Topic: CB400F Tires

[William Cochran]

My first post here and it seems to be a bit redundant so please forgive me!

I am going to purchase new tires for my 1975 400F and am considering the Pirelli Sport Demons for both front and rear.

I am not planning on racing but would like decent performing tires that have reasonable tread life.

So my questions are as follows:

1.  Any comments/suggestions on my choice of tire? 

2. Tire sizes have changed since this cycle was built with the original Bridgstone's being as follows:

Front Tire - 3.00-S18

Rear Tire - 3.50-S18

If my objective is to size as close to the original as possible, what would the sizes for front and rear be (100/90-18, etc)?

Thanks in advance for your patient responses!

William

[Bodi]

The closest size to a 3.00 is 90/90, 3.50 is 100/90.
These sizes are pretty hard to find now, quite a limited selection of tires list them. The Pirellis do not have a 90/90. The 100/90 will fit on the front but is "out of range" - too wide - for the narrow rim and the profile will be distorted. Basically there will be no way to possibly run to the edge of the tread and the "chicken strips" can not be ground off except by hand. There are lots of people who "break the rule", but be aware that it's against the manufacturers recommendation. I don't think there's any danger with a 100/90-18 on the 1.65" front rim though.
There are almost no 3.50-18 0r 100/90-18 rear tires available. The Avon universal is good for both ends. You can go to a 4.00-18 or 110/90-18 without going far outside the recommendations...  but there are still few rears made these days.
Any current tire you can get will be much better than the OEM tires. Rubber technology in particular has advanced hugely since the 1970s. Even most el-cheapo tires available today are superior to the best available road tires from then. The K-81 "trigonic" 4.25-18 used to be a popular tire for these bikes, but the current "classic" Dunlop catalog doesn't show that size.

[Frostyboy]

I found this for you, dunno if it helps.

http://www.cb400f.btinternet.co.uk/tyres.htm

[sir funk]

I was looking through past recommendations a few days back and settled on Dunlop D404s based on this thread: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=31264.0

Haven't bought them yet, but the relevant 400f sizes are in stock @ revzilla.

100/90 18" front and 110/90 18" rear

[grcamna2]

I found this for you, dunno if it helps.

http://www.cb400f.btinternet.co.uk/tyres.htm

Thanks for that informative link Frostyboy.

[William Cochran]

I appreciate all the feedback and information I have received so far.  The links were also helpful along with the technical information.

I would also be very interested in hearing from owners of this cycle and what they are currently using for tires on their bikes.   Also, if they are pleased with their current tires.

I am not married to the Pirelli's and do understand as Bodi pointed out that any of the modern tires are going to be far superior to the original ones fitted to 400F.

One final item, is anyone using tires with the raised white letters and, if so, what brand and sizes and how do they look?

Thanks again for all the input!!

William

[westondc]

I put these Duros and both my CB500 four and CB350 twin http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DURO%2DVIN&CartID= I believe the rears were the HF318-01 4.00-18 Rear (3.50 was stock but the 4.0 fit and look good!) I used the HF317-01 on the front. Great tires with classic tred pattern. I put over 2,000 on the set on my CB500 and they're holding up great. Highly recommended! Looks like they even have the 3.50-18 size your looking for.

You shouldn't have much trouble finding a shop were you live that have these in stock. a shop here in Nebraska has them and keeps them stocked all the time.

[grcamna2]

I put these Duros and both my CB500 four and CB350 twin http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DURO%2DVIN&CartID= I believe the rears were the HF318-01 4.00-18 Rear (3.50 was stock but the 4.0 fit and look good!) I used the HF317-01 on the front. Great tires with classic tred pattern. I put over 2,000 on the set on my CB500 and they're holding up great. Highly recommended! Looks like they even have the 3.50-18 size your looking for.

You shouldn't have much trouble finding a shop were you live that have these in stock. a shop here in Nebraska has them and keeps them stocked all the time.

How far have you pushed them in the twisties ? I want them because those are my stock sizes as well 

[MoMo]

I had the Duros on one of my 400 fours, decent tires for my 65 year old riding style ...Larry

[Bodi]

I have Metzeler Lasertec tires currently, they're getting a bit old and hard now and I've been looking at potential replacements. They've never failed me, but this is not an R1 after all - the limits of the bike don't stretch the limits of modern tires. I ride fairly hard but I'm not pushing the limits. I have crashed a few times over the years and wish to avoid the experience in future: the lesson I've learned is that on public roads skill can't always trump bad luck with road condition or other riders/drivers. Doing a twisty road at 99% is exhilarating but leaves only 1% for the unexpected.

[grcamna2]

+1 Bodi  it isn't much fun or exhilarating to discover that you're "in over your head" &  you just discover that the variable(the auto driver) just removed your last 5% of a chance to save your ass...on the street.I think track days w/ my normal street bike would make a difference in knowing what close to 100% feels like...but that old variable..the Auto driver can always be counted on to destroy a great line of traction every time.

I wonder if those Duro tires are a lot better rubber than the vintage tread tires that they copied from years ago ? The front looks like a Continental RB2 & the rear looks just like the old Dunlop K81 TT100 style..?

