tire choices

I'm currently bringing my 73 Roadster back from the dead and will soon need to aquire new rubber. Lots of choices out there but kinda want to know what others like and dislike about certain brands/sizes. Avon...Dunlop?? Also, I've noticed some have opted for a larger rear tire. There seems to be a lot of room to accomodate a larger tire but are mods needed to do so. I kinda like the look but would this effect handling?

Hi,

when you have the 19" rear wheel, there are not much choices, because nearly all producers offer only front tires for 19". I know only Dunlop TT 100 and Avon Roadrider.
Would like the Bridgestone BT45 as 19" rear tire, but is only available in 18". I have them on my Triumph, good tires. The Avon Roadrider has better roadholding, but the
Dunlop looks better.

Ralf

I talked to the Continental tire folks at the Barber Vintage festival. They said a 110-90-19 street radial would be available first of the year to go with the 100-90-19 they have now. Should be a good option.

Avon Roadriders work very well. I'm using 100/90 19 front and back on 2.5 inch width rims as recommended by Avon. 100/90 is actually 109mm width fitted. Need new front at halfway worn stage to maintain wobble free hands off steering. These can then go on the back. I've blueprinted my frame and have absolutely no problems with handling or steering with good tread, white lines don't even exist unless rear tread is well worn.

Loads advertised on the internet;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_nkw ... UBED+FRONT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_nkw ... +57S+FRONT

http://www.bing.com/search?q=++19+%22+m ... &sp=-1&sk=

Am 26 now for me . Wear out faster but you need grip.

I've got an 18" rear rim. Are there any width issues going with a 110/90 Dunlop 404, Avon AM26, Pirelli Sport Demon, or Conti-GO? I'm not ready for a Shinko- IRC - Kenda...

I'm running Bridgestone BT-45s (at Matt Rambow's suggestion). Good tires but I'm a Pirelli fanatic so when the time comes, they'll be replaced with Sport Demons.

Al-otment said:

Avon Roadriders work very well. I'm using 100/90 19 front and back on 2.5 inch width rims as recommended by Avon. 100/90 is actually 109mm width fitted. Need new front at halfway worn stage to maintain wobble free hands off steering. These can then go on the back. I've blueprinted my frame and have absolutely no problems with handling or steering with good tread, white lines don't even exist unless rear tread is well worn.

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Same as my set up. None better.

110 on both ends is my favorite combo on normal power Commando and brakes. 120 x 18" can fit Combats fine, after the snug squeezing puzzling to get past fender but if not power to break it free leaned at speed its just more drag but does last longer. Pirelli Corsaca's are my favorite in fatso tires so thanks for alerting me on skinny versions. Yet if cost-wear ain't a factor, flat tracker tires are soft as breasts and grip like gecko pads so in public could terrorize yourself and strangers pretty securely.

By hobot: flat tracker tires are soft as breasts and grip like gecko pads so in public could terrorize yourself and strangers pretty securely..

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Nice description. I would like sticky tires. Can you suggest a brand and model? I want to stick the corners and not scare myself.
I have a strong feeling the brakes will be the weak point. It's been over 10 years since I had the beast running. I thought the brakes were ok back then. It has a 13mm Grimeca front master cylinder. Brakes have come a long way since then. I wonder how scary they will seem now!

Avon Roadriders for me too, they are great tyres. Some guys even race on them in UK Historic racing.

Avon do a 'universal' 19" tyre that can go front or back. These have deeper tread than front only tyres, but less tread than rear only tyres. So the downside to universals is less rear tyre mileage.

If you go for an 18" rear rim, you can fit dedicated front and rear tyres.

Lots of info here: http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/roadrider

