Austone taxi tire

[robin]

Who runs it and the pro's and con's

[Bighead]

go to the tech board there has been discussion after discussion on this.

[Highbinder]

Robin, I switched to the Austone last year....I went with the R16-175 rather than the 195...it gave me more clearance in the swing arm and I figured going narrower would be more like a Oem tire...I tried it for about 2 mos. on all different types of road, gravel, open hwy, and curvy mt. roads and in driving rain...It handled well and stuck to the roads just fine...my beef with car tires was the slow speed handling but with this tire I had no problems....now all three of my bikes are running this tire...can't say what the mileage going to be yet, but according to Skinhead it should be in the 20 thousands somewhere...worth the money in my opinion....

It does pick the back  of the bike up about 1 inch which didn't bother me, but looked kinda ugly from behind, added a mud flap with a chrome plate on it and looks good now....

[Skyhawk]

I can't say enough about this tire. Positive that is.  Rpm turn about 200 slower, handling is great like highbinder I have been on all types of road conditions, except snow.  When it gets warmer your welcome to try it out on my bike

[Rams]

I agree with everything positive previously said about this tire.    When this one is worn out, it will be replaced with another Austone Taxi Tire.   

[Whooray]

Robin, just got mine delivered today. I have ridden a Valk with the Austone and really liked the feel.
I have heard nothing but positive comments from those that have them. See you at Inzane. 
                                                                     Raymond

[Valkorado]

I'm also (twice) sold on the Austone Taxi tire.

[Atl-Jerry]

I put on my first CT about 10 or 11 years ago, a Good Year Triple Tread.  Ig wasn't jest annoying at low speeds, it was unsafe.  I ran it about a year and put 20K miles on it, replaced it with another Avon.  Ran only MC tires on both IS's until about 2 years ago and decided to try the Austone.  It performs like a MC tire and that's all I plan to buy going forward.

[Raider]

I weigh about 240.  With the shocks on the highest setting, I can still bottom out and get a very light scrub when two up and I hit a big bump.  Otherwise, no problems.

Love the handling.  Love the comfort.  Love the drop in RMP.  Love the cost.

I'll buy again.

[Grumpy]

Been running one for several years, on an Interstate, now a tourer. 21,000 miles on it, and damm I can tell if it has wore much at all. Love the handling and the ride, will buy another if I ever wear it out.

[pago cruiser]

Not to hijack your thread, but thanks for this topic guys.

I just picked up a 99 IS, with a BF Goodrich Super Sport, 205-55.  I had never tried a car tire on a solo bike, though I have them on a hack without issues.

While the BF is great going down the freeway in a straight line, low speed corners are a literal chore... and mid speed corners (35-50) with bumps in the middle are...un-nerving.  

Based upon a couple posters comments, think I'll try the Austone 175 on the Valk.

I read somewhere that the Austone is a an H rated tire - 99mph.   I assume that's a limit based upon the load?  And the bike loading would be maybe half that in a car.  It's not like I need a faster rating often... but out here in the west there are still deserted paved roads in areas where you can see 30 miles without a tree or shrub to hide livestock, wild life, or those fine folks with radar...
 

[Tailgate Tommy]

I picked one up when they had the free shipping sale. Can't wait for the Metz that's on my IS to wear out!

[Hook#3287]

Been riding one for about 15K, still looks new and I feel it's the best rear tire I've ever had.  With the rear D404 reversed on the front, that bike is all set for some miles.

[lacon]

Another satisfied Austone user here. 
I had a fear of "getting used to" a car tire.  Why should I have to get used to anything that I don't have to?  No reason to have been concerned - it works fine.   Also, easier to mount than the Avon was (with tire irons in my driveway).
As far as not being rated for over 99 mph, not a problem for me.  If I was prone to get up over 100 on occasion, I would have stuck with Avon.

[robin]

Thank you all for your input it is greatly appreciated on a subject that has been beaten to death.
 i will be going with the Austone for my first car tire and gonna order it today.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I just have concerns that with the taxi tire lasting so many miles that the compound is harder than Chinese arithmetic. I'll stick with the soft compound rated 280 to 320 directional pattern and change it out every 11,000 to 12,000 miles . That is still twice the mileage I was getting with a Avon M/C tire and it's time for final drive maintence at that mileage as well. If you throw the taxi tire hard into a curve will it stay under you ?

