Darkside tire

[Mondo Limbo]

I am about to replace my rear Avon Venom and am going Darkside.  After reading several threads and recommedations about what to look for in a tire, I am leaning towards a Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 205/55/16.  It is "Y" rated, has the right type of tread, and seems a little rounder on the edges that most.  Anyone got any experience or opinions on this?  I haven't seen anyone running this particular tire.  On the front I have a Venom with about 12K miles on it, lots of tread left.

[Old Geezer Richard]

Hey Mondo ,I just went darkside back in dec. and I'm using a Michelin  Pilot all weather / rain tire and it works great .... This tire does not have a very aggresive tread so I don't have the tire go crazy on me when the road has some uneven or imperfections on the black top .... in other word I am not having the tire scare me or jumping all over the road , I like it .... It sure will stop me on a dime if I let it even when the road is wet .... I'm using the 205/55/16 and now having put about 4500 miles on it I should have used the 205/65/16 instead because my mileage has gone down a little .... before I was at 38-40 mpg running at around 3000 rpm's .... but  for right now I'm pleased and my girlfriend says its very smooth on the road  when  she's on the back .... the only thing I'm playing with is the air pressure ... I run 32 with just me and 36 with both of us in the cold  .... now if your a lite weight then 32 would suit you fine .... here in Texas when it has been warm that tire heats up to 38 or even 40 lbs I'll have to back down the air pressure to 32 in the summer because it will heat up ... so go out and enjoy the DARKSIDE I'll never use a m/c tire again at those prices ...  Thanks Old Geezer

[Hollywood]

we have run a darkside tire for the last 4 years. When we 1st started, we had an avon venom on the front, and a Bridgestone Fusion rear. the tread patterns are almost an exact match. $50 for for the tire .now we have a Metzler front(seems to last longer than an avon, and cheaper too) and a Goodyear on the back. When you go to the tire shop, you can bargain them down on price.

one thing for sure, you have to run the reccomended tire pressure, otherwise it will be squishy and you'll have wobbling if the tread pattern is off.
go to the tech board, they have good information on darkside tires.
Don't worry about the roundness, it only takes a day of riding to get used to it. 

[Mondo Limbo]

One of the reasons I'm probably going with the Pilot Sport 205/55/16 is that it is "Y" rated.  I have seen on various boards that everyone seems to recommend "Z" rated tires, but the most commonly used tires, the GYTT, the Falken, etc, are "T" rated.  Any thoughts on this?

[Six Guns]

Mondo,

  If I were you, I would seriously consider a 60 or 65 tire. I've run two car tires at 205/65/16 and have been very happy with them.  Just my opinion.

[Hollywood]

I really don't know what those ratings signify. We have just bought whatever was on sale at the Goodyear store. As 6 Guns said, you can also run 205/65/16. You may have to make some modifications to make it fit. We have stayed with the 205/55/16 on our Standard. Just make sure your pattern on the rear is as close as possible to the front. Also, make sure your tire is mounted correctly, not backwards! Daniel, what is your opinion, since you have run a Darkside tire longer than the rest of us( I think!) ?

[Houdini]

I put a 205/60 Goodyear Triple Tread on mine and I like it.  This tire is slightly taller than a stock m/c tire.  The cage nut was cut off when the tire was installed so I don't know if it would have rubbed.  I may try a 55 next time for a lower ride.

I really don't know what those ratings signify.

FYI, The 55, 60 and 65 designations is the aspect ratio of a tire, a 65 tire is taller than a 55.

This tire does not have a very aggresive tread so I don't have the tire go crazy on me when the road has some uneven or imperfections on the black top

For me, tire pressure is what makes the difference in how the tire handles.  At 35#, the tire gets wiggly over the road snakes and imperfections but is almost impossible to lockup under a panic brake.  At 45# the tire wanders less but will skid easier.  I prefer to keep mine at 42 - 45#.  A darkside tire will brake better than a motorcycle tire... period. 

[Hollywood]

I was talking about "Y" Z and T ! What the heck are those????????????   

[Houdini]

I was talking about "Y" Z and T ! What the heck are those?

Those are speed ratings.  Here's a link that can explain better than I can.

http://www.dunloptires.com/care/speedRatings.html

I don't really pay any attention to these ratings since a Z is rated at 149 MPH and Y is 186 MPH and these ratings are for a car that weighs much more than my bike. I don't have any intention of going anywhere near 149 MPH any time soon.  T is all I will ever need.

Chuck

[Hollywood]

O, now I get it! Even though DragonBrethe has been over 100MPH, I wouldn't reccommend staying at tha speed just to prove a point about a tire rating! PLUS< everybody knows Black and Chrome are the FASTEST Valks anyway! 

