Tires?

eldiablokid · Mar 28, 2005

Hello Everyone,
First of all I want to thank everyone for there replies on my burn out question.I read this board every day but dont post much.My question is I need a new rear tire,currently 230 Avon,I have noticed some bikes have car tires on them,I have a 2003 small block,I do not want to change my swingarm or fender,If I stay with a cycle tire how wide can I go with the stock set-up?Where can I get a new rim for the wider tire?If I stay with the stock rim what size car tire should I use?What are the pros and cons of the car tire?
Also the reason I need a tire is because my 230 avon has MAJOR cracks around the bead,right next to the rim you can see the cords.I keep a weekly check on air pressure and have only done 2 small burnouts.Tire only has 3500 miles on it.
Thanks John

EastnMike · Mar 28, 2005

I grooved a new Avon 230 on my 2002, and I LOVE it. I have over 4000 miles on it now, (2200 miles in 6 days to Key West), and it has performed flawlessly. After running the grooved 230, I would not consider another tire for the rear. I used to have a car tire on my '97 Boss, and it ran well, excellent traction, but honestly..I did lose some handling capability with it versus the 230. Like others say..this is just my $.02 worth...

MBFsupport · Mar 28, 2005

Here's one for the car tire for many reasons.

First off they are cheap and you never have to have a guilty conscience for doing to many burnouts. :twisted: The folks that ride with be know I lay rubber wherever I go. I have had this tire for about 11,000 miles or so and I can't where it out. The tire was 55 bucks and I figured I would get about 3 months out of it and it is going on 1.5 years now.

As far as handling goes, I think it handles just as well as a bike tire on this size bike. I run Deals Gap on mine with no problem and I run it pretty hard. The contact patch is much wider than a bike tire so it tends to stop better and the higher side walls suck up some of the bumps in the road.

Car tires add to the cool factor. I don't know how many times folks have got a kick out of the fact that I had a car tire on my bike. Even other Boss Hoss guys tell me how cool my $55.00 car tire looks. 8)

I run a 225 and that works pretty well for me. I was going with a 235 but they didn't have one when I got this, I figured I would be changing it soon anyway so it was no big deal, now I'm not sure when I will need to change it. :roll:

V8GRUMPY · Mar 28, 2005

John,

If you want to go to a wider rim, either Chopper City or Muntain Boss Hoss or one of the larger dealers can put you into an 18" rim. I run an 18"X9.75" rim and a 265-35X18 car tire. That is the widest you can run under a stock fender without putting "widening" straps under the fender. I have less than an 1/8" on either side of the fender.

The traction is great, handling is different than a 'round' tire, but does not take long to get used to. Car tires make the bike feel a lot lighter (they tend to stand up on their own), but they handle like **** in the dirt.

I'd suggest that if you want to try it, got to the tire that Lamont or Loaf run on their bikes and see how you like it before investing in a lot of rim $$$$$

Tim

awilks · Mar 29, 2005

Tires

I am ready to buy my 3rd rear tire and am considering a car tire. First two were AVON 230's. What car tire is recommended without changing from stock wheels?

Alan
Dyersburg, TN

eldiablokid · Apr 1, 2005

went with the car tire

Hey Everyone,
Thanks for all the info,I went with the Dunlop SP Sport 8000 P245/50-15 on the stock rim it lowered the bike about half an inch,rides nice but gonna have to play with the air pressure.Really nice for burn outs too!!!
Thanks John

awilks · Apr 2, 2005

John,

Did you have to cut out your rear fender on the LH side to allow clearance for your Dunlop P245/50? If so, how did you do it? I would like to see a picture of your tire on the bike.

Thanks,

Alan

eldiablokid · Apr 3, 2005

Tire Fit

Hello Alan
I did not have to make any modifications at all to the fender or anywhere else.I will try to post pics asap.
Thanks John

pronomian · Apr 5, 2005

How do the car tires handle the uneven pavement at speed? Do they have a tendency to want to catch the grooves in the road?

The do look cooler from behind.

Mike

V8GRUMPY · Apr 5, 2005

Mike,

At speed they handle anything (including dirt) well, it is at slow crawl speeds that you feel the "hunting".

