Topic: Firestone Deluxe Champions for 1976 Honda CB550

[jluckabee]

I'm trying to outfit my '76 CB550 with the Firestone Deluxe Champion tires. I know that handling will suffer as a result of using this tire, but this is more of a putt-around town bike for me.

Manufacturer's specs say I need a 100/90 x 19 front and 110/90 x 18 rear (I'm using the stock spoked wheels). A lot of similar bikes I've seen are running these tires (though I haven't specifically seen a 550 using them):

http://www.cokertire.com/400-19-firestone-deluxe-champion-blackwall-tire.html
http://www.cokertire.com/450-18-firestone-deluxe-champion-blackwall-tire.html

Does anyone have experience using these tires and / or know if they will work for my bike? Obviously, my knowledge is limited, and the choices I'm making on this bike are more aesthetic than performance oriented. I'm using this as a project to learn more, so your opinions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Geeto67]

you know you can use avons and get a "vintage" looking tire that is actually a tire and not a #$%*ty showground tire, right?

I have yet to see a firestone repop that was actually round, but admittedly I have stopped looking for one. forget performance, how about actually useable.

those look like the right sizes. I don't care enough about someone who doesn't think of a tire as a safety item instead of a little rubber donut to keep their rims off the ground to confirm 100 percent.

I am so glad you can augment your wardrobe and coolness factor with a motorcycle. they make the perfect fashion accessory!!!!

[Dimitri13]

AFAIK, 550s use 1.85 front and 2.15 rear rims. The recommended tire sizes are 3.25 front and 3.75 or 4.00 (I've heard mixed opinions for both).

Doing 4.25 and 4.84 will give you that ugly fat harley useless tire look. Why not try to find the two recommended sizes? These kind of tires should be skinny to fit the "look" it seems you're going for.

IMO, it's not a matter of aesthetics over function, it's aesthetics over safety. Have you considered a modern tire? The Avon AM26 Roadriders are real nice and even though modern, the tread still looks "vintage;" or at least not crotch rocket modern.

[jluckabee]

I didn't know about Avons. I appreciate the recommendation and will look into them. I've heard pretty bad reviews of the Firestones elsewhere (and now here). This is exactly why I posted. Thanks again.

[Dimitri13]

At least you're open to other trains of thought. We really appreciate that here.

If you're building a bike to take extreme angle shots near a run-down factory or graffiti wall, or maybe even next to your buddies stretched and poked, slammed into uselessness, can't even get over a speedbump civic or even ruckus, apply a vintage filter, and share it on instagram, then by all means use whatever "vintage" firestone tire you like.

But if you value your life even one bit, especially in the rain or on rain-grooved roads, then consider a real tire.

[Geeto67]

http://www.mad-ducati.com/Technical/TireInfo/TireChart.html

Just so you know the firestone is speed rated for 94mph. your mom's minivan with the cheapest tires on it are usually an R (106) or an S (112). If you have ever ridden on one you will know right away you don't want to do 55mph on one let alone 90mph.

you want to learn, part of learning is parts selection appropriate to use. There is more that goes into a tire than just tread and speed and load ratings. tire deflection and compound are important. even putting around town your tire is important for when that dip#$%* turns left in front of you. If all your bike is going to do is sit on pipeburn/bikeEXIF's websites and look cool parked in front of your apartment then by all means put whatever you want on it because it isn't a motorcycle it's a display item and a joke. if you actually plan on riding the thing put anything else on, seriously anything that was actually designed for use on a motorcycle.

I personally prefer metzler lazertecs, but avon road riders, dunlop k70s, continental classic attack, bridgestone battlax, they all make a good tire (and they are cheaper too) that doesn't look dumb on an old bike.

[brewsky]

Dunlop k70's sound like what you need to me.
Vintage look and decent performance, and reasonable price.
3.25-19 front, 4.00-18 rear

[greenjeans]

I ran those tires on the CB in my avatar for well over a year and put at least 3000 miles on them.  Granted, they weren't for racing or spirited riding.
I'll admit, I bought them 100% for the look.   Got hammered up one side and the other for it, but after riding them for a while, I came to the conclusion that they weren't nearly as bad as I was expecting.  There was a slight delay in steering input - took a little getting used to.   I don't ever remember the tires sliding out from under me, but I really wasn't scraping the pegs on that one.  It was a sunshine  bike - never saw any rain or racetracks.

FYI  Now-a-days, I'm riding an Avon speedmaster on the front and a Dunlop k70 on my CB now (different bike)  The Speedmaster looks about as vintage hotrod as you can get.   Don't really like the look of the K70, but you can scrape pegs without too much worry.   The Hondas originally came with a grooved front tire - even the Avons will follow grooves in the pavement a bit.

If your bike is just to putt around town, you'll be fine - just understand those things have limitations.

[Geeto67]

I am always leery with someone who says "they aren't that bad". I think it is a lot like driving a stock model T in the modern age, you get in and put down the street for a couple of blocks and it really isn't that bad - but could you have the same opinion if someone asked you to drive it to california? hardly. I had a lot of friends in NYC who bought these tires and they all said the same thing - it isn't that bad. Then I rode their bikes and for my riding style around town it was too much of a shortcoming than I was used to and I was constantly getting in over my head. I also watched a number of them ride and most of them were some of the worst riders I had ever seen.

