darkside and back?

[dano1946]

Has anyone gone to the darkside and decided to go back to cycle tires - and why?

[Art708]

 Yes.  I just didn't like the way the car tire felt. I am much happier on a MC tire.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I went back to a round tire temporarily once. I was having a new CT installed on my wheel just before a big trip and the installer accidentally put a hole through the sidewall. I was leaving in a few days and I'd waited weeks on my General CT. The guy at the shop could get an Avon next day so I had him get one and install it. I used it for about 11,000 miles then switched back to a CT and junked the Avon even though it wasn't worn out.

[MarkT]

Yes.  Tried a GYTT and hated it.  Couldn't stand the handling.  Really liked the better traction and cushy ride.  Went back to an Avon.  Then some time later Rude Dog in NY said he really liked the Yokohama Advan A048 for it's good look and bike-like profile - and tht it didn't have the bad behaviors so much.  Looked at the profile, yep looks pretty much like a bike tire, and it's got rounded corners - so I decided to try it again - see if the tire choice made a big difference.  yep it did.  However this tire was not so good for the economics of it - but at least I proved I could learn to like a car tire.  It's actually a car racing tire, soft compound and thin tread depth - only 6/32.  I have a bit over 5,000 on it now, and it's pretty much shot.  I'm going to run it down some more, then replace it with the Yokohama sister tire to the Advan A048 - has twice as much tread, a bit more siping, a profile that looks the same, and I think a bit harder rubber compound - the Advan Neova AD08.  The tire's on hand, just waiting for me to install it.  I'll do that with Ride-On in it I expect inside a month.  

I'll say this - I have concluded there are many factors in the mix of going darkside.  Your riding style and experience.  The roads you ride on (there are no rutted roads where I ride).  The particular tire you choose. What's important to you - perfect handling vs. best traction; compromise handling a little to get great economy; cushy ride vs. harsh.  etc.

You can read my tire odyssey here.  I reported what I found, didn't pull punches.   http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/The_Darkside_-_Yea_or_Nay/the_darkside_-_yea_or_nay.html

[CASABROKER]

You probably won't get many conversions back to the mc tire

[wdvalk]

yep,I did,didnt notice a lot of difference when I went to the car tire,notice a big difference when I went back to the bike tire,I will stick with the metzlers

[SANDMAN5]

I've been Darkside for almost 50,000 miles. I was considering trying a Metz
200 next spring just for fun. Current GYTT has a little over 30,000 and more
to go. Then found out my plant is closing Nov 9. Guess I'll stay dark a little
longer. FWIW, I had planned on it just being a vacation from the Darkside.
Had every intention of going back. YMMV.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I've been Darkside for almost 50,000 miles. I was considering trying a Metz
200 next spring just for fun. Current GYTT has a little over 30,000 and more
to go. Then found out my plant is closing Nov 9. Guess I'll stay dark a little
longer. FWIW, I had planned on it just being a vacation from the Darkside.
Had every intention of going back. YMMV.

Sorry to hear about your plant closing. An awful lot of that going on.

[valky1500]

Yes.  Tried a GYTT and hated it.  Couldn't stand the handling.  Really liked the better traction and cushy ride.  Went back to an Avon.  Then some time later Rude Dog in NY said he really liked the Yokohama Advan A048 for it's good look and bike-like profile - and tht it didn't have the bad behaviors so much.  Looked at the profile, yep looks pretty much like a bike tire, and it's got rounded corners - so I decided to try it again - see if the tire choice made a big difference.  yep it did.  However this tire was not so good for the economics of it - but at least I proved I could learn to like a car tire.  It's actually a car racing tire, soft compound and thin tread depth - only 6/32.  I have a bit over 5,000 on it now, and it's pretty much shot.  I'm going to run it down some more, then replace it with the Yokohama sister tire to the Advan A048 - has twice as much tread, a bit more siping, a profile that looks the same, and I think a bit harder rubber compound - the Advan Neova AD08.  The tire's on hand, just waiting for me to install it.  I'll do that with Ride-On in it I expect inside a month.  

