Tires for a newbie

Well, you asked for it Geezer…

I believe Bridgestone say that 2.15 is ideal for the 3.25 19 and that it’s fine with 1.85 to 2.15. I fitted one to a 1.85 and it looked perfect on there to me. So I wouldn’t change the size unless I wanted new rims for another reason.

Ideal for the 4.00 18 rear is 2.75 and is ok 2.15 to 2.75. Again, I fitted one to a 2.15 and thought it fitted perfectly. A 4.00 on a 2.75 rim will fit comfortably in a commando.

I’ve yet to put enough miles on BT46s to be certain, but I’m currently thinking that they are my new tire of choice for the stable. Avon can f*ck off !

Oh man! The math here is making my simple mind spin.......Too many numbers. I wish I were more dialed into the technical details of fitting tires to rims knowing the variability of the two parts....

I run a 100/90 WM3 on the font, and a 4.00 18 WM3 on the rear. My bike handles very well, drops into corners and holds the line very nicely. I do get some chicken strip wear, and in retrospect I may have done better with a WM4 on the rear. (when I built my rims 10 yrs ago, I found it hard to go to WM4 from WM2 and was playing it a bit safe)

Thanks to you both. At least it gives me something to look at. Coming from Japanese sport bikes, which tend to have wider rims and tires, I wasn't sure how far one could go on a Norton.

I went from a 100/90-19 to a 90/90 on the front and noticed a big difference with the turn-in. I had to re-learn the bike but once I got used to it, I felt much more comfortable with the handling - and faster. It went where it was pointed.
Some here have said that the skinnier tire will compromise the braking, and I'm sure it would, but I have not run into any problems yet on country roads. I'm old now though.
I have a WM2-19 rim up front and WM3-18 on the rear, both Akront flanged type.
Russ

Sort of a related question:
If you leave the rim clamp off what do you plug the hole with?

JimNH said:

Sort of a related question:
If you leave the rim clamp off what do you plug the hole with?

Click to expand...

I've used the electrical tape for a long time. Dozens of bikes, works fine.

Round or button head bolt? Buy a rubber rim strip if needed.

Got the BT46s yesterday. Reno shop matched price i could get online and mounted $20 a piece. One of these days will get the bike running and try them out. Along with tires have installed Trispark, CNW coil and CNW Mikuni kit. Waiting on new tank. I don't trust the old fiberglass to not gum everything up. Seemed to with the Amals.
Paul