Author Topic: CB550K & Dunlop D404 tires (Read 5950 times)

leaderbean · « **on:** September 24, 2009, 10:33:59 am »

I have read the tire FAQs and several threads about people putting these on their 750s, but wanted to check specifically on these tires on a 550. These are the first motorcycle tires I have ever purchased so I am trying to avoid any problems by asking the pros (that's all you guys reading this). A friend recommended them to me as good for the money, but he isn't a vintage guy.

So... on a '76 550k with stock rims:

Dunlop D404 Rear - Size - 120/90H-18
Dunlop D404 Front - Size - 100/90H-19

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/31/401/9955/ITEM/Dunlop-D404-Metric-Cruiser-Rear-Tire.aspx
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/31/401/9970/ITEM/Dunlop-D404-Metric-Cruiser-Front-Tire.aspx

Plus I need tubes and rim stips? Pending forum approval, I'll buy. THANKS

Aaron Richard · « **Reply #1 on:** September 24, 2009, 11:05:02 am »

good tires , last a while. I have a set of white walls on my shadow. handle pretty well dry/wet roads.

BVCB650 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 24, 2009, 11:08:27 am »

I almost bought them. Nice treads. I went for the Avon Roadriders though. I felt they may be a softer compond and since winter is coming on up here................

TwoTired · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2009, 01:11:40 pm »

Those tires are too wide to fit properly on the stock CB550 1.85 in. rims.
You can expect rapid center of tread tire wear. And, you will have to run higher tire pressures as the rims won't give the sidewall support the tire was designed to have. The higher tire pressure compensates for that.

They will be nice when new, but the handling will get increasingly worse as they wear. Expect to begin fighting the bars in turns after a thousand miles. The bike won't have neutral balance in turns, anymore. You will also have quite noticeable "chicken strips" as the tire nears end of life.

Dave-and-his-550 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2009, 01:40:15 pm »

I got the rear tire off my rim, and there was duct tape running around all the nipples on the inside. I asked the guy who removed the tire. And he said its very common people use duct tape instead of rim strips, he said they work better... I didn't have an opinion at the time, but I just kinda thought...

wtf?

jesus freek · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2009, 02:06:16 pm »

The last time I replaced tires I consulted the forum and took a beating!! Ha! Ha!

As for tire size it is all personal preference but... twotired is right. But I went ahead anyways cause thats how I roll. I started looking at other 550,s on here and was reading their "build" sheets to see what they have. I settled on the size and then the cost. Working on a budget I ended up with a Chen Shing Grand Marquis on the front and a Yokohama World Tour on rear. The front is a 100-90-19 and the rear is a 4.00-18. I am happy with the sizes and the tires. I wanted a nostalgic looking tire in keeping with the age of the bike. I did however recently p/u a 16inch Harley rim spoked to a cb550 hub and when I recieved it was very disappointed,it looks so small even with the worn tire still mounted. I realy love the look of Clevland's cb550 and was going for that look,thats what I get for looking at pics and not the real deal. If I do decide to mount that rim I will go with a more modern sporty tire and not the Chen Shin, they are nylon composed tire. I dont have any handling or wearing complaintes. I do reccomend you replace the tubes and rim strips, they are only a couple dollars for each piece. Never can tell how long it has been since the P.O. had done it. The piece of mind you will have when you do that will pay for itself. I hope this helps
cheers

leaderbean · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2009, 04:26:24 pm »

Yeah I was afraid I'd get all chewed up asking such a simple question. TwoTired has me pretty convinced these are the wrong tires to go with.

Right now there is a Bridgestone Superspeed on the front. 3.25 S 19
There is a Cheng Shin High Speed on the back 4.25/4.6 H 18

These are both really old tires and I think I risked death riding on them after I bought the bike. It sits for now.

Aaron Richard · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2009, 04:47:34 pm »

I have a 120 rear on my bike. Chin marque. was new when I got the bike. handles fine, wear is not bad. It all depends if you want to have a little beefier looking tire back there. It will wear a bit faster but not super fast. definitely the biggest I would go.

JBMorse · « **Reply #8 on:** September 24, 2009, 04:55:15 pm »

I would also like to know, are rim strips usually replaced with a new tire as well as the tube?

BVCB650 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 24, 2009, 05:04:01 pm »

Quote from: jesus freek on September 24, 2009, 02:06:16 pm

The last time I replaced tires I consulted the forum and took a beating!! Ha! Ha! As for tire size it is all personal preference but... twotired is right. But I went ahead anyways cause thats how I roll. I started looking at other 550,s on here and was reading their "build" sheets to see what they have. I settled on the size and then the cost. Working on a budget I ended up with a Chen Shing Grand Marquis on the front and a Yokohama World Tour on rear. The front is a 100-90-19 and the rear is a 4.00-18. I am happy with the sizes and the tires. I wanted a nostalgic looking tire in keeping with the age of the bike. I did however recently p/u a 16inch Harley rim spoked to a cb550 hub and when I recieved it was very disappointed,it looks so small even with the worn tire still mounted. I realy love the look of Clevland's cb550 and was going for that look,thats what I get for looking at pics and not the real deal. If I do decide to mount that rim I will go with a more modern sporty tire and not the Chen Shin, they are nylon composed tire. I dont have any handling or wearing complaintes. I do reccomend you replace the tubes and rim strips, they are only a couple dollars for each piece. Never can tell how long it has been since the P.O. had done it. The piece of mind you will have when you do that will pay for itself. I hope this helps
cheers