[ADW]

I appreciate all the feedback and information I have received so far.  The links were also helpful along with the technical information.

I would also be very interested in hearing from owners of this cycle and what they are currently using for tires on their bikes.   Also, if they are pleased with their current tires.

I am not married to the Pirelli's and do understand as Bodi pointed out that any of the modern tires are going to be far superior to the original ones fitted to 400F.

One final item, is anyone using tires with the raised white letters and, if so, what brand and sizes and how do they look?

Thanks again for all the input!!

William

I have IRC GS-11 3.00x18 F and 3.50x18 R on my '72 CB350F and I like them very much. They grip nicely, are the correct size, and also have a vintage look to the tread pattern, in my opinion. Reasonably priced, too. Here's one link to them, many places carry them: https://www.denniskirk.com/search/GS-11.q

[grcamna2]

ADW,
   Did you purchase those IRC's from Dennis Kirk ? How were they as far as shipping you tires that're still within 6 months of the date of manufacture ? There is a date code molded in to each tire on the sidewall that tells you the month & year of manufacture.

[jessezm]

I'm running BT45's on both ends and love them.  With all the other chassis improvements I've made I ride the bike with a lot of confidence now.  90/90/18 on the front and 110/90/18 on the rear (I don't think they had a 100/90/18 rear tire available in that model).  One thing I will say is that when you go with taller tires than stock, the angle of the bike when it's on the side stand changes dramatically.  At least in my case it did--so much so that I'd like to get a taller kickstand.

[Lil Red]

+1 on the IRC's...I seldom ride the thing 10/10ths other than a straight line...and for everday riding I think they are great...i can also attest to their wet performance having been caught 2 up in a monsoon last weekend.

From previous discussions...if you want to push hard go with the Avons...but it will cost you. I'd recommend the standard sizing as well as listed above.

[ADW]

ADW,
   Did you purchase those IRC's from Dennis Kirk ? How were they as far as shipping you tires that're still within 6 months of the date of manufacture ? There is a date code molded in to each tire on the sidewall that tells you the month & year of manufacture.

Don't recall who I bought them from. Woulda been either Dennis Kirk, Chaparral, or Motorcycle Superstore. I do remember checking the date codes and they were both 2011, June and August I think. (And I bought them probably Octoberish of last year, so yes, they shipped me "fresh" tires.)

[grcamna2]

ADW,
    I think I'm going to ask the salesperson to specifically sell me fresh tires when I order..by the date code.
                                                    Thanks Man.

[Fred T]

I changed my old Continentals for new Avon Roadriders, good tires in all conditions.

[grcamna2]

Do those Avon's have the sizes that fit stock on the CB400F ? Those Roadriders..., are they different from the AM26 Roadrunners ?

[socalenduro]

Duro HF819
90/90 18 front
110/90 18 rear
$132 for the pair
http://www.bikebandit.com/duro-hf918-motorcycle-tire?b=261612

was just shopping for the same thing last week

[Fred T]

Do those Avon's have the sizes that fit stock on the CB400F ? Those Roadriders..., are they different from the AM26 Roadrunners ?

I'm using 90/90 R18  and 110/90 R18  , The AM26 are Roadriders, they are the model produced after the AM21 Roadrunners

[grcamna2]

Do those Avon's have the sizes that fit stock on the CB400F ? Those Roadriders..., are they different from the AM26 Roadrunners ?

I'm using 90/90 R18  and 110/90 R18  , The AM26 are Roadriders, they are the model produced after the AM21 Roadrunners

Thanks  ,it's been a while for me w/ Avon's; also I don't think I'll go any larger than 100/90x18 on the rear..even then I want to lace up wider rims to my bike.I want to go up to 2.15x18 WM4 rear & 1.85x18 WM3 front for a wider contact patch even w/ stock size tires. 

[Tim2005]

I recommend the Avons too, fabulous tyres. Personally I would never put a Pirelli Sport Demon on a 400 again, I found they were dreadful.

[westondc]

For the price and quality its hard to beat the duros. put over 2,000 miles on mine so far and the tread is still looking good. sticky tires too compared to the old goodyears i replaced.

[sopo400f]

I

I appreciate all the feedback and information I have received so far.  The links were also helpful along with the technical information.

I would also be very interested in hearing from owners of this cycle and what they are currently using for tires on their bikes.   Also, if they are pleased with their current tires.

I am not married to the Pirelli's and do understand as Bodi pointed out that any of the modern tires are going to be far superior to the original ones fitted to 400F.

One final item, is anyone using tires with the raised white letters and, if so, what brand and sizes and how do they look?

Thanks again for all the input!!

William

I have IRC GS-11 3.00x18 F and 3.50x18 R on my '72 CB350F and I like them very much. They grip nicely, are the correct size, and also have a vintage look to the tread pattern, in my opinion. Reasonably priced, too. Here's one link to them, many places carry them: https://www.denniskirk.com/search/GS-11.q

I also like the gs-11s on my 400 !