[Auburn]

I have two Goldwings. I ride 2 up 99% of the time, taildragger fuel cell and both are set up for LD riding (multiple GPS, RD, wireless phone charging, Kennedy Electronics audio interface to input all audio over the intercom system, Clearwater Savina auxiliary LED lights)

#1 Bike has Full Monty Traxxion suspension system, running Dunlop Elite 4 up front at 34psi cold
1. 2006 Audio Comfort (black)
2. Bridgestone Driveguard 195/55 R16 run at 28psi cold
3. Run Flat
4. Miles on your Car Tire at posting 12k (looks like it will go at least another 10k)
5. Evaluate your Car Tire's overall performance. from 1 to 10 I give this a 9
6. Will you stay a Darksider? Yes

#2 Just got this bike. Just installed Full Monty Traxxion suspension system, running Dunlop Elite 4 up front at 34psi cold
1. 2006 Navi non-ABS (white)
2. Bridgestone Driveguard 195/55 R16 run at 28psi cold
3. Run Flat
4. Miles on your Car Tire at posting 0k
5. Evaluate your Car Tire's overall performance. from 1 to 10 I give this a 9
6. Will you stay a Darksider? Yes

Very impressed with the Driveguard wet or dry. Wears very well, they allow softer pressure with the suspension setup I have while retaining great handling characteristics. I push it pretty hard in the twisties. If the road has a crown or ruts, it will move you around some, but that is to be expected for roads that are in bad condition. It works really well on gravel roads.

 

[ddumwarren]

Oh, tell you about my childhood? Ok, So it all started when I was about 9 years old. One of my fellow bicyclers suggested putting a motorcycle tire on my 10 speed....being a kid that like to try knew things, I said ok. Well I got a motorcycle tire mounted and leaned into my first turn...wow...the handlebars shook, I was all over the road, the next thing I know I was waking up in the ditch with my friends looking down at me and saying, damn that was great...told you that tire is bad ass! Well that is why I cannot do it...I just cannot get through that fear Doc. Can you help me?? :laugh2:

I put a CT on my 2008 Goldwing and it made my ride even smoother than it was. No problem in turns. Also a tire rated for 50,000 miles will last a lot longer than the dunlop. Do the math you will save a lot of money.

 

[dsurley]

UPDATE:
the Yoko AVID ENVigor non runflat was put on in Oct 2016, it now has 31,000 miles, center is pretty much bald.
Have dropped the air pressure from the original 41 down to 35 to get a few more miles out of it, the outside groves still have about 4/32 rubber left
Will be replacing it in December during my Christmas break, can't get the this tire anymore

going with a TOYO Extensa HPII, another nice symmetric directional tire

I don't ever see a MC tire going back on the rear unless someone else buys my bike, but I hope that is lots of years, for I plan on this being my last one, see if I can wear out a Goldwing

And loving the CT paired with the Bridgestone BT-46 ( the BT-45 re-design)

 

[croberts]

Just asking a question here dsurley. Do you not like the run flat version of the Envigor? I just put one on my bike to replace the second Michelin I wore out. And as we all know, Michelin doesn't make the primacy any more, so that is why I went with the Yokohama. I, like you, will always run a car tire on my bike. I am curious to hear your opinion on the Toyo tire as well. Ride safe.

 

[TAL]

UPDATE:
the Yoko AVID ENVigor non runflat was put on in Oct 2016, it now has 31,000 miles, center is pretty much bald.
Have dropped the air pressure from the original 41 down to 35 to get a few more miles out of it, the outside groves still have about 4/32 rubber left
Will be replacing it in December during my Christmas break, can't get the this tire anymore

going with a TOYO Extensa HPII, another nice symmetric directional tire

I don't ever see a MC tire going back on the rear unless someone else buys my bike, but I hope that is lots of years, for I plan on this being my last one, see if I can wear out a Goldwing

And loving the CT paired with the Bridgestone BT-46 ( the BT-45 re-design)

FYI:

YOKOHAMA AVID ENVIGOR ZPS195 /55 R16 87V SL BSW RF available at Discount Tire - might take 1-5 business days to get it.

 

[dsurley]

Just asking a question here dsurley. Do you not like the run flat version of the Envigor? I just put one on my bike to replace the second Michelin I wore out. And as we all know, Michelin doesn't make the primacy any more, so that is why I went with the Yokohama. I, like you, will always run a car tire on my bike. I am curious to hear your opinion on the Toyo tire as well. Ride safe.