[godfire]

PLUS< everybody knows Black and Chrome are the FASTEST Valks anyway! 

Hey Serk,
I know that you are a lurker, should we let them in on the "Blue and Cream" secret, or just keep it to our selves?

[Houdini]

I know that you are a lurker, should we let them in on the "Blue and Cream" secret, or just keep it to our selves?

It's not so much a secret as it is a myth.   

[godfire]

I know that you are a lurker, should we let them in on the "Blue and Cream" secret, or just keep it to our selves?

It's not so much a secret as it is a myth.   

Chuck, Chuck, Chuck Chuck Chuck Chuck Chuck.....tisk tisk tisk

I agreee

Definitions of myth on the Web:

a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view.......   
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

[RainMaker]

I don't care what color is fastest.  My blue and silver goes faster than I want to ride so it's not relevant.

[godfire]

Love you Rainmaker!

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

If your gonna stay with the 55 series tire the cooper zeon 2 is a very good choice. I ran one for 24k and would have gotten more but tire pressure too high will wear the center of the tire prematurely. Smoking Joe  runs the crap out of them on the dragon. The compound of the tire is soft something like a 280 rating and the speed rating is a wr if I remember right. The lower compound  means it will stick better but probably wear faster. I've logged over 70K on my valk on the darkside and plan to log plenty more. I'm running a Toyo TP1 60 series now just because I like the taller tire. I've ran a falken 512,some kind of kumho, and one I can't remember. I keep air pressure arround 36-38 psi  seems to work best for me either solo or two up.

[Duey]

For addition opinions check out this     http://www.totallypissedoff.com/darkside.htm

[Mondo Limbo]

Got it done today - I'm officially a Darksider.

But - I found I was scraping a little, even with the 55 series tire.  I ran the preload on the shocks all the way up to make it home, then did the cage nut mod.  It seems to be ok now, it was hitting the cage and screw mostly on the right side.  Now I just have to get used to the ride.

[Houdini]

Got it done today - I'm officially a Darksider.

Welcome to the Darkside!

[Flyboy]

Welcome to the Darkside!!

If you will email: "Dark Lord of the Sith" <darkside0001@hotmail.com>, he is the guy that will give you an official Darkside VRCCDS#. I am VRCCDS#140.

[Houdini]

I am VRCCDS#140.

I'm VRCCDS#144

[Serk]

PLUS< everybody knows Black and Chrome are the FASTEST Valks anyway! 

Hey Serk,
I know that you are a lurker, should we let them in on the "Blue and Cream" secret, or just keep it to our selves?

I've heard rumors of a Blue and Ivory making the 60 mile run from Marathon to Fort Stockton in around 35-40 minutes last week...  

Sadly, I was strongly leaning towards going darkside for my next tire, but waking up in Marathon outside Big Bend with a totally flat Avon on a Monday kinda changed that plan... Made it to Kerrville, and $400 later have a new Metzeler on the back... So guess I'll wait for that tire to wear down and look into joining the ranks of the dark side when that happens...

[Dag]

Did it yesterday

Rear Wheel Removal	powered by Aeva

[BnB Tom]

Speaking of "Lurkers".. Flyboy DOES exist. 
Ha.  See ya Saturday.

[Flyboy]

I'm here, I have not gone anywhere. The shop will be here and ready for everbody. We have a lot of work to get done. See you for breakfast.

[RainMaker]

Looks simple.  All I need now is a really, really nice lift.

[godfire]

I've been taking my pipes off.
The Jardines come off pretty easy, but next time I'm going to give this a try with my craftsman jack and my wood bike holder.
I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Or maybe I could talk Sly into letting me have this?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91764

[Houdini]

Jim, one of my buddies that owns a Harley just sold his Nikon digital camera and used the money to buy that exact lift.  Considering he rides a Harley he probably uses the lift A LOT.  I'll ask him how well it works and if he likes it and let you know.

[Disco]

There was a thread about lifts on the National Tech board a week or so ago.   

[C908]

Is the Cooper Zeon 2xs the same tire as the Cooper Zeon 2 ? Do you know if the 2xs is the same tire that smokin joe uses? Do I understand the 55 series makes the bike sit slightly lower than the stock motorcycle tire. Thanks.

[Disco]

I believe this is correct.  A 205 / 55 is slightly taller than a 180 / 60.

180mm width x .60 aspect ratio = 108.00mm height

205mm width x .55 aspect ratio = 112.75mm height

4.75mm height difference = 0.187"

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

It's the same tire as Smokingjoe runs. I've ran that tire before and it is a little shorter than stock but not enough the worry about. I'll go back to it as soon as the Toyo I've got on now wears out. Watch your air pressure or you'll wear the center out prematurely. I found 34-38psi best. Hope this helps.