bias ply tires

[baffled]

anyone had any luck with bias ply tires on valk? what brand & what size?

[Bone]

I'm on my 3 rd. Dunlop D404 150/80H-17 Front Tire.
Running a Goodyear TT on the rear.

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tirecatalog_tire.asp?id=37

An all-around good-performing tire available in many sizes to fit a wide variety of standard, cruiser and older bikes.


Tread compound delivers impressive balance of mileage and grip.


Front and rear tread patterns designed for outstanding water evacuation and wet grip.


Bias-ply construction designed to deliver a smooth ride for maximum comfort.


Offset center groove for excellent straight-line stability.


Dunlop performance in a great value package.

[Hoser]

Actually,  I like them better.  Higher wieght rating, cheaper, wear better.  These are Dunlops, an american elite rear, a d404 front.
Rear is 180/65B/16, Front is 150/80B/ 17 D404, good for 15k minimum.  Around 100Bux front, 150bux rear. BTW, can feel no difference in how they handle that I can tell.  Hoser  
 

[JimC]

I am using the D404 on the front, and the D407 on the rear, I only have about 4,500 miles on them but so far all is good. I can not tell the difference in handling between the bias ply and the radials, and it is too early to tell about how long they will wear.
Jim

[Bobbo]

Some additional info:

http://www.michelinag.com/agx/en-US/products/advantages/bias_radial/bias_radial.jsp

[Bone]

baffled it's the Goodyear Triple Tread 205/60-16 car tire. Many of the members were using it and I liked the looks of the tread. This front / rear combination handles water very well. My 98 Tourer has a stock suspension and drags the pegs. I'm not an aggressive rider at my age the first scrape startled me Rode cross country twice now with the TT I like the tire.

[98valk]

some good reading 

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,12541.0.html

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,975.msg13576.html#msg13576

[JimC]

BOBBO,

Your link is to a FARM TIRE comparison page. I am sure there are some similarities, but I would rather compare my bike tires to a vehicle that will travel more than 12 mph.

ALSO, the D407 tire that I am running on the rear of my bike is manufactured with their new triple compound, that should remove the issues of wear on the center that your link says is a problem with the bias ply tires.

Jim

[PhredValk]

This spring I installed a Dunlop D404 rear tire on the front of my IS, and a Falken car tire on the rear, with Dyna-beads for balancing. 6k miles on them with no visual cupping or wear so far.
Fred.

[Bobbo]

BOBBO,

Your link is to a FARM TIRE comparison page. I am sure there are some similarities, but I would rather compare my bike tires to a vehicle that will travel more than 12 mph.

ALSO, the D407 tire that I am running on the rear of my bike is manufactured with their new triple compound, that should remove the issues of wear on the center that your link says is a problem with the bias ply tires.

Jim

True, but it showed the different construction of radial vs. bias, and reasons for performance differences in general.  That's why I posted it as additional information, not a buyers guide or a pro/con opinion.

The new triple and dual compound tires do help with tire wear and longevity, but it is mostly to compensate for riding styles, rather than deformation due to low sidewall flex.  The majority of riding for most motorcycles is straight up, as in highway riding.  The harder center compound wears slower during straight up riding, and the softer compounds help traction in cornering.  If you ride Deal's Gap a lot, you will wear the sides off well before the center!