Austone Taxi Tire - Initial Impressions

[PAVALKER]

Woo Hoo.... got out for a test ride today, 47 degree temps, snow still melting but roads fairly dry... and of course some salt... but the bike needs a bath anyhow. Put about 25 miles on the new rear tire. Went to Subway for lunch and then out and about for a road test. Did the low speed handling test in the school parking lot. Tested it in the ruts, tar strips and pavement joint test on the Pike and the triple digit test on the Parkway.  Oh and a switch back test on the return Parkway on ramp. 40psi front and 35psi in the new Austone on the rear. Shock setting 4, didn't even add tire balancer yet. No rubs, vibrations or other issues noted. Smooth ride, good traction and handling so far. Did notice lower engine RPM on the highway than with stock shorter tire. Came back to give the bike a wash and wax. Look forward to wringing this tire out in the spring..... and hope I get better mileage.

I did not notice any traits of the previous Darkside CT (short wide profile) over this one.  Handled pretty much just like a new bike tire.  The ride was smooth and I think the tire was taking the slack of bumping up the shocks to 4.... no rubs or issues.  I think we may have a keeper.... mileage will tell.

Initially very pleased.   I don't anticipate any rubbing due to bottom out, but I cleared and secured most of the wiring under the fender anyhow.  Hopefully the wear and mileage is much better than the last bike tire I took off at approx 5k miles.

[Hoser]

Which size did you get?  Hoser  ???

[PAVALKER]

Which size did you get?  Hoser  ???

175R16 Austone.    

https://www.universaltire.com/dunlop-tires/dunlop-radial-tires/175r16-austone-taxi-black.html

[csj]

I don't anticipate any rubbing due to bottom out

I've got a 205 65 16, and I hit a very recessed man hole cover,
the tire ripped the entire harness to shreds.

Best watch out for this.

[PAVALKER]

I don't anticipate any rubbing due to bottom out

I've got a 205 65 16, and I hit a very recessed man hole cover,
the tire ripped the entire harness to shreds.

Best watch out for this.

What do you mean entire harness??  It's only rear lights.   It should have bumped the rear tail light bump I would imagine.   I went over a small curb getting out of and into my driveway and intentionally aimed for road irregularities to see how it would respond.

[old2soon]

PAVALKER What tire are you running on the front? I'm on my 2nd Shinko S E 890. Got out for 177 miles today. My new ones are pretty well scuffed in now at aprrox 1200 miles.  RIDE SAFE.

[PAVALKER]

PAVALKER What tire are you running on the front? I'm on my 2nd Shinko S E 890. Got out for 177 miles today. My new ones are pretty well scuffed in now at aprrox 1200 miles.   RIDE SAFE.

Right now I have about 1/2 or less of a Metz ME880 (got about 6700 miles on it).  The rear Metz ME880 gave up before 5k on it.   I do have a spare set (front/rear) of Shinko SE890's mounted on spare wheels and will use that Shinko when the front Metz ME880 calls it quits.

And how many miles did you get out of those Shinko tires??

[csj]

What do you mean entire harness??  It's only rear lights.

It was both signals, brake light, and plate light. Had to find a way to bypass
the damage with my own external harness from behind the right side cover.

[PAVALKER]

What do you mean entire harness??  It's only rear lights.

It was both signals, brake light, and plate light. Had to find a way to bypass
the damage with my own external harness from behind the right side cover.

You had a wider tire that would rub the inner fender I believe (it did on the previous tire I tried).  This one is the same width as the Metz ME880 that I took off but an inch (max) I believe taller from the worn tire it replaced.  I did secure the wires under the metal run on the fender and the trailer lights are not in the way either now I don't believe.  

Where did it hit or rub that it grabbed the wires ??   Also how much of a load (solo or 2up) what shocks you running and what setting? 

[old2soon]

The first Shinko just missed 14000 miles. The rear D/S was a Falken Ziex 512 that just missed 24000 miles. Have a Nexen 5000 in 205-65-16 on the rear now. Had them in the twistys today and they handled the curves rather smartly.  I was figurin out how many tires I've been thru in 50000+ miles of riding. Including the E-3s that came on the bike 4 rears and 5 fronts. Small price to pay for the smiles this Ghurl generates.  RIDE SAFE.

[R J]

The first Shinko just missed 14000 miles. The rear D/S was a Falken Ziex 512 that just missed 24000 miles. Have a Nexen 5000 in 205-65-16 on the rear now. Had them in the twistys today and they handled the curves rather smartly.  I was figurin out how many tires I've been thru in 50000+ miles of riding. Including the E-3s that came on the bike 4 rears and 5 fronts. Small price to pay for the smiles this Ghurl generates.  RIDE SAFE.

Hey old one, I'd hate to try and figure out how many tires I went through in the 243K+ he has now.   I know it was a bunch.

[csj]

Where did it hit or rub that it grabbed the wires ??   Also how much of a load (solo or 2up) what shocks you running and what setting?

I haven't been able to get the rear fender off, one of the nuts has somehow been spinning
in its space, cannot get a wrench on it, so don't know exactly where the rub was. Had to reach
up from below and blind cut the torn-up harness away.

Me and my lady ride on this valk, but it was solo when the damage happened.
I'm running original oem shocks on level 5. They're worn out, bottoming is happening.
I'm 220 lbs.

Yes I'm running a wider tire, but I'm thinking that the narrower taxi tire will reach up
to the harness more easily.

[Earl43P]

You will need to adjust your headlight aim.

My 205/60-16 made the low beam too low.
I can imagine the taller Austone will be even worse.

[PAVALKER]

Where did it hit or rub that it grabbed the wires ??   Also how much of a load (solo or 2up) what shocks you running and what setting?

