Darkside update

[wilbur-t]

Wilbur's last words, I am bereaved to report. Said words were eventually (in Sep.2008) deciphered from frozen, blood-written inscriptions on a car tire carcass drifting a few nautic miles away from the South Pole

The rumors that I was eaten by penguins after being thrown off course by my rear tire were greatly exaggerated.

 

[wilbur-t]

Dewrag, that really does look good. 225 you say?

Wilbur, how many miles did you put on it before upping it to 36? You were running 30 PSI weren't you? I really do like the looks of the AVS ES100. Give me 6 months and I'm going over to the darkside myself. I get my handle honestly.

Got about 1100 miles on the Yoko now.

 

[Jamie]

Got about 1100 miles on the Yoko now.

You're quoting John Lennon?

 

[Sidecar Flip]

Got about 1100 miles on the Yoko now.

You're quoting John Lennon?

I believe Yoko has a few more miles on her than 1100..............

 

[Gunshots]

5500 miles and I just love my goodyear, 9100 miles on the bike and I would otherwise be lookin at my nearly my fourth tire. I don't mide wrenchin my own bike but I don't plan on changing tires all summer. the Metz didn't last as long as a good Cigar.

 

[Sidecar Flip]

At least it ain't a Firestine.......

 

[HeR3tic]

I am going to start out with an inexpensive tire Riken raptor ZR 225/50ZR16. Link Removed

[/quote]

My darkside rear tire choice was the Michelin Pilot Sport AS. I went with the 225/55ZR16 size. I'm running 32 psi.

I ran a ventus 245/50/16 at 40psi back in 05

Link Removed

5500 miles and I just love my goodyear, 9100 miles on the bike and I would otherwise be lookin at my nearly my fourth tire

So many choicesI've not looked into the treadwear numbers on anymore that that FINE Rinken Raptor. It's only 300, which to me means softer and softer is good in my book. So I get only 30k on one. I can get near 5 for the price of a metz.
It has been said though, gravel roads are a white knuckle experience. I imagine a washboard gravel mile will make you turn around Over the course of 45k the bill on the metz replacement would be near 5250...10 times more that a single Raptor. Lets triple that for the approximate miles on a set of 5 Raptors at the low low dollar of one time 350 metz. Plus you've gone over to the darkside soon to be bright side. Do you think a group buy is worth it

 

[wilbur-t]

The gravel roads aren't too bad once you get used to them. My driveway is 1/8 mile of highly crowned gravel road. At first I had a hard time negotiating it. I learned the main thing is to carry a little speed. If you poke along, it's much harder to control. I went to my sister's place in the mountains this past weekend. Have to ride a twisty gravel road to the top of the mountain. Did not have any trouble.

 

[wilbur-t]

You're quoting John Lennon?

Now that's funny!!!!!

 

[Darron]

gravel & car tire = bad handling

Hey wilber-t,

I had just put on my Mich 235/60r16 and had about 100 miles on it when a biker friend past away because of cancer. The funeral procession was at his church on a freshly graveled parking lot. It was about 4 inches deep with pea sized gravel. Other bikers who know me gave me quizzical looks as I had to "duck paddle" like a newbie out the drive at about 1mph.

Of course, like you said once the procession got to moving at a 10 to 15 mph rate, everything settled down. But you are right, the slower you go with car tires, the worse the handling.