XPS Rib vs XPS Traction?

[HBarlow]

Jim,

Yes, that is the source I use. I like HDL. I've bought three sets of Dunlops from them and a few other parts. As I see you are aware, HDL is the sponsor of the Goldwing forum and an excellent source of both OEM Honda parts and aftermarket accessories as well.

I didn't realize until I read your post above you are a Goldwinger also. I've only owned a GW a short time. After not riding any motorcycle for thirty years I bought a clean, low mileage ST-1300 in July of 2010. I liked it okay until I rode a GW a few months later. I traded the ST for a new GL1800 in January 2011. I love the GW.

 

[MChrist]

Harvey, with the miles you put on the GW, have you considered going to the "Darkside"? (car tire on the rear). People do it all the time and love it! People report getting 20-30,000 miles, better ride and handling, better selection and so on. Go to YouTube and type in "Darkside Tire". I was amazed.

There are a lot of naysayers saying you can't do it, but all those who have done it say they would never go back... worth a look at least.

Sorry for the hijack. Proceed.

 

[AMink]

Harvey, with the miles you put on the GW, have you considered going to the "Darkside"? (car tire on the rear). People do it all the time and love it! People report getting 20-30,000 miles, better ride and handling, better selection and so on. Go to YouTube and type in "Darkside Tire". I was amazed.



There are a lot of naysayers saying you can't do it, but all those who have done it say they would never go back... worth a look at least.



Sorry for the hijack. Proceed.

I can see it now! Harvey has truck tires on his trailer, car tires on his GW, and motorcycle tires on his Ram!:-laf

 

[HBarlow]

I started reading about the darksiders on the Goldwing website I frequent as soon as I bought my Goldwing.

I have studied the issue and asked a trusted Goldwing tech at the dealer I use for service.

I saw a utube video recently where a poser on a big Japanese street bike modified to look like a Hardley using a car tire went into a severe turn on the Tail of the Dragon. As you probably know, the dragon is an eleven mile highway with over 300 turns, mostly sharp ones, in the mountains of TN/NC. There are professional phototographers set up everyday on selected curves. A photographer, with a low camera angle down close to the ground, skillfully caught a series of photos of that rider as he entered the curve, banked it over on the edge of his flat rear car tire, skidded out of control, highsided, and painfully crashed. That series of photos revealed to me how very narrow the contact patch of the rear tire can be when the motorcycle is banked over in a curve.

My opinion is this: When I don't know better of my own study and experience, I prefer to trust the engineers who designed the motorcycle and the tires. I am not a good sheep who follows trends. I want convincing evidence from real experts.

I've decided I want no part of car tires but have no opinion of those who do.

 

[MChrist]

I'm familiar with that picture, the orange bike. I wonder if he was on the rear brake, or was hitting hard parts. The videos I've seen, most bikes are scraping hardware (pipes or pegs) with no problems, even in the rain. I was just wondering if you gave it any thought. Darksiders even say that there is more contact patch at full lean than a bike tire. The more successful darksiders use soft winter tires. Very sticky and great siping.

 

[HBarlow]

I don't remember the photo set I saw being an orange bike but I may have forgotten. Probably similar situation regardless. The one I saw may have braked with rear wheel only, I don't know about that. I didn't see any hard parts stiking the pavement until long after he lost control.

I don't see how, regardless of the claims by practitioners of the car tire religion, a wide point of contact could exist when a wide flat car tire makes the transition from tread to edge of sidewall. The photo I saw showed the rear tire standing up on the sharp edge of the casing.

I view the car tire enthusiasts as I do the TDR folks who practice the fuel additives religion. It's based on faith.

I don't criticize or argue with the religion of those who use a car tire, I just don't subscribe to their religion.

 

[mpaulson]

I put the XPS RIB's on my R. V. after doing the research and from what I read here on TDR. One major word of caution that I read and heard from a local guy at a trailer shop here was that they are like having plastic tires in freezing temperatures, he tried them on his pick up. They last a long time due to the use of a harder rubber compound, but don't stay as plyable in low temps. I don't use my RV in the colder parts of the year, so that wasn't a concern to me, but I wouldn't use them in this part of the country on anything I have to drive/pull in the winter.

 

[HBarlow]

I put the XPS RIB's on my R. V. after doing the research and from what I read here on TDR. One major word of caution that I read and heard from a local guy at a trailer shop here was that they are like having plastic tires in freezing temperatures, he tried them on his pick up. They last a long time due to the use of a harder rubber compound, but don't stay as plyable in low temps. I don't use my RV in the colder parts of the year, so that wasn't a concern to me, but I wouldn't use them in this part of the country on anything I have to drive/pull in the winter.

I'm sorry but that is simply baloney. I never listen to a tire monkey in a retail tire store. They don't actually know anything and usually their agenda is to sell what they have at the highest markup.

It is true that you don't want an XPS Rib on the drive axle of a pickup on ice, mud, or snow, because they provide zero traction. But on a trailer, a rolling tire with weight on it such as a heavy travel trailer causes flexing, friction, and warming of the tire casing. XPS Ribs are designed and manufactured as trailer tires. They are simply a smaller version of the same trailer tires used on tens of thousands of big truck trailers operating on winter highways and in rain all over the US everyday of the year.

I have used them for years on a fifthwheel travel trailer including on winter highways in IN. Hundreds of fellow RVers also use them in all weather applications on travel trailers.

 

[jelag]

Harvey

I ran a Goodyear corporate store for 2 years. . and have heard all the tire stories I want. . I have my own personal slant... run 19. 5" on my dually and 16" commercial rubber on my RV and have never looked back... but respect those who have chosen a different path...

I'm on GL #4 had an early 1000 and than moved to a 1500 which I turned loose after 125K miles. . the second 1500 I traded with 130K miles for the 1800 which now has 60K... We've been to Alaska twice, back to MI, to Sturgis 3 times, around the Grand Canyon and more 3-4 week trips than I can count in the last 25 years... most with another couple... Life is grand and retirement is even better. .

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey

I ran a Goodyear corporate store for 2 years. . and have heard all the tire stories I want. . I have my own personal slant... run 19. 5" on my dually and 16" commercial rubber on my RV and have never looked back... but respect those who have chosen a different path...

I'm on GL #4 had an early 1000 and than moved to a 1500 which I turned loose after 125K miles. . the second 1500 I traded with 130K miles for the 1800 which now has 60K... We've been to Alaska twice, back to MI, to Sturgis 3 times, around the Grand Canyon and more 3-4 week trips than I can count in the last 25 years... most with another couple... Life is grand and retirement is even better. .

Jim,

You are a far more experienced rider than I am. I have been to Alaska in a truck pulling a travel trailer but don't think I would like to do it on a Goldwing. Day after day of wet dirt roads don't hold much appeal.

I'm twisting the odometer every day on my Goldwing. Leaving in about three weeks for a three to four week journey to New England. I've put 39,500 miles on it so far since January 2011. I'm making up for lost time. I really love motorcycle touring and the Goldwing is a great platform for it.