Looks interesting George....
Just as a point of technical correctness... the "6 ply" nomenclature does not refer to the number of casing and crown plies in a radial, but is a throw back to the days of cross ply tyres for trucks and vans, referring to the load rating of the tyre. The 6 and 8 ply tyres were used on light vans and it was to do with the number of casing plies used in those type of tyres. The C in the size also relates to it being a van tyre.
Don't know why this still persists but there you go.....
Of course the load rating of the tyre in this case is 98 in single form, this relating to 750kg load on the single tyre.
The speed rating on the label in your picture show as a Q..... which is 99mph...... but you need to remember that also relates to the load carried.. I wouldn't worry too much about it given the whole bike including maximum load doesn't even come up to the tyres rated load.....
This won't help at all, will it.....
Thanks for the corrections, Les. I do remember reading on one of the other sites about the "Q" rating. Ran it up to 110 yesterday and it didn't explode, so...
Anyhoo, about 20 miles yesterday, mountain roads, a little dirt, and interstate, then thru town again, this time with passenger. No problems. I can "feel" it but nothing I would call a handling problem. I must'a got lucky with the 40 PSI (based on what some others have found), don't see any reason to change it. Does seem to be "smoother" over bumps but no wallowing or bad manners in the corners. Also, ran'er up to 110 MPH indicated on I-40 with no ill effects.
Thought I had put this info up before, but:
Stock ST 17" wheel with BT-020-M in place, circumference 79.5"
GL wheel with Michelen Macadam 160/80/16, circumference 81 5/8"
GL wheel Austone 175/80R/16, circumference 84 5/8.
So, the Austone should raise the final drive ratio (lower the ratio number) by ~6.5%. Might see a slight increase in gas mileage at "reasonable" speeds. Aerodynamics still prevail. The difference is enuff to notice it upon start from a dead stop, just a tickle more clutch. I have often pulled out in second gear, tho, so this minor change isn't a problem. Gotta check my speedo error too, as I'm also running the slightly larger 130/70/18 Excedra on the front.
Mark and others are running a 175/60/16. It's actually a little smaller in diameter than the stock wheel/tire. So their ratio number increases, might be useful at the drag strip.
SideBar: stopped to check on my F-150 and grab my fone charger from it at Mohave Utility truck shop yesterday. No progress on repairs. BUT...
There was a guy there who rides an 1800 'Wing. Noticed the car tar immediately and came up to say, "Man, you don't want to do that, you don't get as much rubber on the ground, the side walls can't handle the pressure, my 'Wing keeps the same amount of rubber on the ground thru turns and straight up, yadda, yadda, yadda!!" (He did say he'd run a car tar on his GL-1500 and didn't like it, so...) Anyhoo, I like it fine, will ride it for several thousand miles over the next month. I'll continue to poST updates.
Wish me luck.
