Topic: Tires

[Sandcast 2356]

Alrighy then, my  bike is finally mechanically worthy of travelling in everyday traffic. Now for my next question: The front tire on my bike is literally falling apart and is in dire need of replacing. Is there any certain advantage of a particular tread pattern over another. Such as, do the tires that look like normal car highway tires handle water and such better than the odd carved ones??? Keep in mind I'm not looking to pull any dangerous stunts or race or anything, just looking for a good, safe tread pattern to base my buy on.

[Bob Wessner]

If  you are going to try and retain the ribbed pattern on the front-end which was what the original tread looked like, this will limit your choices. I asked for some guidance on where to find them some time ago here and received lots, as usual, good suggestions. But before I could select them, I recalled when I was riding my 750 20+ years ago (a long story ) I got a queezy feeling every time I went over grooved pavement on the interstates at 70 mph or bridges with metal grates. The font-end wanted to search and wander left-to-right and I attributed it to the fact the ribs were traveling parallel to the general direction of the rain grooves. Since at my age, unnecessary queezy feelings are best avoided, I decided to avoid the ribbed front pattern. I went with Dunlop D404's front and back, but you certianly have an abundance of choices and brands based on how much you are willing to spend and how aggressively you plan to ride.

[SteveD CB500F]

You can buy "classic" tyres from Dunlop (check their website) - even TT100s !!

This includes the ribbed front tyres.

Personally, I'm happy to ride modern rubber and use Avon Roadrunners front and back.

[mick750F]

   I'm with SteveD on this one. Modern tires are so much better than vintage. The improved handling is worth the sacrifice in looks and cost to me. I'm running Dunlop GT501's...

Mike

[Sandcast 2356]

Thanks for the repies, but I'm not worried about getting vintage tires on it. I just want to know what tire style (not brand) suits which kind of riding. Thanks a ton.

[SteveD CB500F]

It's always a compromise (always was actually) between grip and longevity.
You can buy a 1000 mile rear tyre with which you will probably only reach the limit on a racetrack or a 10,000 mile tyre that will squirm over white lines and frighten you rigid when it rains.

On these bikes you will be limited by the size of the rims to (nowadays) relatively narrow tyres - in the end it's your choice as only you will be happy with them.

[Mark M]

I remember when I first got interested in bikes in '80 and spent hours scanning the for sales in Motorcyclenews, all the bigger bikes mentioned they had 'roadrunners fitted'. I always assumed this was because they were a big improvement over OE tyres. Now I have Bridgestone BT45's front/rear, which grip well wet or dry, track or road. My rim sizes are non STD so don't know if they do them in the 19" you would need. 

[SteveD CB500F]

The Roadrunners on my current bike are totally different from the one's I used in the 70's.

Just the name's the same...

[mcpuffett]

hi  i still use dunlop tt100's front and back and have no trouble or lack of confidence wet or dry slow or fast and usually go through 1 front to 2 rears they like to eat your back tyre these old girls ha ha .

[Ibsen]

I have the same Avon's as SteveD I think. They work well on my 650.

[mcpuffett]

i remember some of the old tyre makes like avon roadrunners, pirelli phantoms, dunlop tt100's,avon speedmasters (squaredeaths) anyone remember those ?  mick.

[SteveD CB500F]

i remember some of the old tyre makes like avon roadrunners, pirelli phantoms, dunlop tt100's,avon speedmasters (squaredeaths) anyone remember those ?  mick.

Yep.

My 500 had TT100s on when I bought it. "Great" I thought, the first tyre to lap the Island at 100mph - must be good.  If anyone recalls they had a sort of triangular section to aid grip while cornering. Unfortunately that meant that they wore out down the middle in about 1000 miles of enthusiastic road riding!

Dunlop Red Arrows next (most expensive tyres at the time - until Phantoms came along) - they looked cool with red line and arrows and white lettering. Pretty good on the raod as well. Mine were recalled by Dunlop (this was 1977) due to some manufacturing scare and the dealer fitted Avon Roadrunners front and rear. I've used them ever since as the best compromise.

Weren't Speedmasters for sidecars?

[mcpuffett]

yep that's right you could and did use the square profile on outfits ,i built a motorbike and sidecar to pass my test on it was a honda cj250t (yellow)  with a wooden box on the side me and half of lancaster took our test on that bike  mick.