My only thing against run-flats, and I have to admit I don't have this experience personally
was just how hard it was to get the tire on the rim, realizing this is with simple tire irons and not any kind of tire changing apparatus, just breaking it down with tire irons and wresting with it on the floor

and, have heard some say that even if the tire is flat you can't tell on a motorcycle because it is to light to even make the tire do anything, so there is no visual clue that there might be a problem until it is too late. you might can run them flat but they will still eventually blow out from excess heat and strain on the ridge in the tire to stiff sidewall

so, maybe my thoughts are not quite right, but that is my reasoning. Plus the regular tires are usually cheaper.
call me a tight wad, that is the only way I can keep affording my bike and most of the stuff we have, I do all the wrench twisting as possible

 

[dsurley]

FYI:

YOKOHAMA AVID ENVIGOR ZPS195 /55 R16 87V SL BSW RF available at Discount Tire - might take 1-5 business days to get it.

will look, last time I was doing searches the only one I could come up with was the run flat edition

 

[croberts]

dsurley, that one is the run flat version. ZPS gives it away.

 

[TAL]

Yeah, sorry - though you were looking at it. My bad...

 

[Darkside#1500]

I couldn't find the Avid run flat a month ago. Must be a new load just arrived.

Anyway, strongly recommend a tire pressure system that actually displays the pressure if you use a run flat tire. It can be hard to tell when the pressure is too low while riding. But you can tell. I cut one and unknowingly rode the bike for an uncertain distance because my TPMS sensor had a dead battery. What I did find the next day was: the bike had NOT fallen off the sidestand; the bike was very hard to back up out of the garage. I knew immediately that something was wrong. The tire did not look obviously flat at first and I had to use a gauge to verify.

I do much of my own maintenance but really dislike spooning on tires. The good news is, once you have a darkside tire on, you can carry the wheel into a regular tire store and get another CT on without any questions. My last mount was free with the tire purchase.

 

[Fireball1800]

Ok, for the 2018 folks and up,
1. What is the car tire size you use?
2. Is it difficult to install on the bike? (space/room in wheel well, Tips/Tricks)
3. Run Flat or No Run Flat?

Thanks

 

[Auburn]

195/55 R16 Bridgestone driveguard RF. Runn at 28 psi. works great. Mounts up really well on the 2018+ as the wheel is 1/2 wider than the 01-17 wheels.

 

[dsurley]

So here is the run down on the Yokohama AVID ENVigor non-runflat
it wound up with 32000 miles on it
but if you look at the picture, it is clear that I ran way to much air pressure for too long (39-41) trying to keep the TMPS from blinking (stupid)
for as you can see, there is lots of tread in the outer grooves, probably another 10k miles
but the shoulders were starting to get scuffed out pretty bad
was super happy with the traction in all braking and acceleration situations wet or dry
really nice ride from beginning to end

so today we start the new chapter with a totally new tire
the new rubber is a Toyo EXTENSA HPII ($105 for the tire, another $18 in mounting and taxes)
it too is a symmetric tread design that I really like the looks of
this one I am starting with 32psi, just mounted today, to cold to ride for a couple of days but next week is looking promising for some miles to work
I have totally ditched the TMPS system, replaced the sensors with just some nice chrome plated brass 90 deg valve stems
take a look at the new rear shoe

even rolled it through some dust to hi-light the tread design
the oil spots on my floor is from where I park my '02 Dodge 2500 diesel, I have never seen one not drip stuff, mostly from the blow by tube

(just looked on Wingstuff for a Bridgestone for the rear of this bike, on sale $254)
yep..... I will stay darkside

 

[dsurley]

ok
granted this is only a 50mile update on the new TOYO
this morning started in the upper 40s with a heavy dew and occasional mist so the road was damp on the way to work
coming home it was a sunny 75

So I took it a bit cautious this morning, it was just getting light with damp roads, so I would have anyways
the the new shoe never complained or made me pucker, stayed glued to the road top speed was only 65