I thought that too once, Then I went with safety and grip. Not that other tires aren't safe. It's just that these tires make me smile when I lean over.

http://www.ridermagazine.com/output.cfm?id=1304209

BuffaloBill · « **Reply #10 on:** September 24, 2009, 05:47:26 pm »

I've got a few hundred miles on these Shinko tires and am very happy with them. If you want to spend less than the Dunlops cost this would be (in my opinion) worth consideration. I ordered them from the motorcyclesuperstore.

Your Order
Item Status Price Quantity Total Item Price
712 Rear Tire
Color - --, Size - 110/90H-18
SKU# 54340 Approved $41.99 1 $41.99
712 Front Tire
Color - --, Size - 100/90H-19
SKU# 54309 Approved $41.99 1 $41.99

Sub Total: $83.98
Shipping: $0.00
Handling: $0.00
Duties And Taxes: $0.00
Discounts Applied: $0.00
Total: $83.98

leaderbean · « **Reply #11 on:** September 24, 2009, 06:52:11 pm »

I'm going with the Dunlop K70s all around.

3.25 19" up front and 4.0 18" on the rear.

With tubes, rim strips and free shipping came to $140 from Motorcycle-Superstore.

I am pleased.

BVCB650 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 24, 2009, 06:54:01 pm »

Good price.

TwoTired · « **Reply #13 on:** September 24, 2009, 07:04:24 pm »

Quote from: leaderbean on September 24, 2009, 06:52:11 pm

I'm going with the Dunlop K70s all around.

3.25 19" up front and 4.0 18" on the rear.

With tubes, rim strips and free shipping came to $140 from Motorcycle-Superstore.

I am pleased.

I think you will be happy a good long while with your choice.

BTW if the rims strips show no cracking or deterioration, I will reuse them once and replace on the next tire change. Kinda depends on their age. If they are older that 5 or 10 years, they get replaced. IMO, duct tape is an emergency use product and then only temporary. Ordinance tape lasts far longer, but I would still use a rim strip as first choice. A shop that prefers duct tape to rim strips I would avoid in the future.

BVCB650 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2009, 05:37:48 am »

And.....duct tape may restrict the (gasp) balancing beads.

fastbroshi · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2009, 07:39:03 am »

Got the D404's on mine, I'm happy with them. New rear, front was on it BACKWARDS when I got it. I suspect they'll actually handle good if I replace my shocks.

Aaron Richard · « **Reply #16 on:** September 25, 2009, 03:59:37 pm »

I thought about trying these out next season. DO you have any pics of them on the bike?

Quote from: BuffaloBill on September 24, 2009, 05:47:26 pm

I've got a few hundred miles on these Shinko tires and am very happy with them. If you want to spend less than the Dunlops cost this would be (in my opinion) worth consideration. I ordered them from the motorcyclesuperstore.

Your Order
Item Status Price Quantity Total Item Price
712 Rear Tire
Color - --, Size - 110/90H-18
SKU# 54340 Approved $41.99 1 $41.99
712 Front Tire
Color - --, Size - 100/90H-19
SKU# 54309 Approved $41.99 1 $41.99

Sub Total: $83.98
Shipping: $0.00
Handling: $0.00
Duties And Taxes: $0.00
Discounts Applied: $0.00
Total: $83.98

BuffaloBill · « **Reply #17 on:** September 25, 2009, 05:00:41 pm »

I shot a few picks of the Shinkos on my bike. The lighting in the garage wasn't the greatest. The tread design isn't from the period of the CB but I guess that doesn't bother me. The bike has a light feel on these tires and lays over with little effort. I've not reached the adhesion limit yet (not counting the occasional run in with gravel...). They feel relatively soft to my fingernail, though not as soft as the sticky sportbike tires on my other bike.

jesus freek · « **Reply #18 on:** September 26, 2009, 07:01:33 am »

I may have to check into the shinkos, I just picked up a 16 in harley rim on a 550 hub,and it needs a new tire.

verboten1 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 26, 2009, 07:55:01 am »

I run the shinko 712s on my yamaha.
I ran the shinko 705 on the KLR all the way to the arctic ocean and back
and when I want to have fun offroad, shinko 244

I am a shinko ho...lol

Gorms · « **Reply #20 on:** September 26, 2009, 08:29:11 am »

I just checked Dennis Kirk and they have the Dunlop D404's in the sizes you specify for about $5 cheaper per tire. Probably cheaper shipping too. FYI

Spikeybike · « **Reply #21 on:** September 26, 2009, 08:42:23 am »

i run 404s on my 550 ... that i got from dennis kirk ... i love them, great tires .. no complaints at all

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Author Topic: CB550K & Dunlop D404 tires (Read 5950 times)

jesus freek

jesus freek