Darkside change in tire behavior over time?

[Jersey]

This is a question for those with long time Darkside experience.

I've been on my first CT for about 18k miles - Yokohama Envigor at 40psi.  I really like all of the benefits it gives.  I noticed after the first 2k miles the tire loosened up a bit and the turns became very comfortable.  Recently, the CT has become very sensitive to the road conditions, more like a MT would be. It's become very fluid rotating side to side.  The sensitivity is very similar to a MT and it seems to have lost that stiffness in the edges that most darksiders are probably used to feeling.

My question to the other darksiders - Is this normal?  Does the car tire change and adjust over the miles like a fine wine over time?  lol  Or is this a sign that the CT sidewalls might be loosening up too much and the tire needs replacing.  I don't know, just speculating.

Thanks for the feedback!
Cheers,
Jersey

[Bone]

I've got over 100k on CT's. Used 2 GTT and noticed a difference when I changed to a new GTT.
I think where the tire is used (wearing) its changing it's contact patch. That makes it feel better
for us. I don't know if the sidewalls loosen up with more load applied to them.

[Valkorado]

I have noticed a bit of a "break in" where the tires feel better especially cornering after a couple/few thousand miles.  The edges tend to round down just a bit and definitely wear differently than they would on a cage, at least on our chip seal roads.   The better side to side handling could be partly attributed to this,  in addition to your being better acquainted with the tire.

I like a stiff sidewall.   The Austone was an 8 ply tire,  the Zeetex CT-1000 light truck tire I am currently using is too but it's even beefier.   I could sit on that tire without any folding.  Handles great!

[old2soon]

             My D/S pressures have been in the mid 30s PSI range. Shortly after I got Phatt Ghurl I went D/S. And fer lack of a better explanation you are gittin used to it. My "transition" period-M/T to D/S-was about all of 5 miles-MAYBE!   Personally I am VERY comfortable on my D/S choice(s).   I guess you could call it a learning curve. Been in the rain on M/T and D/S. Lets just say D/S makes rain days a bit easier to tolerate.   RIDE SAFE.

[Jersey]

I was trying to assess myself on the 'getting used' the tire versus if changes were occurring on the bike - tire, bearings, etc.   It could be that simple?  Just after about 18k I would think a noticeable change would occur in short period of time.  Been riding many decades an a daily commuter into DC.  I'll keep looking at  it though.  Maybe this old dog is just learning new tricks? lol

[mrtlc]

Mount a camera back there and watch what it's doing!

[Relax]

I have my 75 000 miles DS,mostly 2 up..
I do about 18 000 mile per tire.. Riding 2 up wear tires!

I've never been certain about pressure. Ive  been using from 36-41 psi.
Last tire , Goodyear Efficientgrip, i have ended up at 38 psi.
(I have the feeling the presuure on front rire is more important )

Of course higher pressure makes tire more rounded, lower pressure maks the sidewall flex more,   and maybe more rubber on the ground (?)
So, what is best?
Flexing walls or rounded tire, of course depending on the exact tire qualifications, but still.
I am most conserned about wet roads/rain in curves.
And what about  wet roads  & curves with DS  tire compared to MC tire
What do you trust most?


!

[Jess from VA]

Jersey, they do wear in over time.  But I've never noticed any big changes.  But all my CTs have been  GY TripleTreds (harder, higher longevity).

I always run 40psi too.  Slight center wear, but with 37K per tire no complaints.

DC is often full of big potholes, so checking to make sure there are no broken belts is a good idea.

If you ran over a squirrel, maybe it's a bit greasier than normal. 

[gordonv]

I've been on my first CT for about 18k miles - Yokohama Envigor at 40psi.

FYI
Just a reminder, that the CT should have the rear end maintenance done every 10K miles.

[0leman]

I am on my 3rd CT.  Have had from vary stiff/square side edges to more rounded one.  Prefer the round ones.   I haven't notices any changes in ride as the  tire wears out.  Maybe I am not that sensitive to the changes.  I have run my tires at 30 lbs.   On the first got 30K before changed it, second got 20k, not sure how much I have left on the 3rd (have over 15k on it now).    Think I could get a lot more mileage out of them, if didn't have chip coated roads to ride on.

AND yes have one the rear end maintenance on them ever 10k.   

[Moonshot_1]

Ran and currently have on my Tourer Goodyear Assurance Triple Tred. @ 40 psi.
33k on the first one and about 30 on the current one.

Not familiar with the Envigor and some performance issues can be tire specific so with that in mind, I'm going to throw out some general thoughts on Darkside stuff.

Obviously you are checking tire pressure. That would be the first thing to check when describing the symptoms you are telling us about.

I would have the rear end serviced. Check the bearings to see if they are beginning to wear out.

I did not experience the Triple Tred change in performance as it weared. It was pretty solid through out it's service life. I noticed I was getting very used to the performance and liked it alot.

It is difficult for me to imagine a motorcycle, even aggressively ridden, having the ability to degrade a car tire sidewall performance.

If you can't discover an actual physical reason for your change in handling, perhaps it is the rider changing and adjusting over the miles like a fine wine over time and not the tire.

[Grandpot]

I think you are just getting used to it.  I put a lot of miles on CTs and just went back to a MC tire for the fun of it.  Boy, that was a change.  It took me a good 1,000 miles to remember how to ride with a MC tire.  As soon as it wears out I'm going back to a CT.