The Dark Side For those members running "Car Tires" on their scoots. This is for their discussion only and not a place for "non dark siders" to mouth off about their negative opinions of this idea!

Going to the darkside

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 15, 2019 | 10:15 AM
  #1  
Johnnypop's Avatar
Johnnypop
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 308
Likes: 60
From: Wi
Default Going to the darkside

I thinking of going to the darkside and will be pulling a trailer. What are my best option for tire of quality. This would be for a 2010 ultra and will be installing it myself. Would a snow tire or run flat be advantageous. Main reason for switching is tire wear and economical savings.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2019 | 10:20 AM
  #2  
Kawickrice's Avatar
Kawickrice
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,752
Likes: 3,271
From: West Central Florida
Default

smitty901 just went dark on a sidecar rig. I'm sure he will be coming along soon. Finding the right sized tire is the challenge I believe
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2019 | 07:01 PM
  #3  
PFWiz's Avatar
PFWiz
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,423
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
Default

No problems size wise. 2009 and up is easy. I believe your options are either a 205 or 210 by either a 55 or 60 by 16. 210 is taller and makes the speedo more accurate. 55 is wider than the 60. Lots of good tires out there. You need to read the threads and decide what sounds good to you. I will say that I strongly recommend using Ride On to balance with....
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2019 | 07:09 PM
  #4  
Bass Player's Avatar
Bass Player
Grand HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 4,126
Likes: 2,116
From: W. MI.
Default

No snow tires...do some research and look for a tire without square tread design. Too square and the tire seems to want to follow cracks and handles like crap on her snakes. The Austone Taxi Tire is popular, from there just a decent brand tire. Dark Side can be hit and miss. You will have to play with air pressure to dial it in to dial it in to how you ride.
 
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2019 | 09:24 PM
  #5  
PFWiz's Avatar
PFWiz
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,423
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
Default

Originally Posted by Bass Player
No snow tires...do some research and look for a tire without square tread design. Too square and the tire seems to want to follow cracks and handles like crap on her snakes. The Austone Taxi Tire is popular, from there just a decent brand tire. Dark Side can be hit and miss. You will have to play with air pressure to dial it in to dial it in to how you ride.
The Austone is for 2008 and older only!
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2019 | 11:06 AM
  #6  
smitty901's Avatar
smitty901
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 11,439
Default

195/60 R16 is prefect same height only .59 inches wider plenty of clearance. The 205/55R16 works but is a lower tire and just under an inch wider it is crowding it . No wiggle room if you get a low tire. But many do it.
Just over 8,000 mile on my Car tire swap with the sidecar rig and tire still looks new. It handles great, and a lot better traction in snow.
Tire size 195 is width . 60 This number means that your tire has an aspect ratio of 60%. In other words, your tire's sidewall height (from the edge of the rim to the tire's tread) is 55% of the width. 16 The tire size was designed to fit rims or wheels that are 16 inches in diameter.

Take the guess work out if it use this sight to compare tire sizes. just plug your numbers in and see for yourself

https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc...0r16-195-60r16

Just went dark on my 750 Street it was a bit or work tracking down the right tire but it worked.
 

Last edited by smitty901; Jun 16, 2019 at 01:31 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2019 | 06:12 AM
  #7  
PFWiz's Avatar
PFWiz
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,423
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
Default

Originally Posted by PFWiz
No problems size wise. 2009 and up is easy. I believe your options are either a 205 or 210 by either a 55 or 60 by 16. 210 is taller and makes the speedo more accurate. 55 is wider than the 60. Lots of good tires out there. You need to read the threads and decide what sounds good to you. I will say that I strongly recommend using Ride On to balance with....
My mistake. I should have said 195 or 205 not 205 or 210.....
 
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2019 | 08:14 AM
  #8  
r0de_runr's Avatar
r0de_runr
Road Warrior
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 644
From: Center Point Texas
Default

This site has a database of what folks have tried.

I had a car tire om my Vulcan 2000. Could smoke it off the line.

https://darkside.nwff.info/
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 17, 2019 | 08:53 AM
  #9  
Johnnypop's Avatar
Johnnypop
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 308
Likes: 60
From: Wi
Default

From my understanding I’m looking for a tire that is more rounded not square tread. My simplest place to get a tire is Walmart and the next is Amazon. The 195/60/16 most likely the size I will be using but the 205/50/16 is possible. Most of the reading I find is older information and the newer styles are not being mentioned. Thanks for the help
 
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2019 | 01:52 PM
  #10  
smitty901's Avatar
smitty901
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 11,439
Default

Originally Posted by Johnnypop
From my understanding I’m looking for a tire that is more rounded not square tread. My simplest place to get a tire is Walmart and the next is Amazon. The 195/60/16 most likely the size I will be using but the 205/50/16 is possible. Most of the reading I find is older information and the newer styles are not being mentioned. Thanks for the help
Both are know to work on your bike the 195/60R16 will not effect you speed odometer Also while .59 of an inch wise it still give you room. As for rounded thread pictures on the Net are misleading . Tires look a lot different with air in the.
This is what I went with based on research and recommendation by others that use it. Good luck with it many do it works for most that try it. Just remember it will not handle the same as a motorcycle tire.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...el=Optimo+H426
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:27 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE