That is strange, the tires on my cars do not flex excessively when I go around a corner (of course there is minimal flex, they are not rocks), if they did the car would be wobbling all over the place. Heck if the tires on my car flexed like that when I take it to the track (road course not drag strip) I would be walking home. Even my daily driver economy car tires do not wobble and flex all over the place when driving. That is strange, all this time I thought tire companies were trying to make tires that minimize the amount of sidewall flex (except for off road tires). Who knew they were secretly making car tires that wobble and flex so people could use them on bikes. That is fantastic, I am going to order a set for my bikes
So these car tires being used on bikes actually flex so much they mold to the road allowing safe riding? I wonder why the car tire companies are not taking advantage of this new niche market and making billions in new sales? Maybe the tire designers and engineers are not as knowledgeable as the darkside riders
and the motorcycle tire companies have been wrong all these year making those silly "non-square" tires.
The tire will not flex so much that your contact patch is going to stay the same going around a corner on a bike, there is not enough weight there and it is going to be dangerous and poor performing. I bought my bike to ride and it is dangerous enough without crippling the bike and cutting corners to try and save a few dollars by installing car parts on it. I think I will continue to use the proper parts on the bike and enjoy it rather than to do something that could cost someone their life.
From cycle world:
"They are much more than no big deal, clearly not a good idea but far short of sure death. Here is the irrefutable truth, espoused by every motorcycle designer, tire technician and worthwhile engineer who ever killed a single brain cell thinking about such matters: A motorcycle will not and can not possibly have the same degree of agility, stability and maneuverability with a car tire at either end as it can with a motorcycle tire. I know, some people swear by car tires, heralding their significantly longer-wearing capabilities, but there is not one scintilla of hard evidence that supports the contention that the use of car tires on motorcycles results in no loss of safety or control. Anyone who thinks that tilting a motorcycle up on the sharp, narrow outer edge of a flat-profile automobile tire when cornering is a good idea is either poorly informed or downright delusional."
Great post: Years upon years of some of the smartest engineers in the world goes toward designing and building appropriate tires for appropriate vehicles. Sure engineers can be wrong, but they seem to agree (obviously from every bike manufacturer int he world) that bike tires are shaped and built the way they are for a reason.
I think I'll trust the years of engineering over some ************* in a garage thank you very much. There's nothing here for mythbusters to test.
Under inflated tires ruin and can pop unexpectedly, which, but the sounds of it, these guys need to do. I've a feeling it has to do with the manufacturing process and the fact that the thin walls of the tires are getting more stress than they typically should ..................On top of that, your handling went to the ****ter the second you threw that tire on. And I dont believe for a second that the harder, more gapped tire of a car has more traction than that of a bike tire. ............................
You can clearly see the tire is not flexing and the underinflated sidewall bulging:
If I am coming off harsh I do not mean to ( i edited the original post, it sounded like I was being a little too sarcastic), I am just giving you a little "good natured ribbing" but I do not belive for a second it is a good idea to put car tires on a motorcycle. It only takes 1 evasive manuver or emergency stop or going around one corner a little faster than the car tire can handle to greatly increase your odds of being hurt.
