Dunlop 175/60/16 install

Well I am officially Riding on the Dark side. Wish there were patches available.
Installed the hard to find Dunlop 175/60/16 (Federal was impossible) winter run flat tire on my 90 Goldwing GL 1500. Got it at Americas Tire, sent from NJ to Ontario CA for free. Had it mounted there as well but took it to Chaparral to get it balanced. Tire pressure 41 for now.
First impression is excellent. Very little noticeable handling changes. I still scrape the pipes in hard turns and can do very tight figure 8 turns (lock to lock) while drinking my Ice tea. Seems to have a smoother ride and better inline acceleration/breaking. RPM is slightly higher that before but not by a lot. Ill check the millage with the next fill up.
Best of all I can put my feet flat on the ground. Ill take it up the Cajon Pass tomorrow.

Congrats and welcome to the darkside!



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

Is that the winter Dunlop tire? Did you order it through the local store?
Why did you say you couldn't get the formoza on?
thanks

Yes the winter run flat ordered from America/discount tire. The forenza is not available. The manufacturer has to make some more.

So far I live it. Ive put 1000 miles + so far nothing bad to report. In fact Im a little faster in the turns.

Thanks for the info. I'll check out the store down here as to how long to order, but might try and find a taller tire.

Read today's posts: someone has a Vredestein for sale, same one I use. I'd get it, but it's gonna be a LOOOOOONNNNNG time before this thing wears out! Is Smokey outta patches? I was gonna get another for my other cutoffs. Maybe one for my helmet. One for my butt. Gawd I love tha Darkside!

Ya. Its at the top as I posted a reply yesterday to see if they still had it. Are you running yours on a GL1500 or what?

Naw, I'm the first Heritage to go Darkside. That tire has an 1850lb. load rating BTW. I think it'll hold up your GL.

quadancer wrote:Read today's posts: someone has a Vredestein for sale, same one I use. I'd get it, but it's gonna be a LOOOOOONNNNNG time before this thing wears out! Is Smokey outta patches? I was gonna get another for my other cutoffs. Maybe one for my helmet. One for my butt. Gawd I love tha Darkside!

Patches..... we have patches? I want a patch.

PGRGUNNY wrote:Well I am officially Riding on the Dark side. Wish there were patches available.
Installed the hard to find Dunlop 175/60/16 (Federal was impossible) winter run flat tire on my 90 Goldwing GL 1500. Got it at Americas Tire, sent from NJ to Ontario CA for free. Had it mounted there as well but took it to Chaparral to get it balanced. Tire pressure 41 for now.
First impression is excellent. Very little noticeable handling changes. I still scrape the pipes in hard turns and can do very tight figure 8 turns (lock to lock) while drinking my Ice tea. Seems to have a smoother ride and better inline acceleration/breaking. RPM is slightly higher that before but not by a lot. Ill check the millage with the next fill up.
Best of all I can put my feet flat on the ground. Ill take it up the Cajon Pass tomorrow.

How are you getting along whit this tire? Rants/Raves?

I liked the Dunlop a lot. There were no modifications needed. I did not like the increased rpm's so I found a 175 75 16 Vredestine Comtrac tire. Got the revs back the handling is about the same with a little more oscillation on grooved roads with speeds in excess of 85 mph. Both tires are excellent and I recommend them both. I did like the idea of the run flat feature of the Dunlop.

Just some background. I ride with the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) in So Cal and often do road guarding, this means I routinely ride 95+ mph with a 3X5 flag on the back. Prior to the Dunlap run flat (175/60/16) I would scrub off the tread on the Goodrich bike tire in less than 3K miles. I put it on my 90 1500 then got a 93 (kept the 90) and put a Vredestein (very very hard to find) on the 93 (bought 2 ) to get the rpm back. I did no mods to the 93 and noticed a slight rubbing sound when 2 up and the suspension bottomed out. Ran it for about 4K and I could never find any signs of rubbing at all just the slight noise. Then while riding the 90 got hit (rear ended) and it was totaled. So I moved the Dunlop over to the 93. I have about 7K on the Donlop with plenty of tread left. Recently on a trip to San Diego I was doing 85 when the valve stem gave up.The tire went down like right now. I was in a slight left turn. The bike wiggled a little so I pulled in the clutch used front break to slow down. The bike was fully controllable at 60 (no wiggle) I continued to slow down and I over to the right shoulder. Then I rode the bike at 25-30 mph 4.5 miles to an exit that I knew had a tire store. I found zero damage to the Dunlap. I had the valve stem replaced and have riddled about 1K sence the valve stem replacement. If I had had a Bike tire on it wold have been a Mr Toad's wild ride with a possible get off. Been there done that.
Now to compare the Dunlap and the Vredestein. With the Dunlap I ride it like I stole it. I have ridden it as fast as the 1500 will go many times. I can out turn and out accelerate any gold wing (it does wheelies in 1st with just the twist of the throttle) including the 1800. One rider on an 1800 tried to follow me down the 76 from Oceanside at night said all he could see was tail lights. He went dark side the next week.

As to the Vredestein. I did get the rpm back but it did not turn as well. I also felt it is less stable at speeds above 80 mph. I noticed some wiggle on grooved roads. I recommend this tire for the more conservative riders epically If U R 2 up with a trailer. Keep the speed below 80 and you will be very happy. PS I have one (brand new never mounted) for sale if U want one. I am keeping the other one mounted on a spare wheel in case I need an emergency tire.

As to the Dunlap put it her on and let her rip. I went back the the Dunlap because of the better performance and I have a 28" inseam. I like getting both feet flat on the ground. I do miss the lower rpm but I feel the trade off is more than worth it.





I had put the Dunlap run flat on my 90 1500 ran it fo a lot of miles with speeds above 95. Vredestein for sale

I guess if you look back a few post you'll see I put the same tire on my GL1500 1988 and I'm up to 4000 miles and if I was on a MC tire I would be thru half the treed by now. But the tire still looks brand new. And the lower profile is great it lowers the center of gravity and if you run the Tail of the Dragon like I do then a lower center of gravity is a plus. I've ran the Tail eight times, 2 up, like I stole it and believe me this tire sticks like glue in cold and hot weather. I also subscribe to a rear MC tire spun around and put on the front. Rear tires have better tread, better technology, and wears a whole lot better than a front MC tire. IT just works and I think they call that double darksiding it. Oh and yes I put the Dyna Beads in too. I've held 95+ mph for at least 25 minutes and very stable, no vibration. But if your tire guy can balance have him balance the wheel first before the tire is mounted...than put the tire on and install the Dyna Beads...You will be impressed...I've used this technology for balancing om big trucks and got 240,000 miles on a big truck tire...which is almost unheard of. Anyway I'm really glad I ran across you all cause I'm proud to be a double darksider.

As 3 oz of beads replaced 4 oz of lead on my rear with outstanding results, I'm a believer that beads alone are all you need. They also had it smoother before I took the lead off.
Imagine removing or adding 4 oz. of lead on a wheel without beads. Might as well have square wheels.

Hi All,

Has anyone seen an side wall wear on the Dunlop run flat ?

Hickey

I havent.

You can get your patches made here along with other items too.......

http://store.dryheatembroidery.com/

NOTE: I am not associated with this vendor......I just heard of him from another forum. I have not ordered anything from him yet....but I plan too.....