'12 SG darkside tire size?
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 654
Likes: 5
From: oklahoma
'12 SG darkside tire size?
im looking to try out a CT instead of a MT. 80% of the riding i do is not twisties and i put a lot of miles on my bike so the tire gets a flat spot pretty quick anyways. im looking a 195/60/16 but what have you other SG guys used? looking at a directional with something like a 380 to 420 tread wear rating. maybe General AltiMax or G Max
I went to the dark side in January of this year so I haven't had the opportunity to ride it yet. With the 12 feet of accumulated snow this winter I won't be riding until late April or May. The tire I selected for wear and fuel mileage was the Michelin Primacy 205/55-16. It looked huge before I installed it but it fit perfectly. If you check out all the other threads on this topic you will find that this tire size is the one you should use. Like you, I do most of my riding bolt upright so I'm hoping this will give me much better wear than a motorcycle tire.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
I am running a 205/55 -16 G-Max. I like the way it handles and am pretty happy with it.
I do have to say that when I replace it (not for a quite a while yet) I will look seriously at run flats. Supposedly the stiffer side walls work well on bikes....
I do have to say that when I replace it (not for a quite a while yet) I will look seriously at run flats. Supposedly the stiffer side walls work well on bikes....
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 80
From: currently an Okie
DS tire
I've run a GY Eagle and a Dunlop Sp5000. The Goodyear was a 205 55 16, but I think it's a good idea to do the 195 55 16 instead. That's what I have in the Dunlop now. It does handle better than the GY did.
I lurk on the GoldWing dark side forum quite a bit and the big winner there is the Michelin runflat. That's what I've got on my spare wheel and will have on the bike in a month or so. I think the Michelin will give better life because it starts out with a deeper tread.
The drawback and the benefit of a run flat is that if you do lose air pressure you can still ride it. The drawback could come in not knowing it's flat and riding it for a thousand mile or so. I don't know if you can tell if it's flat or not. That held me back from a runflat for a while, but eventually I decided to try one.
I think once I get it on, I may let all the air out of it so I know what to expect if it looses air. I know I will check my air pressure a lot more than I currently do once I get the RF on the bike.
By the way when it comes time for a front tire, try going double dark side and use a rear tire on the front. The Bridgestone BT45 makes a great front tire. The one I've got on the front is going to outlast the CT on the rear. I've got 18K on each of them now.
I lurk on the GoldWing dark side forum quite a bit and the big winner there is the Michelin runflat. That's what I've got on my spare wheel and will have on the bike in a month or so. I think the Michelin will give better life because it starts out with a deeper tread.
The drawback and the benefit of a run flat is that if you do lose air pressure you can still ride it. The drawback could come in not knowing it's flat and riding it for a thousand mile or so. I don't know if you can tell if it's flat or not. That held me back from a runflat for a while, but eventually I decided to try one.
I think once I get it on, I may let all the air out of it so I know what to expect if it looses air. I know I will check my air pressure a lot more than I currently do once I get the RF on the bike.
By the way when it comes time for a front tire, try going double dark side and use a rear tire on the front. The Bridgestone BT45 makes a great front tire. The one I've got on the front is going to outlast the CT on the rear. I've got 18K on each of them now.
Last edited by rkoivisto; Mar 6, 2014 at 07:45 PM. Reason: add info
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
Double Dark does not use a CT on the front. Double Dark uses a MT on the front. The difference is it is the size / type tire normally used as a rear tire...
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 654
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From: oklahoma
ok i got ya. putting a rear on the front might not be a bad idea. double the tread. but i wonder how a rear would handle on the front
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,437
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From: currently an Okie
handling of a BT45
Some riders that ride very aggressively in twisties have complained about the softer rubber on the outside of the dual compound tire wearing too fast. For the normal rider that puts a lot of hiway miles the BT45 works really well.
Stage II
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Minot, ND
The dark side on a hack
I've got a 1998 Harley Ultra Classic with a Harley side car. I can't seem to find what size car tire would work on the bike, front and rear. Any help would be appreciated since I want to go to the Dark Side.
Johnnie
Johnnie