Another on joins "THE DARK SIDE"

[Nogrey]

A few weeks ago my wife and I were riding on a nice, sunny Sunday afternoon when "BOOM!" my rear tire blew out! This was a nearly brand new Avon with all of 3K miles on it. Tread still looked great. I had been running it at 40 PSI and it was still cool when this happened. Fortunately I was able to coax the bike to the side of the road and there were no injuries. I removed the rear wheel and took it over to my brothers shop where he has a tire machine (he owns a tire shop). We removed the tire and examined it closely. Just a blowout from some road hazard is about all I can say, but I was surprised at how "paper thin" the tire was. It was probably normal, but I'm used to looking at car tires.
I began studying the "Darkside" forum and other forums where folks have mounted car tires on their bikes. I decided to try one. Today my brother brought me a general altimax hp 205 60 16 and we mounted it. After balancing it & inflating to 32PSI I took her for a 100 mile spin. Yes, it takes a little getting used to but for the most part here's what I noticed:
1) It's a little more difficult at very low speeds (under 10mph) as the bike wants to stand up straight.
2) The ride was a great deal smoother and more comfortable at speed.
3) In the curvy's I felt more confident as the tire feels like it "bites" the road better than the Avon did.
4) This may be a perception, but I feel like there's more protection under me from road hazards. There's just more "meat" there.

So far, a very favorable impression. My brother seemed to think I was running it a bit soft and suggested a higher pressure of around 37lbs. By the way, he road it as well and said he really liked it.

What pressures do you put in your rear car tire and why?
Do you adjust the pressure if you know you're taking on a passenger?
Thanks to all of you who have provide such a wealth of information in the Darkside forum.

[timk519]

If the tire's trying to "stand up", chances are it's a bit over-inflated. However, if you've only got 100 miles on it, it's probably not completely broken in yet so give it a bit more time for the sidewalls to soften up a little.

I try to keep my tire below 34 psi *hot*, as above that pressure I'll get the stand-up behavior in corners, etc. My cold pressure's ~30-32 psi (lower if it's cold out). I run a michelin primacy "V" rated tire.

[MP]

I run 28# sole, and 32# two up.  Valker is about #26#.
MP

[dennisraz]

I run 50 psi.
I like the stiffer,harder ride.
I may try a z rated tire with a stiffer sidewall next tire change.

[honda*mann]

Hi,

If I had a motorcycle tire on my interstate now, what would I ALL have to do to run a car tire?

Can I mount this tire at home with no experience (using dynabeads for balancing)? (no tire mach at home)

What size tire should I go with, being 5' 10 1/2" tall, 33" inseam?

Thanks
Honda*mann

[Valker]

Hi,

If I had a motorcycle tire on my interstate now, what would I ALL have to do to run a car tire?

Can I mount this tire at home with no experience (using dynabeads for balancing)? (no tire mach at home)

What size tire should I go with, being 5' 10 1/2" tall, 33" inseam?

Thanks
Honda*mann

I do run 26 PSI in my HydroEdge. There are no mounting differences that I have noticed between the bike and car tires, however, I have a lot of experience changing tires by hand, and I hate doing it! That said, a local tire shop (car tires) will only charge $5 to change mine if I bring in the wheels. For that, he does ALL mine. I use DynaBeads for balancing.

[nova]

The Darkside forums recommends 40 psi for the break in on the Alitmax and usually 39 psi for the sweet spot.

I'm running the same tire on an Interstate and have 6000 miles on it. I run it at 39 psi.

Not all tires are the same. I suggest you bump your psi to 39.

[MP]

You will not "crash and burn" at any of these pressures.  As low as 25, or as high as 40.  I would try 40, drop to 30, then to 26 or so, and see what works for you.  Pick the best one, then move around that a couple pounds at a time, and use what YOU like.
MP

[nova]

Here is my Alitmax with 6000 miles on it so far.




It seated on the rim @ 30 psi. What more could you ask for ?
I'm more confident in the corners than I ever was on a MC tire
Ran it to the Blue and the Grey....excellent in all weather.
Guys behind me wanted to know what kind of CT I was running. They noticed it has excellent contact with the road in corners.
Watch Dag's video...same tire.

[Nogrey]

I guess I'm still a little "green" on this tire. It seems to want to stand the bike up in the corners at 34. I dropped the pressure to 30 and it felt a whole lot more like a motorcycle tire.

[Challenger]

You are echoing my thoughts exactly, I've put 12,000 on my good year now, been all over the board on pressure. The higher the pressure the more ctr steer I need, I'm at 32 psi and I like it very well for two up and loaded. I have notice on several occasions (solo)that I will get some weird tail wiggle and pucker factor above 100 mph, I do not get that at 36 psi. That is why (for me) goodyear and 32 psi on the I/S for touring and cobra with 45 psi on the standard for playing. Enjoy the ride! 

[timk519]

I guess I'm still a little "green" on this tire. It seems to want to stand the bike up in the corners at 34. I dropped the pressure to 30 and it felt a whole lot more like a motorcycle tire. 

Dittos here.

[Nogrey]

Good to hear from you Timk and Challenger. I think I'm getting into the ballpark with this tire. I think once I've found the sweet spot for pressure it'll be great. I know that when I was running at 34psi I was loving the long straight roads. Here in Idaho we have a lot of pretty sharp curves. Kindof like someone was driving the road grader and decided that north looked a whole lot better than west did, then changed his mind.....several times. So often you'll be riding 60mph and come to a corner that you have to take at 30 max. That's when the right pressure seems to be important on these ct's.

[timk519]

That's when the right pressure seems to be important on these ct's.

It also comes into play when you run into road construction, or the pavement's been 'rutted' by heavy trucks running over it. Lower pressure tires won't try to lay the bike down like higher pressure tires would.

[honda*mann]

Hi,

What about all this "nut cage mods" I see on the forum? Do I need to do that to convert to a CT?

Thanks
Honda*mann