggested max pressures.

[Tfrank59]

 My two cents, I couldn't get anybody to mount a car tire and I didn't want to go to one of those shady places that will mount anything on anything so I'm sticking with motorcycle tires on both of my bikes.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I run a CT on my 98se Goldwing, also a CT on my 2000 Valk. I've never, ever felt the issues a lot of folks describe when they try a CT for the first time. I'm thinking maybe some people are using too low air pressures, which causes the tires to flex more. Just an opinion. I run around 40lbs in my CT's and have never had any issues in thousands of miles. Just something to try, but check the max pressure on the side of the tire, to make sure you can run the 40 lbs ok. One of my CT's can be aired to 60, one to 41, suggested max pressures.

I have found the opposite. Lower pressure lessens the “bump steer”. If it too low the high speed handling will be bad though.

[Relax]

I run a CT on my 98se Goldwing, also a CT on my 2000 Valk. I've never, ever felt the issues a lot of folks describe when they try a CT for the first time. I'm thinking maybe some people are using too low air pressures, which causes the tires to flex more. Just an opinion. I run around 40lbs in my CT's and have never had any issues in thousands of miles. Just something to try, but check the max pressure on the side of the tire, to make sure you can run the 40 lbs ok. One of my CT's can be aired to 60, one to 41, suggested max pressures.

I have found the opposite. Lower pressure lessens the “bump steer”. If it too low the high speed handling will be bad though.

Guess lower pressure makes the "side-wall" flex more  and that way the tire is "softer/ more kind" in the cureves. If the side-wall is more stiff and don't flex easily, you compensate with higher pressure to make the tire more "rounded" sideways.
Maybe one should  test each time one install a new tire, from about 30-32 lbs til 40-42 ( Or the max pressure according to tire spec).. and find what suits you! 

[da prez]

  I doubt if I will ever go back to a MC tire. I run the general and I ride curves , flatland and what ever shows up.  It is a personal choice. I am hooked. It is your ride , ride what makes you happy and comfortable.  I, personally would not have a Dunlop on my bike.

                                        da prez

[Jess from VA]

Same here, and I like them hard (40psi) not soft and squishy, wiggling through the turns.

Course, all car tires (and bike tires) are not exactly identical.

[jag39]

Man I’m rethinking this. The PO of my I/S had one on at purchase, I think it was a 195, don’t recall, but just had a hard time adjusting to the turn in/ fall over feeling. Plus I used to ride it a lot initially in the NGA mnts but I’ve decided that flatter and straighter roads are the best option for my wife, me and the bike. I just don’t care abt hustling it corner after corner at 30-40 mph all day. That’s what my CB11 is for. My Avon has a few miles left for me to decide. And the longevity of the ct is a teaser for me.
I’m interested in opinions and experience with a tire y’all think comes closest to a mc tire in terms of profile. Thanks.



I have a Hancook Optimo 195/60R16 on my 2000 Valkyrie. I've put almost 20k miles on it so far and not showing any wear. I even have a plug in it that has been there for over a year.  I regularly lean it over to the point my foot pegs are folding up on me, never an issue. As far as traction. Way, way better than a motorcycle tire in the wet. I used to slide when hitting the wet paint stripes, never have since putting the car tire on. Also, I live a mile down a private dirt road, that is mostly with sugar sand here in Florida. The rear tire does great in all that, also have had no issues in mud. We have a clay hill, and it doesn't like that when wet, but it's better than the motorcycle tire. Air pressure hasn't been a big deal. I usually stick to around 40psi, but if it is over or under that by 5psi, I don't worry about it.  I mounted it myself, so can't tell you if a motorcycle shop will or will not put it on for you.  As for me, I've never had an issue with it. Some folks say it was so squirrely for them that they took them off. I don't get it, but then I used to run car tires on my chopper back in the 60's. Never thought about it back then.  BTW, this tire cost me $75 new, and so far almost 20K on it. I love 'em. I had a heavy duty delivery van tire on my former Goldwing. It had a 1600lb load rating instead of the 900lb Dunlop motorcycle tire. Sold that bike with the tire still on it.

[Valker]

I run 205/65-16 Michelin CrossClimate 2 on all of my Valks. I just returned from VA route 80 and the Snake nearby. Pegs ground regularly while trying to stay up with my friends on their KTMs, sportbikes, etc. I always run 26-28psi. I've been running car tires on these for about 200,000 miles. I prefer the grip of the car tires. I don't take my CT equipped Valks over about 105mph because I can feel the bike start to 'weave' a bit. It's well worth it to me. If I want more than 100mph runs, I take one of my ST1300s.

[John Schmidt]

I like to run BIG car tires. I find them very stable, especially in turns/curves. 

[MarkT]

The Firestone Transforce CV has dimensions very close to the discontinued Austone Taxi Tire.  It's even a little bit taller, reducing the RPMs even more. That's a big plus for me on the ATT - 3500rpm gets 85mph indicated (80 on the gps).  So you can cruise fast and still get good mileage - for me that's 34mpg.  Right now that tire is $175 delivered from Tire Rack. As for handling - the ATT is excellent, very close to a bike tire but with all the perks of a CT.  The Transforce delivers the ATT ride & perks. See https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Transforce%20CV&partnum=975R6TCV&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&fbclid=IwAR2eOBvHQ8iKtWzeBLbQV5Qp42nJaQgi8-Bq1OzLL3E2gk70Y-sb4Di7ihU

[Valkorado]

I also agree with running a darkside psi around 40.  This of course can vary by tire brand and load (two up, etc), but 40 psi is usually my starting point.  I like the road feedback.

[Oss]

Had a dark side tire, rode it on every kind of road.  Even pea gravel on a little road called 10 near the BRP.   But around these parts the ruts in the road and uneven roadways made it just not fun  STill have my dark side # and have a taxi tire in the basement in case I change my mind down the line  I have an Interstate

I tried 28 psi  I tried 32  I tried 40

Then went to 200 series MC tires, first the battleaxe which i liked then the exedra max which I really like
On my 2nd one   I run it at 44psi.  Great contact patch almost as good as the car tire and to me better handling on ALL kinds of roads.   I have been riding at highway speeds + in the heavy rain with some great riders  no problem

When I bought stan's interstate it had a car tire, never really got comfortable on it and ended up selling it to 3fan.  That was a beautful bike, but it has a good home now.

Give the car tire a try, you may enjoy the greater traction in the rain and better stopping

[TrapperAH1G]

I am a firm believer in darkside, run it on 2 of my 4 bikes.  Size I run is 185/75 on both the Zeetex CT1000 and the Comtrac.

Will change the other 2 as needed.  Actually, on my Valk I'm double DS.  Just put a Shinko 712 rear on the front.  Got about 600 on it and was running twisties today dragging the boards, absolutely great.

4 bikes, two CT rears, all the rest of the tires are Shinko.  I think they are great tires... price, traction, ride, etc.  Have tried 4 different series of Shinko and would mount any of them again.  Lowest mileage has been 8K (890) and the best 18K (777).