qustion for dark siders

[rainman]

I have seen where some of you guy's say pick a tire that matches the tread on the front tire so you will not get the wiggles.  the qustion is????? how will the general altmax tire match with 880 that is on the front of my bike? and will it give the wiggles. going to have do something real fast I found a screw in the rear tire today.

[Bob E.]

I wasn't concerned about the tread type of the front tire.  I jsut chose based on what I read here and on VOAI board.  And the General Altimax and the Goodyear Triple Tread seemed to be the most popular.  I liked the looks of the Altimax better as it looked like a more high performance tire, so I chose that.  And the fact that it was about $40 cheaper didn't hurt either.  I'm running an Avon Cobra on the front now.  I just installed the General Altimax on my bike last week and, so far, I like it.  I'm running 32psi and it feels pretty good.

[Grandpot]

Tire technology is a very technical field.  I don't think we have any engineers on this board that specialize in tires, so the opinions you get are just going to be good intentioned opions.

Here's my opinion:

1. Get a tire that has a symetrical tread.  What is mean is the left side of the tread should be a mirror image of the right side, some tires aren't like that.

2. Adjust the air pressure until it is right for you.  With my bike and tire, I run 40 PSI.  You'll see anywhere from 32 - 45 PSI posted on the board.

That's my opinion.

[DFragn]

I have seen where some of you guy's say pick a tire that matches the tread on the front tire so you will not get the wiggles.

I think [matching] that's pretty well unfounded and only heralded by few.

I believe the only "worst" possible CT tread pattern would be one having more then just a few lateral treads. Ct's with 4 or more lateral full treads would have a greater tendency to track rain-grooved (parallel) pavement than 2 or less. JMO
My experience is a flatter/broader tire, like a car tire, always fights to stand up and is more prone to need rider corrections with more irregular pavement surfaces then a MC tire. But, even MC tires need corrections too. Just not as many.

Buy what ya like.

I've only spent a reasonable amount of time on a GoodYear Assurance TripleTred. I've changed it out three times (while diagnosing handling issues) with an MC tire and am now not reluctant to leave it in play.

[fudgie]

I never matched my front. I went with what looked good. Wanted a cool looking tread pattern. I used the Hankook K-106. Seems to work great with the ME 880 front. My 200 Metz would slightly 'wiggle' on the road grooves where they tore up the asphalt. Got on some Sat and it was alot more stable then the 200.

[Tundra]

Fudgie, That's a nice looking tread design. I'm running the triple tread and like it. This tread design looks meaner. I looked it up on their web-site and can't find it. How long ago did you get yours?
Is it a 205-60-16? Or the 55?
Thx

[fudgie]

Fudgie, That's a nice looking tread design. I'm running the triple tread and like it. This tread design looks meaner. I looked it up on their web-site and can't find it. How long ago did you get yours?
Is it a 205-60-16? Or the 55?
Thx

Thx. I like it cause it can lay rubber accross the intersection without all the noise! It is a 55 but shoulda got the 60. I thought since I'm short the 55 would be better. Pfft, no change. RPM's are a slight higher. Got mine at the end of Feb, here local. He had to order it tho. He just became a Hankook dealer. $70. I see some on e-bay. But some local tire dealers might be able to get to you. If not let me know I can get it local for you. Crazyhorse from Tn has the same tire also.

[Tundra]

Thanks Fudgie, I like it and Hankook has good reviews. I've got to wear out my new triple tread first. If I could find it in a 60 series, I'll try it.

[dipstick]

I'm running a Goodyear assurance triple tread with an Avon Venom at first and now the new Avon Cobra on the front with no wiggles. I will never go back to an MC rear on my Valk.

[Beast03]

I am running the General and a dunlop 440 and I love it. I have no wiggles and I don't even feel the grooves in the road.

[Ken Tarver]

just get a symmetrical tire

[Valkman in Jax]

Yo, Fudgie:  I love the look of your Hankook rear tire.   Could you please provide the exact Model number, and all the specs?   What should one of those babies cost me?     I'm gonna look around locally here in Jacksonville,FL and see if I can find one.   Thanx.    BTW,  is there anyone out there who could tell me where I gotta  go  here in  Jax in order to find someone who will mount the CT on the MC wheel ?      I'm a newbie on the VRCC website.    Is there anyone from the Jacksonville area on this forum?        Thanks for your help.

