Going to the Darkside - Question

[kpmhspirit]

I bit the bullet tonight and ordered a Dunlop SP 5000 195/60/16 Symmetrical tire from Tirerack. It appeared one of the more popular tires but the the question I have is the tire directional like the MC tires? Hopefully it will last more than the 8600 miles I got out the Metzeler 880 rear.

Thanks,

Pete

[cactusjack]

There was no indication of direction on the tire. I trusted the guy that mounted my tire for me to get it right.

[goose]

Good luck with your choice Pete, you will love the ride. its alot more smoother than any MC tire I have ever tried! I have almost 8k on my Faulken Zeix 512 205/65 and it still looks new? Don't know about the Dunlop if it is directional, but mine was, it should say on the sidewall of the tire.

[bigdave]

I dont remember the dunlop being directional. I love the ride much smoother and in my opinion better handling. Welcome to the Darkside

[emu]

Anyone know if the new 1700 Nomad and Voyager will take a darkside without any problems?

[Cajunrider]

I'm riding the same tire. Not directional. You will love the tire. I settled at 34 psig.

[caper]

What would insurance companies think of the car tire on a motorcycle. ( in case of an Accident ). You know they use any excuse to not pay!!

[Yellow Jacket]

What would insurance companies think of the car tire on a motorcycle. ( in case of an Accident ). You know they use any excuse to not pay!!

This has been discussed before. The bulk of opinion suggests that the insurance company would have to prove that the car tire was the cause of the accident.

My opinion is that most adjusters wouldn't know or notice the difference between a motorcycle tire and a car tire.

[chainsaw]

I agree with Bob.

[cactusjack]

What would insurance companies think of the car tire on a motorcycle. ( in case of an Accident ). You know they use any excuse to not pay!!

I've read that most (I can't say all) insurance companies only require that tires are DOT approved. They do not specify that a motorcycle tire is required on a motorcycle.

[caper]

Well with the price of motorcycle tires and their lifespan, no wounder people are puting car tires on. I just MAY join ya :)

[kpmhspirit]

There was no indication of direction on the tire. I trusted the guy that mounted my tire for me to get it right.

Good luck with your choice Pete, you will love the ride. its alot more smoother than any MC tire I have ever tried! I have almost 8k on my Faulken Zeix 512 205/65 and it still looks new? Don't know about the Dunlop if it is directional, but mine was, it should say on the sidewall of the tire.

I dont remember the dunlop being directional. I love the ride much smoother and in my opinion better handling. Welcome to the Darkside

I'm riding the same tire. Not directional. You will love the tire. I settled at 34 psig.

Thanks for the info. I was going to start around 35 psi and see how it rides. Hopefully, I'll get it on this weekend.

Pete

[kpmhspirit]

Got another question. I got the tire today and there is a red dot and a yellow dot not quite at 180 degrees to the red. Dunlop's web site

http://www.dunloptires.com/care/tech.html

says the red dot should be aligned with the heavy/low point of the wheel. But what's the yellow dot for? I found this:

http://www.gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205996

which says the red dot rules but don't follow the explanation of the yellow. So I guess I'll align the red dot with the valve stem, assuming it's the lowest. I've got a balancer so I can check.

Just curious if anyone has any insight?

Pete

[alangoff]

back in the good old days..............

tires were not completely round and neither were the steel wheels. So the valve stem hole was drilled on the low spot of the wheel (ok maybe the high spot, too old to remember) and the tire manufacturer marked the tire with a dot to match.

so by mounting the dot at the valve stem hole, you had the best chance of having a round tire assy.

with the newer technology the manufacture of the tires is more accurate and the wheels are almost perfect (alloy wheels are almost zero).

so gone are the days when you had to worry about it right?

now with newer tire balancers (at least automotive) you can measure the road force of the tire assy and match mount for the most perfect roundness at road speed with weight applied.......

so right back to matching the dot with the valve stem, unless you use a balancer that can measure the road force of the assy, then measure the wheel and move the tire to match the wheel.

hope this makes this more cloudy................

Alan

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Sounds logical to me. Some car tires show which direction and other tire manufacturers don't. Good luck on your CT.

[dkdixie]

There was no indication of direction on the tire. I trusted the guy that mounted my tire for me to get it right.

Good luck with your choice Pete, you will love the ride. its alot more smoother than any MC tire I have ever tried! I have almost 8k on my Faulken Zeix 512 205/65 and it still looks new? Don't know about the Dunlop if it is directional, but mine was, it should say on the sidewall of the tire.

I dont remember the dunlop being directional. I love the ride much smoother and in my opinion better handling. Welcome to the Darkside

I'm riding the same tire. Not directional. You will love the tire. I settled at 34 psig.

Thanks for the info. I was going to start around 35 psi and see how it rides. Hopefully, I'll get it on this weekend.

Pete


SP5000 is not directional.

I would suggest you start with higher than 35psi.
Darkside forums suggest 40-42psi area, for a few hundred miles before lowering air pressure.
While these guys may or may not be engineers, they do have a lot of car tire riding experience.

