OP
@lars_danner avatar
UTC

Hooked
2014 GTV300; 2009 S50
Joined: UTC
Posts: 178
Location: Anchorage AK
 
Hooked
@lars_danner avatar
2014 GTV300; 2009 S50
Joined: UTC
Posts: 178
Location: Anchorage AK
UTC quote
Petlas Elegant PT311 145/70R12 69T BSW https://a.co/d/gMENZCp

I just had to share this! Tip of the hat to Tony Marchman.

(This is for information only, I am in no way advocating for the use of car tires on motorcycles.)
⚠️ Last edited by Lars_Danner on UTC; edited 1 time
@donttellmywife avatar
UTC

Enthusiast
09 250 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 51
Location: Mid, TN
 
Enthusiast
@donttellmywife avatar
09 250 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 51
Location: Mid, TN
UTC quote
That's the tire I run. 33 psi is the sweet spot.
UTC

Hooked
2007 Vespa 250 GTS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 464
Location: Nashville, Tn
 
Hooked
2007 Vespa 250 GTS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 464
Location: Nashville, Tn
UTC quote
That is such a great deal, Half the price of a round tire and will last 4 or 5 times longer.
@abner_bjorn avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1249
Location: Denver
 
Molto Verboso
@abner_bjorn avatar
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1249
Location: Denver
UTC quote
I put a $35 car tire on the rear of my Burgman 400. I was sick of dropping $100+ every 6,000 miles on the tire alone (I mount and balance my own). I put about 10,000 miles on it then sold the scooter. The rear tire still looked new. I now have a BV250. It has a 16" rear wheel. Doesn't look like I'll be able to find a car tire to work on it.
OP
@lars_danner avatar
UTC

Hooked
2014 GTV300; 2009 S50
Joined: UTC
Posts: 178
Location: Anchorage AK
 
Hooked
@lars_danner avatar
2014 GTV300; 2009 S50
Joined: UTC
Posts: 178
Location: Anchorage AK
UTC quote
And there is also this, if you want a more classic look...
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
@znomit avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
LX190 Friday afternoon special, [s]Primavera[/s], S50, too many pushbikes
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10787
Location: Hermit Kingdom
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@znomit avatar
LX190 Friday afternoon special, [s]Primavera[/s], S50, too many pushbikes
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10787
Location: Hermit Kingdom
UTC quote
Why just the rear?
Please show your working.
@caschnd1 avatar
UTC

Grumpy Biker
1980 Vespa P200e (sold), 2002 Vespa ET4 (sold), 1949 Harley-Davidson FL
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5572
Location: Sparks, Nevada, USA
 
Grumpy Biker
@caschnd1 avatar
1980 Vespa P200e (sold), 2002 Vespa ET4 (sold), 1949 Harley-Davidson FL
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5572
Location: Sparks, Nevada, USA
UTC quote
Lars_Danner wrote:
And there is also this, if you want a more classic look...
I remember my dad running Michelin X radials on his VW bug. That was over 50 years ago. Definitely a classic.
@matahalii avatar
UTC

Member
Sprint 125 Rs60s
Joined: UTC
Posts: 14
Location: Hannover, DE
 
Member
@matahalii avatar
Sprint 125 Rs60s
Joined: UTC
Posts: 14
Location: Hannover, DE
UTC quote
I am a little confuzed...
I never saw a car tyre on a motorcycle except for sidecar combinations or showbikes. Not sure if it can be legal in europe, but how is this behaving in curves? It looks dangerous to me.
@rrider avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
Triumph Bonneville 2022, Triumph Street Scrambler 2018 (sold), Suzuki VanVan200 (sold), 2015 Sprint 125 (sold)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3206
Location: Finland
 
Ossessionato
@rrider avatar
Triumph Bonneville 2022, Triumph Street Scrambler 2018 (sold), Suzuki VanVan200 (sold), 2015 Sprint 125 (sold)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3206
Location: Finland
UTC quote
Matahalii wrote:
I am a little confuzed...
I never saw a car tyre on a motorcycle except for sidecar combinations or showbikes. Not sure if it can be legal in europe, but how is this behaving in curves? It looks dangerous to me.
Google 'dark side' or 'dark siders'

Some tourers vote for this because car tyres are durable.
Also, especially 'Swedish chopper' style is famous not only for long forks, but often also for a car tyre in rear.

