Topic: Questiona about old tires

[SWMN-CB500]

I have a 1971 CB500 with a little under 6400 miles and what I believe are the original tires. They look like they are in good condition, but I have read that there are safety issues about riding on old tires even if they look good. Should I take these old tires off and toss them, or is there an iterest in these for someone with a show bike that they don't ride much except for on and off a trailer? Or should I keep them and let them stay with the bike in case I ever decide to sell it? Would they add any value to the bike, or are they just old junk?

[Buffo]

new modern tires will ride light years better. I would not trust my life to a set of 30 year old rubbers. Plus old jap tires are not known for traction on wet pavement, or dry pavement for that matter.

I have no Idea what price tag to  put on them.

check out the prices at:

WWW.americanmototire.com

even with mounting they are usually much cheaper than the local yocal.

Happy trails

Don

[pmpski_1]

If the bike is going to be ridden they are old junk. Replace them and have a good time.

If the bike is going to be completely restored to original and displayed in a living room then keep them around.

[hymodyne]

i had some decent looking  old tires on my cb500, but i'm changing them to also avoid inspection hassles.

hym

[alfabeast]

Yep..jap tyres were bad in those days, even when new.

I remember running Yokahama Golden Boys on my Yamaha FSIE, it might as well have been Bakelite, could never understand why I kept falling off when I was following my mate with Metzelers

[Uncle Ernie]

Tires exposed to air get hard. If someone wants a tire to look at, there's JC Whitney and Coker.  I wouldn't ride on anything older than 10years old, and I'd be nervous about that.
Two Tired, Oldbiker... any experts out there?

[SWMN-CB500]

Thanks for all the replies. Maybe I should have reworded my questions a little. I am not going to ride on these tires. I'm going to put new ones on. I was just wondering what to do with the old ones. They are the original Bridgestones that were installed on the bike when new, date coded for weeks 1 and 2 of 1971. I was just wondering if anybody would want them for a show bike or something. I know old car buffs are always on the lookout for old tires in good shape to put on their show cars to impress show judges, not to drive on. I'm fairly new to old motorcycles, so I don't know if anyone restores them the same way some guys restore old cars, or if I should just throw them out. They do look nice, but mine is a go bike, not a show bike.

[73cb550]

I would list them on ebay, old bike stuff, especially if there is no dry rot, would go for a mint there.

[Einyodeler]

You never know what some people will buy on ebay,I`ve seen a lot stranger things go for high money.
Too bad they`re not stamped 1969 , you could have advertised them as sandcast