New Dark Side Tire UPDATED WITH PICTURES OF SELECTION.

[KSDragonRider]

While it Willows this weekend, Jimmy called out Joe on the tread depth of his tire.  I got to looking, and sure enough about every car tire there was the same brand, and about the same condition.  

But thanks to Jimmy, Joe and others, I cant find a 512 anywhere.    I thought about stealing one from one of them, but Joe has a constant house full of witnesses, and i would have to take a big trailer to Jimmy's house and end up with more than a tire im afraid.  And his interstate is in the body shop, so i need to wait till he has it back together again to visit.

The above tires look like they have been getting alot of love.  I loved the 512 falken, i really did love that tire. However, i was shocked to see it was already at the wear bars in 10k miles.  But with us both being the thinest people on the planet, traveling light, never pulling a trailer , and babying the trottle, and checking air pressure every 4 hours on the road, we need something that is going to hold up just a little better.

I keep hearing stories of 20k to 50k on a tire... and i get 10.  

Im leaning towards the general just because of the look of the tread and how it looks alot like a bike tire in the tread. If you have something else you run lets hear it.

Oh, and John, John Lord, i know buddy, i know you love them round ones... but i am pretty i can destroy one of those on my next vacation. 3000-4000 miles with 520# of people, on an interstate, packed on the bike heavy with full gear and full bags, pulling a trailer through western kansas, western nebraska, and south dakota. And running 80-85 down the super slab with it. As a reference, i got 5k out of my last Dunlop E3 with 42# in it its whole life.

[Joe Hummer]

Hey Dalen,

I will go ahead and weigh in here...although I cannot attest to the mileage on the tire...yet.  I have the Yokohama Avid Envigor (205/60-16).  I put it on late last year...like in early December.  I am very happy with the tire except when the tire was new and cold.  It grips very well and seems to be wearing very little.  It has enough of a profile that I can take my hands off the bars and lean-steer the bike without too much effort.  I wouldn't do this on uneven pavement but I can rolling down the highway.  I did have to do a little work to the right side rear fender bolt though.  When I loaded my youngest son onto the bike and rode down to GOTF, I rubbed most of the way down.  Turned the bolt around backwards and all was good.  At this point, I would put another one on my bike. 

I have looked at the General Altimax and really like the looks of the tire.  I haven't ridden on the tire yet, but based on what I know of profiles...it is definitely agreeable.  This tire is a close second. 

As with any opinion, use the information as you see fit. 

Joe

[R J]

Before I Triked MGM out, I was running Good Year Triple Tread.    It had close to 9K on it when we triked MGM out.

The guy who bought it thought I was pulling his leg when I told him the mileage.

He dug out his tread depth tool and said, 'you full of s**t Mister, only 1/32 is gone'.   Said ok, here is the mileage when we mounted it, and you can see the mileage now.   He bought it and off down the road he went.

[KSDragonRider]

Hey Dalen,

I will go ahead and weigh in here...although I cannot attest to the mileage on the tire...yet.  I have the Yokohama Avid Envigor (205/60-16).  I put it on late last year...like in early December.  I am very happy with the tire except when the tire was new and cold.  It grips very well and seems to be wearing very little.  It has enough of a profile that I can take my hands off the bars and lean-steer the bike without too much effort.  I wouldn't do this on uneven pavement but I can rolling down the highway.  I did have to do a little work to the right side rear fender bolt though.  When I loaded my youngest son onto the bike and rode down to GOTF, I rubbed most of the way down.  Turned the bolt around backwards and all was good.  At this point, I would put another one on my bike. 

I have looked at the General Altimax and really like the looks of the tire.  I haven't ridden on the tire yet, but based on what I know of profiles...it is definitely agreeable.  This tire is a close second. 

As with any opinion, use the information as you see fit. 

Joe

thanks Joe,
That is kind of what i was looking for right there.

I already have all 4 of my fender bolts turned around, the front ones where stripped when i got the bike, and had huge nylock nuts, yeah, they almost rubbed the E3 with the wife and I on it.  So to make the hitch easier to install and bags go on and off nicer, i just run the bolts through the inside.

I have also done the fender washer mod, nut cage, and run shocks on 5 at all times.   I have been running a 205/65 and it works pretty good, but im going back to a 60 this time for sure.

[Jess from VA]

I'm sticking with the trusty Goodyear TT I started with.  I'm now sure from reading hundreds of other posts there are other car tires that are more suitable/compliant for cycles, or less car-tire-like-handling, but my first wore like iron for 36K, and had tread for maybe 4K more, but got replaced (with another) at a rear-end service at 36K, and no bitchin.  

