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Car tire on motorcycle ???
#463270 09/09/2011 4:54 PM
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Conwy Offline OP
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I belong to another rider group and one of the leaders just posted about how he was tired of going through rear tires every 6 months or so (He says he rides alot). So he installed a car tire (Cooper ZEON ZPT 215/45R18) on his bike (VTX1800F) and included a pic of it. Now I'm no motorcycle gure/expert, but that just doesn not sound proper or smart.

First of all, I don't think a car tire is designed for the leaning/cornering that a bike normally does.

Second of all, along with above, there is no "tread" on the sides of the tire. I would think that's a problem when cornering in less than ideal road conditions.

has anyone else ever done this ? It just sounds like a really bad idea. I'd be leery of riding behind him.


Blue/White 2007 TBA, Thruxton needles, Unifilter, AI removed, Polaris Bellmouth, Bubs, Nology Coils/wires, Lightbar, Ricor Intiminators, Hagon Nitros, Tall Sissy Bar w/luggage rack, Dart flyscreen & Lowers. 130 Mains, TrueGel Battery MG12-BS.
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
Conwy #463271 09/09/2011 5:03 PM
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NO,JUST NO.looks shite n handles worse.

Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
chophead #463272 09/09/2011 5:07 PM
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Popular with the Rocket III guys. They call it "Going to the Darkside." Just read a thread on one of the sites that a guy has been riding his Thruxton and is now going back to a 240 Avon because the Thrux reminds him just how awful the Rocket handles with the car tire.


BA.com Caretaker | Friarsride | jb.com
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
Conwy #463273 09/09/2011 6:17 PM
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Sure, as long as it's rear tires in a 3 wheeler. They don't work well with 2 wheels.


Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
Greybeard #463274 09/09/2011 7:16 PM
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Thats very old its been done more than you would think. There is a reason that its not very common. Maybe a rocket three is heavy enough to handle it..... some. I wouldn't think handling would be good at all.


I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago. Edgar Allan Poe
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
StandingBull #463275 09/09/2011 7:35 PM
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bad406 runs 1 & says it handles better than the bike tire


we should do this every weekend!
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
Yota #463276 09/09/2011 7:46 PM
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I remember the old motorcycle tires that looked like car tires, I think I may still have one on the back of one of my hard tail bikes.


I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
Yota #463277 09/09/2011 9:49 PM
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Quote:

bad406 runs 1 & says it handles better than the bike tire




Really ?


It's not speeding till you get pulled over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqa1s4jhkQ8
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
mikemm03 #463278 09/09/2011 10:09 PM
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Bike tires, (or tyres for our friends across the lake), are specifically designed for bikes and car tires for cars. I've seen people run car tires and I've seen people smoke crack, just sayin'.


Strangler
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
chopperpaul #463279 09/09/2011 10:14 PM
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I'm gonna start running motorcycle tires on my car, think of how well it will take corners!


Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
chopperpaul #463280 09/09/2011 10:15 PM
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Here is a review by a guy that really likes the car tire on his bike. Just sayin'. car tire review


I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
mikemm03 #463281 09/09/2011 11:36 PM
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Quote:

Quote:

bad406 runs 1 & says it handles better than the bike tire




Really ?




Must only ride in straight lines.


Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, tambiƩn
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
Conwy #463282 09/09/2011 11:37 PM
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Quote:

I belong to another rider group and one of the leaders just posted about how he was tired of going through rear tires every 6 months or so (He says he rides alot). So he installed a car tire (Cooper ZEON ZPT 215/45R18) on his bike (VTX1800F) and included a pic of it. Now I'm no motorcycle gure/expert, but that just doesn not sound proper or smart.

First of all, I don't think a car tire is designed for the leaning/cornering that a bike normally does.

Second of all, along with above, there is no "tread" on the sides of the tire. I would think that's a problem when cornering in less than ideal road conditions.

has anyone else ever done this ? It just sounds like a really bad idea. I'd be leery of riding behind him.




You're right.

He's a moron.


Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, tambiƩn
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
mikemm03 #463283 09/09/2011 11:55 PM
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thats what he said


we should do this every weekend!
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
bigbill #463284 09/09/2011 11:57 PM
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haha. try to keep up with him in the twisties that joker can ride!


we should do this every weekend!
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
Yota #463285 09/10/2011 9:16 AM
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one of my friends rides Valkarie and has always run a car tire, its the weight of the bike, it wears a bike tire out to fast. almost all boss hoss bikes run car tires also for that reason. and like Yota said bad runs thru the Ga mtns just fine (well untill this yr anyway) if i am not mistaken, i believe they run a lower pressure and with a steel radial it will flex andf give traction when in the lean. our bike dont weigh enough to try it but R-3's and Valk's and Hoss's they are so dang heavey that you just cant keep bike tires on them for very long, think about how many miles our bikes have when they are due and then think about how fast that same tire must wear out under a 900lb or more bike. i have ridden his Valk and although there are no twisties around here it go's around corners just fine.


ENJOY!!!!! NEWT!!!!!
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
newt #463286 09/10/2011 11:56 AM
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Maybe on a heavy bike it can work. But I wouldn't do it. I don't see how it can work as well as a tire designed for bikes.
I can run Super Swampers on my 4X4 for the street, but they won't work nearly as well as a good all terrain on dry pavement, rain, snow, or dirt roads. All about what they're designed for.


Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, tambiƩn
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
newt #463287 09/10/2011 12:00 PM
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I have been getting 28-30 thousand on pirelli RT 66 and am happy with that..
Have 102,000 on bike.


I was so much older then, I am younger than that now (Wrote By Dylan Sung by the BYRDS,)
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
ARD #463288 09/10/2011 12:19 PM
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A lot of you know that my second bike is a Goldwing. Fantastic motorcycle. On my Goldwing site a lot and I mean a lot of the guys are running car tires on the back. I would not do it but so many are that you can't argue.


if life gives you lemons keep them because hey,free lemons.
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
kennymc #463289 09/10/2011 3:48 PM
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Sure you can argue. Just because a lot of people do something does not make it the wisest choice.


Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, tambiƩn
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
Conwy #463290 09/10/2011 5:14 PM
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way on using a car tire. I never knew Charlie had one his bike. I'm going to look in a couple of weeks.


"Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at seventy miles per hour can double your vocabulary" Author unknown
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
PES #463291 09/10/2011 9:19 PM
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It would be cool if he would chime in on this.


I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago. Edgar Allan Poe
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
bigbill #463292 09/10/2011 11:23 PM
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Quote:

Sure you can argue. Just because a lot of people do something does not make it the wisest choice.





like meth or other such goodies, huh?


Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
roadworthy #463293 09/10/2011 11:26 PM
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mmmm meth


Stewart ....... "It's outside your field of expertise." "Poppycock normally is."
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
roundy77 #463294 09/10/2011 11:48 PM
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I love the car tire. Handles like a dream! 10,000 miles since putting it on in June and I don't have to go buy a new tire to go to the Arkansas Rally. Running a 205/60 - 16 Toyo. I will never go back to a M/C tire on the Rocket.


The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese!
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
bad406 #463295 09/11/2011 12:02 AM
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I will be at the Arkansas Rally if anyone wants a demonstration of how far a rocket can lean! You never really know the full potential of a machine till you push it over the edge.

I do not run lower air pressure in the tire so it can ride on the sidewall. Come follow me and then look at the tire and you will see that even while dragging the wire ties off my floor board there is not even a scuff on the side of the tire.

And it is very much like crack, try it once, hooked forever!


The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese!
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
bad406 #463296 09/11/2011 10:50 AM
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Second Wind
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What is your opinion for a car tire on a lighter bike like the America?


I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago. Edgar Allan Poe
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
StandingBull #463297 09/11/2011 10:54 AM
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Second Wind
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205/60 - 16 Toyo thats a low wide tire.


I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago. Edgar Allan Poe
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
StandingBull #463298 09/11/2011 6:42 PM
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^ 60 is not that low of a profile on a car tire; my Challenger's OEM tire is 245/45-20, and it looks kinda tall compared to some of the really high end tires you see on aftermarket wheels.My wife's Grand Marquis uses a 225/60-16, so that Toyo tire is 20 MM narrower.

Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
LA_Geezer #463299 09/11/2011 7:10 PM
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You have to look at the whole size he has a 205 60 you have a 245 45, that being his is 205mm wide and the side wall is 60% of that making his side wall about 123mm. You have a 245 45 so your tire is 245mm wide and your side wall is 45% of the width making it 110.25mm making a difference of 12.75mm, not much difference really, about 1/2".


I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
Re: Car tire on motorcycle ???
Conwy #463300 09/12/2011 9:14 AM
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seen several R-3's with'em ...


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