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

Yo, Fudgie:  I love the look of your Hankook rear tire.   Could you please provide the exact Model number, and all the specs?   What should one of those babies cost me?     I'm gonna look around locally here in Jacksonville,FL and see if I can find one.   Thanx.    BTW,  is there anyone out there who could tell me where I gotta  go  here in  Jax in order to find someone who will mount the CT on the MC wheel ?      I'm a newbie on the VRCC website.    Is there anyone from the Jacksonville area on this forum?        Thanks for your help.

I run the Yokohama Advan A048.  Also a pretty nice tire and I love the tread pattern and rounded edges.

[mikeb]

that is a cool looking tire
heres mine

[fudgie]

Yo, Fudgie:  I love the look of your Hankook rear tire.   Could you please provide the exact Model number, and all the specs?   What should one of those babies cost me?     I'm gonna look around locally here in Jacksonville,FL and see if I can find one.   Thanx.    BTW,  is there anyone out there who could tell me where I gotta  go  here in  Jax in order to find someone who will mount the CT on the MC wheel ?      I'm a newbie on the VRCC website.    Is there anyone from the Jacksonville area on this forum?        Thanks for your help.

Yes, its a Hankook K-106. Its a 205-55-r16. Next time I will got with the 60 series instead of a 55. It lowered my RPM's some. Do the nut cage mod since your in there. Your on your own with the specs, just web search the tire. $70 is what I paid local. I had a independant HD shop mount it for $40. He said it was a pita to mount, to soft he said. To mount one, try and find a custom bike or independent shop. Tire is great. The contact area that hits the road is only 4 1/2" wide. Compared to my old 200 Metz, 3". So its a little round.

[Valkman in Jax]

Thank you for the response regarding the Hankook  K-106.  BTW:  When I asked for infomation regarding the "specs", I was only asking for the exact size.  Thanks again.

[eric in md]

triple tread i love it with a cobra on front best set i ever had..

[JamminJohn1]

Have any of you tried a rear MC tire on the front with your Darkside rear ?

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=224&osCsid=9a631a469f31fc30b44cf7a9c3192177

Any of these ?

                                  JJ

[Dag]

I run the Yokohama Advan A048.  Also a pretty nice tire and I love the tread pattern and rounded edges.

I have more than 10K miles on the General Altimax now.
One problem with this tire is that its rubbing against the drive shaft. I thought it would be just a transient problem, but its still rubbing. I had to take the tire off, because the right sidewall is quite thin now.

It handles good except at low speed and sharp turns (such as roundabouts) and at high speed (100 mph +) with slow lateral movements.

I mounted the MC tire this week.... I nearly fell over at the first turn  
Actually, it felt good. Much easyer handling on the narrow winding roads we have here.

New CT will be mounted before my next looong ride, but I will try another brand. The Yokohama Advan looks good, but the manufacturer sayes "NOT recommended for wet road"  ....so I have to figure out what to try.

[Jess from VA]

Dag, It may be that you need the fender washer mod.  Based on individual build, a few bikes rub a 205 60 (which is reportedly .2" narrower than a 205 55), though most do not and only need the nut cage mod.

Read down to fender washer mod.  
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/cartirenutcages.htm

http://rides.webshots.com/slideshow/558419637qsIyod

[Dag]

Dag, It may be that you need the fender washer mod.  Based on individual build, a few bikes rub a 205 60 (which is reportedly .2" narrower than a 205 55), though most do not and only need the nut cage mod.

Read down to fender washer mod.  
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/cartirenutcages.htm

http://rides.webshots.com/slideshow/558419637qsIyod

I did the nut cage mod three years ago. The tire is rubbing against the drive shaft with the 205/55/16 Altimax tire.

[Bob E.]

Yep...mine is doing the same thing.  But it is rubbing so lightly that I've been riding it as-is.  But before the CBR trip, I'm going to take it off and try and put a little dent in the swingarm with a hammer to gain a little clearance because I'm starting to see a light rub mark all around the tire, which is enough to make me worry about it on a long trip.

[fudgie]

I think a sligt rub would be ok. When I 1st went to a 200 Metz I didn't do the nut cage removal. With but of us on it rubbed all. Smoking! After the removal there was a 1/4" wide wore down area of the tire. It took the little ridge off the tire. Was this way for 15,000 miles w/o problems. It'll eventually wear down so it won't rub, esp if its a slight rub. Maybe move the shocks up a notch to help with any bounce.