Thinking of the Darkside

[ringadingh]

Im due for a pair of tires on the bike, and I figured Id still like a WWW on the front, but am considering trying a car tire on the rear.
Ive decided I would like to go with the Vredestein Comtrac series,
since its the only one that comes in a 175/75/16 size. I chose this size since I think it will fit best on my 3.5" rim. I really don't want to try squeezing a 195 0r 205 on that narrow wheel if I can help it.
Vredestein is a new tire to the Canadian market and when I called a distributor here I was told that they don't carry the Comtrac series in Canada, only a line of snow tires so far, and that size is not available in that series.
Do any of you guys use Vredestein? and if so, where did you get it?
Id consider getting one out of the states if they are available there.

[cactusjack]

There's some that use the Vredestein here. I'm sure one of them will stroll in here soon.

[MAS Tequila]

Fitting the 175/75 requires a small amount of grinding on the 1500 swingarm.

A 195/60 or 195/65 does not require grinding.

The amount of material needing to be removed is minor, but if you want plug and play you'll need to rethink your size choice.

I'm currently running a 185/75/16 and had to remove a good bit of material.

MT

[flavor]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

Im due for a pair of tires on the bike, and I figured Id still like a WWW on the front, but am considering trying a car tire on the rear.
Ive decided I would like to go with the Vredestein Comtrac series,
since its the only one that comes in a 175/75/16 size. I chose this size since I think it will fit best on my 3.5" rim. I really don't want to try squeezing a 195 0r 205 on that narrow wheel if I can help it.
Vredestein is a new tire to the Canadian market and when I called a distributor here I was told that they don't carry the Comtrac series in Canada, only a line of snow tires so far, and that size is not available in that series.
Do any of you guys use Vredestein? and if so, where did you get it?
Id consider getting one out of the states if they are available there.

IMPO I wouldn't get a tire that involved grinding the swingarm. (Too tight). Keep looking into a tires that have clearance from the get go.

[fish]

So Jim what name and size do you have on? Did you have to grind down the swingarm? Inquiring minds what to know

[cheriann]

WOW! What timing!!! Chaz rode a friend's V2K last weekend with a car tire. He told me he wants to go to the darkside now with his Nomad!

[jandijkgraaf]

Hey..Ringo..I don't think it's a good idea to use car tires for bikes at all.
They might give you more miles o.k.
But how will they behave in the cornering work?
They just are'nt made for motorcycles right?
Hence the name..CAR tire.
I for one stick to dedicated bike tires..no matter the cost,or the mileage they supply.
Just my opinion of course.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by jandijkgraaf

Hey..Ringo..I don't think it's a good idea to use car tires for bikes at all.
They might give you more miles o.k.
But how will they behave in the cornering work?
They just are'nt made for motorcycles right?
Hence the name..CAR tire.
I for one stick to dedicated bike tires..no matter the cost,or the mileage they supply.
Just my opinion of course.

There are quite a few people who have installed a car tire on their bikes. Handling is just as good as a MT. I know of one individual who can out run some sports bikes with a car tire on his V2K. I personally won't go back to a MT after switching. As far as they aren't made for a motorcycle?? What do you think they used to use on motorcycles back in the 50's and 60's? A car tire.

Going darkside is not for everyone. It is a personal choice.

[jandijkgraaf]

Originally Posted by waterman

There are quite a few people who have installed a car tire on their bikes. Handling is just as good as a MT. I know of one individual who can out run some sports bikes with a car tire on his V2K. I personally won't go back to a MT after switching. As far as they aren't made for a motorcycle?? What do you think they used to use on motorcycles back in the 50's and 60's? A car tire.

Going darkside is not for everyone. It is a personal choice.

Maybe so..I just don't know.
We are talking about a rear tire here,but what about a car tire
on both wheels,how would that setup behave in corners?
Also..my dad used to ride bikes from the 1930 on.
But..never with car tires..always dedicated tires.
Even in those days there already was a user profile for that.
So..your claim about the use of car tires on fifties/sixties bikes
per defenition is just nonsense.
You might as well use gasstation tire pump to fill the airschocks.
Might work..but with unpredictable results.
Which is my point.