Tim

Zenbiker · Apr 9, 2005

OK...I took the plunge and got a 235/60/15 HR Michelin for the rear. I didn't even check first to see if it was a radial or bias ply and when it came to my house I saw it was a radial. Is this better or worse for handling than the bias ply in the rear?? Does it make any difference at all? I would think the radial would be stiffer in the sidewalls and add some rigidity there but would like some feedback from the "Car tire guys.".
Really wanted to go for a 245/60/15 but the only ones I could find were "S" or "T" rated for speed and I'm often above those speed ratings.....Joe

c yaaaa · Apr 9, 2005

Hi Joe,
Looks like the tire you bought is a good one to try out. I checked on the ratings on some tires and the HR is rated @ 130 mph.
For those looking into this, the S or T rated tires are for 110 - 118 mph respectively. The V rated tire is @ 149 mph.
Would like to know from Joe or any other rider that has tried the car tire approach and what they feel as a good vs. bad scenario.. Would you recomend this tire for cornering, rain, burn outs, slow traffic groove grabbers, mileage etc.
Jim

Zenbiker · Apr 9, 2005

Hi, Jim.....Will be a couple of weeks before the Michelin car tire installation but I will post my impressions immediately after I try it. I've gone through 3 Avons already in 27,000 miles and have always believed that the rounded profile made more sense. The car tire, however, has to offer much better traction in the rain and burnouts due to the larger contact patch. The "cool" factor of a car tire also intrigues me. The handling is what my concern is about as well as high speed stability (100-130 mph) and if I don't like it will switch back to the grooved Avon in a heartbeat.
I don't like the look of the 18" low profile rim and tire arrangement and want a lot of "beef" between the rim and the road so the 18" rim and very wide low profile setups are not my cup of tea. I have seen at least one of us who has dented his rim hitting a pothole with the 18" rim, low profile tire.
I will certainly let you know my impressions....Joe

awilks · Apr 10, 2005

Car Tires?

Joe,

Looking forward to your review of the Michelin. I am seriously considering the same for my '01 SB. I asked factory folks about car tires and some said it was hard to keep air in them, but Doug Zaricor said that it was not a problem if you use weights that stick on rather than clip on the rim of the wheel. Doug said that he got into a high speed wobble at 130mph using a car tire, but I am a 100-110mph limit guy. Doug did not discourage me at all. He said handling was good once you got used to it.

Alan

Zenbiker · Apr 13, 2005

Alan...We'll see soon. Will install the Michelin this Saturday and will post my impressions. Thanks for the tip about the balancing weights which never occured to me...Joe

TJzz4 · Apr 14, 2005

Well... I tried the michellin..... I found I really don`t care for the way it wants to follow the crown of the road. Slight wobble on hard acceleration at about 100. Can still light it up at will anything below 40mph, and with NOS it still lights it up at 70. The Michellin is coming off tomorrow to be replaced with a new avon.

Zenbiker · Apr 14, 2005

Tom....the same may be my fate but gotta try something different. I have no problem changing back to the Avon if I don't care for the car tire....Joe

TJzz4 · Apr 14, 2005

Joe,
That was my position too.... Who knows.. You may like it. I just felt the comfort level was greater for me with the avon. Keep us posted on your opinion with the michellin. I would really like to hear your input.
Tom.

Zenbiker · May 1, 2005

Off comes the Michelin 235/60/15HR. Interesting that with a 235 width and 60 aspect ratio you would think the bike should sit higher than with the 230 Avon or about the same at least on paper. This isn't the case. It actually sits lower and I bashed my new left pipe but good on the way home from Stamford BH. This is probably because of the rounded profile so the mid section of the tire actually is out farther than the flat profiled 235/60 car tire. I thought abot a 235/70 which should raise the bike up about an inch on paperbut don't think I will.
The bike doesn't lean enough for me as it is and reduction in lean angle is not what I want.
Don't feel as secure in the high speed twisties either. It just doesn't feel as predictable. MUCH easier to burn rubber...amazing difference! Seems as long as I stay on the throttle it'll spin. I also like the look but....
Going back to the Avon 230 and grooving it as usual....Different strokes....Joe

Tires?

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