Topic: Confused about tires

[tgascon]

I am getting my '75 CB 550K ready for the road and need tires for it. The Manual shows the Stock Bike had   3.25S19 Frt and 3.75S18 Rear with tubes.  I bought my bike with 3.60S19 Frt and 5.10H18 Rear tires on it.
I'm confused about the size of tire that the rims will accomodate?  Do I have to install tubes with new tires?
I'm looking at Chen Shin C906 Frt  90Hx90Hx19  and C907 Rear  130/90Hx18 .  They are tubeless tires but can I still use a tube? Do I need to use a tube?
Please help clear this up!
Anyone have suggestions on tire purchase?
Thanks

[heffay]

two types of wheels... 1. the kind that require tubes (spoked wheels) 2. the kind that dont (mag wheels)... chen shin?  um your getting there... maybe step up a brand or two... chen shin's are not the most quality for your buck... see tire discussion in tech forum.  the only way you can have any idea about tire size is knowing if your rims are orginal...   
heffay,
p.s. you can use a tube if you like... in any tire (assure proper fit, fill with air to approx. inside diameter of tire... check for no bunching up of tube when inserted)  if it fits correctly. 

[fergie]

all spoked wheels need tubes. but not all mag style wheels are for tubeless tires, some have to have tubed tires as well.but yours defenitly take tubes. As for the tire sizes, the closest metric sizes to the original imperial sizes that were one the bike are as follows. Rear tire should be 110/90-18. front tire should be 100/90-19.Heffay's right about chinese tires ,they (in my opinion)are junk. always buy a Japanese tire. Bridgestone spitfires are my choice .Their cheap,they seem to have good grip,and they last fo what seems like forever.Good Luck, Fergie.

[tgascon]

My rims are spoked, but how do I determine if they're stock?
Do I measure the width of them or are they stamped on the outside or inside with a number!
Thanks

[fergie]

They should be stamped :JAPAN D.I.D 185-18 &D.I.D. 185-19 if they are stock.At least thats what my 78 550 say. Cheers, Fergie

[CHUNG]

If you drive like a woosie then almost any tire will do fine. "Touring" tires give more mileage, "Sport" tires wear out faster but grip much better. Cheap-assed tires will usually skid more easily and I'm not real fond of that when I'm on two... or ONE wheel  Stock tire sizes on that bike look like bicycle tires. A 5.10 is pretty fat, if it fits good and the application chart say's it OK on your rim then go for it. Most MFGs will have an application chart for their tire sizes although it may be hard to get your hands on it. The larger catalouges that have several Tire MFG listed usually have at least one page that has a metric conversion chart as well as a size chart burried in there somewhere. I replace the tube with every tire change, even on Mags.

[tgascon]

Thanks Fergie!
They are both stamped near the valve stem as you indicated.
They are the same # as yours.
Todd

[tgascon]

I'm looking at Dunlop K-70s and Dunlop F11 and K627.
Anyone have a set of either?
How are they?
Todd

[mjhoffman]

I just put on the exact tire that you are considering on my 1977 550f and I am pleased with the tires.  I’ve only had the tires on the bike about 2 weeks.  Weather permitting, I commute about 15 miles a day round trip.  I knew when I bought them that they were an economical tire but I thought I’d give them a try anyway.  I also purchased from JCW the  tool that they had in the catalogue to put the tires on with.  I got out my MC manual and read how to change the tires and with the tool I took my time and changed them myself.  I put in a new rubber strip and inner tube to complete the installation.  It was all quite a learning experience.

[tgascon]

Did you get the K-70s (front and rear) or the F-11 (front)and k627(rear)and what size did you get?
Todd

[mjhoffman]

Todd,
In my previous post I was referring to your first post where you were talking about the Chen Shin C906 Frt  and C907 Rear.  The sizes that I used were the 100/90h19 front and a 130/90h16 rear.  The rear wheel being a 16" isn't original....the PO put the wheel on there so a fatter tire could be put on the bike.   

Mike

[Uncle Ernie]

I hope mjhoffman also got the wheel balancing bench with his other supplies.  Asheville is a hot bed of AHRMA racers. We live in the mountains and love twisties, switchbacks, sweepers, you name it. Americans seem to have this macho thing about fat looking tires. That's OK for Harleys and squids who only know how to go fast in a straight line. For the best handling, stick with the original tire size- or as close as you can get to it. Avon and Bridgestone make great tires for this kind of application.

[kghost]

I have a set of the chen tires and a set of Dunlop Arrowmax gt501f's. Both on CB750's. Can't tell any diff. I seem to recall the Koreans have some of the best tire making machinery in the world now. I guess they can make tires now untouched by human hands.

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

slight thread drift.

How are tires balanced at a bike shop.  How close is a gravity balance if bearing are good and smooth.

[Zip]

Change the tubes and the rim strips that protect the tube from the spoke ends.

Zip