As far as insurance goes, two Darkside forum members have posted written responses to the car tire question from Geico and Progressive.....both said pretty much the same thing which was as long as its DOT rated, its OK.
A third Darksider has a verbal from State Farm saying the same thing, asked for it in writing but I don't know if he ever got it or posted.

[redjay]

If a tire has a tread pattern (or build) that is designed to be used only in one direction then they will put a direction arrow on the tire. If the tread pattern looks the same no matter which way you mount it there will be no directional arrow.

I had snow tires put on the car last year which were directional. The mechanic mistakenly put on one of the tires on backwards. He mounted 3 the same and one opposite. He should have mounted 2 the same and 2 opposite.
Depending on which side of the car you mount them all 4 tires should have the directional arrow showing the correct rotation. You can only mount the correct tires on one side of the car and rotate them from the front to the back of the car. You cannot change the tires from one side of the car to the other, the direction arrow will be backwards.

Before I spotted the mechanics mistake the car kept locking up the tire that was incorrectly mounted if I had to brake hard in wet conditions.

[Yellow Jacket]

Pete, I would just line up the red dot with the valve stem, put in three ounces of Dyanbeads and not worry about it again until it's worn out.

P.S. Like "dk dixie" said, start out with at least 40 PSI for the first 500 miles and then start dropping it down. I'm now running 30 PSI but when I started out about 10,000 miles ago I was running 44 PSI.

[kpmhspirit]

hope this makes this more cloudy................

Alan

Absolutely. Just kidding. I understand where you're coming from. I've got a balancer so I should be able to balance it pretty close.

Thanks,

Pete

[kpmhspirit]

Sounds logical to me. Some car tires show which direction and other tire manufacturers don't. Good luck on your CT.

Thanks. Alabama.

[kpmhspirit]

Pete, I would just line up the red dot with the valve stem, put in three ounces of Dyanbeads and not worry about it again until it's worn out.

P.S. Like "dk dixie" said, start out with at least 40 PSI for the first 500 miles and then start dropping it down. I'm now running 30 PSI but when I started out about 10,000 miles ago I was running 44 PSI.

Thanks, Bob and dixie. I'll definitely take your advice and start at +/- 40 psi. I'm curious as to why you start at higher pressures and then drop it over time.

Thanks again,

Pete

[kpmhspirit]

If a tire has a tread pattern (or build) that is designed to be used only in one direction then they will put a direction arrow on the tire. If the tread pattern looks the same no matter which way you mount it there will be no directional arrow.

Thanks, redjay. From what everyone says, it's not directional and the tread doesn't look like it so one less thing to worry about....LOL.

Pete

[blowndodge]

Pete, varying pressures helps in the break in of the tire, The sidwalls are so much more robust that puming them up and down breaks them in like a good oiled baseball mit. My truck tire on my Nomad didn't settle down to about 3500 miles. Now with 6500 on it it's perfect.

My truck tire still mics out to the same depth of tread as it did brand new. I'm thinking I'll never change the tire again!? http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[kpmhspirit]

Pete, varying pressures helps in the break in of the tire, The sidwalls are so much more robust that puming them up and down breaks them in like a good oiled baseball mit. My truck tire on my Nomad didn't settle down to about 3500 miles. Now with 6500 on it it's perfect.

My truck tire still mics out to the same depth of tread as it did brand new. I'm thinking I'll never change the tire again!? http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Thanks for the explanation. Makes a lot of sense to me. I'll be sure to do the same.

Good deal about the tire. I saw your notes in the Darkside database and nearly bought the same as you. Maybe the next tire, hopefully in about 5 years..... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Pete

[Cajunrider]

Pete, I started with 40 psig and rode it at that pressure for 200 miles. I dropped to 38 and held it there for another hundred before dropping it to 36 psig. I rode at 36 for 150 -200 miles and dropped to 34. I rode up to Hot Springs, Arkansas (500 miles +) and held it for the 400 miles we rode there on very twisty roads and the 500 miles back home. I've since dropped to 32 - 33 and have held it there for another 400 miles to my current mileage. I find that at 32 psig it handles just as good or maybe even a little better than 34. This is riding mostly 2 up with 30 psig in the shocks and the rebound set at III. Couldn't be happier with the SP 5000. I'm tempted to order another one and keep it wrapped up inside the house because I've read that this tire has been discontinued in this size. A 205/60 will fit but I'm a little leery of lack of clearance at the shaft tube. I'm just afraid of having a 3 or 4 year old tire when it's time to swap it out. This tire is holding up very well with the 2,500 miles I have on it now. I don't have a tread depth gauge but I can't see any wear as of yet.

[dkdixie]

Pete, I started with 40 psig and rode it at that pressure for 200 miles. I dropped to 38 and held it there for another hundred before dropping it to 36 psig. I rode at 36 for 150 -200 miles and dropped to 34. I rode up to Hot Springs, Arkansas (500 miles +) and held it for the 400 miles we rode there on very twisty roads and the 500 miles back home. I've since dropped to 32 - 33 and have held it there for another 400 miles to my current mileage. I find that at 32 psig it handles just as good or maybe even a little better than 34. This is riding mostly 2 up with 30 psig in the shocks and the rebound set at III. Couldn't be happier with the SP 5000. I'm tempted to order another one and keep it wrapped up inside the house because I've read that this tire has been discontinued in this size. A 205/60 will fit but I'm a little leery of lack of clearance at the shaft tube. I'm just afraid of having a 3 or 4 year old tire when it's time to swap it out. This tire is holding up very well with the 2,500 miles I have on it now. I don't have a tread depth gauge but I can't see any wear as of yet.

Cajun (& all that have ct's), you really need to get a tire depth gauge. I too ran my SP5000 at 32-33 and its wearing in the center big time. Won't get more than 15K out of it. Its almost down to the wear bars now. If I had lower pressure to 28lbs, which I've been running for quite a while, would have lasted a lot longer.
Quite a few guys on the Darkside forum have complained about SP wearing in the center.

[Cajunrider]

You are correct Dk, I've read this on the DS forum. I thought those guys were running more than 36 psig but I may not have read all of the wear out threads. I read where one ran 40# from start to finish and wore the center out in less than 12,000 miles. I'll give 31 a try for a few miles before the trip to Antlers on Thursday. If it feels OK I'll make the trip at 30 -31. I just don't want it to get too squishy riding 2 up and pulling the trailer.

[kpmhspirit]

Pete, I started with 40 psig and rode it at that pressure for 200 miles. I dropped to 38 and held it there for another hundred before dropping it to 36 psig. I rode at 36 for 150 -200 miles and dropped to 34. I rode up to Hot Springs, Arkansas (500 miles +) and held it for the 400 miles we rode there on very twisty roads and the 500 miles back home. I've since dropped to 32 - 33 and have held it there for another 400 miles to my current mileage. I find that at 32 psig it handles just as good or maybe even a little better than 34. This is riding mostly 2 up with 30 psig in the shocks and the rebound set at III. Couldn't be happier with the SP 5000. I'm tempted to order another one and keep it wrapped up inside the house because I've read that this tire has been discontinued in this size. A 205/60 will fit but I'm a little leery of lack of clearance at the shaft tube. I'm just afraid of having a 3 or 4 year old tire when it's time to swap it out. This tire is holding up very well with the 2,500 miles I have on it now. I don't have a tread depth gauge but I can't see any wear as of yet.

Thanks, CR and Dixie.

[pablo]

I've been running 26-28 psi in my car tire. I put it up to 30 since so many people have been running higher, but the handling and comfort are just not as good, so I put it back to 27. At this setting everything seems to be much more predictable and comfortable until you get up around 105 mph indicated. At that speed I get a slow high speed wobble, so I don't go that fast at this setting.

[dkdixie]

I've been running 26-28 psi in my car tire. I put it up to 30 since so many people have been running higher, but the handling and comfort are just not as good, so I put it back to 27. At this setting everything seems to be much more predictable and comfortable until you get up around 105 mph indicated. At that speed I get a slow high speed wobble, so I don't go that fast at this setting.

pablo, you're running a 195/55 correct?

[billmac]

You are correct Dk, I've read this on the DS forum. I thought those guys were running more than 36 psig but I may not have read all of the wear out threads. I read where one ran 40# from start to finish and wore the center out in less than 12,000 miles. I'll give 31 a try for a few miles before the trip to Antlers on Thursday. If it feels OK I'll make the trip at 30 -31. I just don't want it to get too squishy riding 2 up and pulling the trailer.

I will be anxious to hear from you at Antlers about the tire pressure. I have an SP5000 stored in the garage for my next tire change.

[Cajunrider]

We'll see eachother Thursday night Bill. I'm sure we will have plenty to talk about the entire weekend. Anxious to meet both of you.

Mitch

[lw]

Pulled the trigger on my darkside purchase; following BD into the Continental Vanco 8 in 185/75/16.
Should arrive in two days and hopefully I can have it mounted on Friday or Saturday and get some break-in done next week before heading north to OK/AR.

[pablo]

pablo, you're running a 195/55 correct?

That is correct. My speedometer error is pretty substantial. At 105 indicated, I'm only going about 93 actual. That's still faster than I normally ride.

[Cajunrider]

Good luck with the DS tire Larry. You won't be sorry.

[wompus]

I have a friend who drives a Corvette and he had directional tires on it.
VERY expensive tires!!

The standard tire is non-directional, but when you get into the high performance type cars with a softer compound then the directional tires are needed.

I guess the more money you have the more you can waste on things....

.

[macmac]

Ride, do not push the bike thru a puddle on a clean gas station lot and then see what the tread pattern looks like. You would want to see all the read evenly.

The hard part is figuring out what is the rear tire from the front.