I'll say this - I have concluded there are many factors in the mix of going darkside.  Your riding style and experience.  The roads you ride on (there are no rutted roads where I ride).  The particular tire you choose. What's important to you - perfect handling vs. best traction; compromise handling a little to get great economy; cushy ride vs. harsh.  etc.

You can read my tire odyssey here.  I reported what I found, didn't pull punches.   http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/The_Darkside_-_Yea_or_Nay/the_darkside_-_yea_or_nay.html

All radials have rounded edges (corners). 

[Oklahoma_Valk]

The CT experience for me has been very very different from an MC tire. There are things I like, and do not like about the CT.

I truly believe that the best explanation is this:

"A Change in the way the bike handles, in trade for increased traction, mileage wear, braking, and bad-assery."

About 40% of the reason I leave the car tire on is pure bad-assery. People see it, like it, ask about it. I enjoy conversation about my bike. It works out well.


-cheers,

okie

[John U.]

I tried a General Altimax, I didn't like the handling at all. I ride back roads a lot and found I was doing too much steering to stay where I wanted to be on the road; the worse the road surface and the more crown to the road the worse I liked it. It reduced the pleasure of riding for me.

[fordmano]

I tried 2 different CT's and kept having worse experiences as far as low speed uneven surface handling and some really bad wallowing in long curves and also just a very odd uneasy feeling especially when wet out... Couldn't be sure 100% what it was or technically still is (haven't ridden after last changes) so 2 years ago when I did some major maintenance and upgrades I went back to MT front and rear Avon's did not get better actually continued to get worse so recently I have done some major shotgunning and swapped out ALL wheel and head bearings even did a final drive maintenance and pulled the u-joint and made sure it was happy feeling greasing all splines and contact surfaces along the way.... I just haven't gotten her back on the road yet.. maybe end of this week.

If the handling issue is cured then the next tire will be a CT again...

[Kilroy]

Yes, I did.  Had the Bridgestone G019.  Pretty good tire overall, liked it.  Ran the CT for 9500 miles to give it a good try.  Much of my riding is done in a very congested and populated area so much time going at slower speed.   Although I really liked the CT on the highway and when at speed the handling at slower speeds in parking lots and on uneven roads needed much more input to the steering than I cared to put up with.   I liked the Bridgestone and if I should move to an area of the country where there are wide open roads then I might switch back to a CT.  I read on this forum some time ago that if you live, and mostly ride, in an urban setting with uneven roads maybe a MC tire is the better choice.  I believe this to be true.   In any event ride safe.

[Tropic traveler]

Yep.
Liked the traction, braking, & look. Hated the lower speed handling. Got rid of it when it picked up a nail. Back to Avons but I am interested in the Austone when the next Avon wears out. Car tire strengths without the horrid low speed handling! 

[Grumpy]

Ran a Goodyear Triple tread for a long time, damaged it and went back to an Avon on the rear. Did not like the way the triple tread handled. Since I have went back to the dark side, running an Austone Taxi tire now, love the way it handles, none of the tendency to follow ridges etc. In my opinion handles like a motorcycle tire, but vastly improved traction over the Avon. Plus it won't be bald after 6,000 miles. Have 4,500 on the taxi tire, and not any wear so far.

[Steve K (IA)]

  Yep, I did.  Put the car tire on my '97 and it handled so bad and scared the crap out of me that I pretty much stopped riding it, then my wife added some miles on it, scared her to.  Total of 4000 miles and off it came.  Put a Metz back on it (front and rear), much happier.   Have E3's on my '00 I/S.  I like both Metz and E3's.  Had a few scares with Avons...in the rain.  Was like riding on snot.

  No more Avons or car tires ever again.   

