Quote Originally Posted by DMAGOLDRDR View Post
This is just me doing my thing, your needs may be different.

I do NOT run a Snow tire, because I want max grip for the 90% of the time when I need it. The other 10% when it is wet I am already going slow due to conditions.
I have felt the smaller tread blocks of a snow tire flex more and I don't care for that feeling when leaned over hard in a long sweeping curve. For me the large solid section of rubber on a summer tire and holds better.

I run a Summer tires. I look at it as the more solid rubber in contact with the asphalt will give me the most DRY traction. There are enough sipes in a summer tire to give me decent wet traction and as I stated above, in wet I am already at a decreased speed and surely not scraping pegs.
I have a good amount of Car Tire experience with 3 different tires on 2 different bikes and somewhere around 80,000. miles but again this is just me and my way.

One last useless bit of info, if more tread blocks gave better traction, why do all race tires look more like slicks?
I share your thoughts on this topic. My 6 is my third cycle to wear a car tire! Like you, I've accumulated over 80K miles on the Dark Side but have never used a run-flat or snow tire. Summer thread tires with adequate "rain grooves and siping" have provided great performance and longevity, something I could never get from a Cycle Tire. My first attempt at Dark Siding was my Yamaha Stratoliner S with a Good Year Triple Thread. That tire provided acceptable performance but felt like a "cinder block" on the rear. Never did wear out the tire as I traded that bike for a Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe which was quickly fitted with a Federal Summer Tire and handled so well I mounted a identical Federal after the first wore out! My 6 has been fitted with a General G-Max from almost day one of ownership. Removed the stock tire after 1100 miles and have never looked back. I'm about to install my third Max as the second Max is ready for replacement. For me, the greatest pleasure of Dark Siding is having a large array of tire thread patterns available in either standard radials or run-flats, should I choose that route.

From what I've read and digested, the move to "winter tires" was the result of a "more motorcycle tire like feeling" provided by the "stiffer run-flat side walls". That said I'll be the first to admit that single ply sidewall radial summer tires can produce some "squirm" but that is usually remedied with the "right and higher pressure" for achieving a "sweet spot"! Im my case that's usually 43PSI in the Max.

Ride Safe

bob109