Topic: Will TT100s really work on a 550F? (please don't kill me)

[bistromath]

Okay. I spent two hours reading the FAQ, searching the archives, and deciphering endless TwoTired and Hondaman posts and I'm ready to tear my hair out. I've done my homework and either I'm retarded or I can't find any damn tires in stock sizes for the 550F. Please feel free to call me retarded.

Far as I can tell, stock tire sizes on the 550F were 3.25/90-19 front and 3.75/90-18 rear. Hondaman has suggested that trigo tires like the TT100 should run wider than their round-profile equivalents. I would like to run TT100s on my 550F. But Dunlop recommends a 2.15" rim for any of their TT100/K81 tire sizes. The 550F runs 1.85" rims, front and rear. So my question is, can I run TT100s on a 550, and will the smaller rim size hurt anything?

If I can't run TT100s on my 550F, how should I pick a metric size? I believe that I should be running a 90/90-19 front and a 100/90-18 rear. Nobody I can find makes any decent tires in 100/90-18 rears. Let's face it it's basically a bicycle tire. Should I run a 110?

[bryanj]

You need Dunlop TT100 in 3.60/19 front and 4.00/18 rear both "H" rated and they will do great---just dont expect much over 5,000 mile life from the rear before the centre tread is gone. Front will last 2 rears

[kayaker43]

I feel your pain, I'm researching tires too. Even the tire makers can't agree on what tire sizes fit what rim sizes.

Back in the day many people used the a 4.10-19 rear tire on the front but it looked kinda fat, and most ran a 4.25/85-18 size on the rear. That was actually a popular roadracing combo despite being "wrong". Keep in mind that even with bigger rims, the prevailing opinion back then was not to go much larger than stock because wide tires made it handle funny! Fast forward to today's crazy fat tires and better handling bikes.

I know lots of things have changed and its like talking about religion with some people but I've adopted a more relaxed attitude about tires. Working at a dealership, I've ridden a million bikes with "wrong" size tires and for normal riding, none of them were dangerous.

I sort of averaged out what I could find and decided to run a 110/90-18 rear and 100/90-19 front. Unless you're going for the retro look, Dunlop GT501's would be more of a modern sport tire.

[bwaller]

Ditto kayaker43's statement, tire sizes as well. Don't get me wrong I'm not a K81 naysayer, I used them on the street and roadraced with them for years, good tires.

There are however better tires available today that stick as well and wear better also. Unlike Bryan I don't think I ever saw 5000 miles from a K81 rear.

[SteveD CB500F]

I ran 4.25/85 H18 TT100 on my 500 way back. It was the tyre of choice at one time.

As you probably know, the name "TT100" was based upon the fact that the tyre was the first to lap the Isle Of Man circuit at 100 mph.  As a racing tyre, it had/has a very "triangular" profile and when used on the road would wear the centre tread far too fast while the rest of the tyre was OK!

5k on the rear was about right for a 500/550, the 750s ate them much quicker (heavier I guess)

[bistromath]

Yeah, I'm leaning away from them now in favor of Bridgestone Battlaxes, which actually come in 100/90-19 and 110/90-18. There are some Avon skins that do as well so I guess this is just preference. Seems like nobody but Kenda and Cheng Shin make 90/90-19 and 100/90-18 matching sets. While I'm sure they're fine, I prefer "name" brands. (Please for the love of God don't let this degenerate into another tire-brand thread...!) 

Thanks all for the input on a beaten-to-death topic.   

[andy750]

Go for the Bridgestone B45s you wont be disappointed. I have them on my CB750K2 and they are very good tires for the money.

good luck
Andy

[kayaker43]

The best price I could find for BT45's are at Bike Bandit http://www.bikebandit.com/product/3349

The price spread for the same tire is incredible, it pays to shop!!

The Dunlop GT501 used to be made in our sizes but I can't find them now?

Sure wish I could find some cheap rims off something else, maybe a 2.15 front and 2.5 rear so I could ditch the skinny bicycle tires.

[Trevor from Warragul]

I run TT100's on my 350/4 (4.10 H18 rear and 3.60 H18 front).  The only thing "old world" about them is the tread pattern.  They run modern compounds & stick really well.

Just a small correction, they were the first tyre to run a "production" 100 mph IOM lap.  Malcolm Uphill was the rider, I think it was on a Triumph, but I could be wrong..