Typical for these both is that the motorcycle is ridden mostly without ambitious leaning in curves...car tyre is durable, but of course don't work like a motorcycle tyre in curves. You won't see many in sport bikes.
Quick search on local sales adds for 'Swedish chopper' style bikes...this is a good example. Many of these are not only show bikes or no show bikes at all, ridden quite a lot....but this is a very different motorcycle riding compared to e.g. MotoGP
Quick search on local sales adds for 'Swedish chopper' style bikes...this is a good example. Many of these are not only show bikes or no show bikes at all, ridden quite a lot....but this is a very different motorcycle riding compared to e.g. MotoGP
@jess avatar
UTC

Petty Tyrant
0:7 And counting
Joined: UTC
Posts: 38087
Location: Bay Area, California
 
Petty Tyrant
@jess avatar
0:7 And counting
Joined: UTC
Posts: 38087
Location: Bay Area, California
UTC quote
Matahalii wrote:
I never saw a car tyre on a motorcycle except for sidecar combinations or showbikes. Not sure if it can be legal in europe, but how is this behaving in curves? It looks dangerous to me.
This is most people's reaction to the dark side when they first encounter it. But it really does work. The sidewall deforms in the curves (up to a point) and the tire remains in contact with the road surface.

It's definitely not a setup for knee-dragging sportbike riders, but you're not going to get a knee down on a GTS anyway.
@chipshot avatar
UTC

Enthusiast
2014 BV 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 96
Location: West Central FL
 
Enthusiast
@chipshot avatar
2014 BV 350
Joined: UTC
Posts: 96
Location: West Central FL
UTC quote
Anyone know if the 155/65R14 would work on a BV350 (150-70/14 rear tire)?
@juan_orhea avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
S150 '09, Beo 500ie '08
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1367
Location: Bermuda
 
Molto Verboso
@juan_orhea avatar
S150 '09, Beo 500ie '08
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1367
Location: Bermuda
UTC quote
I consider Ryan F9's treatise on this topic fairly definitive.

I'm not sure what car tire I'd use on my Scarabeo, its rear is also 150/70-14. How do you tell? Curious, but I didn't particularly mind replacing the motorcycle tire after the 10k miles I got out of it.
@abner_bjorn avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1249
Location: Denver
 
Molto Verboso
@abner_bjorn avatar
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1249
Location: Denver
UTC quote
Is that the video where he drones on about taking corners at a 45 degree angle on a bike that weighs as much as a Honda Civic? I doubt it's relevant to anyone here.
@tszarathusra avatar
UTC

Hooked
Vespa C38 - S50 4T Super.
Joined: UTC
Posts: 266
Location: Netherlands
 
Hooked
@tszarathusra avatar
Vespa C38 - S50 4T Super.
Joined: UTC
Posts: 266
Location: Netherlands
UTC quote
Dark siding. I've never done that myself, but I've been looking into it for over a decade now. As far as I've been able to figure out, your success will depend.
In some cases the Dark Side has cookies, with double chocolate, and milk, while angels sing above. In other cases it brings fear and misery.
There are few things to take into account to reach success.
. The bike. Weight, structure and suspension.
. The tire. Width, profile and size.