On the way home though......... I set the cruze on 79 and let her talk
then once in Stephenville (home) I had to cross town and get gas, pick up the wife and I burgers for supper, and go to the Post Office
so ran the main loop through town, then some back city streets that aren't the smoothest things, you know how city worker street packing goes
I was getting on it fairly hard, kind of trying to see if I could break it loose, and seeing how it would follow street ridges

so far all I can say is IMPRESSED
It never tried to follow a rut or climb up weird and try to turn you over, on the highway, I had to watch it,,,,,, kept wanting to turn the corners to sharp,
it is like a new bike

maybe Monday I can take the smaller two lane Farm to Market road home, some nice twisty parts, even if it is not a very good pave job this last time they tried
my usual way from Stephenville to Hico and back is US Highway 281, (50 mile round trip)

 

[dsurley]

Well
I did get to take FM 2481 on Monday to try some twisty 2 lane paved roads....
but.... that road has turned to garbage
I ran it for a year while US 281 was under construction (putting in some climbing lanes) and it was a real old pave job with some bad spots,
but you could see the bad spots coming and move over
they did a tar and gravel repave, but DID NOT fix any of the bad spots, so all the pave job really did was camouflage the bad spots so you can't see them coming
plus, either the tar wasn't hot enough or the gravel was too dirty, because the gravel is turning loose.....
so I would be read to try to bake it through a long sweeper and then spot a loose spot, jeeze

so....didn't get to try to drag parts,....... I just ran a solid 60-65 mph and played it safe (have ran the road at 75 before, on most of it)

but I can say this........ the new TOYO didn't let me down.....so still, the word is IMPRESSED


Will have to wait to see the miles it will last,
but first impressions, it will make a great Darkside choice

 

[Corventure Dave]

Great discussion and report on your experience.
As for the OP. I only use Run Flat CT's. My concern is not so much mileage or tire cost. For me it's the safety of
the Run Flat tire. Especially on long trips where we find ourselves in no-where USA. Of course I also love the better performance I feel with the CT. Presently running the Pirelli
Snow Control. Lovin it!

Corventure Dave

 

[Goldwing love]

I apologize if this is has already been explained - as newbie to Goldwings, but not to motos, I've never heard of putting a car tire on a moto - that's what "darksiding" means, right?

What is the advantage to this?

Car tires are flat across the tread so leaning into a turn will mean less rubber gripping the road vs a rounded moto tire. And I'm not sure the sidewall of a car tire is meant to take the stress of leaning into a turn so what about safety?

I'm also imagining that changing the lean angle of the bike means rolling off the flat and onto the edge of the tread, then back on to the flat section which would feel weird, especially on twisty roads.

I suppose the mileage would be better on a car tire, and you can get run flats so no worries about a flat tire.

 

[crownfire]

Yes, darkside is putting a car tire on the rear of the bike. The advantage is longevity as they don't wear out as fast as a motorcycle tire. Now, I've never mounted one on my bike, but I've followed many a darksider through the curves. They don't seem to have any issues with taking the curves steep enough to drag parts.

 

[Goldwing love]

It's an interesting idea. Moto tires are notorious for short life, and some can be way more expensive than a car tire.
It's just strange to me to put a car tire on a moto. They aren't engineered for that purpose.
I guess I just need to hear more about it

 

[GLblinded]

I apologize if this is has already been explained - as newbie to Goldwings, but not to motos, I've never heard of putting a car tire on a moto - that's what "darksiding" means, right?

What is the advantage to this?

Car tires are flat across the tread so leaning into a turn will mean less rubber gripping the road vs a rounded moto tire. And I'm not sure the sidewall of a car tire is meant to take the stress of leaning into a turn so what about safety?

I'm also imagining that changing the lean angle of the bike means rolling off the flat and onto the edge of the tread, then back on to the flat section which would feel weird, especially on twisty roads.

I suppose the mileage would be better on a car tire, and you can get run flats so no worries about a flat tire.

THere are videos on yt that show the deflection of a CT mounted on a wing and being run down the road. THere is even one of a camera mounted inside the tire and being ridden around the block to show tire deflection in turns. Others have discussed at great length how the bead seats don’t match identically to the wing rim. Yet thousands of owners of all sorts of brands (not just goldwings or Hondas even) have put millions of miles on them without any issue. Some say insurance companies will cancel coverage but there is no documented cases that I’ve heard of. I think the practice has proven itself to work. I run a Metzler MT because I prefer the feel. I test ride friends bikes with CT’s, so I do know what the handling differences are. If I take off to go to the Atlantic coast or the Rockies, I’ll have new tires when I leave the drive. It’s just the cost to play.