Man oh man are yoose guys really pressing tires into sonic and skip out zones -on un-linked Cdo's or fatso sports bikes? On those things I want most traction on inline upright front braking. Like everyone I can feel the extra smooth security of good tires and tires are half the Cdo's smooth handling so paying attention what to $pend on. Only extremes of air pressure matter more than softness but it'll cost ya more than twice regular tires. Mileage can be extended 2x's the center life if ya use up most the side softness too. I've not had time enough to know what brand, type and size combo is best on Peel but for me softness helps most of all in all conditions but mud or wet grass and leaves. More than anything else that freaked me out on Kelly's flat tracker was how freaking sticky-grippy the padded tires were. He saw me squeeze a pad and react like I'd felt a woman's breast then said he wanted to try em in public for one hell of a city street fighter. i'd took off on sandy.pebbled dry mud field expecting rear to skip at lower speeds to steer w/o much leaning - nope, leaped ahead at unintended aim angle, yikes! screamed the sane brain digital inhibition circuits, Oh Yum! Hollower-ed the insane brain endocrine anadamide over ride. I'll try out the Avon Roadridder race tires fitted on Peel 130 & 110 fast as I can then fit 27.50 & 27 dirt track tires to see if expands flight envelopes on & off paved surfaces.

http://www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-435-113-dtr-1

I've been on SuVee most this year and work up about every ride to point toes get kicked back annoyingly, so I get lower & back over rear more to press over some more till a bit of tire skip of either end scares me on the fatso race tire corner cripple. What matters most to me in turns is how fast rear grip occurs on let offs. THE Gravel this week had me flat track SuVee in shock away from a buck on such steep slope he'd tripped so was falling out of control somersaulting over a fence when I saw the velvety antlers upside down about to flip on me > I reflex nailed it before sane mind could react so he fell behind me instead, whew. I was in a spunky mood that day, swishing tail a bit to ease turns only shifting up when power band tire spun too easy, but spider sense said shift up for traction and quit playing on way to appointment, otherwise rear would of just slide into the ditch the deer crumpled up in. Who needs paid tract days, sheeze.

4:10 x 19 Dunlop TT100's front and rear and it handles lovely, no problems with them at all.

+1 on the TT100's. Love the way the work on a Commando. I tried the RoadRider's and didn't like them as well as the Dunlop's. Profile too round for the bike, sluggish turn in.

Mikeysduck said:

I've got an 18" rear rim. Are there any width issues going with a 110/90 Dunlop 404, Avon AM26, Pirelli Sport Demon, or Conti-GO? I'm not ready for a Shinko- IRC - Kenda...

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Running Avon AM26 front and rear with your set-up. No sign of weave at any speed, and traction is fantastic. So far, wear isn't an issue after more than 1000 miles on the rear. As a bonus, they don't grab the rain grooves anywhere close to what my old K81's used to.

Mikeysduck said:

It has a 13mm Grimeca front master cylinder. Brakes have come a long way since then. I wonder how scary they will seem now!

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Blanchard-ground front disc to remove the chrome, Ferodo pads http://ecat.ferodoracing.com/motorcycle/brake-pads-and-shoes/FDB88, and a fleabay 12mm front master cylinder. If you look at the Ferodo websight, these pads are listed as '75 only, while, in fact, they list the Norton PN as 06-6005, which is the correct number for the Norton front disc brake. Although lever pressure is a bit higher than my dual-disc UJM, it can still be hauled down with two fingers.

Nathan

Be aware that Avon AM26 100/90-19 is NOT recommended by Avon for the stock WM2 rims and the profile will be overly pinched if you mount one (they spec WM3 minimum for that tire).
I do like the AM26's a lot and have them on both my bikes, a Commando and a DR650 supermoto.

bluto said:

Be aware that Avon AM26 100/90-19 is NOT recommended by Avon for the stock WM2 rims...

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Good catch on my oversight! I failed to mention that a 90/90-19 resides on the front end. WM-3 X 18 on the rear, so it's shod with the 100/90-18.

Nathan

Ya don't know what ya missing out on braking and cornering with a 110 on front 19" WM2 rim if not caught up in company lawyer policy. Last year finally tried the group wisdom of smaller 100 tire WM2 rim and still pissed off till its center flattening area used up more. On Peel I've fitted a 130 on rear 18" WM3 and like the extra patch area available on maximum leans, which on Peel was rather further over d/t her lifted front. I test every tire combo to maxium traction and lean handling to know limits so not speculating on this vital life-bike saving performance. All my other front tires end up V shaped profile before cords showing. Still I think even a tiny flat tracker tire would shock shit out of me on grip.

After many years of motorcycling I long ago came to the conclusion that it’s a lot safer to fit the gripest tyre on the front and a hard wearing one on the rear for maximum mileage.
19 inch size have a very limited supply for front;

http://www.oponeo.co.uk/moto-tyre-detai ... ont-tl-m-c