What is the best DARKSIDE tire?

[honda*mann]

Hi,

I am looking to change over to the darkside, was wondering who had -

           What tire be specific?
           What size?
           How long have you been using it? (in mileage)
           How tall is the riders inseam? (nothing to personal I hope)

Thanks
Honda*mann

I am sure to get lots of varied opinions

[Valker]

Michelin HydroEdge
205/55-16
13,000 so far (no obvious wear)
28 inch inseam

[MP]

Hydroedge 205-65-16
love it since went to 26#
32 inseam
250-300 rpm lower at 75mph, which is why I went to a 65 series

MP

[clintsdivco]

Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread
205/60R/16
3400 miles ago
Inseam 32"

I just put the tire on about 3 weeks ago and started at 40 psi.  Within 24 hours I dropped the pressure to 35 psi and the tire did much better.  I put 600 miles on it before leaving on my trip from Independence, Mo to Vancouver, British Columbia.  I have since put 2800 miles on it, one up ,pulling a trailer and have had no issues at all with the car tire.  I did drop the pressure to 32psi at Spokane, Wa to experiment and can't say that I noticed any difference between 32 & 35 psi.

The tire still looks as new as the day I put it on and at this point I wouldn't consider going back to a Motorcycle Tire.

Clint
Independence, Mo

[Bob E.]

I asked this same question over on the VRCC board and got a ton of answers.  But basically, it seems the most popular are the Goodyear Triple Tread, General Tire Altimax HP, Michelin Hydroedge, and Cooper Zeon 2XS. 

Also, I don't know if you know this, but the 205-60-16 is closest to the stock motorcycle diameter and will maintain the RPMs as stock.  However not all tires are available in this size.  So many are running the slightly smaller 205-55-16, which raises the rpms about 300rpm at highway speeds.  And some others are running the slightly larger 205-65-16, which would lower the rpms slightly.

I haven't tried a car tire yet, but will probably get the Altimax for my next tire...which will be in the next few weeks.  My 2nd choice will be the Triple Tread.  I will buy a 205-60-16.

My inseam is between 30" and 32"...depending on what brand of pants I am wearing. 

[honda*mann]

Hi,

I think I am going to order a Altimax hp v rated.
I'll try and mount it myself and use dynabeads for balancing.(so listen for heavy swearing in Wisconsin)
205-60-16.
Unless you guy's tell me that car tire mounting can't be done at home, by hand.

Honda*mann

[Nogrey]

Hi,

I think I am going to order a Altimax hp v rated.
I'll try and mount it myself and use dynabeads for balancing.(so listen for heavy swearing in Wisconsin)
205-60-16.
Unless you guy's tell me that car tire mounting can't be done at home, by hand.

Honda*mann

I've had the Altimax HP rated tire (205-60-16) for a couple of weeks now and have put around 500 miles on it. I began at 34PSI and quickly lowered it to 26PSI. I am still feeling the difference when I first hop on it, but after a few miles I'm back to the same riding style I've become acustomed to. I still feel much safer with those steel belts under the rear wheel. But I think that's only due to a blowout I had on a new (3k miles) Avon I was running. Of course it happened while my wife was with me. She hasn't been back on it since.  

[Fla. Jim]

Michelin HydroEdge On my 97 Tourer
12.5" progressive shocks
205/65-16
10,000+miles
28 inch inseam

currently running 26psi and loving the ride!

[timmer]

Goodyear TT
205-60-16
10K and still looks NEW
29psi but will be trying 26psi
34" inseam

[Sludge]

Yokohama Advan A048.

205-55-16

very sticky tire

[Nogrey]

Yokohama Advan A048.

205-55-16

very sticky tire

That looks like a great tire for a motorcycle.

[Sludge]

It is a good tire.  No bad manners to speak of other than wearing out quickly 

[honda*mann]

Hi,

That Yokohama looks like a nice tire.
Too bad it is priced like a motorcycle tire or even higher.

Honda*mann

[Sludge]

That Yokohama looks like a nice tire.
Too bad it is priced like a motorcycle tire or even higher.

Yea it is expensive.  I wasn't going darkside to save money though.  I was doing it for traction after I put the supercharger on. My criteria was to have a wide contact patch, not to have a linear tread design, be a soft compound, and have a rounded profile on the edges of the tire.  The A048 had all the checks in the boxes.

[Nogrey]

That's pretty amazing. I could just hear my wife asking me "what do you mean you want to supercharge your motorcycle? I've been on it with you and it goes like a bat out of hell! You want it to go faster? Not on your life mister!" Actually, she'd probably let me do it, but I don't think I trust myself with that much power. Love to see your machine go though. That tire looks amazing. I did a little reading on it and have a few questions:
1) Did you pick the M over the MH because you only do short runs?
2) Do you not ever ride in the rain? The one kicker for me was the statements about not riding in snow, ice or rain.
3) It seems you have a fair amount of experience with it and you like it. I'm sure your riding style taxes the rear tire more than mine does. What kind of mileage do you get with this tire?

I found this little tidbit of information curious, it's a quote from the "tire rack" webpage about the tire: "ADVAN A048 tires are molded with 6/32" of tread depth in their grooves and are left unshaved for use on damp tracks. Tire Rack suggests shaving ADVAN A048 tires to approximately 4/32" of tread depth to begin competitive road racing/track use in dry conditions. The ADVAN A048's directional tread design and symmetric internal construction allows remounting partially worn tires inside-out on their wheels to help prolong their life."

Inside out? Never heard of that!
It's about $228 delivered to my door, which is about what I paid for the Avon I bought about 3 months ago and is now a blown out paperweight in my garage. So yes, the expense is about the same, but it sure seems like you're getting a lot more tire for the money.
This is such a cool site. So much information, and so many new ideas on how to spend my small little paycheck!