Mounting a car tyre on a FJR

[SLANG]

VERY interesting....and if it works for long hauls....why not.?
Next, will see white wall taxi tires being used...??

[mosquito]

Congratulations. At least I am not the only one who gets exceptional mileage out of a rear tyre. I normally will do 15 - 18000 on a Battalax 021 and 7500 on a 015 due to the softer nature. You're right that being a hooligan is what causes tyre wear in a big way. Popping wheelies, dragging from traffic lights/stop streets, heavy braking are all surely ways to decrease the life of your tyres.
On track I will get one third to half the life from my tyres as on the road, due to the heavier nature of that riding. Hoe you have every success in your venture and many long and happy kilometres on the new tyre.

[ChucklesCT]

Now here is the real stinker of a question. How would you determine the correct tyre pressure other than trial and error?

[WBro]

Now here is the real stinker of a question. How would you determine the correct tyre pressure other than trial and error?

Pssssstt!!!! Sound good to me

[ianmp]

Definitely an interesting read here. What I wouyld be curious to know is how would this affect your insurance should you be involved in a accident. Will they not moan that you should have had a bike tyre on and not a car tyre? Just curious to know.

[Takashi]

WOW!!! Now this is interesting

I guess it could work.

I would be a bit worried at unbalancing the swing arm.

[Zapman]

Hey Udjeni, After our chat, I was waiting for this post.

Glad to see you finally got it done. Trying to do the same for "The Truck", but so far all research have turned up naught. Seems that I will have to get an FJR!!!

Please keep us posted on the results.

[Zapman]

23000+km on a single rear? WTF? Do you ride like a girl?

You have obviously not ridden with Udjeni

[Jonix]

And..........???

How was the riding this weekend with the "new tire"........????

[BlueSteel]

Where is Udjeni?

[blackie]

but is the rating on a car tyre same as on a bike??? a Bike tyre is made so that the sides can be used as well and can a Car tyre sides handle it ??

[BlueSteel]

but is the rating on a car tyre same as on a bike??? a Bike tyre is made so that the sides can be used as well and can a Car tyre sides handle it ??

If you have done this and you are using the sidewalls, then you are riding the wrong bike and you would have the wrong riding style for it. This is not intended for track riding but it more for touring and long distance riding.

That is why only touring and cruisers are doing it as I have yet to see someone kneeslide a Harley or an FJR

[Udjeni]

What you might consider, is increasing the tyre pressure to slightly more than you would on a car, that should give the tyre a slightly more rounded shape. That should also reduce sidewall pressure slightly when you're leaning, but I don't know how it would affect overall traction.

I don't believe that would help at all. Tyre construction (especially of "performance tyres") are such that the tyre would not become "rounder" - the side walls will just bulge more - at least that is what I have been told. Maybe Rock_chick can tell us more.

I work for BRIDGESTONE

Aha! So, do you guys have a 205/50-17 high preformance tyre with symmetrical tread? The Yokohama seems to be the only such tyre in South Africa.

How would you determine the correct tyre pressure other than trial and error?

Trial and error is the way. Although, fortunatley in my case others have already done some trials and errors so I am following their lead.

I would be a bit worried at unbalancing the swing arm.

Unbalancing the swingarm?? How would I do that?

How was the riding this weekend with the "new tire"........????

Actually I did not do any riding on the FJR this weekend. I've started another round of farkling and am busy installing a set of auxilliary lights. So the plastics were off and there were wires all over the place (sort of). Since my friend and I was measuring (lengths and voltages) 5 times and cutting once, things went slowly. In fact, I'm not done yet, so I'm riding the AT at the moment. I will report back here once I've put more miles on, especially in some twisties.

I have yet to see someone kneeslide a Harley or an FJR

I'm considering it an insult for the Harley to be mentioned in the same breath as the FJR! I might not be kneesliding the FJR, just scraping the pegs now and then (usually when I'm not "hanging off" enough) - the bike is certainly capable (I have seen evidence), just not this rider.

[Takashi]

Unbalancing the swingarm?? How would I do that?

Blond moment. I was thinking the tire would not sit center on the swing arm. After giving it some though I have seen the error of my ways.

On another note I looked at my BMW's swing arm and I won't be able to fit a car tyre if I ever decided to try it. Unless companies start making 180-55 17's. The swing arm is too close to the wheel.

Udjeni if you are ever in the Pretoria area give us a shout. I would love to see the bike.

[BlueSteel]

Where did you buy your Yokohama Udjeni?

[Udjeni]

Blond moment.

Yeah, we all have them from time to time.

On another note I looked at my BMW's swing arm and I won't be able to fit a car tyre if I ever decided to try it. Unless companies start making 180-55 17's. The swing arm is too close to the wheel.

I've heard some BMWs use a cast piece and the single sided swing arm requires some offset spacing for clearance, but I believe this is as yet un-proven and I don't know anything more about it.

Udjeni if you are ever in the Pretoria area give us a shout. I would love to see the bike.

Will do.

BlueSteel, I bought the tyre at Tyger Wheel & Tyre at N1 City.

[Windpomp]

I have to admit... at first I thought this was a joke....
good luck then.
I guess cornering is generally so freaking slow there is no lean angle.. worth mentioning, hence the very square car tyre is working.....

[Udjeni]

I guess cornering is generally so freaking slow there is no lean angle.. worth mentioning, hence the very square car tyre is working.....

Oh, look, we've got a joker in the house!

I'm not cornering like the guys on a track, but I do corner from time to time to the limit that my footpegs allow and the car tyre has no problem with that.

[Batman]

This indeed is very interesting. Some of the WW2 Harleys came out with Morris tyres, but this is the first time I see it on a modern bike.

Do you still use your centre stand

[Think Tank]

Oh, look, we've got a joker in the house!

I'm not cornering like the guys on a track, but I do corner from time to time to the limit that my footpegs allow and the car tyre has no problem with that.

So tell me, now that you've accomplished this feat of brilliance...

What is the major differences in compound between the car and bike tyres out there?

These days tyre manufacturers can blend any compound to last for a specific number of kilometers...the technology is there. Are tyre manufacturers just churning over sales or is a seriously softer compound on bike tyres really warranted...technically, that is?

It pains me to see the peeps fork out the amount of money they need to and the frequency of this demand, for simple get-to-work-tyres.