Going back to the dark side

[Grumpy]

Bit the bullet today, and ordered an Austone Taxi tire for the Interstate, I keep wearing out the Avons on the rear at 8,000 miles.  Now I need another cookie.

[Art708]

Bit the bullet today, and ordered an Austone Taxi tire for the Interstate, I keep wearing out the Avons on the rear at 8,000 miles.  Now I need another cookie.

   I also went back to a CT using the Austone tire. I like it MUCH better than the two that I tried before. They only lasted about a week before I went back to the bike tire both times. I've got about 2000 miles on the Austone and although I can tell it's not a bike tire, it's not as big a difference as the others were. I think you'll like the Austone tire.

[Grumpy]

Bit the bullet today, and ordered an Austone Taxi tire for the Interstate, I keep wearing out the Avons on the rear at 8,000 miles.  Now I need another cookie.

   I also went back to a CT using the Austone tire. I like it MUCH better than the two that I tried before. They only lasted about a week before I went back to the bike tire both times. I've got about 2000 miles on the Austone and although I can tell it's not a bike tire, it's not as big a difference as the others were. I think you'll like the Austone tire.

I hope so, last one was a Goodyear triple tread, did not handle well at all. Followed every ridge in the road. Been lurking a while on the Wing forums and here, most have good words about the Austone.

[Art708]

Bit the bullet today, and ordered an Austone Taxi tire for the Interstate, I keep wearing out the Avons on the rear at 8,000 miles.  Now I need another cookie.

   I also went back to a CT using the Austone tire. I like it MUCH better than the two that I tried before. They only lasted about a week before I went back to the bike tire both times. I've got about 2000 miles on the Austone and although I can tell it's not a bike tire, it's not as big a difference as the others were. I think you'll like the Austone tire.

I hope so, last one was a Goodyear triple tread, did not handle well at all. Followed every ridge in the road. Been lurking a while on the Wing forums and here, most have good words about the Austone.

   I ran a Potenza and a Yokohama before and Hated them both. The bump steer with them drove me nuts...the Austone isn't nearly as bed. There's some bump steer with it but it hasn't been a problem.

[PhredValk]

I like the Falken Ziex. The secret, I think, is the more rounded profile, not so square.
Fred.

[art]

The wider the tire the more bump steer.I went with a 195 55 16 .I like it better than the 205

[Art708]

The wider the tire the more bump steer.I went with a 195 55 16 .I like it better than the 205

   Yes indeed. I have a friend with a Big Dog chopper and it has a 240 (I think) on the rear and it bump steers like crazy.

[cajundood]

out of necessity i switched over to this tire which tracked very well, i suppose from the width. it never rubbed but you couldnt get a sheet of paper between the tire and shaft arm...
so i switched over to the falken tire as well....

.
.

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Well I guess I have been lucky with the Michelin Pilot 205-55-16  no bump steer , no crazy tracking on the hwy. , stops great on wet pavement and I got 26,000 on the clock and still looks brand new ... I know Kuhmo make a 55 series tire that rounded just like a M/C tire .... I'd like to try that Faulken tire if this Michelin ever wears out  ... What model Faulken is everyone using ? Thanks the Geezer

[CASABROKER]

dunlop sp5000 track really well my first darkside and I can barely tell the difference.  Has a somewhat rounded profile when mounted.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=SP+Sport+5000+Symmetrical&partnum=96HR65000

[PharmBoy]

Geezer, The Falken Ziex 512 is the tire that is pictured and the Falken that most use.  I have one mounted.  It is my third CT and definitely the best one by far.  It comes in 55, 60, & 65.  My last two tires have been 65's and I believe that it accounts for another mile or two per gallon.  Of course, nothing will replace keeping the rpm's down for getting good gas milage...Jim  

[Westsider]

Grumy,and Art, I like the size of the Austone also, and in the same boat about previously trying ct...Any mods for the austone nessasary?

[Art708]

Grumy,and Art, I like the size of the Austone also, and in the same boat about previously trying ct...Any mods for the austone nessasary?

    No mods for me. I just took the wheel off, had the Austone mounted, installed new bearings (which I sorely needed) and put the wheel back on and am riding. I did cut the nut cages because they were there and easily accessable but I don't think it would have been necessary.

[teadream42]

 hi guys. the austone taxi tire. do you have photo and the size.
thanks.
i am waiting to wear out my current m/t. then dark side i be.

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Now there was a fellow who had mounted a Kuhmo C/T on his Valk and he was very pleased because it looked like an over sized M/C tire from the rear with the rounded shoulders ... the only thing is that it only came in a 55 series tire ...  Hey Pharmboy thanks for for the ring back , I'll have to check with discount tire and see what they sell for .... Thanks the Geezer

[larswlvs]

I'm running a Yokohama Avid V4s and  its got over20,000 miles on it and still has good tread,it handles well and is great in the rain but not to good on snow or ice. I do very little riding on snow or ice but have been caught by lake effect snow several times.

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

Hey Grumpy,what size Austone Taxi Tire did you order? Where did you order it from?

