Recomended Tyres

GRM 450 · Aug 14, 2009

Hello learned masses, my wheels are finished and it's tyre selection time.
I have a 450 Ducati with Dunlop TT100 GP K81's which are very good and I've seen other people use these here. (or similar)
But, they don't last long on a 450, so I wouldn't think they'd last long on a Mk3?

I'm not looking for a rim protector that lasts forever.
Maybe, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Avon, Continental, ?????????

Wheels are Akront 18" x 1.85.
Front sprocket is 22 teeth.

Your recomendations would be appreciated.

Regards Graeme.

bigstu · Aug 14, 2009

Are you using 18 x 1.25 on front and rear? Standard was 19 x 1.85....
I have a 19 x 1.85 (WM2) on the front but a 18 x 2.25 (WM3) on the rear.
I use Avon roadriders, they are new out and pretty good in terms of grip and life. It is always a compromise between the two. Sticky tires dont last as long. I have 3000 miles and both tires have plenty tread left.
I use a 90/90-19 on the front and a 110/80-18 on the rear.
Standard were 100/90-19 front and rear I believe.
Dont be tempted to put a really wide tyre on a 1.85 wide rim. It will adversly affect your handling. Avon suggest no wider than a 100 wide. I chose to put the wider rim on the rear to put a 110 tyre on. If you want to put a 120 on you should have a WM4 rim.

kommando · Aug 14, 2009

I use a 90/90-19 on the front and a 100/90-19 on the rear. The rear is a roadrider and the front is a roadrunner F2, work fine for me.

cash · Aug 14, 2009

Hi Bigstu,

If you want to put a 120 on you should have a WM4 rim.

I've ran 110's and 120's on my 850's 18xWM3 rear for 15 years and have never noticed any difference up to now.

bigstu · Aug 14, 2009

Hi Cash
I have a 110 on my wm3 rim.
Thats the correct rim to take a wm3
I had a natter with Avon tech guy on the web and he told me I should have a WM4 for a 120...
as did the guys at Central wheel and Matt Rambow at CNW
So I reluctantly put a 110 on the rear. I wanted to put a 120 on.
They are probably all quoting a set guideline about the way the tyre will be set on the rim, i.e. a fatter tyre will balloon out more on a thin rim. But we are only one size off perfect.
I am glad you tell me that you have had no problems with your 120 on a wm3 18".
I may well try one next time round and see how it goes now.
But I would not advise a 120 on a wm2....me thinks that would be asking for cornering trouble.
Cheers, Stu.

chris plant · Aug 14, 2009

hi all,its better to fit the correct size tyer for a given rim size,you might not have any problems fitting a wider tyer on a rim recomended for a narrower tyer, but the misconception is people think that just fitting a wider tyer will result in more rubber on the road,not true, you will not be able to use all the tread,due to the narrow rim,wide tyer,changing the profile so much

tpeever · Aug 14, 2009

I have 4.10 X 19 TT100's front and back on WM2 rims. I like these tires but they don't appear to last very long. I have about 2K miles on mine now and the rear has significant wear. I am guessing I will get about 3K out of it and I have heard other comments that this is about the expected life for this tire. TT100's look right on a Commando to me and the rubber is supposed to be a lot better than when they were originally introduced so I will likely stick with them. A lot of Commando owners run modern tires that are much superior if you plan to ride hard and/or aren't worried about having classic-looking tires.

BillT · Aug 14, 2009

tpeever said:
I have 4.10 X 19 TT100's front and back on WM2 rims. I like these tires but they don't appear to last very long. I have about 2K miles on mine now and the rear has significant wear. I am guessing I will get about 3K out of it and I have heard other comments that this is about the expected life for this tire. TT100's look right on a Commando to me and the rubber is supposed to be a lot better than when they were originally introduced so I will likely stick with them. A lot of Commando owners run modern tires that are much superior if you plan to ride hard and/or aren't worried about having classic-looking tires.

