First impressions after going Darkside.

[6adan]

  I have only been able to put around 50 miles on the tire so far and I have found no ill effects. I have reddened on straight and different type of curved roads with no problems.  It also seems to feel smoother over potholes and train tracks. Is this normal or am I just imagining it? Can't wait to put more miles on it. KUMO ECSTA PA31 195/6- R16. I have 41PSI in now just to start with. Is this to much or not enough?

[da prez]

It took me about 15 minutes to fall in love with the dark side. Play with the pressure. 41 seems high to me. Its your preference. I'm on my second. Remember to do the rear end service  at 10,000 miles. The tire will last longer than the scheduled service.

               da prez

[John Schmidt]

Same tire and size I had on my Tourer, found around 36psi about right...41 is a bit too high.

[Willow]

I run 40.  At that PSI the middle will wear a bit sooner but I like a firm ride.

[Jess from VA]

I think the car tire rides smoother and more stable than a bike tire.  It tracks way better straight, and stops and launches better.  It's easier to slow roll with good control. (than bike tires)

However, if you run just half the tire over a manhole cover (or pothole), it can give you a pretty good jerk sideways (a bike tire will too, but not as harshly).  A good rider tries to miss these things, but it happens.

[Earl43P]

I was a 45 psi guy with the ATT tire on back, but with the present 205/65-16 I like about 26 psi.
I’m not seeing any odd wear yet at the low pressure and it’s a smoother ride on bumpy roads

[valkmc]

  I have only been able to put around 50 miles on the tire so far and I have found no ill effects. I have reddened on straight and different type of curved roads with no problems.  It also seems to feel smoother over potholes and train tracks. Is this normal or am I just imagining it? Can't wait to put more miles on it. KUMO ECSTA PA31 195/6- R16. I have 41PSI in now just to start with. Is this to much or not enough?

The same tire on my 97, I run 34 PSI. I like the way it feels. Handles great and when I went up to 40 PSI it seemed a bit harsh if the road wasn't smooth.

[old2soon]

     As others have stated play with the P S I til you find Your Sweet Spot. My 1st D/S took all of maybe 10 mins to "adapt"! Rain dry twistys gravel ALL Seem to work better for me. Even crosswinds do not seem as harsh. And other than the Austone Taxi tire I had the size I like-205/65/16. I'll send you the address for your D/S sticker. RIDE SAFE.

[TrapperAH1G]

I run a 185/75 at 38 psi.  Heats up and goes to 44 after riding a while.  Second DS and that's all I'll be running on my rear forever.  Have 10K on this tire and just finished the 10K service on my rear end.

Started DS on my '98 Honda Shadow Tourer and knew it was for me.  Talk to all my riding friends and a few have also switched.

Ride safe and enjoy!

[Jess from VA]

BTW, all tires have a MAX PSI printed on the sidewall.  (you may need a magnifying glass, or flash light)

This should not be exceed, always set cold.

All tires heat up on use (a few lbs).  This is taken into account in establishing the factory MAX PSI.  One does not need to set under MAX PSI to offset increases from heat.

I run all tires (car, bike, truck) near MAX PSI.  40 on my bike car tire (MAX PSI is 42).  This does result in a little center wear on my bike car tire, but they go 37K miles anyway, and it doesn't show up much until the last third of the tire.  

I tried lower pressures, and it's squishy and squirrely in the fast leans, and I don't like it.

But all car tires are not the same.

[Max "Russian"]

The same story as topicstarter: the day before yesterday I've installed my first darkside tire (205/60-16)



I've read a lot before, and was a little bit scared about what the dirfference I can feel.

You know what I'm talking about: all these scarytales about "the corner of tire in turn" and so on.

But then I was inspired by this article: http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/27/theDarkSide.html

Now I've only about 100 km of experience, but I don't have any problem with it: all my leans are as deep as they were before.

And the price is 3x lower, than the cheapest mc-tire...

[turtle254]

The same story as topicstarter: the day before yesterday I've installed my first darkside tire (205/60-16)



I've read a lot before, and was a little bit scared about what the dirfference I can feel.

You know what I'm talking about: all these scarytales about "the corner of tire in turn" and so on.

But then I was inspired by this article: http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/27/theDarkSide.html

Now I've only about 100 km of experience, but I don't have any problem with it: all my leans are as deep as they were before.

And the price is 3x lower, than the cheapest mc-tire...

Whos tire is that

[Max "Russian"]

Whos tire is that

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/car/catalogue/product/cinturato-all-season-sf-2/205_60-r16

[6adan]

   I want to thank everyone for the help on this. I will be playing with the air pressure.

[Jess from VA]

Did you get a metal valve stem in there? 

[RonW]

Personally, I prefer the 90 degree stems with the nut on the outside (Myers).

[luftkoph]

I’ve been contemplating DK but would prefer 175 75 or 185 75, but they are next to impossible to find.

[6adan]

   OK another update after going darkside. I dropped the tire pressure to 36 psi and put about 200 miles on it today. I like it more and more. No bad side effects at all, I can tell a little difference but nothing that is not easily overcome. Looks like I am here to stay. Thanks again for all the suggestions.

[Oss]

Our roads have lots of deep ruts    found I prefer a 200 MC tire

It does not want to go into the ruts like the darkside

But you do what is comfortable, that is what makes it fun !