Topic: Best tires?

[Retro Rocket]

so what tyres have you chosen retro?i like battlax and spitfires,ill probably put them on the new build aswell.

If i run the 17 or 18 inch rims i will be using Metzler ME Z4's 

 http://www.metzelermoto.com/web/catalog/moto/moto_catalogo_schedaDescription.page?categoria=/catalog/moto/sport_touring/none&vehicleType=MOTO&product_id=879422&uri=/metzeler/en_IT/browser/xml/catalog/moto/SportTouring_MEZ4.xml&menu_item=/products/catalog/sport_touring


Mick

[Stev-o]

I actually don't know what the numbers stand for. Instead of just ordering, I'd finally like to understand what I'm ordering and what the numbers mean. Can someone help me out?

For instance, my last tire read: 100/90 H 19

I'm guessing that the 19 is the rim size.

Yes, that is the rim size.
Read here for everything you need to know:
http://www.amadirectlink.com/roadride/Riderresc/tires.asp

[swellguy]

If i run the 17 or 18 inch rims i will be using Metzler ME Z4's 

Pound for pound I don't think anyone makes a better line of motorcycle tires than Metzler. That said, for the retro or old school look, I usually suggest people look at the Dunlop K70. I put a set on my bike (cb750) before tear down and they ran great.

But now, I'm after the elusive, almost Dunlop K180. I'll find a pair, just don't know where.

[wannabridin]

what about the pirelli sport demons?  i've heard good things about these from a variety of riders, including classics!

http://www.us.pirelli.com/web/catalog/moto/moto_catalogo_schedaDescription.page?uri=/pirellityre/en_US/browser/xml/catalog/moto/MOTO_MV_SPORTDEMON_STR.xml&vehicleType=MOTO

[climbingaz]

I'm currently running Bridgestone Spitfires on my K8.  Pretty decent tire for the price.

[AnthonyMichael]

Yes, that is the rim size.
Read here for everything you need to know:
http://www.amadirectlink.com/roadride/Riderresc/tires.asp

Thanks. Glad it wasn't something that easy to figure out on your own. Those numbers and letters are a bit confusing. But I realized that getting V is better than H for speed/load (even though I'll never crack over a ton)

[kpier883]

I like the Dunlop GT501s myself.  Running a front on my 750 and my CBX has them both front and back.  When I need a new tire for the 750 I'll probably look for one as well.

I can't say they are the best, because I haven't ever tried Metzler or Avon.  I pretty much always ran Dunlop or Continental on my Kawasaki 1000 back in the day.  Back then I felt I needed a V rated tire because I spent a lot more time at higher speeds. 

For a while I didn't ride too much and since I started back about 15 years ago I have mostly been on Hondas.  Since the GT501 came out that is what I have been mounting up.

Honestly, I can't tell a lot of difference between tires the way I ride; as long as I don't get a "touring" (hard) tire or a cheapie like the Cheng Shin.  Tires for heavier bikes like Gold Wing or Harley tend to be slippery in the wet on a lighter bike like our CBs.  At least that is how it seems to me.

[Alan F.]

If you're not locked into a vintage looking tire, have a look at Michelin Pilot Activ, I've had a set on my 90's 750 Nighthawk for 4 thousand miles or so, great in the dry, great in the wet, and don't wear quickly... they're available in close to stock sizes for our bikes.

[Retro Rocket]

If you're not locked into a vintage looking tire, have a look at Michelin Pilot Activ, I've had a set on my 90's 750 Nighthawk for 4 thousand miles or so, great in the dry, great in the wet, and don't wear quickly... they're available in close to stock sizes for our bikes.

That is exactly why i like the Metzelers....Apart from the stock sizes....

Mick

[Alan F.]

 

[singedebile]

thanks for all the replies, !
i think I am going to try the avon AM26 as they seem to make the smallest matching set 90/90 for the front and 100/90 for the rear and have gotten decent reviews.

[Mark M]

Almost any modern tyre (perhaps not all the cheap chineese stuff) will be several times better than the tyres these bikes
were designed to run on. It's hard to pick a bad tyre, they will all out perform your ancient chassis, even if you have already refrehed every bearing. The huge leaps in tyre technology are fundamental to all the other improvemtns in handling that modern bikes benefit from, if you cant push the forces through the rubber then you can't use all  those ponies.
 
Personaly I like the BT45s.

[jason41987]

im looking for a set of tires that are designed to handle well with rain... as i may be moving to a new area soon that although doesnt snow often at all, if ever, still manages to rain quite a lot.... the bike is a 76 CB550F and i believe the rear tire is a 110/90 x 18, and 100/90 x 19 for the front.. though i could be wrong on these numbers

itll be a commuter with frequent touring and traveling... back and dirt roads often enough (i like the scenery) so id like an 80% street / 20% offroad tire if i could find one but im sure a sport-touring tire should still be good enough... but my primary concern is the rain, and this is a bike ill be riding all year.

what would you suggest and why?

[KRONUS0100]

well personal experience in the rain................i had bridgestone spitfire 2 on my 81 GL1100.  excellent grip.  ironically totalled it on dry pavement.  go figure

i had dunlop gt501 on my 90 suzuki gs500e.  excellent grip wet or dry.  did go on some dirt farm roads with it, not recommended very often. seemed to slip alot on wet grass.  tires were still on it when i sold it to  buy my 76 CB750F.

[tlbranth]

I think Dunlop K70 would do what you want.

[jason41987]

am i right about those being the proper size tires for this bike?... what other sizes are suitable?. id like to stay close to stock

[bjbuchanan]

Sizes are fine. Stick to closest to stock you can get. The meatier tires dont rly aid these bikes. In most cases its aesthetic only and hurts handling

[jason41987]

i actually find better aesthetics in the more simplistic, more utilitarian look that the stock slimmer tires provide

[bjbuchanan]

I use spitfires on my 750 in stock sizes

[jason41987]

any other recommendations for the classic style tires?

[Spike]

If you're really serious about dirt roads and rain you might consider Michelin Anakee's .  I'm not sure about all the available sizes but an excellent long distance tire in these conditions.

[jason41987]

occasional dirt roads... im much more concerned about rain as ill be moving to an area that gets a lot of rain in the winter... im sure there are enough people here from florida, pacific northwest, UK, etc that rides in rain often enough?

im curious how well those K70s perform in rain?... i really do like the style of those classic/vintage wheels and if they performed really well in rain as well as dry, id probably go with those, or a different classic style tire if it performed better in such conditions

[jason41987]

i found a tire i really like, the michelin pilot activ tires, theyre offered in a 4.00-18 rear and a 3.25-19 front (out of the spare parts  i was given with this bike, one was a 2.15-18 rim off a CB750 im going to lace to my cb550 hub... so does anyone know if these pilot activs will work with tubes?

the other tires im looking at are the shinko SR220 rear and SR201 front, not sure if anyone has experience with these as i cant find much information on them at all and they arent listed on the shinko website