Review of Kumho 165/80/15

Ok, after putting about 500 miles on this CT, I'm sorry (or maybe I should say glad) to report that I have nothing controversial to say about it. To be honest I can't tell much difference in the way the bike handles. I don't even notice having to put more effort in to turns, etc. I don't get the feeling that the bike wants go to a vertical position that I've read so much about. I've ridden on curvy roads, straight roads, good roads and bad roads with lots of patches. I've read so much about how the CT gives more "feedback" from the road and seems to follow the contours more so than a MC tire. I've ridden on roads with lots of patches and uneven asphalt and I haven't experienced anything that one might consider uncomfortable or odd. I do feel a little rolling feeling from side to side when on my gravel driveway. Once I felt a rolling feeling from the back tire when pulling out at an intersection to make a right turn. I got down on the rear brake on wet asphalt on the way to work the other day and never lost traction. Never skidded at all. The bike also seems to ride smoother with the CT. I've been running about 40 psi.
I've also logged about 200 miles 2 up. No problems. Seems to ride good 2 up.

A friend of mine has a Wing with a CT on it. I've ridden it several times and it seems to give a lot more feedback from the road. His tire is a good bit wider than mine too. I'm thinking that the width of the tire determines how much feedback you get from the road. t
Now this thing could blow up on me and I'll burn up in a huge ball of fire tomorrow, but for now I don't plan on ever using that brand new rear MC tire in my shop. So if anyone wants to buy a new Dunlop rear tire for a 1300R, let me know.

I know this hasn't been a very thorough review, but I really like it so far. I'm glad I finally came over to the darkside. Oh yeah, I use car oil too. Shell Rotella Syn. 5W40 and Supertech filters.

Ride Safe,
Jack

Jack, you are dead on about the size of the tire in relation to feedback. IMHO.
I'm glad your liking it, so when you go up in a ball of flame you'll be happy.
I wish you many happy miles.

Jerry

One of the few that still runs the 165. I have over 10k on it and still love it. I agree that it feels as "normal" as the stock tires do. When you get some miles on it play with the air pressure to see if you can get a better fit. I started above 40 psi and am currently around 36 psi. I started to drop it down when I noticed I was wearing out the center of the tire. Dropped the pressure to give a little flatter profile while highway cruising. Still hit the off ramps and drag boards on the way to work though. I have contemplated the wide side, but don't know if I should change what is not broke with the Maxi thins.

Enjoy the ride and don't forget to regrease the splines in a about 9500 miles.

DB

Awesome write up! Thanks



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

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You just made up my mind on which tire to go with. Thanks for the write up.
Just curious, which brand tire. And do you have spokes or cast?

our tire size is the same, only diff is the bikes, I just reduced air presure in my tire to 39lbs, reasoning that most or all of you guys are on bikes nearly 300-350lbs heavier than mine. That an the fact I only weigh in at 165 tops. The reduced presure seems to have increased the grip of the tire in turns and curves.

mark f

nice right up

Joe,
The brand tire is Kumho and I have cast (mag) wheels.
I picked that tire up at a local tire store for about $50. Funny thing, the guy at the Goodyear store was going to get me the same tire for $80. Huh, imagine that.

Also, It might be of interest to some that it took around 80 psi to get the bead to seat. I didn't do it myself, but that is what the guy at the shop told me.

Jack

Great write up Jack,

I think my write up looked exactly the same as yours. I've got 9K miles on mine now. I think that Kuhmo tire shows no change from a motorcycle tire. My tire has been so good to me, that I've neglected this site a bit, and I apologize for that.

Although I love this Kuhmo, thanks to Pheonix, I'm gonna be putting a Barnum Barium 205 on next! I'm guessing this Kuhmo tire will be ready to retire at around 12K miles.

The Kumho was my first tire. Loved it. I went wide - to a 205. Next tire will probably be a 185. For the reasons you stated, I like the handling of the narrower tire.....Wide looks good, and it great on the interstate, but I like the handling of the 165.

Great write up!

Thanks for the write up.

Your review is exactly the information I have been looking for - especially the fact that there was no loss of traction while braking on wet pavement.

Soon to be darkside

Fred