Car tires on bikes...and more...

[rgbeard]

Sorry if I missed this, but what is the legality of running car tires on a motorcycle? Do state or federal laws in the U.S. address this?

No one has found any, and much research has been done.

Also, insurance will not void your coverage.  Again, much research has been done.

(I'm not for this, just stating the above facts.)

[cbsnbiker]

Thanks for the info.

I have no interest in doing so, but I was curious about whether or not it's legal.

[emerald94]

Again: Wow!
Some guy is not only using a car tire but a run-flat snow tire at that!

The experts have already spoken, you cannot run a c/t and live to tell about it. Even those that have for 100's of thousands of miles ..

[tomek]

Well , the snow tire would be preferable , really soft compound .

[Justin]

Here's some more proof you can't run a car tire on a bike  



note: Both Wings running car tires (Yokohama on lead bike, Kuhmo on chase bike).

[Cablebandit]

Maybe I should mount some motorcycle tires on a car.

[Justin]

Maybe I should mount some motorcycle tires on a car.

 


That would make a great thread  

[DogBoy]

So a couple of Goldwings wobbled around Laguna very slowly while taking terrible lines? I guess that is the ultimate performance measurement.

[Royal Tiger]

So a couple of Goldwings wobbled around Laguna very slowly while taking terrible lines? I guess that is the ultimate performance measurement.

Apparently.  

I should rip the dual compound Pirelli's off my RSV-R and put the off road tires from my truck on it and have an instant dual sport.  

[Giaka]

Would have been interesting to see a Wing on a bike tire next to the car tire bike. I can tell by the way that wing is wobbling all over the place that a car tire on my ST would drive me nuts.

[Royal Tiger]

Would have been interesting to see a Wing on a bike tire next to the car tire bike. I can tell by the way that wing is wobbling all over the place that a car tire on my ST would dive me nuts.

People might be able to get away with it, but for how long and under what limitations?  Is it going to transition as quickly as a motorcycle specific tire in an emergency?  Probably not.  The square profile of a car tire was never meant to lean into turns like one made for a motorcycle.  just because you can do something without immediate direct horrible consequences, doesn't mean it's the proper thing to do.  Many people could buy a GSX-R1000 as their first bike and not crash it, but all of us seasoned veteran riders know there is more to "riding" than "not crashing".

[glockster]

Maybe I should mount some motorcycle tires on a car.

Lots of people run motorcycle tires on the front wheel of street rods.  Usually T buckets or something else really light.  

[Flyer]

The square profile of a car tire was never meant to lean into turns like one made for a motorcycle.

No, I'm not an engineer, though I play one on the intardnets...
The square cross section of a car tire causes the effective diameter of the wheel to increase when tilted, inducing the "wobble" you see.
That's fine if you're just going straight to the bar and back home, but you'll have to explain that "wobble" to the nice officer.
 

[DogBoy]

I think the wobble also had to do with soft suspension.

[Dan K]

I get it for super slab riders that put in 100k miles per year going across the country without hitting the back roads.  Tires last forever in comparison.  BUT - if you hit the canyon, or signiificant twisties... WHY?  Profile isn't made for leaning over.  Look at the videos and pics - the wheel lifts, and the size of the contact patch is reduced when in lean.

I see it as a tool for straight line riding only. Otherwise makes no sense (unless you ride like my grandma used to drive...)

- Dan

[CosmicCowboy]

(unless you ride like my grandma used to drive...)

Drunk?

[Mookie]

Drunk?

and into crowds at the farmer's market?

[veefer800canuck]

If square car tires were better, then MotoGp riders would be running them.

[Cablebandit]

I think they were banned in the latest rule book.  Too many guys going to the dark-side during testing I presume.

[wibornz]

You guys are missing the point.  The human spirt must puss the limits and try dumb stuff to alidate it if it stupid or not.  You should be glad that there are guys ride with car tires.  Hell let them test them and and let them find the limits and which car tire works best.

Kinda like flying.  I have no intrest in going up in the first airplane ever built, but hey not a big deal now.  

I think I will check back in 10 years or so after all the death and mayham is over and go from there.  You never know this might lead to a better tire over all for the type of riding that is usually done on the street.