[Skinhead]

I just have concerns that with the taxi tire lasting so many miles that the compound is harder than Chinese arithmetic. I'll stick with the soft compound rated 280 to 320 directional pattern and change it out every 11,000 to 12,000 miles . That is still twice the mileage I was getting with a Avon M/C tire and it's time for final drive maintence at that mileage as well. If you throw the taxi tire hard into a curve will it stay under you ?

I don't have near the opportunity to scrape pegs that you do, but next time we're together, you should take my state for a spin and see if you can break it loose.  I have had no issues, and only rode in cold weather with it home from the FCR 2 years ago.  Wasn't scraping pegs, but no complaints.

[BobB]

Nice timing on this post.  I just took my wheels in to my independent bike shop to have a Taxi Tire mounted on the rear and a new Avon Cobra mounted on the front.  This will be my first experience with the Dark Side...

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I just have concerns that with the taxi tire lasting so many miles that the compound is harder than Chinese arithmetic. I'll stick with the soft compound rated 280 to 320 directional pattern and change it out every 11,000 to 12,000 miles . That is still twice the mileage I was getting with a Avon M/C tire and it's time for final drive maintence at that mileage as well. If you throw the taxi tire hard into a curve will it stay under you ?

I don't have near the opportunity to scrape pegs that you do, but next time we're together, you should take my state for a spin and see if you can break it loose.  I have had no issues, and only rode in cold weather with it home from the FCR 2 years ago.  Wasn't scraping pegs, but no complaints.

Thanks for the offer Joe however I don't want to see if I can crash your bike 

[Gavin_Sons]

Im with joe on this, I like softer compound and would rather change it out every 12k . The sidewalls on the taxi tire are much stiffer also. I wont ever run one but also wont bad mouth the ones that do.

[Hook#3287]

I'm going to have to check for scrape marks, but I don't believe I've had that bike over as far as Joe does in the picture.

Looks like it's the exhaust scraping.  But on a tourer or interstate, I think the bag crash bars would cause the tire to lift before the tread hold gives.

[cokebottle10]

I mounted the tire last year for a 3000 mile trip around Lake Superior. First time with a car tire. I mounted the tire and then loaded the bike for the trip and left. No testing before the trip. I now have about 4000 miles on the tire. I’m 350lb and the bike was fully loaded for the trip. I started out with about 35 psi. I think the tire is rated at 65psi max. I ended up with 50 psi after 3 days of playing with the pressure. The fully loaded I/S bottomed out with the shocks set on “3” I raised it to “5” and it has not bottomed out again. It does not bottom on the nut cage it touches the bottom of the fender. At the lower pressure it wanted to follow the groves in the road. At 50 psi it is not bad but still will follow them if they are deep. With my Revco center stand the tire is not completely off ground. About another 1/8 higher and it would clear. However it is stable on the stand. It was easy to mount and you don’t have to modify the fender nut cage. After removing the old tire and keeping the weights on the rim I mounted the new tire and it was in balance without having to change anything. I feel this this is a quality tire even if it is made in China.

Not much difference in handling in a parking lot, at low speed or high speed. Good feel on wet roads and in dirt, better than M/C in dirt. I feel that it does not handle as well here on the mountain roads, but that may be just me.

Things I don’t like about this tire. It wants to follow groves in road. Not as stable on mountain roads. The taller tire makes the bike ride higher (about 1 inch). I think this and the harder side wall effects the handling the most. Also the higher pressure tends to unset the bike more when I hit a bump in a turn. I still need to play with tire pressure and shock settings with the bike not fully loaded. I think I can get it better.

Things I like about this tire. It is a 6 ply tire so I feel flats will not be as big of a problem. Because the tire has a bigger contact patch I feel the braking is better than an M/C. For the most part it handles like a M/C tire. After 4000 miles I don’t see any wear on it. In fact it still has nubs in the threads.

Bottom line is that I don’t think I will replace this tire with another Austone tire. However I will try another car tire. If I lived out west or still down in FL I would love this tire. But I live and ride around Asheville NC. So most of my riding is in the mountains.

Thanks, David in Fletcher NC