New darkside tire

Blupupher · 2025-10-17T17:01:09-0400

So I decided my current darkside rear tire (Hankook Ventus V2) was about done, so got a new one.
I put the Ventus on @ 63,750 miles, and now have 77,610 miles, so 13,860 miles on the tire. Not what I was expecting, but I am hard on tires (very aggressive rider, and I am fat). There is a bit of life left, may have been able to get to 15,000, but it was at the wear bars on the right side of the tire, and don't like how the sidewalls look.

A quick look at it does not look too bad:

But when you look close:

And then there is the sidewalls:

And found a bunch of bits of "stuff" in the tire. None had gone all the way through though.

For replacement, I was debating between the Kumho Solus 4S HA32, Firestone Weathergrip, and Hankook Kinergy 4S2 (my son works at Discount Tire so get a discount and free mounting). All 3 are 60,000 mile tires, so hopefully I can get more mileage (the Ventus is a 40,000 mile tire).

Blupupher · 2025-10-17T17:01:24-0400

The Firestone and Kumho both would take over a week to get in, the Hankook was only 4 days, and while I did not need it, it was the cheaper option, and I was not really unhappy with the Hankook Ventus except for the mileage.
So ended up getting the Hankook.

Tread depth is also almost 12/32, which is better than the listed 10/32.

I added balance beads this time instead of doing lead weights. I have had good results with them in other tires, and wanted to give them a try with this one (was concerned with the TPMS sensor, but reading several that have used them with no issues in BMW bikes). So will see.

Only done a quick ride around the block, so no real difference noted, but will update when I go.
Hopefully I can get more like 20,000-25,000 miles out of this tire.

M1A1Commander · 2025-10-18T14:17:54-0400

Blupupher said:
The Firestone and Kumho both would take over a week to get in, the Hankook was only 4 days, and while I did not need it, it was the cheaper option, and I was not really unhappy with the Hankook Ventus except for the mileage.
So ended up getting the Hankook.

View attachment 203118
View attachment 203117

Tread depth is also almost 12/32, which is better than the listed 10/32.
View attachment 203115

I added balance beads this time instead of doing lead weights. I have had good results with them in other tires, and wanted to give them a try with this one (was concerned with the TPMS sensor, but reading several that have used them with no issues in BMW bikes). So will see.

Only done a quick ride around the block, so no real difference noted, but will update when I go.
Hopefully I can get more like 20,000-25,000 miles out of this tire.

Let us know how the beads work. I've used them on prior tires, but without TPMS sensors, with much success.

1KPerDay · 2025-10-17T17:12:24-0400

Have you ridden it yet? If so let us know if it feels significantly different than the ventus. Thanks very much for your experiences.

Blupupher · 2025-10-17T18:22:26-0400

LOL, you posted as I was editing.
Just a quick ride around the block, watching the grand baby so playing with her right now.
Will post up once I ride it a bit.

heavydust · 2025-10-19T11:10:40-0400

Alot of good information, thanks for posting. Yeah 13,860. from 40k tire seems low, wear looks even thow. The 4s2 looks like a good-looking tire.

Cabdriver · 2025-10-19T22:40:12-0400

I had the beads in the tires when I bought the bike, but didn't know it. The tires bounced at 80 and above. When I called the prior owner, he confirmed that Dynabeads were installed. I tossed them.

New darkside tire

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