Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => Accessories and Modifications - C10 => Topic started by: mrwog on February 29, 2012, 09:51:15 PM
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Just curious
Has anyone run a 140-90-16 on the rear and a 100-90-18 up front
And if so what was the outcome. N
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Posted this before I was done, don't know how I did that.
Not saying I wish to do this I'm just curios if anyone has done that combo?
Also I see Shinko makes a Tourmaster front tire in a 150-80-16 but not in a rear tire. Now I have never thought of this till now nor do I know the answer.
Is there that much if any difference in construction between the front and rear tires in that size???
Just tossing this out for conversation
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Interesting question. What would be the difference between a front or rear tire? If it says front tire but is the size of the rear, does it really matter?
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That question should open a big can of worms.
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Rear usually has more tread depth, may be a different compound, different (flatter) shape
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Excellent question for the Winter thinking season.
I would only be concerned about the weight bearing of the 140 and the 100, our Connies are a touch heavy when filled with go juice and the way some of us pack them down.
Now if you don't hit the twisties, don't load her up for a long weekend, and stay pretty much straight up and down, I can't see how a those sizes could hurt.
I personally have no desire to go down in sizes, but to each his or her own.
My $.02 worth.
Ride safe all,
Greg
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mrwog,
What are you looking for with this mod? Quicker turn in? After 40 years on motorcycles, I value stability in bad weather, on rough pavement, and over bumps and tar snakes and cracks more. And I change my own, so I am looking for the longest mileage possible. It is a big, heavy motorcycle, and it will never feel light and nimble. Wrong bike for that.
I went the opposite direction. 130/70R18 (rear) in the front. 175/78R16 in the back. Over 15,000 miles and still way more than half of the tread left.
Narrower should give you quicker, and those sizes should work ok. But what do I know? YMMV.
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>>>SNIP<<< I went the opposite direction. 175/78R16 in the back. Over 15,000 miles and still way more than half of the tread left.
And what's the brand, cost & who did you order it from. Have you got any pics of it mounted on your bike & the swing-arm/sidewall clearance?
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And what's the brand, cost & who did you order it from. Have you got any pics of it mounted on your bike & the swing-arm/sidewall clearance?
:stirpot:
:popcorn: :popcorn:
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Is that stuff you are stirring for the popcorn?
Anyway...Austone ordered from Universal Tire in PA. $143 shipped. I like to go long miles, often including lots of curves. Live at 6000' in the mountains, so every ride starts with at least 15 miles of great mountain roads.
Pics in the morning. Clearance is VERY tight. I had to trim the rubber flap hoosker to get up to ZERO clearance. Do I like it? I have a second one in the garage...
saxman
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Uhh...yeah...that's what it's for... ;)
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The directional arrows on the tire reveal the direction in which the carcass reinforcement is biased to accept the loads. The rear tire has the most sustained loads with the tire being pulled forward by the engine. Braking the rear tire is less stress and shorter periods of time. The front tire is the opposite. Forward motion has the tire just spinning with almost no rotational torque stress, but braking is a very intense strain on the front tire carcass. The design of the cords is to be installed in the strongest position. If you have a reason to install a front tire on back, or a rear tire on front, make sure to install them so the rotation arrow is in the wrong (opposite) direction.
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I went the opposite direction. 130/70R18 (rear) in the front. 175/78R16 in the back. Over 15,000 miles and still way more than half of the tread left.
Do what? I hope thats an error....
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Popcorn, anyone?
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BTW, I figured its a car tire, but have never seen a 78 series tire before.....was it 75? 80? Something else?
And Im not fond of car tires, but thats why I dont run them....to each his own...lots of guys on my old VTX forum swear by them.
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Dunlop or Austone? I'm tempted to try the Austone, since I've got 2 rear wheels laying around. Wife would probably kill me after all the campaigning I did to get approval for the meanie rear if I like it.
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Uglydog, Austone. See previous post.
Leo, you state the argument well, BUT the tires are better now. That used to be important, but a long time ago the tire manufacturers learned to bond the carcass plies together better and the braking shear stresses are nowhere near enough to cause delamination.
Those are just "old engineers' tales" at this point. Yes, I have references. Start with this one:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/safercar/pdf/PneumaticTire_HS-810-561.pdf (http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/safercar/pdf/PneumaticTire_HS-810-561.pdf)
Yes, it is *comprehensive*. But it is full of data, not half-remembered stories.
Lodogg, you are possibly showing your age...old guys remember when ALL tires were 78 series, and before that when ALL tires were 80 series, and before THAT...you get the idea.
Yes, we are talking about car tires here, folks. As the GF says, "Don't be alarmed...but...somebody put a car tire on your motorcycle..."
No, that is not a *typographical* error. Some folks would call it a much worse type of error. I am so fond of it, I am looking into importing some narrow series 16s myself, since they are hard to come by in North America, but plentiful in lots of other places.
I promised photos. Soon I will brave the freezing winds and get some. Long ride this weekend, and the red girl needs packing and the usual pre-ride prep. Back at you with photos.
