Sa-WEET!

[j2x]

Thanks, Taz for giving us folks a proper home!  Hopefully it's flame-resistant.  ;)

I'll start with a fairly non-controversial question: a guy I know has a Yamaha 1100 Classic with a stock tire size of 170/80/15 and he wants to try a car tire.  What size tire should he get?  I'm not really sure of the logic that goes into picking a size, besides trial and error.  I mean, my Valk's standard size is 180/70/16 and I run a 205/60/16 Goodyear Advantage.

Any help would be appreciated.

[TAZ]

My brother and a few others in our local riding group have changed over to the Dark Side over the last couple of years.  All seem to like the car tire on the back.  Most had to shave off one of the bolts or nuts alittle bit so it did not rub but other than that no other real issues.  I know it has been brought up here before so there is something out there on it I believe.  Or you can go to the Fox Valley Valk site and pose any questions as well.  I know guys on this board have done it so in either place you should find something.

Their site is    www.foxvalk.com

Myself, I like my AVONS and will stick with them, have had good luck with them except for a big ole nail one time.  Heck even my original Dunlops got around 14K on them before I replaced them.  Alot of times in depends on your driving, how the roads are made that you ride on most and if your a flatlander or not.  We live in flatlandville so we have to get up North to Wisconsin to round our out once in awhile which is just fine with me.

Good Luck!

[j2x]

Ha!  I had a pair of Dunlop somethinorothers on the valk when i got her.  The guy who sold me the bike said that the tires were nearly new (whatever that means), but I wore the back out within 6k miles.  It wasn't bald, but it was within 800 miles, my mechanic said.  There is very little flatland out here in the PacNW, especially since I hardly touch the biggest strip of it (I-5).  But, I do ride pretty aggressively- especially out in the coast range- so I wanted some tires with more life to them that would also work well in gravel, dirt, and sand in all sorts of weather (love the NW!).  The Goodyear is treating me really well, though I have heard most folks over at GL1800 darkside forum prefer the runflats- and I swear I never anything about that from David Meyers (the LifeisaRoad guy). 

Also, what are these "bias ply" tires that I hear about? 

I'm still running an Avon Venom up front, what do you think I should put up there after it wears out?

[Challenger]

j2x: The reason I went with the 205-60R-16 was I could not find any 180 or 195 car tires in a speed rated radial. since my standard sees tripple digit speeds every once in awhile, I wanted an H or above rating

[Fla. Jim]

Here's what I am running...Am going darkside next rear.  Currently running E-3 on rear.

K491 Elite II rear tire on front report

Posted By: Fla. Jim
Date: 8/10/2007 at 06:10:11

Well, at the sedate amount of miles I am currently driving it may be awhile for the wear report.(only 800 miles) The last K491 Elite II Rear MT90B17, front lasted 30k with dismal air pressure most of the time on my 98 standard.(I ride a 97 tourer now with a better front tire casting) I am just overwhelmed with just what a great front tire this is!! The grip is simply pheonominal, And the handling is the best I have ever had on my current ride or my previous one, using the original Dunlop 206 and the Avon Venom. It rides/cushins better due to 10/32's of tread and goes thru corners (such as we have here) at speed as if on rails! The last time I ran this tire on the front(2000-2003?), I ran the first 3500 miles or so with the direction arrow going the normal direction. I also was doing some fast cornering and severe braking to the point of locking it up for testing. But if this tire is an indicator...that may somewhat have impacted the ride. I found out at that time, when using a rear tire on the front, due to the severe braking forces of the front, you could cause delamination. You need to turn the rotation backwards. This tire from day one after the original finish wore off, has simply impressed me more and more with each ride. Unlike the last two Avon Venom's I wore out, there is no head shake at around 35 mph. (on two different Valks. Oh did I mention the grip? There is simply no comparison to the other tires I have run...With almost impunity I am able to ride in the wet and the loose. In situations that would have sent fear thru my being with the Avon's I confidently just motor on thru...Simply amazing. I am able to go from pavement to sandy soil with impunity...seems to track almost as well in the dirt as the asphalt. What else can I say? This is just a great front tire,for this particular bike. Great handling and wear...No downside I can see. I would love to get to the mountains to try this baby out!

[art708]

How does the width compare to the standard 150 front tire....wider or narrower?

[Cycho]

 
  Should be a little narrower and a little shorter, equivalent to a 130/90-17 I think.  Same tire is on the front of my bride's trike.  Speedometer runs a little fast.

Dan

[Pistolchamp]

Hey, J2X, address Mr. Meyers as "Daniel" (that's his name not David) and he'll probably chime in and offer his advice which will be great as he has over 100,000 miles on his dragon... much of it on a car tire.