[Grumpy]

Hey Grumpy,what size Austone Taxi Tire did you order? Where did you order it from?

175R16 Austone Taxi Tire, ordered it from https://www.universaltire.com/

Excellent service, ordered it, and at my door 2 days later $174.40 including shipping.  Got it mounted today, looks to be about the same width of the Avon I took off, no clearance problems, clears the swing arm by a good half inch. It is noticeably taller looks to be at least an inch taller that the Avon. I ran a good year for a while, could barely stick a credit card between the sidewall and the swing arm. One note, on Austons web site, it is listed as a light truck tire.
I am going to put a couple hundred miles on it tomorrow, and see how it performs.

[wild6]

There are some pics at: http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/forum4/124723.html

[Grumpy]

Totally satisfied with the Auston tire, put a little over 150 miles on it today. 75% twisty back roads, the rest super slab. Handles great, as close to a motorcycle tire as you are going to get, did not follow ridges or tar snakes, no unexpected traits. Does require a little more force in the turns, but not bad enough to really notice. One hell of an improvement over other dark side tires I have run.

[BonS]

Grumpy, you and the Austone tire have my attention. I've been looking and can't find anything like a tread wear rating. Is there one on the sidewall? I'm basically wondering how sticky it is and how it might compared to an E3?

[texaninsouthfl]

Grumpy, you and the Austone tire have my attention. I've been looking and can't find anything like a tread wear rating. Is there one on the sidewall? I'm basically wondering how sticky it is and how it might compared to an E3?

I can't remember where I read it, but in a post in one of the forums somewhere it seems I read that the Taxi tire is supposed to last a zillion miles or something like that.... well actually I think it said 100k. Either is pretty sure to be an exaggeration, but apparently the tire IS designed to last a very long time on a CAR... so on any other motorcycle other than a Valkyrie (or GW) the tire will probably outlast the motor.

Thanks for the report Grumpy. Unless you post something that tell us your experience with the tire has changed, I'll probably put one on before I leave for Inzane.

Oh, almost forgot to ask... did you happen to notice what kind of drop in RPM you got?

[Tundra]

Geezer, The Falken Ziex 512 is the tire that is pictured and the Falken that most use.  I have one mounted.  It is my third CT and definitely the best one by far.  It comes in 55, 60, & 65.  My last two tires have been 65's and I believe that it accounts for another mile or two per gallon.  Of course, nothing will replace keeping the rpm's down for getting good gas milage...Jim  

I had the pleasure of riding a Valk with the Falken Ziex 512 tire mounted. This will be my next rear tire, it was a joy to ride. I liked it so much, I will stop doing any research and will not look at "trying" other car tires.
I never liked my GoodYear TT from day one, although I wanted to believe it was great. Guess I just got used to it. I noticed a big difference between the two INSTANTLY.
Grumpy, I'm glad your happy with your Auston. I didn't get to ride behind you and watch it track yesterday, but your bike sure looks smart in my mirror

[Ricky-D]

Want to notice a big difference (IMPROVEMENT) in handling???

Put on a new front tire!

***

[John Schmidt]

Want to notice a big difference (IMPROVEMENT) in handling???

Put on a new front tire!

***

+1 

[Grumpy]

Geezer, The Falken Ziex 512 is the tire that is pictured and the Falken that most use.  I have one mounted.  It is my third CT and definitely the best one by far.  It comes in 55, 60, & 65.  My last two tires have been 65's and I believe that it accounts for another mile or two per gallon.  Of course, nothing will replace keeping the rpm's down for getting good gas milage...Jim  

I had the pleasure of riding a Valk with the Falken Ziex 512 tire mounted. This will be my next rear tire, it was a joy to ride. I liked it so much, I will stop doing any research and will not look at "trying" other car tires.
I never liked my GoodYear TT from day one, although I wanted to believe it was great. Guess I just got used to it. I noticed a big difference between the two INSTANTLY.
Grumpy, I'm glad your happy with your Auston. I didn't get to ride behind you and watch it track yesterday, but your bike sure looks smart in my mirror

Dropped about 300 rpm at 70 mph, at 70 tach barely makes the 3000 mark,  does not seem to hurt the  take off.

[Grumpy]

Just an update, have about 1500 miles on the Austone tire, no problems at all handles great, even picked up the mpg a little. Running 34 psi and seems ok with it.

[Mildew]

I put the best looking $40 tire I can find at the junk yard on mine. I can't tell a difference in any of the 3 I've tried. They all ride excellent 

[PharmBoy]

You will be able to tell the difference when one of them looses traction or goes flat...Jim

[Mildew]

  I had my first blowout in with a c/t in 60k miles last week. It is a  Sumotomo, can't remember which one but I was near 80mph. Iran over something and it took about 5 seconds to go flat. Left me stranded like a Harley rider.
I had a fire stone fire hawk before it. It was a good tire. It was also $40. I took it off at 25k. Still had some miles left but I just wanted some more meat back there. My first tire was a Goodyear. It wasn't a triple tread. It was the only size 55  I owned. I like the 60 best for my riding style  I'm not sure what brand my next tire will be but it will be another $40 junky