Topic: 100-90-18 or 3.50-18 Rear Tire Sources for CB400F?

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

Is there a source besides Avon for a rear tire for a CB400 F besides Avon?  That Avon tire is $100.  I think a 110-90-18 is a bit big in back.  I can only find Avon or some of the scary Taiwanese sources (Maxxis, cheng shin, etc.).

[wardmoto]

Not so sure you can lump Maxxis and Chen Shing together.  Put a set of Maxxis on my 350F and they are excellent and cheap...Chen Shing are #$%*.  Dennis Kirk catalog is excellent..there were 5  or 6 tire choices for your rim sizes besides Avons. 

[Tim.]

Pirelli has the City Demon available in that size as well.  I don't think a 110 would be too big though - stock size on the 550 and many run 120's.  I ran a 110 Pirelli Sport Demon on my 550F and loved it.

I'd jump to 110 and get a much much wider selection of brands and treads.

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

Not so sure you can lump Maxxis and Chen Shing together.  Put a set of Maxxis on my 350F and they are excellent and cheap...Chen Shing are #$%*.  Dennis Kirk catalog is excellent..there were 5  or 6 tire choices for your rim sizes besides Avons. 

Maxxis & Cheng Shin are the same company.  Same engineers, plants, sources, standards, etc. 
http://www.maxxis.com/products/news_article.asp?id=14

[wardmoto]

Thanks for that...obviously I did not know that...nevertheless, I like the tires I have and they are a decent tire for what you pay.  I will save my money to keep good rear tires on my SV1000  115 rear wheel hp and 70 ft/lbs of tourque...they don't last long.  The 30 ish hp my 350f puts out is easily dealt with by the scary Taiwanese!  Its ironic your referenced web site describes that MaxxisChengShin conglomerate as one of the 200 best companies in the world by Forbes!!!!

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

Are you running a 110-90-18 on the back of your cb350? 

[wardmoto]

I knew you were going to ask me that...I am 99 % sure I am, the purchase/install was done a while ago and I have all my notes and receipts at home.  I had no interference issues however.  I can give you more info later if you need it.

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

I knew you were going to ask me that...I am 99 % sure I am, the purchase/install was done a while ago and I have all my notes and receipts at home.  I had no interference issues however.  I can give you more info later if you need it.

I think the answer is yes, I see now the Promax smallest rear is 110-90-18.

[TomC]

Hi Tire snobs
     I have used 100/90 x 18 Cheng Shins on the back of my daily rider Yamaha for about 18,000 miles. I have worn out two and started on the third. When I showed a BMW riding friend the new Cheng Shins he had a fit.
          TomC

Is there a source besides Avon for a rear tire for a CB400 F besides Avon?  That Avon tire is $100.  I think a 110-90-18 is a bit big in back.  I can only find Avon or some of the scary Taiwanese sources (Maxxis, cheng shin, etc.).

Not so sure you can lump Maxxis and Chen Shing together.  Put a set of Maxxis on my 350F and they are excellent and cheap...Chen Shing are #$%*.  Dennis Kirk catalog is excellent..there were 5  or 6 tire choices for your rim sizes besides Avons. 

[tsflstb]

110/90/18 Bridgestone BT45 -- about $80
It's a dual compound that's very sticky on the sides and doesn't get too squared off in the center.

[kghost]

Hi Tire snobs
     I have used 100/90 x 18 Cheng Shins on the back of my daily rider Yamaha for about 18,000 miles. I have worn out two and started on the third. When I showed a BMW riding friend the new Cheng Shins he had a fit.
          TomC

Is there a source besides Avon for a rear tire for a CB400 F besides Avon?  That Avon tire is $100.  I think a 110-90-18 is a bit big in back.  I can only find Avon or some of the scary Taiwanese sources (Maxxis, cheng shin, etc.).

Not so sure you can lump Maxxis and Chen Shing together.  Put a set of Maxxis on my 350F and they are excellent and cheap...Chen Shing are #$%*.  Dennis Kirk catalog is excellent..there were 5  or 6 tire choices for your rim sizes besides Avons. 

Too Damn Funny.

People who comment on maxxis and Chen shing generally have never owned a set.

Personally I have a set of chen's and a set of dunlop 501gt's. Both on 72 CB750's so its an honest comparison.

Not alot of difference between them.

[GNXFan]

I have used many Cheng Shins on several street and dirt bikes I've had in the past with no problems. I only use Maxxis IT's on my CRF250X. My favorite street tire for the vintage Honda's has to be the Continentals. The Duro's I've seen look nice but I haven't ever used them.

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

Too Damn Funny.

People who comment on maxxis and Chen shing generally have never owned a set.

Not true here.  Went from brand new set of Cheng Shins Marquis to Continental TKV-11/12 on my Kaw H2 and the difference was striking.  Wobble at >60 mph dissapeared.  Quicker response in turns.  Instead of burning rubber when lauching hard, now it wheelies quicker.  Don't even get me started about the wet pavement in turns with the cheng shins.

Currently run V rated Bt45 on my CBX and these are great tires.  Wear out quick on a heavy, high powered bike but stick like glue.  But I think these are over kill on my little 400F.  On my 400F, I tried to go with BS S11 Spitfires but the 100-90-18 on front looked stupid and the crown was way too tight.  I've run 110s on the rear of one of my past 400Fs and they seem to wear to qucikly in the center.  i was just hoping a quality 100-90-18 rear was available besides the Avons (but I see now MAW has them on special closeout pricing).

If I were just putting around town on the 400F I would be OK with the Maxxis or Chen Shins.  But my wife is going to try to keep up with me when she is ridding the 400F in the hills.  Having said all this, I'll go with the Contis with 110-90-18 in back.

[kghost]

Could the relative traction of the set of chengs you had been tied to the tread and compound rather then the manufaturer?

Quality of thier tires has gotten better over the years too. Dunno if I would compare now to 5 -10 years ago.

I do know that the koreans have one of the only automated plants in the world....tires untouched by human hands.

[Kevin400F]

Holy cow, Tony!  You're gonna put your wife on the 400F, and have her try to keep up with you when you're riding through the hills, and you're worried that the ideal tire is a few dollars "too expensive"?  Sheesh.....buy the best, stickiest tire you can, in the correct size, regardless of the price, and consider it a gift to her.  That'll be way less expensive than retrieving her from some ravine, and just think what it will cost to spruce up the 400 for the next wife.