Rear tyre selection

robs ss

robs ss

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Question for a friend with a MkIII 850 - currently has K81 rear - 19", due for replacement soon.
What do members think the best dedicated rear is for his bike?
Cheers
 
I've not found any dedicated 19" rear.
The K81s have a fairly good tread depth but the consensus was that they do not provide handling on par with the Avons.
For good handling we are stuck with using the short life Avon RR 100/90/19 universal.
A nice 2.5" x 18" rear rim is a good option, one day I'll make the change.
 
I just went through the "What rear tire and why" on my commando. I decided to go with the Battlax 46 in 110/90/18. (I have and 18 x 2.15 rear rim) I was switching from the Avon RR after wearing it out in 2 or 3 seasons. The Avon is definitely softer and stickier than the Battlax,.... but the Battlax has a deeper tread than the Avon universal. I've been riding the Battlax around, adjusting the pressure to change the feel a bit and I'm getting more confident with it's feel at 30psi. I have inspected my chicken strips (unworn tread on the outside of the tire) and they are getting narrower every time I come back from a ride as I get more comfortable with the battlax tires...

I'm starting to wonder if the best tire possible extends the performance of a mediocre rider, or do you have to have a racer level skill set to get that extra performance out of the best tire. I really found the Avon RR very confidence inspiring, and when I switched over to the battlax, I noticed the difference immediately, but the more I ride it, the more familiar it feels. I'm not sure if I'm riding less aggressively to compensate for a less sticky tire. The wear patterns of both tires are comparable, but they are slightly different shaped tires so it's hard to judge if I am backing off on the battlax. At this point, I don't dislike the Battlax at all. It seems good enough for my skill set. The avon is stickier, but I think it wears out pretty quickly as a result. It's hard to say if good is good enough, or if the better performance is worth the quickness with which that tire wears out...
 
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o0norton0o said:
I just went through the "What rear tire and why" on my commando. I decided to go with the Battlax 46 in 110/90/18. (I have and 18 x 2.15 rear rim) I was switching from the Avon RR after wearing it out in 2 or 3 seasons. The Avon is definitely softer and stickier than the Battlax,.... but the Battlax has a deeper tread than the Avon universal. I've been riding the Battlax around, adjusting the pressure to change the feel a bit and I'm getting more confident with it's feel at 30psi. I have inspected my chicken strips (unworn tread on the outside of the tire) and they are getting narrower every time I come back from a ride as I get more comfortable with the battlax tires...

I'm starting to wonder if the best tire possible extends the performance of a mediocre rider, or do you have to have a racer level skill set to get that extra performance out of the best tire. I really found the Avon RR very confidence inspiring, and when I switched over to the battlax, I noticed the difference immediately, but the more I ride it, the more familiar it feels. I'm not sure if I'm riding less aggressively to compensate for a less sticky tire. The wear patterns of both tires are comparable, but they are slightly different shaped tires so it's hard to judge if I am backing off on the battlax. At this point, I don't dislike the Battlax at all. It seems good enough for my skill set. The avon is stickier, but I think it wears out pretty quickly as a result. It's hard to say if good is good enough, or if the better performance is worth the quickness with which that tire wears out...
Click to expand...
Confidence is king when it comes to tires IMHO.

Your Battlax comments are interesting and no doubt helpful to many… but what would be really interesting is your thoughts and feedbacks if you now went back to RRs…!
 
worntorn said:
And skid marks bring more skid marks. The laundry cost goes up, so might as well put that money toward the Avons.
Click to expand...
AZACKLY!

Rode with a new group of co-workers years ago, I was clownin' around, overcooking corners to "fill up mirrors", and one was close, 10" of drop off beside the asphalt. Rode it through (on a Victory Touring Cruiser).
At the next stop sign, a guy on an R90 boxer pulls a tablespoon out of his tank bag. "Need this?"

What for?


"To clean out your skivvies..."
 
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One & done using the 19" front on the rear.
They've worked fine on my RZ & H2, for the intended (front) use.
Rear tyre selection
 
My Road Riders still have some meat on them, but I’m going to replace them 4.10-19 Avon Universal when needed. The 100/90-19 size is just a bit too large for a ‘72 front fender width, about 1/8” clearance. However I won’t be blasting around mountain roads any longer. At my age there is a strong sense of mortality ;)
 
ILLF8ED said:
My Road Riders still have some meat on them, but I’m going to replace them 4.10-19 Avon Universal when needed. The 100/90-19 size is just a bit too large for a ‘72 front fender width, about 1/8” clearance. However I won’t be blasting around mountain roads any longer. At my age there is a strong sense of mortality ;)
Click to expand...
Why not RoadRider 90/90-19?
 
robs ss said:
Question for a friend with a MkIII 850 - currently has K81 rear - 19", due for replacement soon.
What do members think the best dedicated rear is for his bike?
Cheers
Click to expand...
A dedicated 19" rear tyre? Dunt exist, you are stuck using a universal 19" TT100, Road rider etc. To be able to use a dedicated rear tyre you have to re-rim down to 18" You can then use a 4.00 x 18 Road rider rear tyre or any other rear 18" tyre
 
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The 100/90-19 size is just a bit too large for a ‘72 front fender width

There is also a 325x19 Roadrider which is the same width as a 90/90 but is a higher profile so fills the guard better ie no unsightly gap.
 
possm said:
The 100/90-19 size is just a bit too large for a ‘72 front fender width

There is also a 325x19 Roadrider which is the same width as a 90/90 but is a higher profile so fills the guard better ie no unsightly gap.
Click to expand...
Do you know if the 325x19 has more tread depth than the 90/90?
 
I run a 90/90 on the front of one of mine, also changed to an early narrower front guard to lose the gap, works for me.
 

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