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Originally Posted by RowdyRed94  What's with all the flat earth remarks?
I indicated that I was interested in your findings. How, exactly, did you perform the tests?
FWIW, my position all along was that there was little evidence to show that this was not dangerous, and that I wouldn't be able to tolerate the poor handling a square tire would provide. I've ridden on enough flattened motorcycle tires to know what it does to handling. You seem to be providing some evidence, so let's have it already. Enough with the drama. |
The flat earth remarks are a very generalized opinion based on many the remarks I've heard over the years, on many different subjects, that happen to differ with the dreaded "common knowledge". It was not directed at you and I apologize for mentioning it in reference to your post.
I have varied interests and have found internet forums to be a wonderful resource over the years. The "care tires on motorcycles" debate is basically identical to hundreds of other debates on any number of internet forums. One example is over clocking computer processors. This was an unbelievably intense debate that had thousands of people on one side saying "Hey, I tried over clocking my processor and it really worked great. Boy, I have a much faster computer for the same money as the cheaper one! Here is how I did it!" and on the other side you had people who said things like "What, are you an idiot? Highly paid Intel engineers have determined that these speeds are set in stone. You know your data will die a horrible and fiery death if you try doing this and when your house burns down and kills your family your insurance company will deny your claim when they find out you're an over clocker!!. No one will ever convince me this works. It's common knowledge that only the expensive rated speed processors can be used!!!"
My point is that many people form their opinions from ideas that seem to make sense based on their experiences and "common knowledge". Often these ideas turn out to be completely wrong. The idea that motorcycle tires are softer and stickier than car tires is one of these ideas. All I did was spend a few minute on Google to determine, based on testing by apparently unbiased people that in general, the rubber compounds of motorcycle tires are harder than the compounds used in car tires. I found that across the board motorcycle tires are 10 - 15 durometer points harder when comparing similar performance level car tires. The information is out there, I have no reason to make it up and it is easily checkable by anyone.
Deciding weather using a car tire is a good or bad idea should be based accurate information and no one will come to a valid conclusion if they think motorcycle tires are much softer than car tires.
You seem to have made a decision that you "wouldn't be able to tolerate the poor handling a square tire would provide. I've ridden on enough flattened motorcycle tires to know what it does to handling."
Did you base this on thinking motorcycle tire are softer than car tires? If the opposite is true would it change your thinking at all? Could you consider that a car tire with a softer compound, nice conforming radial side walls and a relatively rounded profile (like my Dunlop SP5000) might not handle as badly as a hard rubber tire with a stiff sidewall that falls off the sharp edge of its flat wear pattern because it can't conform??
Thanks and sorry again about the flat earth remark.