Darkside question (oh no!)

[MAS Tequila]

Originally Posted by Pitchinguy

Have you noticed any lateral "slop" or sidewall movement in slow speed turns @ 26 lbs? I started my Altimax out at 40 lbs for break-in like I'd read & then started working down at 2 lb increments. I'm at 32 lbs now & the bike feels really nice & solid. Much better than @ 40 lbs! Very happy at 32 but if I can get the same performance @ 26 plus better milage....well, that's a nobrainer! Haven't tried lower yet cuz I was really concerned about sidewall movement?

Each tire and bike is different.

On my 03 1500 26ibs was rock solid, at 24ibs it developed a wobble at speed.

You will have to try it for youself and see how it works for you.

MT

[manban9888]

Originally Posted by coffey67

So those going to the dark side are saying that:

1. The engineers who design tires do not know what they are doing by making MC tires different than CTs.

2. There is a conspiracy to make MC riders pay more for tires than cagers do and that CTs function as good or better than MC tires.

I have no doubt that many have went to the dark side without any complications to report but I have also seen many riding on MC tires so worn that I would not have risked it. Those riders would also report that they have had no problems running their tires almost bald.

For me, I want to stack the deck in my favour by any means possible. Sure I could save some money with a CT but is that amount of money worth my life or a potential injury that would keep me from riding in the future?

I would think that with a free market based on competition if a MC tire manufacturer could produce a MC tire with the same specs as a CT and advertise 30K mileage with better handling they would do it and corner the market. There is a reason this has not happened. A MC tire and a CT are different. Again, not saying a CT will not work but I will say it will not work EXACTLY the same. Yeah, you can most likely get by with it but at what potential cost? To each their own. By all means I am not writing this to ridicule anyone who uses a CT. Like wearing a helmet, that is your choice. I am writing this for those considering it. If you are like me and try to limit risks when at all possible you might not want to put a CT on your bike.

And yes, I always wear a helmet.

I ride Commander 2s and like them. I agree w you. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but aren't mc tires made so that if they fail there is less decompression for lack of a better word and there would be less handling difficulties. Riding has it's risks but I try not to add any except I rarely wear a helmet. When I lived in NY I had to and didn't mind but after moving to Florida a lid was so hot and uncomfortable that I doubt I would ride half as often if I had to.

[B P]

"While some go Dark for $$$ I made the decision based on breaking/acceleration traction. If you really want to be as safe as possible, you should live in a bunker and stop riding motorcycles"
No truer words were ever said, plus....that was dam funny!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[B P]

Originally Posted by B P

What is the difference between the Hankook Optimo H727 and the Federal Formoza FD-1 both 195/60R16?

Hopefully someone has run both to give me some info, I'm going darkside! Ya!

Still haven't gotten an answer to the question. I have looked at and like the Federal tire over the Hankook right now.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by Rasta

If any thing my wear on the tire is on left side of the tire and I think that is because of the curvture of the road!

Excess wear on the left-side of a tire has been discussed ad-nauseum over the years in multiple magazines, and such... and a conclusion was determined based on observations done in different areas of the world. It remains a debatable subject, and of course there are many variables to each individual's situation -- however here it is...

In the U.S. we ride on the right side of the road. Turns to the left at intersections are a longer distance than a right-turn -- thus it was concluded this is the cause of more wear on the left-side due to the longer distance the tire travels in a left-turn. (Keeping in mind, tires "wear" more in turns than going straight.)

To help support this conclusion; the opposite was found in areas of the world where they ride on the left-side of the road and where their right-turns are longer. They find more wear on their right-side...

Again... debatable, but thought it was interesting none the less...

[MAS Tequila]

Originally Posted by B P

Still haven't gotten an answer to the question. I have looked at and like the Federal tire over the Hankook right now.

I told you that I would recommend the Formoza and will likely use one again.

I have no experience with the Hankook.

You can confidently run the Formoza, and look forward to many happy miles.

MT

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by B P

Still haven't gotten an answer to the question. I have looked at and like the Federal tire over the Hankook right now.

While some may have run one or the other of the 2 listed, perhaps none have run both?

When researching replacement tires for my '06 Nomad: First I determined what sizes would fit. Next I looked at tires available in those sizes. Then I looked up tread patterns and traction ratings. The highest traction rating for a tire that fit was 10-dry, 10-wet, 10-snow/ice, 8-off road. I asked/looked around to see if others were using the same tire on a Nomad. Everyone that did was happy with it. Since I was looking for traction more than price, thats the tire I bought. Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread 205/60-16.

Since your original question was very specific, its hard to get the answer you desired. The rest of the story is just information we share trying to get as close as possible to your answer.

[VulcanE]

It's getting time for me to change my Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread 205/60-16. It's been on the bike since the start of the 2009 riding season and still has half of the tread left with about 40,000 miles on it. The reason I'm changing the tire is due to a lot of dry rot in the tread and carcase (cracks). I'm very happy with the tire, it handles and rides better than any tire I've ever had on the Nomad, so I was going to replace it with another Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread until I got to researching and found that the tire has been "redesigned". It now has square shoulders and a lower UTQG rating. I love the uni-directional tread pattern (a tread that is designed to only rotate in one direction), but I want round shoulders. I decided on the Yokohama AVID ENVigor 205/60-16 92V. I have it sitting in my office waiting on the weather to warm up so I can change it. This tire has not only round shoulders, the the whole tread is round. It is as round a a 300mm motorcycle tire. I hope it serves me as well as the GYTT did.

