Car Tire- Darkside- Assure me- the mechanics deter me..

[sho_greg]

For those with a car tire on the rear... Please assure me that the tire is ok.. Assure me that I can still turn the bike.. Assure me that the ride quality will stay in motorcycle character.. Assure me that I will not be scared to death when taking a turn...

I have been to 2 places to get the tire put on... one said that 195/55/16 isnt going to fit..??
Please tell me that size is a fitting size...

Both places said its not a good idea... \

I have been riding for quite a while and I say I can ride pretty well... So from experiences good riders could you tell a difference..

[bigdave]

I have been riding on a CT for over 25000 miles and have had no problems. In my opinion the bike handles better with the CT than the Mt. The ride is much better. I am running a 205/60-16 so a 195/55-16 should fit just fine. As far as I am concerned i will not go back to a MT

[blowndodge]

If you have a 1600 up to a 205 will fit. Unfortunately nobody can assure anyone of anything running a CT. I have now for 27K and love it. It handles differently but not for the worse. Just different. On the highway the ride is like a Caddy!

[mobandy78]

I've had one for about 1.5 yrs. I've probably put 6-7 miles on it. It looks like the day I put it on. I love the way it handles and it's as smooth as a baby's bottom. It handles corners with ease and I feel I have more grip with it. I feel more secure than I did with the m/c tire. Do it and you'll love it!! Don't let somebody that has no idea what they are talking about deter from it. They haven't tried it, haven't researched it, and probably haven't thought about it until you brought yours in. They don't like it because it's different and out of the normal everyday thing. They also won't be seeing you in 7k miles to put another m/c tire on. They lose a little business with every darksider.

[skiman]

Originally Posted by mobandy78

I've had one for about 1.5 yrs. I've probably put 6-7 miles on it. It looks like the day I put it on. I love the way it handles and it's as smooth as a baby's bottom. It handles corners with ease and I feel I have more grip with it. I feel more secure than I did with the m/c tire. Do it and you'll love it!! Don't let somebody that has no idea what they are talking about deter from it. They haven't tried it, haven't researched it, and probably haven't thought about it until you brought yours in. They don't like it because it's different and out of the normal everyday thing. They also won't be seeing you in 7k miles to put another m/c tire on. They lose a little business with every darksider.

6-7 miles I hope it looks like new

[markclark57]

Think of the car tire from the dealers prospective for a moment and see if the light comes on.

If they only mount and/or recommend motorcycle tires, there is a chance that you will buy the tire there and have it mounted there. ($+$=$$$)

If they mount and/or recommend a car tire, you will most likely buy it elsewhere and wont be back to mount another one for the equivalent mileage of 3 or 4 motorcycle tires. ($$$-$$=¢)

Even if you happen to find the only shop for miles around that sells and mounts all sorts of tires on anything they will fit . . . Do you think that a salesperson would rather sell you 3 or 4 $250.00 tires or just one $120.00 tire? Not to mention 3 or 4 mount/balance services instead of 1.

As for assurances, People have been putting car tires on motorcycles for decades. The incidence of tire related accidents are no different one way or the other. Yes, the ride is different. So what! The ride is different between a Voyager and a Vaquero. That doesn't mean one of them if bad, just different.

[mac]

I have the Dunlop SP5000 and love it. Won't go back to a MT on the rear. You just run it at a much lower pressure, from 28-30 psi.

[sho_greg]

Thanks for the responses guys... I guess I know it will handle differently I just want to be assured that it is manageable.

You both have basically confirmed that it is different but manageable. And you get used to the tire.. and it should fit.

[george james]

I went dark 4000 miles ago. Contrary to what others say about handling i find no difference in the way my nomad handles.....absolutely no difference. Have no plans to ever buy another m tire for the rear of my bikes again.

[Chili]

I watched Idaho tossing his 1600 around at the Canmore rally and he sure as heck didn't seem to have any issues with his car tire.

[Idaho]

Originally Posted by Chili

I watched Idaho tossing his 1600 around at the Canmore rally and he sure as heck didn't seem to have any issues with his car tire.

I love my CT. This is my second and I'm not going back. Mine is a 185/75 - 16. Tall and narrow. Tall to cure speedo errors and 'narrow' to clear the driveshaft housing. (even though it is 'narrow' is it still one heck of a wide tire) I can turn rings around most riders with my bike.

[markclark57]

In the early 1970's a friend of mine cut out the center of a 14" car rim and spoked it up to the rear hub of his H-D. He ran a fat tire that looked like it was more intended for off road. I don't remember the size or make, but that was almost 40 years ago. Dark Side isn't a new idea. Motorcycle mechanics/shops refusing to do work for paying customers is the "new" part.

[skiman]

Originally Posted by markclark57

In the early 1970's a friend of mine cut out the center of a 14" car rim and spoked it up to the rear hub of his H-D. He ran a fat tire that looked like it was more intended for off road. I don't remember the size or make, but that was almost 40 years ago. Dark Side isn't a new idea. Motorcycle mechanics/shops refusing to do work for paying customers is the "new" part.

They just don't want the liability for the few bucks they make mounting a car tire. Can’t blame them since car tires on motorcycles are still taboo even the manufactures of car tires won’t give the blessing to use them on bikes.

[billmac]

I had a car tire and have gone back to mc tire. I may go back to a car tire for the longevity and smooth ride. Also the car tire is thicker and will hold a tubeless plug better.

I had the sp 5000. My only knock on the car tire was on rough country roads the back tire seemed to want to steer the bike. My tire man said all big wide tires feel like that and he hears the same comment whenever he mounts a wide tire. My 2 cents.

[rolfe]

Originally Posted by billmac

I had a car tire and have gone back to mc tire. I may go back to a car tire for the longevity and smooth ride. Also the car tire is thicker and will hold a tubeless plug better.

I had the sp 5000. My only knock on the car tire was on rough country roads the back tire seemed to want to steer the bike. My tire man said all big wide tires feel like that and he hears the same comment whenever he mounts a wide tire. My 2 cents.

Thanks Bill it's good to have a good input about using a car tire. I would imagine that the Motorcycle Manufacturer's have done some test along with Tire Manufacturer's on the use of Using a Car Tire on a Motorcycle.
Safety has always been my main concern being a novice on a Motorcycle. Who knows maybe the Motorcycle Tire Manufacturer's will commit and make a Car Tire / Motorcycle Tire if that makes sense. But for now I'll stick to using True Blue Motorcycle Tire's on a Motorcycle after all that's what there for.

Many Thanks
Rolfe Lake Travis Texas