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Yes.  Tried a GYTT and hated it.  Couldn't stand the handling.  Really liked the better traction and cushy ride.  Went back to an Avon.  Then some time later Rude Dog in NY said he really liked the Yokohama Advan A048 for it's good look and bike-like profile - and tht it didn't have the bad behaviors so much.  Looked at the profile, yep looks pretty much like a bike tire, and it's got rounded corners - so I decided to try it again - see if the tire choice made a big difference.  yep it did.  However this tire was not so good for the economics of it - but at least I proved I could learn to like a car tire.  It's actually a car racing tire, soft compound and thin tread depth - only 6/32.  I have a bit over 5,000 on it now, and it's pretty much shot.  I'm going to run it down some more, then replace it with the Yokohama sister tire to the Advan A048 - has twice as much tread, a bit more siping, a profile that looks the same, and I think a bit harder rubber compound - the Advan Neova AD08.  The tire's on hand, just waiting for me to install it.  I'll do that with Ride-On in it I expect inside a month.  

I'll say this - I have concluded there are many factors in the mix of going darkside.  Your riding style and experience.  The roads you ride on (there are no rutted roads where I ride).  The particular tire you choose. What's important to you - perfect handling vs. best traction; compromise handling a little to get great economy; cushy ride vs. harsh.  etc.

You can read my tire odyssey here.  I reported what I found, didn't pull punches.   http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/The_Darkside_-_Yea_or_Nay/the_darkside_-_yea_or_nay.html

All radials have rounded edges (corners). 

I put 50,000 miles on 2 GY TT's. They're edges were nearly square. The General I'm running now has much more rounded edges.

[Tundra]

Yes I have. GoodYear TripleTread 205/60/16...and back to an Avon Cobra fat 200. More money, doesn't look as cool, but it handles like a Valkyrie again
  I think there are better choices than what I chose (flat & square) I really liked the Falken Ziex, but no longer available in a 205/60/16. I see very limited choices in 205/60/16. I see many tires that look like very good choices in 205/55/16. I just don't want to increase my RPM.
  I don't care to raise my rear end and riding position with a 205/65/16. So it looks like I'm staying with a MC tire.
  I would go back again if there was a mutually agreed decent handling CT in 205/60/16. I was considering the General Altimax, many rave notices. But then again just as many hated it? My search continues, as I enjoy wearing out my Avon Cobra

[Mr. Nuts]

Went from Avon to Falken Ziex and wore out two of them. Went back to Avons as the Falkens on my particular Tourer would generate a high speed wobble at 100 mph+. Only way to be sure it was the Falken was to go back to the Avon's and see if it went away. It did so it may have been a tread mis-match issue. Checked all the other issues such as shock bushings and such.

I like both the car tire and the Avon's. I think I'll return again to a different car tire when the Avon wears out. I really miss the increased rear braking of a car tire when deer, elk, lions, bears, bighorns, wolves, and even eagles and hawks get in my way on our Montana roads. Plus, its hard to find chains for Motorcycle tires up here and winter is coming up real soon.

[Chippy01]

I put a car tyre on my Valk last year.
First impressions were good, and I thought I could cope with the differences.
Both myself and herself liked the smoother ride, but the constant countersteer needed was a little offputting. Slow speed 'tracking' of ruts was another issue that threw up questions; and yes I did try varying pressures, etc.
This year, I needed a new front tyre and on impulse bought a pair of Avon Cobras, front and rear.
Wow! The difference was phenomenal!!! Neutrality returned to the bike, and I felt that I didn't have to fight the bike to go in the direction I wanted it to go.

So, based on my own personal experience, I know that after actually trying it, a car tyre on the rear of my Valk is not for me. Bike tyres for bikes, car tyres for cars.

It was only after I switched back, that herself confided in me that she was not 100% comfortable sitting on top of the car tyre, but didn't want to say anything which may influence my decision in staying with a car tyre or going back to a bike tyre.