Dark side?

[tdragger]

look for darkside posts by Rainman or SweetTennBabe. Both have Tourings and both run darkside.

 

[laraza]

http://www.r3owners.net/dark-side/11012-finally-did.html

This is what I put on my Touring. Hope it helps

 

[DRMD421]

That's exacly what I was looking for! How does it compare to the MC tire as far as height?

Thanks for the info by the way.

 

[laraza]

That's exacly what I was looking for! How does it compare to the MC tire as far as height?

Thanks for the info by the way.

Can't say as I noticed a difference in terms of height. Took a while to get used to the handling but love it now

 

[Macrider]

darkside

I have a 2010 R3T same as you.
After a lot of research I got a General Altimax HP 205/60/16
This fit perfectly in the Touring.
I used 3 oz of dynabeads for balancing.
I have been very impressed with it now for the last 10,000 miles and there is barely any wear at all.
I will never go back to a MC tire.

 

[atomsplitter]

You can play the 'what-if' with going darkside. There will be a difference in your speedo and odo when you change from OEM. Any 190 to 205 - 16 will fit your rim, the Aspect Ratio determines the sidewall height. The lower the number the lower the percentage. Your stock tire is 70% as tall as it is wide. That means the sidewall (assume a 180 mm wide) is 126 mm tall. A 205 -50 is 102.5 mm tall, a 55 would make it 112.75 and a 60 is 123mm (nearly the same as the OEM). So a 205-60R16 would not change your ride height more than about 3mm. The handling change is not from the size of the bun, it's from the contact patch. The OEM tire has a small contact patch that when leaned over in a curve INCREASES. The DS tire contact patch is huge straight up and DECREASES the further you lean it over. Traction is a coefficient of contact patch and tire compound. If you go with a summer type DS tire the compound is much stickier and will hold corners without any problems while you're grinding your footboards off. I rode my Bridgestone Potenza Grid over the 'Dragon' twice and lost traction once on the front (a sphincter puckering moment) and never on the back.

 

[DRMD421]

You guys have given me some great info and I appreciate you all. The reason my dealer told me not to run a car tire is because he saw the one I was running on my Valkyrie Interstate when I drove up. Put a lot of miles on that tire and rode the Dragon with it too. The best way I can describe the effects of the car tire on handling is that it reminds me of a jet ski. When you let off the gas on a ski it straightens up and goes straight no matter how you steer. When you give it gas you can cut up all you want and control it much better. The car tire has the same effect. It wants to stand up when you go slow but in the turns it begs for more throttle. I just got 5k out of a Bridgestone so I'm done with that. Gonna look for a 205/60/16 tomorrow...

 

[slidderhd]

Bridgestone

I'm running the Bridgestone Potenza Run Flat Ultra performance All Season tire. 205/55-16. The 205 slides right on with not issues. Since I went with the Run Flat, they don't make a 60 profile, so I am loosing a little height, but it handles great. I went to Tirerack dot com to read tests and found the Bridgestone rated best for wet traction. 36 psi and I barely feel the difference.

 

[slidderhd]

Also, no balance beads.

 

[DRMD421]

Thanks for all your input folks. I bought a Definity HP800 205/60R16 earlier today. Guess I better get in the grudge and start pulling that Bridgestone off. Flat wore out at around 5500 miles.