Tire Question:
Not sure about the condition of the tires on the NS I just bought, plus I'm gonna need 'em eventually, so I started checking around for available sizes. The bike wears skinny tires:
100/90-16 front
110/90-17 rear
Now, I've read some period tests and they commented on the smallness of the tires, even back then. I've checked some vendors and recommended tires and the closest I've gotten is the following:
Bridgestone offers their Battleax BT-45 in the following sizes:
110/90-16 F
120/90-17 R
That's only 10mm bigger on each tire, so it shouldn't make much difference, since each end is up the same amount, right?
Then Avon shows for their AM26:
100/90-16 F (dead match)
120/90-17 R
120/80-17 R
The Avon front is right on, but the rear is slightly bigger, but with two different aspect ratios offered. With the rear being slightly wider, would the smaller aspect ratio give the proper overall tire height, or would it make that much difference? How much difference in the steering and handling would the larger rear tires make on the machine, if any? Not only would the overall height be different, but the tire profile would be totally different from having a 120mm tire stuffed onto a rim designed for a 110mm tire. Would this make the bike handle like crap?
All of the listed tires are V-rated, so speed rating isn't an issue. The BT-45s come in proper front sizes, (100/90-16), but they are only H-rated.
It seems that 110/90-17 rear tires are totally and completely unavailable, so I'm VERY limited in options.
Advice? Should I just get the Avons and be done with it?