As you would expect, when I stuck the same tire on my 2d bike, there was no learning curve to speak of (even brand new).... thou they do scuff in and become mildly more compliant after 7-10K miles after new.  Both bikes now have one with only a few K each, so I am good to go for a couple years on each (and yes, I will need to get into the rear ends long before the tires are gone).   The price on them is up from $112 to $128*.

For me it's a case of the devil you know, on both bikes.  

I think anyone going to a car tire for the first time will have some amount of learning curve till comfortable and 2d nature. I certainly would not run any car tire that does not get at least double the miles of their previous bike tire.  Aside from all other benefits of a car tire (and there are many), longevity is my number one reason for running one.

Now the 175 Austone Taxi tire is another animal... a car tire that has all the benefits of a car tire, but handles nearly like a bike tire.  I do not know how many miles they are going however.

* http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Assurance+TripleTred+All-Season&partnum=06VR6ATTAS&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes  

[Rams]

I think anyone going to a car tire for the first time will have some amount of learning curve till comfortable and 2d nature. I certainly would not run any car tire that does not get at least double the miles of their previous bike tire.  Aside from all other benefits of a car tire (and there are many), longevity is my number one reason for running one.

Now the 175 Autozone Taxi tire is another animal... a car tire that has all the benefits of a car tire, but handles nearly like a bike tire.  I do not know how many miles they are going however.

* http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Assurance+TripleTred+All-Season&partnum=06VR6ATTAS&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes  

Autozone Taxi Tire?   Hmm, I'll have to look into that one.  

I run something similar to that, it's called the Austone Taxi Tire.  

So far, I've got about 5K on it, still looks new in the center though I'm working at wearing down those sides.   This past weekend I went to a wrench party in North Vernon, IN.   Let a couple of guys ride my Valkyrie.   They wanted to check out the Austone Taxi Tire.   Regis was the most impressed, he thought it really stuck to the road and handles like a motorcycle tire.   I happen to agree.   I won't tell you I like it's tread pattern, there are several other tread patterns I like better but, I've ridden this tire in rain and shine have don't have a single complaint.   Ride what you like, I do.

[Jess from VA]

Autozone, Austone......  my memory is failing... so sue me.   

[Hoser]

While it Willows this weekend, Jimmy called out Joe on the tread depth of his tire.  I got to looking, and sure enough about every car tire there was the same brand, and about the same condition. 

But thanks to Jimmy, Joe and others, I cant find a 512 anywhere.     I thought about stealing one from one of them, but Joe has a constant house full of witnesses, and i would have to take a big trailer to Jimmy's house and end up with more than a tire im afraid.  And his interstate is in the body shop, so i need to wait till he has it back together again to visit.

The above tires look like they have been getting alot of love.  I loved the 512 falken, i really did love that tire. However, i was shocked to see it was already at the wear bars in 10k miles.  But with us both being the thinest people on the planet, traveling light, never pulling a trailer , and babying the trottle, and checking air pressure every 4 hours on the road, we need something that is going to hold up just a little better.

I keep hearing stories of 20k to 50k on a tire... and i get 10. 

Im leaning towards the general just because of the look of the tread and how it looks alot like a bike tire in the tread. If you have something else you run lets hear it.

Oh, and John, John Lord, i know buddy, i know you love them round ones... but i am pretty i can destroy one of those on my next vacation. 3000-4000 miles with 520# of people, on an interstate, packed on the bike heavy with full gear and full bags, pulling a trailer through western kansas, western nebraska, and south dakota. And running 80-85 down the super slab with it. As a reference, i got 5k out of my last Dunlop E3 with 42# in it its whole life.

I have nothing against dark side tires, I just use a bias ply meant for a big HD that I get 20k from.  I did destroy the dunny 404 front in Ohio last week, on that thing they call a road, that runs between Cincinnati and Columbus.   I had to put a new one to get home.  The American elite rear took it like a trooper, though. Hoser 

[KSDragonRider]

Just ordered this one
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=AVID+ENVigor+%28H-+or+V-Speed+Rated%29&partnum=06HR6ENV&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

I like the looks of it, and have yet to see anyone have an issue with it on this board.  We will see next week!

[WamegoRob]

Looks like a fine choice, Dalen.

Did you get this one from KC?  http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php?topic=56554.0

[KSDragonRider]

no, i actually forgot about it when i ordered, but had looked at it before and passed. 

i did not like the look of that tire, it looked kinda old.  That shiney is going to be harder to get off the older the tire was.  Im sure it would have been fine, but with shipping, it was only 20 bucks more to go with a brand new one, delivered to the door with a fresh new date code.  If i was closer to kc, i might have taken the chance on that one, or at least gone to look at it.

