Car Tire

[TLRam1]

Post your opinions, thoughts or questions if you have any.

After messing with tires falling over, hitting my camera propping them back up I have all the tires in, measured and photographed.

I bought the 165 than leaned towards the 155 than back to the 165 and now after crunching numbers and photos I'm in the thinking process, which one to try.

Width - measure from the widest point of the tire be it sidewall or tread (MC tire).

Height – measure from the floor to the highest point of the tire.

These numbers are Actual measurements, not what mfg states. Many numbers were 24 7/16 (chg to 24 ½), I rounded the fractions for ease of comparison.

The 155 is narrower than the Dunlop by ½ inch. Tread width on the Dunlop is significantly wider due to the tread wraparound design.

                                             Width               Height            Tread Width


Dunlop  150-80-15                 5 3/4                24 1/2                7 1/2
________________________________________________________________

Car Tire 155-SR-15                5 1/4                24.7                   4 3/4

Car Tire 165-HR-15                6 1/8                25.0                   5 3/4



165 – Dunlop – 155




155 - Dunlop – 165


165 – 155


Dunlop – 165


Dunlop – 155


These are redundant below, included them anyway.

155


165


Dunlop

[hootmon]

Terry here is one thought
The 165 tire is 1/2 inch taller - This will to some extent slow down the revs on the motor at highway speed I wouldn't expect much, but some. Due to this it should also lengthen the band of each gear slightly, but may take some Speed off. again it is only 1/2 inch, but it is a factor.

[Jerry G Turner]

get two more wheels hook them all together and make your self a trike. LOL

[lragan]

Terry here is one thought
The 165 tire is 1/2 inch taller - This will to some extent slow down the revs on the motor at highway speed I wouldn't expect much, but some. Due to this it should also lengthen the band of each gear slightly, but may take some Speed off. again it is only 1/2 inch, but it is a factor.

Depending on the compression of the tire to create a contact patch, it could be even more.  At equal pressure, I would expect the MC tire to be a bit shorter (distance from the axle center to the road) than the car tire, which will have a wider contact patch.  Perhaps as much as 1/2 inch in the radius in question, or about 4%.  So at 70 mph indicated, the car tire mounted, you could be traveling maybe 73 mph.  Probably not a big deal.

[dgc67]

Something I noticed and have been thinking about on these "dark side" posts is the 155 tire is not really any wider than the Dunlop and still has a somewhat "curve" to it, especially at the shoulder.  Now I know once the weight of the bike is on there is it will flatten out a bit.  But, I could see using it on a touring bike.  I have not doubt it has superior wet traction and looks like it could handle the leans that a full dresser (no offense Curtis, I know that statement does not apply to you.  LOL) will be making on average.

Thanks for posting these pics all together and glad your camera survived!

[Curtis_Valk]

IMO the narrower car tire will have less car tire "feel" but the wider car tire will look better (beefier).  Everything depends on your priorities.

My next car tire, I'm going back to a symmetrical (directional) sport tire.  I am not pleased with my latest tire's tendency to wander on uneven pavement and I'm convinced it is the tread since my Toyo Proxes directional sport tire does not exhibit this behavior.  The problem is that so far I have not been able to find anything but a low profile 55 siries in the narrow 195 size that I desire.  I may have to go to a 205 to get a 65 profile.  The search continues.

Curtis

[TLRam1]

IMO the narrower car tire will have less car tire "feel" but the wider car tire will look better (beefier).  Everything depends on your priorities.

Curtis

Yes, when I put the 155 behind the Magna it will not have the beefier look. How much extra input is required by Len's Magna with the 165? That might help make a decision.

get two more wheels hook them all together and make your self a trike. LOL

I was waiting for the witty one to arrive. 

155 tire is not really any wider than the Dunlop and still has a somewhat "curve" to it, especially at the shoulder. 

Thanks for posting these pics all together and glad your camera survived!

Correct this 155 is narrower by 1/2 inch. I need to measure the relaxed bead width to see if it sheds light as to how much it will curve and also look at recommended rims width for the same.  I'm glad the camera made it also, this one doesn't take dropping well. 

Hoot and Lawrence,

I have thought along those lines also, that would be a benefit on the highway. As you say by how much and may not be noticeable.

Keep your thoughts coming, I may not respond to them all but I am reading and pondering. It's better if you can see the tires in person, the photos are the best I can get you to reality. 

[lragan]

I gotta admit the car tire is tempting -- from looks, and from price.  I am dubious about turning performance, but will take the word of those who have experience.

What do you use to mount tires?  I have no equipment besides crowbars and screwdrivers, and don't want to ding up my rim.

Unless I pick up yet another nail, there is a lot of life left on the rear tire I have on, so I am not in a hurry here.

[hootmon]

Lawrence

I put up some videos, I think earlier in this thread.. You can decide for yourself on turning patch size.

Even though the M/C tire has a wider tread, there is some on the edges of my tire that looks like I never or hardly ever use, so I don't think that is an advantage, and believe that you will get a bigger patch with the car tire on the ground, even in turns.

I'm with Curtis, that I would prefer a uni-directional tire, but I don't believe there are any in Magna size.

I would prefer a slightly tigher pattern, but again, options are limite. I believe it would make the tire quieter and hey, how much mud and snow are we planning on hitting with the Magna?? 

I've got about 13K on my Avon and will be look for a new tire in the next 3K or so (should be 3-4 months) so I wish you guys would get going and make my decision easier!!! (yeah, it's all about me!! )

Terry, since you have the tire mounting machine.. Are you going to start running a Rim Swap service?? 

[Len Averyt]

My 165 80 15 that I run is great.
I did see a small drop in RPM at 70MPH about 200-300 RPM.
The handeling is really good. Curtis and Greg C. have both ridden it and they both have leaned it more than I do so I know it sticks good and handles well.
I like the taller look as well, makes it look bigger and fatter.
Still playing with the pressures a bit i started out at 32PSI but the tire felt too flexy.
I'm running 34 right now and Greg C. Said that I should probably go up to 36 or 38, which I havent tried yet.
The 165 also didn't require any change of the brake stay, which is a little bonus.

The only drawback, per say is that it feels like the tire wobbles a bit on hard acceleration.
I think this is due to the tread pattern.

[hootmon]

My 165 80 15 that I run is great.
The only drawback, per say is that it feels like the tire wobbles a bit on hard acceleration.
I think this is due to the tread pattern.

More pressure may make the wobbles less apparent.. Let us know...

[Curtis_Valk]

Yes, when I put the 155 behind the Magna it will not have the beefier look. How much extra input is required by Len's Magna with the 165? That might help make a decision.

It didn't feel bad at all to me, but I've been off the Magna for quite a while now so don't go my my "feel".  I also only took a short ride and I think an honest evaluation can only be made by the person who rides on it every day.

Curtis

[lragan]

I did see a small drop in RPM at 70MPH about 200-300 RPM.

This is consistent with the approximation I posted earlier, and makes perfect sense.
In my prior post, I forgot that the speedometer feeds off the front tire.  So naturally the difference will be manifest in the tachometer reading, not the speed, which should still be correct if the size of the front tire is correct. 

Duh!

[Magnum Magna]

If the weather looks good next weekend I will bring by a check for the tire or I will mail it to you.  Which ever tire you try I will try the other one.

[roboto65]

Ok so I have a Question what would be the widest tire to fit in there not because I want the widest it just seems the wider you get the better the tire from what I see like this one http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Bridgestone&tiremodel=Potenza+RE%2D01R or even this one
http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Bridgestone&tiremodel=Potenza+RE%2D01R which even has a 155/80/15 !!!