Modern Vespa

It's finally happening!! I'm at the dealer now getting my belt/oil service, and rear brakes changed so I figured I'd do the tire change early and switch over to a darkside tire!!!

Thanks to stickyfrog, zinfan, norcal, fuzzy, and OAD for your input on this much anticipated mod for the Smrfmobile.

Couldn't be better for the SMRF Mobile!

Yup, have been thinking of doing this for sooooo long. Got another hour or so to finish up all the work then I can hit the road.

Since the smrfmobile does not lean, will you be getting a tire with a flatter profile to further increase your traction and mileage?

Indeed, here is the one example where we can all agree that an auto profile tire ought to be the right answer.

I went in the footsteps of sticky and norcal and am using a Falken tire made for an original Mini Cooper. It does indeed give more rubber on the road and am anticipating more miles between changes. I'm already lucky to be using Heidenau tires which on the rear last 6000 but would love to space it out even further with a car tire.

Great to hear smrf. Did they have to adjust the towpac to compensate for the greater diameter of your new tire?

Hi STICKYFROG, thanks for the input you provided me before I crossed over. Norcal had warned me about the increased height of the Falken tire vs scooter tire but I didn't change my suspension on the towpac kit cuz I wanted to see how it felt before adjusting things...and the way it is is great. I had an odd wobble feeling after I got the Smrfmobile back with the new kit after the accident and regardless of my tires pressure and the tow pac suspension I couldn't get rid of it. I attributed it to the failing steering column bearings at that point but with the Falken tire at 38 psi most of that odd wobble is gone now so LOVING it!!

I was confident you'd like the results. Now imagine, maybe 30K miles before you need a new rear tire!

Hi NORCAL RANDY, you were indeed correct. I am already confident to say I'm happy with crossing over to the darkside AND thank you for your input with helping me with that. I'd love to go 30k without another rear tire change! I'd be happy for 20k though. Can't wait to see how we all do on that topic...as my memory serves correctly the most any of us have so far is 4000 miles or so on one?

You are most welcome and glad to hear it is working so well for you.

A guy named Phil Summers at BurgmanAN650 Yahoo Group recently posted about his auto tire he has been using.He now has over 20k on his tire and is happy with it.

Should you want to talk with him further head over to the group,I think you need to have at least a Yahoo email to join the group.FYI.

Darkside for the MP3 400 - is it possible?

What size Falken did you have mounted? Does it have a "model number"?

same tire size as the 500. I have not found a suitable tire size to fit.