The thing I learned about gearheads is that we lack self control most of the time. Sooner or later we are going to want to know if the bike can do 100, or a wheelie, or a stoppie, or how far over we can lean it in that one fast sweeper on ramp. And that is when it is gonna bite you. Wobbling from one terrbile sceenester coffee house to one terrible sceenster bar at 15 mph - yeah anything is going to be not that bad. But that moment you think "this is gonna be super cool" or you say to your buddy "hey watch this" or you even just try to pull out in front of a crowd - that's when it goes from not that bad to tearing a chunk out of your ass. There is nothing more useless to you than the performance you leave on the parts counter, esp when you suddenly need it. 

[Lostboy Steve]

I love the way they look, but for my 77 550, I went with the spitfires. When I asked a similar question years ago, a lot of people on here had directed me away from the Champions for a plethora of different reasons. I love my spitfires. I don't know if I could ride the way I do with the Champions. I feel like a "good" turn will yield death or serious damage. If its just a bar-hopper or something ridden casually I suppose it really doesn’t matter either way. Similarly to being unforgiving on the street, I run Kenda Trackmasters on my 2013 wr250r and have had them up to about 90mph. They have no business being on the street aside from their DOT approval. I wouldn't trust them through paved turns, but I don't ride aggressively on the wr unless I'm on the dirt. Its all relative as to how you ride, where you ride (most), how often you ride, and most importantly, how comfortable you are with your setup.

[TwoTired]

AFAIK, 550s use 1.85 front and 2.15 rear rims. The recommended tire sizes are 3.25 front and 3.75 or 4.00 (I've heard mixed opinions for both).

The Cb550 had 1.85 width rims front AND rear.   Some Cb750s had 2.15 rear wheels, though.

[Dave Voss]

AFAIK, 550s use 1.85 front and 2.15 rear rims. The recommended tire sizes are 3.25 front and 3.75 or 4.00 (I've heard mixed opinions for both).

The Cb550 had 1.85 width rims front AND rear.   Some Cb750s had 2.15 rear wheels, though.

When I rebuilt the wheels on my CB550, I used a 2.15" rim from a CB750 for the rear, combined with a 120/90 tire (100/90 up front) it provides a nice mild bump in handling without altering the looks very much at all.

[greenjeans]

One thing that you should note about the firestones - they are tall.  You will not be able to run a front fender or a fork brace with them.

[Timindecaturga]

Plus one on the Avon Road Rider

[Dimitri13]

AFAIK, 550s use 1.85 front and 2.15 rear rims. The recommended tire sizes are 3.25 front and 3.75 or 4.00 (I've heard mixed opinions for both).

The Cb550 had 1.85 width rims front AND rear.   Some Cb750s had 2.15 rear wheels, though.

Seriously? Hm, I was under the impression they were different. That's what they are on my bike at least. And I could've sworn I read it somewhere too.

But checking cmsnl, the rear is indeed 1.85. Whoops, wish I would've known that before I bought new rims.

[Stev-o]

AFAIK, 550s use 1.85 front and 2.15 rear rims. The recommended tire sizes are 3.25 front and 3.75 or 4.00 (I've heard mixed opinions for both).

The Cb550 had 1.85 width rims front AND rear.   Some Cb750s had 2.15 rear wheels, though.

When I rebuilt the wheels on my CB550, I used a 2.15" rim from a CB750 for the rear...

Dave - I intend to do the same on my 550, what did you use for spokes? Thx

[Dave Voss]

When I rebuilt the wheels on my CB550, I used a 2.15" rim from a CB750 for the rear...

Dave - I intend to do the same on my 550, what did you use for spokes? Thx

The only difference between the 1.85"x18" CB550 rear rim and the 2.15"x18" CB750 rear rim is the width, so the stock spokes are the correct ones to use, from either a CB550 or a CB750, as they are the same length, even if the part numbers may be different.  Knowing this, I bought a complete of set of front/rear spokes/nipples packaged for a CB750, and they fit perfectly.

[Stev-o]

When I rebuilt the wheels on my CB550, I used a 2.15" rim from a CB750 for the rear...

Dave - I intend to do the same on my 550, what did you use for spokes? Thx

The only difference between the 1.85"x18" CB550 rear rim and the 2.15"x18" CB750 rear rim is the width, so the stock spokes are the correct ones to use, from either a CB550 or a CB750, as they are the same length, even if the part numbers may be different.  Knowing this, I bought a complete of set of front/rear spokes/nipples packaged for a CB750, and they fit perfectly.

Good info, thank you.

[Lostboy Steve]

Am I the only #$%* running Spitfires anymore? lol seems like it....

[dave500]

they've been discontinued here for a while now,i used a rear one once and when I wanted another pair I was told NLA.

[Stev-o]

Am I the only #$%* running Spitfires anymore? lol seems like it....

I bought one set wont buy another. The rear let loose on me one time, did not like that.
The BT45's are superior.

[Lostboy Steve]

Wonderful.

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[dave500]

I never got to try them as a pair.

[Lostboy Steve]

Maybe as with all my other bikes / quad I'll try the kenda challenhers. Maybe the retroactive? Well see... Not time yet.

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[Stev-o]

Maybe as with all my other bikes / quad I'll try the kenda challenhers.

Why them? Get some good tires! Not CCC [cheap chinese crap]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenda_Rubber_Industrial_Company

Have you ever had Avons?