More of my wit and wisdom later (maybe half of it)
@znomit avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
LX190 Friday afternoon special, [s]Primavera[/s], S50, too many pushbikes
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10787
Location: Hermit Kingdom
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@znomit avatar
LX190 Friday afternoon special, [s]Primavera[/s], S50, too many pushbikes
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10787
Location: Hermit Kingdom
UTC quote
Oh, so that's the zip tie trick!
@25bikez avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2009 Genuine Stella 2T
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1199
Location: Texas
 
Molto Verboso
@25bikez avatar
2009 Genuine Stella 2T
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1199
Location: Texas
UTC quote
Off topic, but remember when compact cars all had 13" wheels and tires?
UTC

Hooked
2007 Vespa 250 GTS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 464
Location: Nashville, Tn
 
Hooked
2007 Vespa 250 GTS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 464
Location: Nashville, Tn
UTC quote
Minicoopers and Geo's have 12" wheels
@silver_streak avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2007 Vespa LX 190, 2011 LXV150ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8758
Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@silver_streak avatar
2007 Vespa LX 190, 2011 LXV150ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8758
Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
UTC quote
Had a Honda 600 Sport Coupe in the early '70s. 10" wheels.

145R10 tires!
@matahalii avatar
UTC

Member
Sprint 125 Rs60s
Joined: UTC
Posts: 14
Location: Hannover, DE
 
Member
@matahalii avatar
Sprint 125 Rs60s
Joined: UTC
Posts: 14
Location: Hannover, DE
UTC quote
OK it is pure logic that a car tyre on 20000miles straigt american road wears less. It is made of harder compound and has a (almost) flat surface. But I like to tust my tyre especially in the corners and european curvy roads where transversal forces appear, and there the round surface and the soft grippy compound will pay off. Better change more often than sitting in the ditch.
@jess avatar
UTC

Petty Tyrant
0:7 And counting
Joined: UTC
Posts: 38087
Location: Bay Area, California
 
Petty Tyrant
@jess avatar
0:7 And counting
Joined: UTC
Posts: 38087
Location: Bay Area, California
UTC quote
Matahalii wrote:
But I like to tust my tyre especially in the corners and european curvy roads where transversal forces appear, and there the round surface and the soft grippy compound will pay off. Better change more often than sitting in the ditch.
[sarcasm]
You're right. Nobody who has ever run the darkside has ever actually navigated a single curve successfully. Most of them died in that first ditch, and the remainder that survived are too ashamed to speak up.
[/sarcasm]
@crazycarl avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2007 250 GTS, 1980 P200E, 2010 ThunderFly 190 (SOLD) 2015 Yamaha SMax (SOLD)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3522
Location: Springboro, OH
 
Ossessionato
@crazycarl avatar
2007 250 GTS, 1980 P200E, 2010 ThunderFly 190 (SOLD) 2015 Yamaha SMax (SOLD)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3522
Location: Springboro, OH
UTC quote
I have considered going darkside, but the compounds in these small car tires are very different. I'm more concerned about loss of traction, but I've seen plenty of other riders navigate corners pretty well - although some have found tipping into corners a bit tricky. That might be a function of the strength of the sidewall for a particular tire.

Has anyone considered using a belt sander to ease/round the shoulder on a car tire prior to mounting on a scoot or MC? In theory, this would more closely mimic a conventional MC tire with rounded shoulders and help keep handling more predictable.
@seamus26 avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
1979 P200E (sold) / ZNEN Amore 150 (sold) / Genuine Buddy 170i / Genuine Stella 4T /Aprilia Sportcity One 50
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2691
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
 
Ossessionato
@seamus26 avatar
1979 P200E (sold) / ZNEN Amore 150 (sold) / Genuine Buddy 170i / Genuine Stella 4T /Aprilia Sportcity One 50
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2691
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
UTC quote
I've never told anyone this before, but I'm ashamed to admit I died in a curve.
@az_slynch avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
'07 GTS250, '07 LX150, '81 P200E, '78 P200E, '74 VBC1, '64 V90 and 3 Ciaos
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1404
Location: Tucson, AZ
 
Molto Verboso
@az_slynch avatar
'07 GTS250, '07 LX150, '81 P200E, '78 P200E, '74 VBC1, '64 V90 and 3 Ciaos
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1404
Location: Tucson, AZ
UTC quote
Rode an '08 Burgman 400 about ten miles this Sunday. While I don't own one myself, my buddy owns an '07 Burgman 400 (also second gen) and I've ridden it a bit more.

