Michelin HydroEdge 205-70-15 on 1300R

Finally got a Pic

Sweeeeeeeeeet. I like that tread patt. Let us know how you like it.

Moon

looks good,


welcome to the darkside
Horse

I've put about 1200 miles on it so far, It handles good. I ran the Douglas 205/65/15 first and it peformed great too. I just wanted a little extra height to help keep from dragging the Cobra fatty bars as much. Also the HydroEdge is a higher speed rating than the Douglas. I put about 5000 miles on the Douglas, Interstate and Mountains and it performed good. The HydroEdge seems to have a stiffer sidewall and don't flex hardly any. But I hadn't been in any real twisties yet but I think it will be good. I'm running 40 PSI in it now and I like the way it handles there. Thanks and Ya'll be Safe !!

Keep us updated with the twisty results..... I was looking at that as my next tire....

Jerry

I had my local shop try to mount my Michelin Hydo Edge 205/65/15 on my 1300 R today and he told me he could not get the tire on the rim. He says he got the first side easy, but couldn't get the other side more than half on and it wouldn't go any further.
I wasn't there when he tried to get it on and the tire looked pretty dry. Would it help if he used vegetable oil to lube it or is that just to seal the bead. I'm thinking of taking to another shop tomorrow and have them try it.

I really like this tread pattern but if I have to I will switch to another tire, Maybe the General Grabber?
I do have spoke rims, Could that be part of the problem?

Any suggestions?

Thanks, Mike

When getting the other side on, you must hold the part that is already on down toward the center of the rim. This gives more play room to get the second side on. We had to do just that when mounting my Grabber on my 1300S rim. Without holding it down properly, we blew out the power strip the tire changer was plugged into. Thank God for for an experienced VTX rider that has mounted many a CT on bikes.

Bill "AKACully"

BRCSKB4 wrote:Finally got a Pic

Wow....very nice looking! Is the ride stiffer than with the Douglas!


................................twin


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MikeCal 1300 wrote:I had my local shop try to mount my Michelin Hydo Edge 205/65/15 on my 1300 R today and he told me he could not get the tire on the rim. He says he got the first side easy, but couldn't get the other side more than half on and it wouldn't go any further.
I wasn't there when he tried to get it on and the tire looked pretty dry. Would it help if he used vegetable oil to lube it or is that just to seal the bead. I'm thinking of taking to another shop tomorrow and have them try it.

I really like this tread pattern but if I have to I will switch to another tire, Maybe the General Grabber?
I do have spoke rims, Could that be part of the problem?

Any suggestions?

Thanks, Mike

Yes Mike,

I does take some patients to mount a car tire! The slicker the lube and DO NOT just make the one swipe around the tire. It takes sometimes slopping the lube on almost to the lettering all the way around because the side walls want to roll on you instead of seating the bead! Good luck, the spoke rims are the hardest to do! Not sure why, but it has been the case!

Keep at it...it is well worth the hassle some times to do the darkside! I will NEVER go back to a motorcycle tire that I can tell you, even if I have to mount them myself!


..................................bobby

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I took my tire and rim today to the local "outlaw" biker shop today. They also looked at me like I was nuts but as I told them about the darkside they agreed to give it a try. First side went right on, the second side was more of a challenge. With a lot of work they got the second side on.

One bead popped a round 100 psi and we pressured and released and banged many times to get the other side to finally seat. they balanced the wheel and I was on my way. I promised to come by and show them the tire on the bike. I told them they should expect to do more of these in the future

I could not have mounted this tire on the rim or on the bike without the great tips everyone shares here and I would like to say thanks to all.

I drove 80 miles today and the tire feels spongey. I can feel when I go from the flat tire surface to the sidewall on a turn. Like all have said I don't think it will take long to get used to. Also I am taking it very easy for the first few hundred then I will see how it handles in more aggressive driving.

While we were trying to seal the bead and the guy had to pull the valve stem each time he filled the tire. The tubes valve stem goes out to the side but the motorcycle rim the stem goes in the middle.
This causes the stem to be pulled over and looks like a place the tube could fail. Something to watch out for, I also drilled out the hole for the valve stem and cleaned inside of rim well.

I don't know if I should worry about this tube, Should I look for a another tube and change it out? I will if it is the safe thing to do.