Oh, yes. The *disclaimer*: DO NOT DO THIS! Only run tires personally blessed by Mama Kaw or her licensed and fully certified agents. NEVER run unapproved gear! NEVER install tires backwards, or on the wrong end of the machine! Your (former) friends will look away in shame, and refuse to be seen in your presence! The splines will dry up and fail due to the much longer tire change intervals! Gasoline dealers will curse your name, as the 5% larger tire will reduce your engine speed and increase your fuel mileage a few %! Unimaginably BAD things happen to those who dare to gaze upon unapproved gear, and worse things to those who install such unapproved gear! If you are still reading, it may already be too late!!!!!!! Even more of these !!!!!!!!
Seriously, there is a great deal of heated debate on the CT topic. Search "Dark Side" for some links if you want to read some of it. MOST of the anti-CT comments come from folks who have never ridden on one. Typically, they reply with righteous indignation when pressed for the source of their "expertise". IT IS JUST WRONG, or something like that, is the usual defense.
Some folks who try a CT seem to still be running them. Some folks do not like the CT and off it comes. I am not selling anything, either literally or figuratively. I approached this like any other scientific research question would be approached. Flame away if you wish. But have an actual argument, not just noise, please. I have data, and so do lots of other folks.
saxman
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Well said saxman...while I must say that CTs are not for me...it isn't for the reason many people might think...I mean...gee whiz! Did you see the chicken strips on my Shinko??? I remember back when car radials first were introduced...and, yes, I remember 78 series tires...but, the rap on radials was they were dangerous...you could easily get into a corner (or curve) over your head...and there was no saving it if you were on radials! At least, that's what the old guys told me...and I believed 'em...I wonder what ever became of those guys? I'm kinda thinking they're rocking radials now...if they're still driving... ;)
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;D. I grew up in Akron Ohio. My Dad worked for B.F. Goodrich for 43 years. When radials first hit the market, my Dad put them on both our vehicles and his boat trailer............and never looked back.
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Sorry, the post above is a little off topic.
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Thanks for the propers, CRocker...I remember that bit about radials. "they'll be turnin' like they should, an' ALLOFASUDDENLIKE, they will GRAB and you'll be shootin' off the INSIDE of the corner. Nuthin' you kin do, neither. They just do you like thet. You kin tell they aint right. Lookit the way they skwish down like they are low, then you get the gauge out and they got 32PSI !!
Tele, yer daddy was way ahead of the curve.
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The fact that I can post on this topic here is why I'm a member of this board and not the other one. I will **never** join that board. Screw them.
Talk of darksiding is not allowed over there.
I might do it once the Most Expensive Dungflop Ever is worn out. I paid so much for this tire I'm running it into the cords though.
Lots of Chicken Littling on this topic without many facts. Seems like more people that try it end up sticking with it than going back.
Never heard of a catastrophic failure happening with this mod either.
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Derek, over on the GL1800 boards there is a special topic board for the darksiders so it isn't just one web site.
Not a fan of car tires on bikes personally but there is a fellow who does Turbo kits for the gold wing, $10,000 plus install, and he says he has put 50,000 onto his rear
tire while doing extensive testing of the acceleration properties of the turbo.....in the 1/4 mile head to head with a non turbo he says he is 300 feet ahead at the end.
I think if I was running a lot of miles I would at least try a car tire....they do look funny though....
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Derek, over on the GL1800 boards there is a special topic board for the darksiders so it isn't just one web site.
Not a fan of car tires on bikes personally but there is a fellow who does Turbo kits for the gold wing, $10,000 plus install, and he says he has put 50,000 onto his rear
tire while doing extensive testing of the acceleration properties of the turbo.....in the 1/4 mile head to head with a non turbo he says he is 300 feet ahead at the end.
I think if I was running a lot of miles I would at least try a car tire....they do look funny though....
I know it's not just one web site, and if they roll like that it's a place I don't belong.
I don't know about Darksiding yet, haven't tried it. Might not if I don't end up keeping the ZG.
I've got to decide once I get her back on the road.
My next bike won't be appropriate for a darkside setup, that much I know. ;D
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datsaxman, thanks for the updates on tires, I am an old guy and still remember tires with tubes and rim strips. I even know how to repair a flattened inner tube with the wheel still on the bike. What I wrote about was the recommendation at the time and I have actually successfully done that. I have not had the need to improvise a set of tires since I rode a bike that had 18" rims on both ends.
I have a pair of Michelins on the bike right now, and I spooned a pair of Dunlops on a bike last Saturday. They still have directional arrows on them.
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mrwog,
What are you looking for with this mod? Quicker turn in? After 40 years on motorcycles, I value stability in bad weather, on rough pavement, and over bumps and tar snakes and cracks more. And I change my own, so I am looking for the longest mileage possible. It is a big, heavy motorcycle, and it will never feel light and nimble. Wrong bike for that.
I went the opposite direction. 130/70R18 (rear) in the front. 175/78R16 in the back. Over 15,000 miles and still way more than half of the tread left.
Narrower should give you quicker, and those sizes should work ok. But what do I know? YMMV.
Have been riding since 1967 and first time owning a Concours. While searching tire selection I had seen this tire size and was just wondering if anyone had this combo and popped it up for conversation is all.