B P..... the only advice I can give is to look for round shoulders, and of the 2 choices you listed, I would go with the Formoza over the Hankook for that one reason, but like I said, I prefer a tire with a uni-direction pattern.

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by VulcanE

It's getting time for me to change my Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread 205/60-16. It's been on the bike since the start of the 2009 riding season and still has half of the tread left with about 40,000 miles on it. The reason I'm changing the tire is due to a lot of dry rot in the tread and carcase (cracks). I'm very happy with the tire, it handles and rides better than any tire I've ever had on the Nomad, so I was going to replace it with another Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread until I got to researching and found that the tire has been "redesigned". It now has square shoulders and a lower UTQG rating. I love the uni-directional tread pattern (a tread that is designed to only rotate in one direction), but I want round shoulders. I decided on the Yokohama AVID ENVigor 205/60-16 92V. I have it sitting in my office waiting on the weather to warm up so I can change it. This tire has not only round shoulders, the the whole tread is round. It is as round a a 300mm motorcycle tire. I hope it serves me as well as the GYTT did.

B P..... the only advice I can give is to look for round shoulders, and of the 2 choices you listed, I would go with the Formoza over the Hankook for that one reason, but like I said, I prefer a tire with a uni-direction pattern.

+1 My GYTT has been on since '08. I'll probably have to change it due to age before the tread runs out. So far its at 22K miles, about half the usable tread remaining, even wear, and no cracks.

I'll do new research when the time comes since they changed the tire and I changed climates.

[Northern Dancer]

I am running the Goodyear TripleTred 205/60-R16 on My Goldwing with 35,000 Miles on it presently and it will go for another season it looks like. Also run a Hankook 205/50R17 on my ST1300. Both these tires handle beautiful and I can drag pegs and keep great traction rain or shine.

[Kawhead]

Originally Posted by VulcanE

It's getting time for me to change my Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread 205/60-16. It's been on the bike since the start of the 2009 riding season and still has half of the tread left with about 40,000 miles on it. The reason I'm changing the tire is due to a lot of dry rot in the tread and carcase (cracks). I'm very happy with the tire, it handles and rides better than any tire I've ever had on the Nomad, so I was going to replace it with another Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread until I got to researching and found that the tire has been "redesigned". It now has square shoulders and a lower UTQG rating. I love the uni-directional tread pattern (a tread that is designed to only rotate in one direction), but I want round shoulders. I decided on the Yokohama AVID ENVigor 205/60-16 92V. I have it sitting in my office waiting on the weather to warm up so I can change it. This tire has not only round shoulders, the the whole tread is round. It is as round a a 300mm motorcycle tire. I hope it serves me as well as the GYTT did.

B P..... the only advice I can give is to look for round shoulders, and of the 2 choices you listed, I would go with the Formoza over the Hankook for that one reason, but like I said, I prefer a tire with a uni-direction pattern.

What a shame! I like the pattern it left on my carport after riding on wet roads.

[dshelly]

If any of you Darksiders happen to be in my neighborhood this summer. I'd love to take a spin and see just how well the CT handles comparred to the MC tires. You never know, I might even consider it someday.

[Rasta]

Originally Posted by dshelly

If any of you Darksiders happen to be in my neighborhood this summer. I'd love to take a spin and see just how well the CT handles comparred to the MC tires. You never know, I might even consider it someday.

Are you feeling ok Dave? Do we need to send someone over to check up on you? That or someone is messing around on your computer while you are in the shop making parts!!

If ever I am in your area or you are in my area you are more than welcome to take my ride for a spin. Good to see you are opening your mind to try something different. I got a little story here....I used to sell food at our local farmers market for fun.I used to cook the food right there and people could smell it cooking, which was a good selling point. One day this kid comes up and I asked him if he would like a free sample.He asked me what was in it and when I told him one of the things in it was onion the kid said he didnt like onion so he didnt want any. I asked him why he didnt like onions and he said he doesnt know why since he has never tried them! I think I made a friend that day

[dshelly]

Yea, I feelin OK. After reading on here how many guys have CT's on their bikes, I figure that there is a good possibility that they can't all be crazy.

So it's got me curious. By the way, I like Onions too.

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by dshelly

If any of you Darksiders happen to be in my neighborhood this summer. I'd love to take a spin and see just how well the CT handles comparred to the MC tires. You never know, I might even consider it someday.

Originally Posted by dshelly

Yea, I feelin OK. After reading on here how many guys have CT's on their bikes, I figure that there is a good possibility that they can't all be crazy.

So it's got me curious. By the way, I like Onions too.

Hey, I resemble crazy . . .

Just to prove it. (Dave) You have a black '07 Nomad with OEM style tires. I have an '06 Nomad that is Double Dark Side. If you and your Nomad happen to make it to the Phoenix area, I will gladly show you some of the local roads (high speed, low speed, smooth, rough, twisties, sweepers, bumpy dirt backroads) AND we can trade bikes back and forth as many times as you wish.