Car tire on my Road King

I am throwing this out there just for informational purposes.

For the record, I am switching to a car tire shortly on my 09 SG to see for myself.

I have a good friend in DC that retired from the US Govt last year. He was in charge of the Federal Tire Qualification Program since 1984. He's been in the business forever. I always run my tire questions through him.

I posted a link to the videos etc.

This is his take on the subject.
 
I have an 07 EG so this will not work for me. But if it did, I'd give it a shot. I bought a trailer from an guy that put a CT on his goldwing. Had a little money problem, so sold the GW and got a Honda scooter. He had a CT on the rear of it also.
 
WOW! what an eye opener! Im checking to see what I can do for my 06 SG its ready for tires at 8k wich is pretty good but im all about saving $ Bike tires are just a damn! ripoff! for the lack of miles you get out of them. This is a Great! post I would have never guessed. AMAZING!!!!!
 
I am sure several of us noticed your change of heart. Now its time for me to speak up. 20 or so years ago I also got tired of buying rear tires every year and tried a C/T on my rigid Shovel. And at the time I lived in Big Bear Calif where all the roads have very serious curves on them. I LOVED the way the bike rode and handled. It was supurb and I kept up with any Harley and left most with my little bar hopper. If I can find a C/T to put on my current ride (07 Wide Glide) that is what i fully intend on doing. I have even considered having my old 15 inch dimpled car rim laced to a new hub just so I can find a tire that will work. Please notice that every detractor has not tried it and everyone that has supports it adamantly.
 
Before you put a car tire on a motorcycle you might want to call the tire mfg (like Dunlop) and ask to talk to a applications engineer, or talk to people that road race motorcycles on a club or professional level.
There is an issue that comes when the front and rear tire don't have compatible cross section profiles.
What 'can' happen (and at unpredictable times) is a tank slapper from chassis oscillations that drive the handlebars from lock to lock rapidly as a result of the incompatible profiles. This seems to happen times like when while moving fast in sweepers, after crossing multiple bumps (like a railroad crossing) at the end of an "at speed" wheelie, and etc.
You may get away with no problems at all, and then without any warning ...... all hell breaks loose.
This can, and does happen even with motorcycle tires that have front and rear incompatible profiles, or something as simple as incorrect tire pressures.
If you ever find your self in the middle of increasing chassis oscillations, you are well advised to not hit the breaks but instead put your weight over the front of the bike and stay on the throttle. Some folks have had positive results applying only the rear break, but IMO that can just make it worse, as will letting off the throttle or hitting the brakes together.
Doing this might stop the oscillations before the bars bang the stops .........and you go down ugly.
I don't mean to rain all over the "car tire" parade ....... and (as I indicated) ..... don't take my word for it .... ask guys that road race, or call the tire company of your choice and ask an app. engineer about incompatible tire profiles and their unpredictable effect on a motorcycle.
 
I hate to burst your bubble but that shit happens with bike tires too. And just what do you thing the tire people are going to say when you call? That they don't recommend it.
 
Yup, and just as I said above .... "even with motorcycle tires".

I would hope that if you call the mfg. you could be sly enough not to just ask "Hey .... (deeeewd) ....... can I put one'a your car tirers on the back'a my bike?!?"

But instead ....... use some cerebral stealth, and maybe ask something like "can you tell me about tire profiles and about the interrelationship between the front and rear on a motorcycle"

You know .......... don't lead the witness.
 
That usually happens when you mix bias ply and radials in the same setup. That will throw a car off the road, I once saw a shortbed truck get tossed aout as if it had a blow outl It was really violent!

How it can throw a heavy vehicles around like that, I don't know But I have seen it with my own eyesl
 
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