Question for darkside Austone options

I don't run the Austone so this is just my opinion only. The 1500 lb rating tire would probably be the one I would pick. It is still about 50% greater load rating than most rear motorcycle tires. I would be afraid the higher rated tire might be too stiff. Don't know though, that is just guesswork.

I would buy one of each, test them, keep the one I liked best, then sell the extra one to me for the $80 LOL

Really I don't know which tire would be best. The one we run now is a great tire!
We run them fairly solid with air pressure so tires are fairly stiff in use already. With some of the other type tires that are softer some people complain about the flexing or mushyness at times.
Then again How stiff is a run flat that so many people like?

What I wonder is what makes the other tire rated for so much more load? Would that help avoid damage from a road hazard, would it be able to get you off the road like a run flat, etc..
Any real advantage to a heavier tire?

While your getting your tire over there can you see if they come in other sizes also?
I'd actually be interested in running Austones on the wife's car if they had the correct size and I could get them. Heck around $600 I think for the 4 GoodYears we bought about year ago

Not scientific, but...

remember that the Austone are passenger (taxi) tires, so for British autos and small trucks (like , minis, three-wheelers, MG, etc.), 1500/2500 lbs. load limits sound perfectly reasonable.

But that is strictly a guess....

Chromo there are a number of places to order them from but only shipping to a UK address. They are also available in Australia too. Unfortunately here in the US we are limited to only one dealer at very expensive costs and only the one option in weight limit.

Austone is a reputed brand from China's Shandong Chengshan Tire Company. In the recent years, the great American tire manufacturer Cooper Tire & Rubber Company acquired a major part of Chengshan. Perhaps if we all contacted them and requested it they would start making them available here in the US too?

I cannot imagine trying to get on a plane back from England with a full set of tires.

So I guess my question remains, is a stiffer tire better than one that might have a little flex to it?

Even the lower rating is stronger than the motorcycle tire option. Better? It is probably stronger, but unless you can talk to someone who has run a tire rated for over a ton you won't get a real definitive answer. I had no clue they had the heavier option, and the one I have is awesome.
Frankly, even the lower weight rating is WAY above what the stock tire was rated so you are already 'better' off.

My two cents: Have sidecar rig ['95 GL1500/CA Friendship III]. Run Austone rear, from Vintage Tire in OH. Is PERFECT for our rig. We tour New England states each riding season [for 11 years now]. Used several sets of various tire brands. Avon Venom front/ Austone rear is BEST combo, hands down, for us. TTFN...papasmurf

Austone for 100 bucks

Unionjk and chromo. Sorry for hi-jacking this thread but I have a new Austone car tire for sale for the 1500. I bought it here in the states for my 1800 before I new it would not fit the 1800. I paid 152.00 dollars plus shipping so if anyone wants to give me 100.00 dollars plus shipping let me know via a pm. send me your zip and i'll get a shipping quote. The tire was mounted on the 1800 rim but would not fit under the bike. It's brand new with no damage.

Cyclepath

unionjk said:

I will be picking up an Austone tire in the UK to bring back with me to CA next month, since they are only $80.00 over there and over $185.00 here it seems like a good idea to me.
My question is this, I can get the 98Q load rating (1500 pound) or for three dollars more the 112Q (2465 pound).

Would the stronger tire be a good idea or is that stiff a tire likely to create another issue on the back of my bike? Obviously only an experienced darksider would know whether a tire that might have some flex is better than a stronger tire with a heavier load range.

Both tires are the same dimensions and speed range and are 6 ply.

Click to expand...

Cyclepath, have you listed that tire on the For Sale page? Doubt it would last a day.

If I were not going to England in 10 days I would buy it.

It would be tough for any of us who run the Austone to answer your question with regard to the difference between the two since we all run the one, which seems to have more than enough sidewall stiffness and load rating for anything that I do with my 1500, including riding 2 up with a trailer in tow. Im just not completely sold on the high speed handling yet........ tweaked everything that I know to tweak and it's still "Squirrely" on the highways. It's fantastic on the curves and in the tight corners however........

Thanks guys. I have ordered the lower rated one (1650#) for $75.18(49.00 pounds Stirling) and it should be arriving at the address in the UK in 3-5 days.

Should be interesting boarding the plane home with it!!!!

^ That price kills me. It cost me about $175 shipped.
As for the one for sale, the problem is they last a while. I anticipate 3-5 years out of mine so do not want to buy a new one yet and have it sit around.