My 1st dark side purchase

[shape]

This will most likely be my 1st car tire experience. Need to confirm that I can find someone to mount, pretty sure I know a guy (I'm in the finger lakes/Rochester NY area if anyone knows a person). Sick of getting low mileage out of mc tires. Please check link and let me know if the specs are wrong or any other input. The salt will be flying soon around here so may wait to purchase till late winter.
                        Thanks, Shape
https://www.walmart.com/ip/GT-Radial-Champiro-VP1-205-60R16-92H/51007320?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227038926995&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=t&wl3=80420394409&wl4=pla-177651125329&wl5=1023305&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=51007320&wl13=&veh=sem

[mustang071965]

been riding on a Ct for over 7 years now. 205/60/16 is the correct size. you picked a tire with round sides thats good. round side handles more like a Mc tire. just stay away from square side walls. i mount my own. but before that my local goodyear would do it for me. couple of there workers ride Cts to.

[mark81]

If you want to come to Cincinnati I'll mount it for ya. You can probably find someone closer though. That champiro is a great tire. It was my first darkside tire. Tried a few others since just to experiment and see if there is anything I like better. I Haven't found it.   Currently running a Michelin mxv4 and like it but no better than the champiro and list is twice the price.  Going back to champiro when it wears out. 

[Gryphon Rider]

That tire has a T speed rating (118MPH).  I would rather get a tire with a minimum H speed rating (130MPH), even though I likely will never (again) go that fast.  The higher the speed rating the better made the tire has to be.  Yeah, I know, likely over-engineered for our application.

[northernvalk]

I'd love to ride one to see the difference, or lack thereof.  I love to push bikes over hard and I always fear a car tire won't provide the smoothness from side to side that I want. I would consider one for a long tour of two up riding, the slaps in the back of the head keep the corner speeds down....

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'd love to ride one to see the difference, or lack thereof.  I love to push bikes over hard and I always fear a car tire won't provide the smoothness from side to side that I want. I would consider one for a long tour of two up riding, the slaps in the back of the head keep the corner speeds down....

Personally, I think my car tires corner as well or better than any MC tire I've used. I don't think you can just slap any car tire on and get good results though.

That tire has a T speed rating (118MPH).  I would rather get a tire with a minimum H speed rating (130MPH), even though I likely will never (again) go that fast.  The higher the speed rating the better made the tire has to be.  Yeah, I know, likely over-engineered for our application.

I haven't used  T rated tire, but having used the H and V Yokohama Avid Envigor I think the H handled slightly better.

[DarkSideR]

I'd love to ride one to see the difference, or lack thereof.  I love to push bikes over hard and I always fear a car tire won't provide the smoothness from side to side that I want. I would consider one for a long tour of two up riding, the slaps in the back of the head keep the corner speeds down....

Prior to owning the Valkyrie I had a sports bike and learned to love the twisty's. When I got my Valkyrie it had a Goodyear Triple Tread (worst behaving of the D/S tires, IMHO). I however put 17k on it, and wore out the bottoms of some pegs in corners. I'm on my 3rd D/S now, a Hankook Optimo. I have just about 20k on it and have enjoyed the tire. I ride the corners hard, fast and have never had a worry about the rear tire because it has never given me a reason to.

With all that said however, I ride a lot. Sticking with the D/S is economical for me. If my bike never left town, and I only put 1-2 thousand miles a year on the bike would I go D/S? Probably not.

[northernvalk]

Thanks for the insight and experience...  What about the bead profile? I have seen diagrams that show a significant difference in bead profile design, has there been any issues with air loss or bead separation during hard riding?

[Gryphon Rider]

Thanks for the insight and experience...  What about the bead profile? I have seen diagrams that show a significant difference in bead profile design, has there been any issues with air loss or bead separation during hard riding?

The bead profile of a car tire is technically not ideal, but I've never had an issue or heard of others having an issue with it, and I've been on this board since 2001.

[northernvalk]

Thanks Gryphon

[DarkSideR]

Thanks for the insight and experience...  What about the bead profile? I have seen diagrams that show a significant difference in bead profile design, has there been any issues with air loss or bead separation during hard riding?

Though the beads are different there has never been a reported issue. I have 60k on D/S tires. I ride long, far and hard. I have never had an issue, and your concern regarding bead profile should be nil.

[..]

I'd love to ride one to see the difference, or lack thereof.  I love to push bikes over hard and I always fear a car tire won't provide the smoothness from side to side that I want. I would consider one for a long tour of two up riding, the slaps in the back of the head keep the corner speeds down....

Champiro 13,500 miles.

Lots of mountain curves. 34 psi. Had it at about 38psi for the first couple of thousand miles which is why the center had worn faster. Great adhesion at dry, wet and footpeg scraping speeds.

[..]

This will most likely be my 1st car tire experience. Need to confirm that I can find someone to mount, pretty sure I know a guy (I'm in the finger lakes/Rochester NY area if anyone knows a person). Sick of getting low mileage out of mc tires. Please check link and let me know if the specs are wrong or any other input. The salt will be flying soon around here so may wait to purchase till late winter.
                        Thanks, Shape
https://www.walmart.com/ip/GT-Radial-Champiro-VP1-205-60R16-92H/51007320?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227038926995&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=t&wl3=80420394409&wl4=pla-177651125329&wl5=1023305&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=51007320&wl13=&veh=sem

Find an independent car tire place.