We will see tuesday i think how mine looks when it gets here, glossy or not.  Im hoping not.

We have a local guy here that has a tire machine, he is saying he will mount or dismount anything for 25 bucks with static balancing. I figured i would give him a try see what i thought of how he did it.

The last place i was having stuff done moved from an old car dealership to an old music store... im betting they dont have much of a shop anymore.  Im always looking for guys that are good, cheap, fast, and willing to do it on a saturday or sunday.  Hopefully Marty will be the guy!

[Whistler]

Rumor has it one of our own was building a tire changing machine to assist with this! Not sure of the current status.

JDW

[KSDragonRider]

Rumor has it one of our own was building a tire changing machine to assist with this! Not sure of the current status.

JDW

He same as has it done... or did last year....

He might have a full plate right now.

[Bark2]

One thing about "He", he likes speed and I don't know anyone else that has gone 0 - 5 faster!  

Full plate for sure.  

And, if anyone can do it.......... he can.

[Whistler]

Really takes all the fun out of talking about "He", when "He" just ignores us like we don't exist! And I didn't even use little faces just for "He"!

[KSDragonRider]

 

[KSDragonRider]

Well, with the day off and all, I made some time to get some stuff done on the old girl.  Mainly just the rear tire and rear end maint that we all look forward to every year.

This was waiting for me when I got home Tuesday.

I really liked the profile of this tire when I saw it in person.  Even better than in the pics at Tire Rack.

So, time for the bike to go up on the lift again.  Getting the bike on and off the lift is always the scary part for me, but, I managed to get it done with no issues once again.


Old tire, you have been a great friend and companion the last 16 months, but its time for you to meet your replacement.

And then the fun started.  The guy with the tire machine that I had planned on doing the mount and dismount of the rubber parts took off for a 4 day trip on his bike to Milwaukee.  That sucks when its already at this stage...
So improvised, and with some help from my 30 ton H frame press, I had the rubber broke loose from the tire. Now it was time for the real fun to start.

But it was not near as bad as I thought.... In all actuality, I bet I was done in less time than it would have taken to drive it to town, have the rubbers swapped, and take it home.  And I still have my 25 bucks in my pocket, and my gas money.  I also now know how to do it easier than i was before, and I know i can rock it out on a weekend when everything is closed.  I will use some dyna beads to balance it out, and I replaced my "new" stock valve stem with a steel bolt together job. 

Next came the greasy bits... I wanted to see if my Moly infused grease was still holding up.

I would say it is.  At 41k, I have very very little wear to the splines in the rear end.

Almost no visible wear on the wheel hub.

And just starting to get a touch of wear on the drive shaft.  The pinion cup still looked great, with hardly any visible wear on it.


I took my time, and cleaned the shop before I even started. All went pretty smooth, and I was start to finish in about 4 hours.  I know I have done it alot faster before, but today I had nothing really better to do, so I took my time and enjoyed myself. 

I was also doing some trial and error type stuff as I went.  Always before, i took the bag supports off.  With the hitch, that becomes a PITA, so this time i just pulled the bags and realized with the support bars that will made, i can pull the axle out no problem above the muffler and the bag support. 

This little bit of knowledge will also be handy when doing Johns bike next time.  With his hitch, it makes it a great time getting the bag supports and the bag rails all back into place.

The drop tail lift already makes it so I no longer have to pull the rear fender, and that is a big help. 

[Tundra]

 I know this was not in your poll, however this is an awesome looking tread pattern WITH more rounded corners than most and available in 205x60x16 which will not increase or decrease your RPM or change the bikes geometry. This is a Vredestein Sportrac 3
http://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_33277/012-2.jpg

[KSDragonRider]

 that is an awesome looking tire.  I actually found the post talking about that tire after I had ordered the above tire.   but I will be thinking about that for next time for sure. 

 THANKS tundra

[stude31]

Really takes all the fun out of talking about "He", when "He" just ignores us like we don't exist! And I didn't even use little faces just for "He"!

Ha ha ha !!!  Real funny.  I have the tire changer done!  But I have been waiting on posting pics on the VRCC until I complete it with a bead breaker but for a sneak peak here ya go:

[Jess from VA]

Man.... that is a monster dip stick there.   

[Joe Hummer]

Man.... that is a monster dip stick there.   

......Stude was in that picture???  I didn't see him. 

 

Joe