I haven't been able to get the rear fender off, one of the nuts has somehow been spinning
in its space, cannot get a wrench on it, so don't know exactly where the rub was. Had to reach
up from below and blind cut the torn-up harness away.

Me and my lady ride on this valk, but it was solo when the damage happened.
I'm running original oem shocks on level 5. They're worn out, bottoming is happening.
I'm 220 lbs.

Yes I'm running a wider tire, but I'm thinking that the narrower taxi tire will reach up
to the harness more easily.

I didn't have to take fender off to move/secure the wires.  I dropped the rear wheel by removing the rear shock bolts and that let me have plenty of room under the fender when I raised the bike.    It maybe possible I guess for the narrower/taller tire to reach up there.... time will tell.  I have not bottomed out and I'm 220.  Maybe my I/S shocks are firmer.

You will need to adjust your headlight aim.

My 205/60-16 made the low beam too low.
I can imagine the taller Austone will be even worse.

I will have to keep an eye on that.   I noticed about an inch overall difference in height from the worn out Metzler to the NEW Austone, but it would be only a half inch difference on the bottom not an inch since the other half inch is up in the fender and has no impact on the actual height of the bike.

The little I rode on it yesterday during the brief break in the weather surely wasn't enough to give it an overall evaluation.... but I did aim for pot holes and made it a point to weave over ruts, tar strips and concrete or pavement seams.  There will be more time needed to evaluate it obviously... especially in mileage.  It could be the cold temps didn't let the suspension flex sufficiently but I am anxious to get many miles on this and evaluate it.

Interested in hearing others observations in their use of this tire, or other similar tires.

[custom1]

Pa, Do you have any pics of this tire mounted? The pics in the link make it look very skinny. How does it look on the bike? I will be needing a rear tire soon and am leaning toward this tire.

[Hoser]

Looks to me it is the closest to a mc tire that you can get in a car tire.  To me that's a good thing.  To each his own.  Hoser 

[R J]

Before MGM was converted, I ran a Good Year Triple Tread at 36#.

Was a nice tire to ride.

I heard people say it followed snakes (tar filler) and every crack in the road.

Car tires are just like grated bridge floors.

Oh, it jerks me all over hell and I'm scared shitless.

Car tires and grated bridges are alike.

Ease up on the handle bar grip and either one will give ya a nice ride....

As Forrest Gump would say, 'That's all I got to say on this.'

[PAVALKER]

Pa, Do you have any pics of this tire mounted? The pics in the link make it look very skinny. How does it look on the bike? I will be needing a rear tire soon and am leaning toward this tire.

Same width as the Metz ME880 I took off to put this one.  Taller, but same width.   Photo from FB page hope it shows for ya.

[Brian]

The overall width between the taxi tire and an E3 is less than one inch. I guess it depends on the weight of the riders and bags compared to the shock height and condition of the shocks as to whether this tire rubs anything. Local Goldwing Riders are starting to use this tire now too.

[Ken Tarver]

how stiff is the sidewall on the Austone tire?
And where is it made?


Ken

[PAVALKER]

how stiff is the sidewall on the Austone tire?
And where is it made?


Ken

The ad on the tire says 6 Ply and that was a concern for me initially.  However, it's really 6 ply total, with 2 steel belts and 2 poly belts in the tread and 2 poly belts in the sidewall.   It was much more flexible on the sidewall than a MC tire and went on easy, seated quick.

https://www.universaltire.com/dunlop-tires/dunlop-radial-tires/175r16-austone-taxi-black.html

[Ken Tarver]

PAVALKER, ok, thanks, been wondering about that sidewall. The austone doesn't sound like what I want if the sidewall isn't stiff. I'm wanting a stiff sidewall like my GY TT, but with more rounded shoulders.

Ken

[PAVALKER]

PAVALKER, ok, thanks, been wondering about that sidewall. The austone doesn't sound like what I want if the sidewall isn't stiff. I'm wanting a stiff sidewall like my GY TT, but with more rounded shoulders.

Ken

Oddly I was thinking that is what I wanted as well, and I still might.... I have not given this tire it's proper testing (but others have it seems).  I do like the way this tire handles in the little time I rode it... I tried to get it to give me the same bad performance I experienced with the first CT I tried (a Hankook), but it feels quite nice actually.  I am really looking forward to running this tire this year and see how it works out.

Curious why you think you want a stiff sidewall??

[Farther]

Don't run-flat tires have stiffer sidewalls?

[Ken Tarver]

I haven't found a run flat in a 205/60-16; anyone know of such a thing?

[Fastera]

I was looking to go to the dark side with the Austone but could not find one.  I went to Costco and checked out all their 205/60/16s.  The Michelin was to stiff as was the Dunlop, but then I came across the Bridgestone Ecopia. It has a fairly soft sidewall and was easily compressed when tilted at a 30 degree angle.  They installed it as well.  I set up a manual balance with a Steal rod and two jack stands.  Two hours later I test road the bike for the first time.  It does take some effort at slow maneuverability, but it sure makes up for it above 20 mph.  I drag race this bike at Irwindale, so I can't wait to try out the new tire.

[lacon]

Good to hear that report. 
I've got one ready & waiting in the garage for the weather to warm up a bit.  I have to work with the garage door open because of lack of space.
As far as I know, Universal Tire is the only place to buy these.

[jdp]

I have to replace my rear tire once a year so I tried every car tire that everyone said to try and didn't like any of them the slow speed thing really bothered me but I rode a guys Valkyrie I met in Florida a couple of weeks ago and he was running that austone taxi tire and man did it handle nice,just as good as a motorcycle tire so I think I will go with it,try it on my west coast trip anyway