Changed back to a Motorcycle tire

[pancho]

Well, after a couple of thousand miles on the Vredestein car tire, getting completely used to it so I could not remember what the bike tire felt like, I decided to switch back to check it out.

I only have about a hundred miles on the old worn Dunlap, but I saw the significant difference pretty quickly. The car tire almost seems a chore to ride compared to the bike tire,, not that the car tire is a PROBLEM,,, but it is a bit if work around town. To me the bike tire is "easier", and makes me feel a bit more in control of the bike. I had settled on 37 pounds of pressure in the Vredestein at the suggestion of another board member, and that had provided the best all around handling on the tire for me.

Anyhow,, I may use the car tire again (for mileage reasons), but I think I will stick to a MC tire for the type of riding I generally do. I wonder, do some of the other car tires give different experiences?

[TJ]

Yes , not all tires are the same...  Try a Michelin Primacy Alpine P A 3 ZP   
or  a
Kumho ECSTA SPT XRP
These are both run flat tires an do make a big difference ...

[TJ]

Kuhmo

[2qmedic]

1st CT was a GGTT.
2nd CT is a Vredestine Sportrac 3.
Night and day between the two CT's. (the Vredestine is better, hands down) 
Yes, the MT is more nimble than the Vredestine. But... the benefits out weigh the cons for me.
-with the stopping power,
-the increased traction in the rain, (no skittish feeling anymore)
-the increased traction in a turn, (I could break loose the MC tire anytime, not so on the Vredestine),
I'll stay with the CT.
Cheers  

 

[N8171S]

Try the Austone taxi tire and you will think it is a bike tire.  I have used many bike tires and a Bridgestone Car tire  which went 37,000 miles.  The Austone is the best ever.  It is a bit taller so better mileage and lower RPMs   I have the taxi on one valk & Metzler on the other  When the metz wears out both will have taxi tires.

[2qmedic]

What size ?

[Valkorado]

Try the Austone taxi tire and you will think it is a bike tire.  The Austone is the best ever.

Yup.

[Pappy!]

Another Vredestein fan here. Night and day diff between this tire and the Toyo Proxes I removed.
This tire is almost effortless. Just the opposite of what you describe. Oh, I have another Valk right beside it with a MC on it for reference.

[gordonv]

The Austone only has one size.

175/16R

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

[MarkT]

I'm running a Vredestein.  Really like it.  They don't make this one anymore. 

[JC]

LOVE my Austone Taxi tire.........

[Highbinder]

I did the same thing years ago, rode a car tire for 3 years and finally got tired of the poor slow speed handling, went back to a M/C tire and thought someone gave me a new motorcycle....8 years later I decided to give the Austone tire a try, I believe it comes in a 195/16 and the 175/16, I went with the 175 because its a little narrower but still gives you about 5 inches of rubber on the road....I can hardly tell the difference with it from the M/C tire...handles well in the rain and mountain curves...I paid $152 for it and expect to get 20-25 thousand miles out of it....needless to say, I recommend it.

[art]

After 130000 miles on a ct I went back to an Avon three month later I lost traction on a frosty road and went down. That was the end of my motorcycling. Sold my Valk three month later. Do I blame the mc tire? Yes. I don't think I would have lost traction with the ct and that is from experience and lot of it.

[pancho]

Sorry to hear that story art,,, but you did say "frosty road" ,,,   not the best motorcycling conditions.

[Farther]

That was the end of my motorcycling. Sold my Valk three month later.

Hey Art, we met in front of the Medford Honda dealer a few months back.  Sorry to hear of your accident and I hope you didn't sustain any long term injuries. 

[trussellcma]

I put 18k on a car tire. I did not mind it, but when I put a mc tire back on I was so pleased with the improvement in handling I dont think Ill go back to the darkside. I didnt mind it at the time, it was not until I switched back that i realized how much better my bike handled with a mc tire.

[fantsybikr]

The tire you have pictured is definitely a beast of a tire for a mc. Looks a lot like a Goodyear triple tred  which I have over 20 k on my standard. There are surely better choices that give you a better "feel" on a mc. I have a Faulken Ziex ZE512 on my IS  and like the ride a bit better. I credit it for saving us from a crash with a deer.  I am Darkside forever, but I am firm believer in "to each their own"  Good Riding to ya

[big poppa pump]

I'm running a Vredestein.  Really like it.  They don't make this one anymore. 

Is that the sportrac 2?

[MarkT]

I'm running a Vredestein.  Really like it.  They don't make this one anymore.  

Is that the sportrac 2?

No.  it's the Snowtrac 3.  Production ended in 2012 per my research.  I'll have to pick another when I wear this one out.  BTW it says "made in Russia" on it.  I thought it was a Dutch tire. Oh well.  Handles well for a CT, great traction, looks good.

[mike72903]

"but it is a bit if work around town"  WTH Pancho, Bonanza is only two blocks big so what's the issue?    I'm just starting my first new rear tire install. Waiting for some things from Partszilla for the rear end maintenance which will also be a first attempt  Almost went for a Austone but with my inexperience decided a true mc tire would be best for me.  I just met another Valk rider here in Fort Smith (passed me going the other way, I did a u turn)  His name is Winston Turpin.  There is at least one other in FS, Scott Barkley that manages Goodman Distributors out on Zero St.
Mike

[fudgie]

Sport trac 3 fan here also. I had a Hankook K-106 and I think I liked it better then the VST3 but its also discontinued hence the vst3.

[pancho]

I've decided on a set of Avon Cobras for this tire change,, I'll be ordering them soon. When I pull the rear wheel, I am going to put the Vredestein back on for a couple of days just to check it out again,  I want to see if it really feels as clunky as I think compared to a MC tire.    I'll report my impressions again when I do.    

Good luck with your project there CI_borg.

[cookiedough]

No experience with car tires on the Valk, but isn't 37psi on any car tire on the Valk too much?  Would think in the 20-30 psi range would be best?

[fudgie]

No experience with car tires on the Valk, but isn't 37psi on any car tire on the Valk too much?  Would think in the 20-30 psi range would be best?

Gets to squishy for me. Be like putting 20-30 psi in a bike tire. I think the Sport trac is 44 max. Mines 38-40 psi.

[weeder]

A $40.00 car tire (darkside )  verses a $190.00 bike tire  with 600% more side wall and 300% more treadware strength.


DUMB--- YA   BIGSHOT --- YOU   

[fudgie]

A $40.00 car tire (darkside )  verses a $190.00 bike tire  with 600% more side wall and 300% more treadware strength.


DUMB--- YA   BIGSHOT --- YOU   

My CT was $180 

[pancho]

A $40.00 car tire (darkside )  verses a $190.00 bike tire  with 600% more side wall and 300% more treadware strength.


DUMB--- YA   BIGSHOT --- YOU   

Hey weeder,   what kind of tire did you get?? wondering how it is working for you on the road'