Tire Question

Joined
Apr 29, 2005
Messages
59
Need to replace both tires on my 71 Norton Highrider. Will the folowing tire fit the bike ok?? 3.25/3.85x19"; RRW: 2.15; LR. I found this tire on JC Whitney. My current tires are very weather cracked and needs replacing bad and was thinking of putting these tires on. Thanks for any info. devildog
 
FYI, more info on the tire I am thinking of purchasing from JW Whitney.
470) ZX621265T
 
Why not put 4.10 X 19 Dunlop TT 100s on it front and back like originally came from the factory? These tires look and ride great on a Commando.


devildog said:
Need to replace both tires on my 71 Norton Highrider. Will the folowing tire fit the bike ok?? 3.25/3.85x19"; RRW: 2.15; LR. I found this tire on JC Whitney. My current tires are very weather cracked and needs replacing bad and was thinking of putting these tires on. Thanks for any info. devildog
 
tpeever said:
Why not put 4.10 X 19 Dunlop TT 100s on it front and back like originally came from the factory?


As devildog's Commando is a '71 model there's no guarantee that it left the factory fitted with Dunlop TT100s (I'm not sure they actually started fitting a TT100 option until '72?).
It would I think be more likely that it originally had Avon tyres fitted.

The tyre/tire type mentioned by devildog would appear to be made by Cheng Shin, these have been sold in the UK for a while now as 'Maxxis' brand tyres and all reports I've heard about them at least seem to be good.
 
A good friend's '69 'S' model came from the dealer with a 3.60H-19 Dunlop K-81 front and a 4.10H-19 K-81 rear in 1969. As I understand, early Commando's were shod with either Avon Roadrunners in 3.25-19 front and 4.10-19 rear or the Dunlop K-81's. In 1972 the front fender and stays were widened and the bikes were supplied with 4.10's front and rear, both Avon and Dunlop.
 
Ron L said:
As I understand, early Commando's were shod with either Avon Roadrunners in 3.25-19 front and 4.10-19 rear or the Dunlop K-81's.

Avon 'Roadrunners' as I recall were not produced until around 1975 so it is unlikely they were fitted as standard to any model year Commandos?

The common Avon tyre of the time was the 'Grand Prix' and that is what is mentioned and also shown in many road tests and period photos, the early bikes shown amongst those having an Avon Speedmaster MkII ribbed front with a GP rear.
 
I think that L.A.B. is right on this. Avon Roadrunners were a mid '70s attempt by Avon to catch up with TT100s which were so named in commemeration of Malcolm Uphill's 100mph lap of the TT in June 1969 on K81s.

Looking through my brochures, the 1967 model is shown on SMs back and front (3.25 and 4.00 if you're interested) These were, of course 100% aspect ratio tyres.

For 1968 this changed to a GP rear,and they were listed as 3.00 front and 3.50 rear. By 1970 this had changed to 3.00 front and 4.10 low profile rear.

It is not until the 1971 brochure "The Wild Bunch" that 4.10 tyres back and front are listed and the pictures show TT100s. There appears to be no brochure evidence of a 3.60 TT100 ever being fitted as standard.

The Avon GP was available up to and including the Mk111 850. I've never tried them. I always thought they looked quite good on the Commando but they were reputedly quite hard and slippy in the wet and all of us who pretended to be fast riders much preferred the race credibility of the Dunlops.

One thing that is certain is that the WM2 (1.85") rim sizes got sadly left behind even the period recommendations from the manufacturers for the tyres being fitted. According to an undated Avon chart that I have, The WM2 is only really suited to a 3.00 or 3.10 tyre and even a 3.60 or 80/90 should be on a WM3 (2.15"). A 4.10 or 100/90 should be fitted to a 2.50 rim which is what is mostly referred to as a WM4, although the series doesn't go that wide.
 
Hi Devildog-
I've run Cheng Shin K-81 and K-70 knockoffs on rider-level bikes in the past with good results. On bikes where "Dunlop" on the sidewall counted I ran them, but with the recent price increases it makes even better sense to run the Cheng Shins. Nice to stay original, but if you can't stop for a bite to eat on a ride because you popped all your play cash for "right" tires, it ain't any fun!

Mike,
Kansas, America
Eat to live, Live to eat :lol:
 
Norton Tire

Thnaks Mike, I went ahead and purchased a set Cheng Shin tires for more than half the cost of the Avon and Dunlops. I fully understand that they are not probably in the same class however with all the bikes I have, my intention is only to take them out for short 50-75 mile easy rides on hardtop roads only so these will fill the purpose. I do thank everyone for their input. semper fi devildog
 
Try Avon Supervenoms ,they looks good and works good too :) I have a pair of those on mine ,same size in the front and rear. Any other that have experience with those :?:
 
Devildog,

I see what you mean about prices, your cheap tyres are cheaper than over here and presumably your Avons are dearer ?

Did you fit the same width back and front ? What width do they actually come out to when on the rims ?

I've never been able to bring myself to buy tyres other than those which I regarded as the best at the time. Always that nagging thought of a Motorway with grooves on a wet night and a lorry that suddenly changes lanes ! Paranoid ? You bet !

Fireflake, I have Super Venoms on at the moment. Nice neutral tyres and no grip problems. I have 18" rims back and front so my experience will differ slightly. The rear 110/90V18 sits nicely on a 2.50 section Akront. I've never tried the AM18 on the front on 19" but I did run an AM20 for a while in combination with an AM18 on the back.

I would think that either AM20/AM21 Roadrunners or AM20/AM18 Super Venoms are pretty well the "default" choice in Europe for anyone who changes from TT100s. I used to like TTs a lot, but I do find them a bit "all or nothing" for my current riding style.
 
G'day everyone,

Just fitted new 3.60 & 4.10 TT100s' to the front & rear of my '73 for $100 OZ dollars each, pretty cheap i thought. :D

Mike.
 
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