I'm running the same set-up on mine. The rear lasted 5000 miles, with little wear showing on the front. I assume the front will wear out about the same time the second rear, at which time I plan to change to Avon.

My only real issue with the TT100s is the tread design. The rain groove on the center of the tread catches the grating on drawbridges, and makes crossing an adventure! A couple of guys I know who run the Avons say the tread gives a more confident ride.

possm · Aug 14, 2009

oe fitment for norton commandos was 300x19 front and 350x19 rear up to the end of 1970 then after that 410 x19 front and rear in tt100 terms a 360x 19 = 300x19 and 410 = 350x19 another good set up was to run a 100/90x19 tt100gp on the front this tyre is slightly narrower than a 410 but alas is no longer available in this part of the world. another option would be a metzler 325x19 me33 front and a 350x19 me77 rear.

GRM 450 · Aug 14, 2009

Thanks for that, but what about tyres for 18" x 1.85 Akront rims front and rear?
this is the size rims that came with the bike, not from the factory of course, but these were on the bike when I bought it.

Anyone using 18" rims? I know that TT100 are good tyres but they don't seem to last long on a Ducati single with WM2 rims.
i wouldn't think they'd last long on a Mk3?

tpeever · Aug 14, 2009

GRM 450 said:
Thanks for that, but what about tyres for 18" x 1.85 Akront rims front and rear?
this is the size rims that came with the bike, not from the factory of course, but these were on the bike when I bought it.

Anyone using 18" rims? I know that TT100 are good tyres but they don't seem to last long on a Ducati single with WM2 rims.
i wouldn't think they'd last long on a Mk3?

A lot of people use an 18 inch wheel on the back of Commandos. Gives you broader tire choice. A 1.85 inch Akront rim is the same as WM2 isn't it? If so, anything from 3.00 up to 4.10 will fit fine. My Dominator 88 has 3.00 X 19 front and 3.50 X 19 rear, both on WM2 rims. Looks pretty skinny compared to modern bikes!! You are probably correct that a tire life will be much shorter on a Commando given the increase in weight and horsepower. Depends what you are looking for as there will always be a tradeoff between tire stickiness and treadlife. Have you looked at some of the modern tires like Bridgestone Batlax (spelling??) and Avon Super Venom (or whatever the current version is called)?

debby · Aug 14, 2009

The Super Venom was discontinued and the AM26 Roadrider is the replacement. It's a good tire and is reasonably priced. That's what I have on my 850 and also on my Suzuki GS1000. I have an 18 inch rim on the 850 rear, running a 110/90. Front is a 100/90-19.

On my 750 I've still got the original 19 inch Dunlop steel rims and I'm running K81/TT100's, 4.10-19. I like those tires too. They do tend to track rain grooves and such a bit more than the AM26 though. I've been getting about 4000 out of the rear. Just wore another one out at the rally. Time for a new one!

Debby

cash · Aug 15, 2009

Hi bigstu

....me thinks that would be asking for cornering trouble.

Never had a problem cornering even with the little extra clearance the 120 gives I still can drag bits on the tarmac without a care. But, you are quite correct the 120 should be fitted to a a WM4 to ensure the best possible footprint.

I initially fitted a 120 to increase the wheel radius to near the 410x19 to regain speedo accuracy. OK the truth is, I got one given and the little bit of Scot in me wouldn't let me let it go and once fitted the speedo was a bit more accurate etc.

Cash

bigstu · Aug 15, 2009

Hi Cash
What I was saying is I think fitting a 120 to a WM2 would be asking for trouble. That would be putting a tyre on a rim 2 sizes out.
You are putting it onto a WM3, right? You are only one size from the recomended fitting.
The thing that concerns me is the profile of the tyre WALL if you put a really wide tyre on a narrow rim. I think this may reduce the stability of the tyre on cornering, where you get side forces on the tyre.

cash · Aug 15, 2009

Hi Bigstu,

You're correct I wouldn't fancy fitting a 120 to WM2.

Cash