Tires for my 69 Commando

dmm144j · Mar 18, 2013

So, don't laugh (please)... I've recently resurrected my old Fastback and feel like the coolest guy in the neighborhood based on the number of thumbs up etc from men (and women) of a certain age. Anyway, my bike is still shod w/30 year old TT100s and while there's plenty of tread and no cracks am I kidding myself by riding on these? I'm wayyyyy to old to fall off a bike and even though I ride very conservatively, I'm nervous about these.

Even though I'm not planning on any road trips anymore, I problably should replace them. I have a 360 H/19 in front and a 410 h 19 in back. I don't think a 410 will fit on the front as the (stoclk) fender only just clears the 360.

Any recomenations re- make size combinations would be most appreciated.

Thanks/Mitch

DogT · Mar 18, 2013

I got a 3.00-19 Avon SpeedmasterII ribbed from Walridge a few years ago, but they may be pretty rare now. That was the original on it. I don't know what I'm going to do when it wears out. You may be able to find a 3.10 or so. Tubes are rare as hens teeth in that size too.

Dave
69S

worntorn · Mar 18, 2013

I just picked up some Avon Roadriders in 100/90/19 size which is very close to 4.10.
For my 1975 850 these fit front and rear. Your bike is probably the same as my 68 650SS, it uses a 90/90/19 front.
I purchased three Avon Roadriders for $288 shipped from Bikebandit. I thought this was a pretty decent price for high end tires, or properly for Avons, tyres. In the past I have found these to be great tyres, reasonable wearing, but more importantly, great for cornering traction.

Glen

Snorton74 · Mar 18, 2013

I've got two brand new Dunlop K-81 tires for sale. $130.00 plus shipping.

Matt Spencer · Mar 18, 2013

Might pay to take them off , check & clean the rims / rustproof . And Check the TUBES .

check the tyres for splits / perishing . are they English , Irish , American or Japanese ( Nylon ) TT100s .

dmm144j · Mar 18, 2013

Thanks eveybody. Hadn't thought about the tire specifics, the front is a US nylon and the rear a Japanese nylon.

worntorn · Mar 19, 2013

Put a set of these on there and the old bike will handle like a new Ducati. http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/roadrider
The 90/90/19 size should be good on the front. It has a half inch smaller diameter than the little 3.25 / 19.
The 100/90/ 19 is correct for the rear.
Get some new tubes as well and you are ready to romp.

concours · Mar 19, 2013

Yes, you ARE KIDDING YOURSELF. The rubber has hardened, the small contact patch will betray you when you need it most, (corner) even riding conservatively, and your old bones will snap like matchsticks (compared to bounce of youth) :shock:
Change 'em out, for safety. :mrgreen:

And WELCOME to the board. Hope your return to the Commando gioes well.

Ron L · Mar 19, 2013

If you want originality, try a straight rib 3.25 -19 Avon Speedmaster for the front and a 3.50 - 19 Avon Safety Mileage on the rear. If ride and performance is the criteria, go with a 90-19 Avon Roadrunner on the front and a 100-19 Roadrunner on the rear.

If you like the Dunlops, you can still get fresh 4.10H-19 rear from most US outlets. However, the 3.60H-19 is a little tougher. You can have one shipped from Europe and Mike Partridge (Walridge Motors - Canada) used to import them on request. I don't know if he still does.

Hobot · Mar 19, 2013

I've finished tire size experiments finally this year on my factory Combat to go back to my standard, 110/4.10 on both ends, for best economy and traction handling balance though not intending to rotate them as less hassle to just let front go bald & change every 2 or 3 rears. I ride all scope of conditions on all states of tire wear and the worse the tires the less you better trust them, but it not so much a traction issue for me as a rebounding stiffness issue that feeds back into the iso hinging. I lean + power skip out every rear ~a tire width~ in special places on purpose to taste limits safely. New tires definitely smoother and feel more secure but it don't take all the much more to skip new ones out as old, mainly because of the smoothness on the iso rebound is the way I sense it. I know how stupid dangerous a iso Cdo can be and how freakin close to over the edge they are when getting close to actually testing tire traction between old hard and soft new. On Peel now that's a whole nother animal to shoe so paying attention to the newest tire inovations revealed here.

Brendan S · Mar 21, 2013

If your 69 is like my '68, you won't be able to run 4.10 K81's both front and rear like was standard on the later bikes without fouling the front fender stays and center brace. Surely someone will know when that change occurred. If you are thinking of running equal sizes front and rear I would verify fitment first. I am using 4.10 K81's on both and I like how tight the fender hugs the tire, but I had to make a new center brace for the front fender and am not using stays.
Brendan

DogT · Mar 22, 2013

The tyre size and front mudguard and stays changed in 71. Any front mudguard/stays 71 or newer would work with 4.10 tyres. The early front mudguards are very hard to find anyhow. Don't get rid of it. Andover sells the old style guard and stays.

Dave
69S

davidbaker · Mar 22, 2013

I use Avon road rider 100-90-19 front and back they handle well and last longer

cmessenk · Mar 22, 2013

Avons...Roadriders...you'll be scraping your footrests in no time. 8)

Stephen Hill · Mar 22, 2013

On my 68 Fastback, I used an Avon 90/90/19 Roadrider on the front. It has the early narrow fender with narrow stays, the same as your 69, if original. There is 1/8 of an inch clearance on one side and 3/16 on the other.
Stephen Hill
Victoria, BC

possm · Mar 23, 2013

The correct TT100 for the early front wheel is a 360x19, I have them on both my 69FB and 70S, also fitted to my 650SS.
Al

Old Bloke · Mar 25, 2013

worntorn said:
Put a set of these on there and the old bike will handle like a new Ducati. http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/roadrider
The 90/90/19 size should be good on the front. It has a half inch smaller diameter than the little 3.25 / 19.
The 100/90/ 19 is correct for the rear.
Get some new tubes as well and you are ready to romp.

Worntorn, is that recommendation good for WM2 rims front and rear, ?

I've got to buy two tyres for my long term rebuild 73 mkII 850, and with all the conflicting thread info about rim sizes V's Tyre sizes, I'd like to get a working setup without too many mistakes. Most bikes I've had have had wider section rears than the fronts, so seems logical a 90/90 and 100/90 combo would work, maybe quick steering?

Reading between all the forum stuff, Norton fitted WM2 rims front and rear, and 3.00/4.10 inch tyres, (then later 4.10/4.10) is that correct?

And how would that translate to modernish standards, a 90/90 frt 100/90 rear, or both narrower than that?

Sorry I am a bit confused.

Peter

bluto · Mar 25, 2013

Avon does not recommend the 100/90 for WM2/1.85" rims....I did not know this and mounted one, it works OK but the profile is definitely too pinched as pictured below. They do sell the AM26 in 3.25 universal and 90/90 front which they say are OK on a WM2

Old Bloke · Mar 25, 2013

I see what you mean. The tread comes around the tire too much. That would be why on some threads the comments were that the bike would have to be near horizontal to use the tread correctly?

bluto · Mar 25, 2013

Old Bloke said:
I see what you mean. The tread comes around the tire too much. That would be why on some threads the comments were that the bike would have to be near horizontal to use the tread correctly?

Yep, that is about what it would take. FWIW here is a photo of a Dunlop/Harley 90/90 on my front WM2 which does appear to fit right

Tires for my 69 Commando

Similar threads