[macmac]

There is a big difference between the 1500 and 1600. The 1500 can not take a 205 wide, as the 1600 can. The 1500 can go so far as 195 wide.

Ring, on the Lk George Ride there were atleast 2 bikes with CT's on, Flavors and mine I am 100% sure of.

With the taller tire, it is the angle brace on the swing arm I think that gets ground down some. I have never done that myself and don't know what if any issues there are.

The only issue I know of is that if there isn't enough clearnace smaller rocks can be trapped and cut rubber off a tire. I read of that, never saw it, and I guess the rider doesn't know untill another rider behind gets a little upset of getting hit with bits of hot rubber goo. LOL

[sonny]

I do not know about the 30s or 50s, but the 60s and 70s folks ran VW tires onthe rear of HDs if they boredthem out and made ground pounders out of them. The 60s and 70s tires were only different from cars to mc because of the sizes. Cars did not run 16" tires. But they were all the same design. And all HD stock Goodyear tires were the same tread pattern front and back and were all bias. IMHO the tire makers have made a great market using propaganda with out evidence. I have looked and asked and have been unable to find one documented case or research test where the bead of a car tire came loose or where there was any mechanical malfunction of a car tire on a bike if they are sized right. Slide your pick up around a dry corner, do you really think you can put more pressure on the bead by leaning a bike into a curve?
Thane for your time

[waterman]

Originally Posted by jandijkgraaf

Maybe so..I just don't know.
We are talking about a rear tire here,but what about a car tire
on both wheels,how would that setup behave in corners?
Also..my dad used to ride bikes from the 1930 on.
But..never with car tires..always dedicated tires.
Even in those days there already was a user profile for that.
So..your claim about the use of car tires on fifties/sixties bikes
per defenition is just nonsense.
You might as well use gasstation tire pump to fill the airschocks.
Might work..but with unpredictable results.
Which is my point.

Your dad may have run on dedicated tires but I know too many old timers who ran car tires on their HD's. Let see, if they were 20 in 1950 they would be around 80 today. So this is not nonsense. I'll trust what they say because a couple of them are pretty good wrenches at their age today. Better than most of today's so called wrenches at dealers.

Actually have talked with a couple of engineers who I graduated with who have worked in the car industry. Had a long discussion with them. Most people are concerned about the roll of the tire when turning. However, look at the forces on the front tires of a car when turning. Those forces are more than what you will ever see on a motorcycle. So I'll take a couple of pretty good engineers opinions (off the record) on their thoughts as well.

[MAS Tequila]

Mac, rocks aren't really the issue with the clearance. Even more important is the fact that a tire grows in height at highway speed. And guess what happens if you don't allow for it. That's right, you rub and round the corners off the tire.

How do I know? BTDT

Jandi, you admitted that you don't know. Leave it at that. I have over 20000 miles on CT's, and you are WRONG.

Our bikes will drag way too many hard parts before the CT's limits are reached.

If you ever want to see how much better they handle, just come on over and I'll get a few of the guys together who regularly ride some of the most challenging roads on the CT's. Sportbikes have a hard time keeping up with them.

They mark their progress by how long it take to grind a pair of floorboards to the point of needing replacement.

MT

[ringadingh]

Im not concerned about riding on a ct , enough people have already proved to me its not a problem. I guess I may have to go with a 195 width tire. even though Id rather not. Id still prefer the Vredestein 175, even if I have to grind the swingarm a bit. I think Id rather do that instead of squeezing a 195 on a narrow rim.
That would also correct most of the speedo error as well.

[MAS Tequila]

If you look at the swingarm you'll see that it is kinda horseshoe shaped. You have to grind approx 1/4" from what would be the inside corners.

It doesn't remove enough metal to expose where the two pieces come together.

I had to remove significantly more to run the 185/75/16.

I'll try to find the pics with the spots to grind highlighted.

MT