[northernvalk]

Darksider,

I wonder more about the fall over effect? On Maggy, I could notice a significant change in the handling as the tire flattened out in the center. It would want to fall over when it past the wear edge, like the cam action on compound bow. As soon as a new tire goes on, WOW, you feel like you can hold and stick any lean angle. 

[Cockneylad]

Also my first Darkside venture, took mine to a small local MC bike shop and had ti sign a waiver that they did not advise a CT and take no responsibility, fair enough. I think I may have made a mistake though as I installed a 195/55/16 V Yokohama avid. The reason I am saying that is my first impression is how much effort it takes to turn the bike now, especially on the left side ??? So did I get the wrong tire. It is a performance tire with rounded edges. I increased the pressure from 36 to 40 psi so I need to try that now. Any thoughts are surly appreciated amigos. Update: figured out my front tire only had 24 PSI after pumping that up to 34 set the DS tire back to 35 psi, success, wow what a difference. I now have complete confidence in the CT. Thanks for your thoughts chaps.

[northernvalk]

seems that people are saying that lower pressure makes them easier to turn , I think it allows the "edgd" to flex more iirc

[The emperor has no clothes]

Also my first Darkside venture, took mine to a small local MC bike shop and had ti sign a waiver that they did not advise a CT and take no responsibility, fair enough. I think I may have made a mistake though as I installed a 195/55/16 V Yokohama avid. The reason I am saying that is my first impression is how much effort it takes to turn the bike now, especially on the left side ??? So did I get the wrong tire. It is a performance tire with rounded edges. I increased the pressure from 36 to 40 psi so I need to try that now. Any thoughts are surly appreciated amigos.

My only issue with that tire would be its a lot shorter.

[cookiedough]

seems that people are saying that lower pressure makes them easier to turn , I think it allows the "edgd" to flex more iirc

tend to agree not that I am an expert since was even 37 psi rear care tire I bumped it down to 32 psi and was easier to corner both left and right, still not as easy though as a cycle tire.

[cookiedough]

Also my first Darkside venture, took mine to a small local MC bike shop and had ti sign a waiver that they did not advise a CT and take no responsibility, fair enough. I think I may have made a mistake though as I installed a 195/55/16 V Yokohama avid. The reason I am saying that is my first impression is how much effort it takes to turn the bike now, especially on the left side ??? So did I get the wrong tire. It is a performance tire with rounded edges. I increased the pressure from 36 to 40 psi so I need to try that now. Any thoughts are surly appreciated amigos. Update: figured out my front tire only had 24 PSI after pumping that up to 34 set the DS tire back to 35 psi, success, wow what a difference. I now have complete confidence in the CT. Thanks for your thoughts chaps.

front tire if a cycle tire at 34 psi is still tad bit too low,  most do front cycle tires at 38 psi on up to say 40 or tad bit more.  I run 38psi front tire do not like 40 psi since seems harsher ride.  My opinion, under 36 psi front tire is still too low will shorten life expectancy.  I run 32 psi rear car tire and preferred that over 36-37psi.  Every person and cycle/rear car tire is different though keep switching psi until your preference.

[..]

Front tire 40 psi. Do it. 

[Gryphon Rider]

Also my first Darkside venture, took mine to a small local MC bike shop and had ti sign a waiver that they did not advise a CT and take no responsibility, fair enough. I think I may have made a mistake though as I installed a 195/55/16 V Yokohama avid. The reason I am saying that is my first impression is how much effort it takes to turn the bike now, especially on the left side ??? So did I get the wrong tire. It is a performance tire with rounded edges. I increased the pressure from 36 to 40 psi so I need to try that now. Any thoughts are surly appreciated amigos. Update: figured out my front tire only had 24 PSI after pumping that up to 34 set the DS tire back to 35 psi, success, wow what a difference. I now have complete confidence in the CT. Thanks for your thoughts chaps.

Bump the front up to at least 40, even 42 (what I run on my Avon Cobra).  The bike will handle better and the tire will last longer.  Maybe a bit harsher ride, but the benefits outweigh that.  I run 35 on my General Altimax HP on the back.

[Tfrank59]

This will most likely be my 1st car tire experience. Need to confirm that I can find someone to mount, pretty sure I know a guy (I'm in the finger lakes/Rochester NY area if anyone knows a person). Sick of getting low mileage out of mc tires. Please check link and let me know if the specs are wrong or any other input. The salt will be flying soon around here so may wait to purchase till late winter.
                        Thanks, Shape
https://www.walmart.com/ip/GT-Radial-Champiro-VP1-205-60R16-92H/51007320?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227038926995&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=t&wl3=80420394409&wl4=pla-177651125329&wl5=1023305&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=51007320&wl13=&veh=sem

Find an independent car tire place.

I wasn't able to find anyone who'd mount mine last winter.  still have the CT sitting and ended up with another MC in the meanwhile.  everyone was worried about liability, since they knew this was a motorcycle and wheel and a car tire I wanted on there.