I thought the '08 had rather wooden handling and took a bit more commitment to lean it into a turn. I initially thought it was due to the assortment of farkles contributing to the Burgie's already chonky curb weight. Wasn't till I parked it up that I noticed the car tire on the rear.

Personally, I'm not sold on it. My '08 Majesty will wear proper footwear as long as I own it, especially since I've thrown parts at it to improve handling and l'm not keen to give any up.
UTC

Hooked
2007 Vespa 250 GTS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 464
Location: Nashville, Tn
 
Hooked
2007 Vespa 250 GTS
Joined: UTC
Posts: 464
Location: Nashville, Tn
UTC quote
At one time about 10 ago I had 2 Majesty's, one with a round tire and 1 with a car tire. I would alternate riding them to keep batteries charged etc. One day I was riding one on the curvy back roads to the gym and I realized I wasn't aware of whether I was riding the one with the CT or the RT. This is what convinced me that there was no noticeable difference between the two. Now I am a senior citizen and not a knee dragger by any means but this works for me. On my previous CT I had logged 27500 miles when I noticed the thread was pretty thin, not bald, just thin! If I am considering buying a different scoot I will first check to see if I can run a CT on it.
Tony in Tn.
@abner_bjorn avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1249
Location: Denver
 
Molto Verboso
@abner_bjorn avatar
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1249
Location: Denver
UTC quote
I had a car tire on the rear of my Burgman 400 for a little under 10,000 miles before I sold it. I loved it. I sold the scooter because I wanted something smaller. Any scooter I own from here out will get a car tire on the back wheel if it can be done. I ride plenty of twisties in the canyons through the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Car tire was never an issue for me. Overall, I liked the ride of the scooter better with a car tire. Very rarely do you come across someone who speaks out against the practice who has actually experienced it.
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
@tszarathusra avatar
UTC

Hooked
Vespa C38 - S50 4T Super.
Joined: UTC
Posts: 266
Location: Netherlands
 
Hooked
@tszarathusra avatar
Vespa C38 - S50 4T Super.
Joined: UTC
Posts: 266
Location: Netherlands
UTC quote
Abner_Bjorn wrote:
I had a car tire on the rear of my Burgman 400 for a little under 10,000 miles before I sold it. I loved it. I sold the scooter because I wanted something smaller. Any scooter I own from here out will get a car tire on the back wheel if it can be done. I ride plenty of twisties in the canyons through the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Car tire was never an issue for me. Overall, I liked the ride of the scooter better with a car tire. Very rarely do you come across someone who speaks out against the practice who has actually experienced it.
And as people can see from the photo, the car tire profile has nearly same roundness as motorcycle tire. So if you choose the right car tire, the effect on handling should be minimal.
@abner_bjorn avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1249
Location: Denver
 
Molto Verboso
@abner_bjorn avatar
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1249
Location: Denver
UTC quote
chipshot wrote:
Anyone know if the 155/65R14 would work on a BV350 (150-70/14 rear tire)?
Read what Hank did: The Darkside of BV350
@caschnd1 avatar
UTC

Grumpy Biker
1980 Vespa P200e (sold), 2002 Vespa ET4 (sold), 1949 Harley-Davidson FL
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5572
Location: Sparks, Nevada, USA
 
Grumpy Biker
@caschnd1 avatar
1980 Vespa P200e (sold), 2002 Vespa ET4 (sold), 1949 Harley-Davidson FL
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5572
Location: Sparks, Nevada, USA
UTC quote
I just ran across this photo of an old chopper with what looks like a Michelin X automotive tire. Years ago a lot of chopper guys ran this tire. They were a lot cheaper than motorcycle tires (which weren't that great at the time).
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
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