Just so you can call me stupid (tires)

[faffi]

Since I fitted dual purpose tires to my Virago, I have kept the little used front tire (Heidenau K34) I took off it in a dark, tempered space. And since the front stock tire of my Roamer was now well under the legal limit at 6800 miles, I figured it would be fun to dig out that old tire and fit it.

And here comes the idiot part:
The tire was made in 2014
It is of a tube type construction fitted without a tube
It is the wrong size, a 3.25x19 instead of the stock 100/90-19

So why fit it? Curiosity. Plus I dislike throwing away stuff that can be used.

The tire is still pliable and soft, no cracks.
I have used the same type without tube on my KZ650 and the Virago and have done a lot of miles on them without issues. And I wrote to Heidenau and they said if it holds air not to worry.
A 3.25 is similar in size to 100/90.
Rear tire is made Maxxis.

Everybody that has ridden for considerable distances have developed a way to "read" how tires act. Some communicate well, some are numb, some slide predictably, some stick like glue, some are terrible and so on. I made a test ride today, on a cool 13C / 55F day. After 100 yards, I did a couple of hard stops from low speed just to check that I had grip and feel. Both things were good. A little later, I went around a roundabout with the constantly diminishing peg feeler, and everything I got from the tire said Is that all you got? I have you covered.

I fully understand that most would never do what I have done, and many probably think I am just full of it. Which is fine by me. Just as the tire is fine by me.

Before I leave, and just in case someone needed some extra motivation; I also fitted a 140/90x16 rear tire as replacement for the 150/80-16 stock Pirelli last year. And the bike handles fine.

[Dharma Bum]

How do you get a 19. inch tire to stay on an 18 inch rim?

[faffi]

I cannot, but luckily the V9 Roamer has a 19in front wheel.

EDIT: Oh, I see - there was a typo. Thanks. Fixed.

[Pistonbroke]

My though is that in a serious accident situation the loss adjuster or vehicle examiner may pick up on the non-approved tyre and use this to reduce any payout or argue it was a contributory factor.

[faffi]

My though is that in a serious accident situation the loss adjuster or vehicle examiner may pick up on the non-approved tyre and use this to reduce any payout or argue it was a contributory factor.

I have thought about that, but they will have to prove it was a factor to limit coverage. I may remove the TUBE TYPE stamp just to be sure.

[blu guzz]

I would do as you propose only if it was the only possible way I could stay on two wheels.  It sounds like something I would have done in my 20s when I was pretty short of funds much of the time and bolder than was good for me.  I am not wealthy now by any stretch and still squeal when it is time to buy tires like most of us on this forum, but the old immortality myth left me long ago.

[Perazzimx14]

Last tire I changed for a buddy I could not get the bead to seal. Checked out the tire and i was a TT on TL wheel and would not seal. called my buddy and told him to order TL tire and in th emeanwhile I'll pull the new TT tire off and put his old tire back on.

I'd not worry so much about the insurance adjuster denying a claim as there is no rule/law stating a tire has to match exactly. My daughter runs 37" tires on her F250 that are about 3X as big as the OEM and there is no problem. Even when I ran a car tire on the MC it was not a problem and my insurer did not care.

Traditionally you can go up/done one size on tire width and it's not a problem as far as the wheel is concerned other than in some instances the handling is effected. On my DR650 and DRZ400 I have always went 10mmm wider than stock as the OEM rear is anorexically narrow.

I say get you money's worth no matter what it costs.
 

[MG_rider]

Last century one of the esteemed riders in our local road racing club told me how he stores race tires (slicks) long-term: double garbage bags stored under the house/basement where its cool and dark.  When pulled out for use, spray the tire with carburetor cleaner, that sorta "renews" the vinyl esters that naturally outgas from all tires, makes the slick sticky again.

Me: at my age, I spend $$ on rubber instead of plastic.

No, I never sprayed a slick with carb cleaner.  Oh wait!  May have done that once at the track after riding through an oil spill and not crashing, that was  to just clean the tire.  Went back to racing!

[faffi]

Rear

[moto-uno]

  This will probably raise the hair on many backs here, But , a couple of years ago I decided to put a couple of wire wheels (plus tires) that I got from a bike that was left outside for around a decade , (this was almost 1/4 century ago) Oh Yeah ! Too lazy to change the tires ( the cracks only went to the cords for a few inches at a time around the rim ( I'm sure you're shaking your heads in disbelief ) . Upped the pressure and went for a 450km ride up and back to the Duffy Lake road . Cautiously at first and much more spirited as the mileage accumulated . Everything that should never even be suggested was almost done to prove a point (yeah I'm stupid , but it worked fine :) ) . Oh Yeah , YMMV 

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

My though is that in a serious accident situation the loss adjuster or vehicle examiner may pick up on the non-approved tyre and use this to reduce any payout or argue it was a contributory factor.

In theory maybe they could, but in reality you can bet that they won't. I've had a bike written off by Progressive and they payed out extra accessory coverage for accessories I had that were explicitly NOT street legal, exhaust and an aftermarket fuel controller.

In the Dark Side community of running car tires on motorcycles or rear tires as fronts it's been discussed that insurance could not cover the vehicle in an accident because of this, but to date I've heard 0 cases of that actually happening.

[bad Chad]

Your contention is you wrote the tire manufacturer and asked if it was safe to run a tube tire tubeless and they responded. Yes, go right ahead?   I find that difficult to believe.

[twowheeladdict]

My though is that in a serious accident situation the loss adjuster or vehicle examiner may pick up on the non-approved tyre and use this to reduce any payout or argue it was a contributory factor.

What is your source of information on that claim? 

[twowheeladdict]

Ari Henning proved that old tires can still provide good service if stored correctly. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwbLt8vZH5w

[faffi]

Your contention is you wrote the tire manufacturer and asked if it was safe to run a tube tire tubeless and they responded. Yes, go right ahead?   I find that difficult to believe.

I wrote to them with something like "I know you cannot condone for legal reasons" but do you see any imminent danger in riding a tubed type tire without a tube if it holds air? I also told the reason for my choice; the old tubeless rims on, in this case my Yamaha, have the exact same beads that the tube type rims, and because of this a tube type tire will be a better fit for the rim than a tubeless tire. The answer I got was (in German) that as long as the tire held air, there was no concern for their side, but that could not - as I knew - recommend it for legal reasons.

[bad Chad]

Ahh, I understand now, thanks for the explanation.