What tire are you using these days?

My rear tire is reaching the end of its usefulness and I'm really wanting to try a darkside tire. I've been reading up on it quite a bit but I'm unable to find the Sumitomo 165/70/13 tires anywhere in stock, seems as though they have been discontinued..  

So I'm wondering what others are riding these days.

Metzler FeelFree is what's on SW I bought and seemed real good on wet roads.I rode about 200 miles on wet roads the day I bought it.So far 2k miles 4 wet rides :-)

Scooter Tires!!

I have a friend with a 2006 Goldwing and it came with a darkside rear tire. He does NOT like it; says it adversely affects handling, he is shopping around for a motorcycle tire as we speak.

Me? No opinion because I have not tried a darkside tire. Was planning too but couldn't find anyone that I felt comfortable to install the same. Went with another IRC scooter tire and am happy. Good luck.

There are other brands than Sumitomo that come in that size (165/70R13) and on-line sellers that carry them.
www.tires-easy.com has a couple.

You could also try a Kumho 165/65R13 which would be closer to the standard scooter tire diameter wise so probably should make for less of a speedometer error. BTW it is a winter tire so has deeper, block tread than an all season tire. Still, should wear far longer than a standard tire.

http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Kumho/I-Zen+XW+(KW23)/KW23-2123423

http://simpletire.com/catalog/tires out of Cookeville TN. has a variety of tires in the 165/70R13 size and at least one in the 165/65R13 size as well.

There likely several more sources for tires you want. It just takes some determined searching to find them.
Good luck in you search.

Mudnman wrote:

Metzler FeelFree is what's on SW I bought and seemed real good on wet roads.I rode about 200 miles on wet roads the day I bought it.So far 2k miles 4 wet rides :-)

That's what I been running. They're really great tires, I have no complaints with them at all other than 8k comes a little quicker than I'd like! My scoot is my daily driver and I'm interesting in at least testing the waters of a darkside tire. I decided to try out the Hercules Raptis TR1 155-70-13

bandito2 wrote:

There are other brands than Sumitomo that come in that size (165/70R13) and on-line sellers that carry them.
www.tires-easy.com has a couple.

You could also try a Kumho 165/65R13 which would be closer to the standard scooter tire diameter wise so probably should make for less of a speedometer error. BTW it is a winter tire so has deeper, block tread than an all season tire. Still, should wear far longer than a standard tire.

http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Kumho/I-Zen+XW+(KW23)/KW23-2123423

http://simpletire.com/catalog/tires out of Cookeville TN. has a variety of tires in the 165/70R13 size and at least one in the 165/65R13 size as well.

There likely several more sources for tires you want. It just takes some determined searching to find them.
Good luck in you search.

Thanks for the links! This is info I was really looking for.

GHM-PM wrote:

I have a friend with a 2006 Goldwing and it came with a darkside rear tire.  He does NOT like it; says it adversely affects handling, he is shopping around for a motorcycle tire as we speak.

Me?  No opinion because I have not tried a darkside tire.  Was planning too but couldn't find anyone that I felt comfortable to install the same.  Went with another IRC scooter tire and am happy.  Good luck.

I ran Dunlop Elite 3 on my 04 Gold Wing exclusive of all others. I usually got 20K miles.  If these are made for the Swing it what ill try first.   

Dunlop SX01 front and rear.....New tires with about 200 miles on them....good on dry,but haven't ridden in the wet with them.

jaredandrada wrote:

My rear tire is reaching the end of its usefulness and I'm really wanting to try a darkside tire.  I've been reading up on it quite a bit but I'm unable to find the Sumitomo 165/70/13 tires anywhere in stock, seems as though they have been discontinued..  

So I'm wondering what others are riding these days.

ebay has quite a few @ > $50.00 with free shipping.

john grinsel wrote:

Scooter Tires!!

Amen to that!