I looking forward to driving this tire hard and see how it handles

Mike

I am not comfortable with the idea of the valve being layed over. Maybe it is just ignorance but I feel that it would cause undo stress to the tube. I am sure that someone will ring in and set the story straight. You are going to love the car tire. Best mod I have done to date.

Moon.

Yeah Moon, I not comfortable with the valve stem with stress on it. I didn't know there were any difference in tubes until the second bead was sealed and I thought of stopping right there and getting another tube.
The guys said it shouldn't be a problem, but they don't have to ride it. I'll put on a few hundred miles today and think about it. I don't want a problem down the road.
We are planning a four day trip at the end of March and I don't think I could hit the road with this potential problem.

So I think I know what I have to do. Oh do I dread doing this again.

Has Papa or anybody running a tube have this problem? Do they make a 15" tube with the valve stem in the middle?

Mike

I've put about 300 miles on my Michelin tire and I'm not really used to it yet. I put the first 150 miles with 40 psi and it was to mushy. I ran 45 psi for the rest of the time. Much better but it still feels a little soft when turning and hitting bumps. I still have to experiment with different tire pressures.

I don't like running the car tube because it had to be pulled to the middle of the bike rim putting stress on the valve stem. Several people have said don't worry about it but i don't want a flat on the road.

I will look for a large 15" motorcycle tube and take my tire off and have the new tube put in.
The motorcycle tubes have a valve stem made of metal and it comes out in the middle of the rim where it should be.

If anyone is thinking of putting a CT on a spoke rim I would recommend a new motorcycle tire.

Papa, Do you have this problem? Is it a concern to you? Anybody else have this experience when using a care tube?

Well a lot of trouble to change the tire but I'd rather do it at home on my lift than have it go flat on the road.

Mike

You should never .... NEVER run a car tube on a bike rim. Get that out of there and get a MC tube in it.
Why are you running a tube anyway? Don't your R have mag wheels? Should not need a tube at all !!!! After drilling the valvestem hole bigger you are probably going to be stuck with a tube now but by all means get a MC tube in it. The stem being forced at that angle is asking for failure.

See you out there
Smokey

smokey2255 wrote:You should never .... NEVER run a car tube on a bike rim. Get that out of there and get a MC tube in it.
Why are you running a tube anyway? Don't your R have mag wheels? Should not need a tube at all !!!! After drilling the valvestem hole bigger you are probably going to be stuck with a tube now but by all means get a MC tube in it. The stem being forced at that angle is asking for failure.

See you out there
Smokey

+1

smokey2255 wrote:You should never .... NEVER run a car tube on a bike rim. Get that out of there and get a MC tube in it.
Why are you running a tube anyway? Don't your R have mag wheels? Should not need a tube at all !!!! After drilling the valvestem hole bigger you are probably going to be stuck with a tube now but by all means get a MC tube in it. The stem being forced at that angle is asking for failure.

See you out there
Smokey

I have to agree 100%. You should remove the tube, you dont need it with an R rim. You can get a stubby air valve that will fit. I am not sure of the exact size, but the one I used was for a 22" mack roll-off truck wheel. I added this when I went darkside because the oem one was in poor shape. I also drilled the whole out to 7/16" to fit it. It looks good, almost chrome silver and I am not worried about it failing. Just put it through the inside of the rim, put on the nut and tighten, it seals itself.

My bike is actually a 1330 S with spoke rims. Your right, running a car tire on a MC rim is not good.
Another post says he is using the car tube and another post says he ran the stock MC tube.

I put a new stock MC tube in the tire and it blew up when aired up. The shop says this is the biggest 15" MC tube available. I'm sure a lot of guys would like to run a tube in our spoke wheels but what tube can we run?

Mike

I'd going tot he Darkside tomorrow with this same tire. Your post had me thinking I needed a tube but now I think I'll be fine without one. Still, you asked where to get one that would work and this is where I found was the best for me. http://www.tiresunlimited.com/motorcycle_tubes.htm These guys were a little freaked out at first when I told them the application I had planned for their tube, but after I explained about the Darkside their turned around and were very helpful. The tube they assured me would work in this application only cost about $12 and is delivered in two days; they said five but it only took two. Good luck.

Oh has anyone figured out the best tire pressure for this tire on the VTX yet?

For the guys with spoked rims, you need to run a tube (motorcycle tube) or seal your rims.
Search the board here for "3M 5200" there is a great write up on sealing rims.
For pressure, most run between 36 - 42 psi, you just have to try different pressures
till you find what fits you and your riding style.