I can't say I would put the 195 on my bike as I am more than happy with my 175, but it's good to know if needed we have options.
I used an Austone taxi tyre on my last GL1500 outfit and it was great. Much better grip. I ran it for about 2000 miles before I sold the outfit and it looked as good as new, and at about £55, much cheaper than a bike tyre.
When my present Gl1500 SE outfit needs a rear tyre it will be an Austone.
Sid
OK it appears that tire width will vary with brand. for example a Yokohama 195 will NOT fit on the 1500 without rubbing the swing-arm
but the tire my friend put on fit just fine
so the answer as to will a 195 fit is Yes and No, I now am of a mind that with it being that close why chance it
if it's that close and your tire pressure goes down some you could start rubbing the arm and not notice it at first
not worth it in my book, but that's just my 2 cents worth
Do you know what tire your friend put on?
I'm going to find out and will post when I do.
Who are you guys getting to mount these tires. Every shop I talk to refuses to mount them because "Dunlap" has provided them with documentation that it is unsafe and people are getting hurt when the bead does not hold on the m/c rim, which it is not designed to?
I mount my own tires and I can tell you from exp. there is no way in hello the the beads are going to let go. I have not read or heard any stories of car tires not holding the bead or have any major failures in general. I for one have had 2 motorcycle tires come apart on me, both were rear tires in good shape and failed right after a trip 2 up pulling my camper. I have run 2 up pulling a camper for years now on a car tire and not had any problems. I'll have to look for that report from Dunlop
there is documented mileage reports from many wing riders that go well over a million miles of safe car tire use. that number only reflects the ones that have taken the time to post their mileage
I'm on my 3rd car tire with 2 1500's and have logged about 80K on them myself.
I won't tell you to go put a car tire on your bike but I for one won't ever put a MC tire back on mine as long as I have a sidecar and pull a camper
Don't go to a big chain that sells lots of new tires. Find a place that sells used tires as its MAIN business. Tell them you're paying cash and don't need a receipt. Also make sure you show up with the wheel in the trunk of your car, definitely DON'T show up with the bike. If they ask what it's for, tell them it's for a dune buggy you're building.
This is the kind of place I'm talking about which, by the way, is located at 4411 Plank Rd in Baton Rouge.
Have owned 5 rigs but Rig #2 is my current one!
The first independent motorcycle shop that I went to said "sure" and mounted it. They did know that it was for a rig. Asked the BMW dealer where I was having them mount a rear tire backwards on the front if they would mount the car tire and was told "NO". If I had to, I would go back to mounting them myself.
I found this picture of my Austone tyre taken when I was fitting a stainless exhaust system. It had done about a 1000 mls by that time.
If all you see is text then I have had my usual finger problems uploading a picture.
Sid
