Darkside = NO DICE!! in Idaho.

[mhunt75]

I have wanted to go dark side for several years. Then when my current Metz gave up at less than 5000 miles, I had it with the 2 tire changes a year thing. I did the research and did choose the Rinken. Then the fun began. First off I know that I live in Idaho and most people here thought the earth was flat until a couple of years ago. I accept that I live and work with people who have limited ability to think outside of the box. But I didn't expect the responses that I received on this simple tire change.

Long story short, I went to all the dealerships that are in the local area (10 total) I also went to those single person custom shops (5 of them) and sent 7 emails to the others (got 6 replies..shock!) All said basically the same thing.... CAR TIRE BAD!!!

It didn't matter that I had this site as a reference and the several hundred tires that have been installed and ran without incident. I was told several things, like "it is illegal to run a car tire on a MC". Really I said, "please tell me what section of law that is in....Please chapter and verse" The reply was "Don't know where, just BAD!" I was also given several examples of dealerships that installed the car tires, but wrong tire size, that was patched and was a retread. Well, the rider wrecked and sued everyone for 10 Million dollars!.. Well, none of those facts were like mine. I pointed out the profile and the tread wear rating, the same size tire. The fact that My foot pegs would scrape before the side of the tire would even be reached. And On and on.... One, shop manager said OK. But I heard a fight in the back and overheard the Mechanic refuse to work on it. "we don't install car tires.....Period...Ever" was the statement. Then the service manger returned the tire and tore up the service ticket in front of me. Pretty bold move there, I am 6'2" 285lbs and people tend to be nice to me, always. But not here and not with that subject.. I was also told that "This dealership wants nothing to do with that type of work and will refuse any and all work on a bike with a car tire".

Then...I got the "no way to balance it" line. Which I followed with "I have balance beads". Well, good thing that witch burning is no longer done, as I would have been tied to the stake and looking at a pile of wood at my feet.

So, the picture shows my solution.... Some day I will join you!!!

Thanks for reading.....

 

[mexican]

My friend, i think people over there still think the earth is flat!
Dont give up!! Soon you will find somebody with the sarkside mentality, unless you travel to Oklahoma, i know a good shop willing to do it, heck, a friend of mine just bought a new goldwing and brought a car tire and the dealer installed it!

 

[sweettennbabe]

Tell them if it was a bad thing your insurance company would not cover the bike!! Yep you are more backwoods up there than we are here in the south.

 

[BIKER]

same thing here in new york..I don't know of a shop that will touch it any more..but I could do it my self if I every wanted too...but I will never go dark side ...

Ed

 

[scot in exile]

Never had a problem finding some one down here to install my car tyre, but the same guy was also very happy when last week I had him remove it and install my new Bridgestone

 

[evomind]

not sure how that tire grips compared to the metz.

 

[CanberraR3]

They all did you a favour. Exedra Max is brilliant.

 

[dandiego]

I hear ya. I had so many problems findiing someone to install my Riken Raptor locally that I finally gave up and returned the tire to my local Goodyear.

I really suspect that -- along with all the superstition and rumors -- they just want to sell you new tires (and installation, balancing and the mandatory disposal fee) every 6 months. Where's the profit in a tire that lasts 3+ years?

And, like you, I have never been able to have any of these know-it-all's substantiate their rumors of disaster. And they tried like heck via Google while I stood there and challenged them.

Good luck to you. I'm sticking with the Dunlop E3s for now; that's about a 10,000-mile tire so far.

Dan

 

[Baggage1]

A little secret I use is that I take the wheel off of the bike and take it in to any tire shop and just tell them it goes on a trike. End of story

 

[sandman1852]

Last month I ordered my general altimax at a local dealer when he asked me what kind of car it was for I said triumph, the car or bike he asked ,told him for the rocket he didn't bat an eye. Said if you have any problems were open till 6 pm . We talked about the darkside and it seems pretty common around here. Btw I really like it so far found the "sweet spot " but I found myself running a lot harder though the twisties still getting use to it..........sandman