the DarkSide of tires

[RandyO]

A thread on another forum got me thinking about something I never thought I would consider



don't laugh






putting a car tire on the back of my V-strom. Has any one run on on something other than a sidecar rig

the size of choice seems to be a 205/50 or 55 -17, yes, intended for a 7½" wheel, the V-strom wheel is only 4¼"

I know that its not something you want to go sport riding on, that's not the intent, my consideration is only winter riding, when I don't lean so much or go so fast. right now I run a studded Metzler Karoo T. and I had to do all the work of drilling the tires, shooting the studs in with a stud gun, expensive tire and 3+ hours hard work installing studs for 2500-3000 miles of riding

On the dark side, I'd run a Hakkapeliitta 5

[RandyO]

this is a General Exclaim UHP 205/55ZR-17 on the back of a V-strom

[butcher bergs]

There was at least one guy on the FJR forum that did this and faired well.

I don't remember exactly where I saw it but there was a video where some other rider mounted a camera underneath his bike and videoed the behavior of a car tire on the rear of his motorcycle. From what I recall, the video captured during the ride never really looked skectchy and the rider even reported that the bike felt fine throughout the trip.

[ilikenapalm]

YouTube- Car Tire on a Goldwing.. rightside up!

[joeswamp]

OK that contact patch is looking kinda small in the corners...

[RandyO]

I've heard of it plenty on goldwings, they have a 16"x6" wheel, stock tire is 180/60, you can get car tires in a 185/55-16, not as much difference in size as I'm talking on the Vee

[DankDirtyBird]

and you would do what with the front tire?

[RandyO]

OK that contact patch is looking kinda small in the corners...

the wing in the video above never got to any real speed, in the video link below, you can see that radial tires at speed conform the contact patch
what looks like a small patch may only be a small portion of the tire, BUT it's a HUGE tire and probably the small looking contact patch is bigger than the patch from the correct size bike tire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQtlt...layer_embedded

and you would do what with the front tire?

continue to use the same studded Karoo T I'm using in winter now

[markbvt]

A Hakka on the back of a Strom is an interesting idea. Hakkas definitely get really good traction in the snow. But I wonder if it wouldn't end up a liability given the limitations of the front tire -- seems doubtful that a studded Karoo T or equivalent would be able to develop traction matching the rear, and as a result it could end up pushing instead of steering.

I experimented with studded motorcycle tires last winter too; in my case I used studded Pirelli Scorpion Pro knobbies that I got from a guy on ADVrider. The front tire worked pretty well, but the rear was sketchy (knob placement was too sparse); something like a TKC-80 would probably work better.

On a Strom 19" front wheel, you could always run a rear knobby for a motocross bike. I've got a Kenda Southwick lying around that I've thought about spooning on the front of my Wee-Strom, but I think the knob pattern may be too sparse, like that Pirelli rear. Maybe something like an IRC VE33, Kenda Millville, or Pirelli MT-16 would work better.

There's still the pain in the ass of studding the tire to deal with, but hopefully it could be used for multiple seasons.

--mark

[RandyO]

A Hakka on the back of a Strom is an interesting idea. Hakkas definitely get really good traction in the snow. But I wonder if it wouldn't end up a liability given the limitations of the front tire -- seems doubtful that a studded Karoo T or equivalent would be able to develop traction matching the rear, and as a result it could end up pushing instead of steering.


--mark

last winter, with studded Karoo Ts front and rear, the front was planted, problem was traction at the rear wheel, might work better on the 650, I had to be very careful on the throttle with my 1000, I'm thinking the Hak 5 will be heavier and have better traction but imho doubtful it would exceed the traction of the front http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDrRieJK3aQ

[SVRACER01]

OK that contact patch is looking kinda small in the corners...

and just how big do you think the contact patch is on a m/c tire?
besides, he said it would only be for the winter so lean angle wouldnt be as great as in the summer

[RandyO]

liability given the limitations of the front tire -- seems doubtful that a studded Karoo T or equivalent would be able to develop traction matching the rear, and as

um, maybe your right
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W05Vuc5Okso

[Honclfibr]

Seems like you should be concerned about the bead, given that the tire was intended for a rim 3" wider than what you're putting it on...

[Paul_E_D]

I've read that people get surprising results from car tires, even sport riding them. But I'm just not a radical enough iconoclast to ever try it. Randy, you definitely are, so I say go for it and report back!

[gadget]

This is Triumph Rocket III thread on a forum dedicated to riding on the Darkside.

http://mcdarksiders.forumotion.com/t...-iii-t1016.htm

[Spooler]

Just don't get any of those new camber tires. You'll be going in circles.

[beet]

Last set I got I almost went DS. But got avons. Let me know Randy, if you like um I may just try.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/DarkSiding

[beet]

They put rears on the front, just spin um the other way.

[RandyO]

Last set I got I almost went DS. But got avons. Let me know Randy, if you like um I may just try.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/DarkSiding

tx for that link, the studded Karoo Ts I took off last spring still have another winter season on them, (or at least part of one) so it will be a while before I try one out

[Cliff]

Good comparison,, same motorcycle >> one video using MC tire the other video using car tire...

YouTube- Valkyrie MC Tire

YouTube- VALKYRIE DARKSIDE VIDEO

There is a rider (Smokin Joe) who can frequents US129 Deals Gap using a car tire on the rear of his Valkyrie and rides hard and fast with no problems.

[RandyO]

I'd like to here more about bikes with skinny 17" x 4¼" instead of cruisers with wider 15" and 16" rims

there isn't any selection of skinny car tires in 17" sizes the 205/50-17 is close to the same diameter of the oem 150/70-17, actually 5mm less but stock size varies that much in diameter depending on what kind of tire you get

my biggest concern is spooning a 205 (intended for 7½'wheel) on a 4¼' wheel

if I could get a 17" in a 165 or 175 I'd prefer it, Hak 5s only come in that size for smaller 15", 14", 13" wheels

if I wanted to run a summer, I could get a 195/45 Yokohama, but that would be 34mm less in diameter, I'd have to take my lowering links out and put the stock dogbones back in

[CBR929RE]

I see in the videos they work just fine but I can't wrap my head around the grip level. my mind wants to say it'd be a ton less because even good sport car tires are meant to last like 20k miles right? that's high mileage bike tire range. but it doesn't seem like these guys are putting on high performance car tires. my brain just doesn't want to believe it works that well even after watching it.

[Currently]

Gold Wing riders have been doing it for years.

There used to be a forum that was called GL1800 dot com but it does not come up anymore.

Did find this one ... http://mcdarksiders.forumotion.com/

[Cliff]

Good write up.

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/CarTire/home.htm

[beet]

I run a 6" & they say to use the same tire Randy. 30K out of a rear on my bike.