Avon tyres... bummer...

[worntorn]

LCRKen has been running Shinkos for some time with good results, racing as well.
I'm giving them a try. Will let you know if they turn out to be Stinkos.
$63 for a new tire seems too good to be true.
I haven't looked at their 18 and 19" sizes as the tire I needed and purchased was a 17".

The 712 comes in good sizes for 18 and 19 rim combos .


Glen

 

[Staytite]

Hi Eddie

Thank you for your reply. I liked the handling change in changing from 100/90 to a 90/90 front. I have now
fitted an early, narrower front mudguard so a return to a 100/90/19 would cost.

A rear with 7.5 mm tread would lift to rear by 1.9mm be closer to that of the fronts listed at 640/2mm.
It will be interesting to see if I notice any change in a reduction of rear tyre height. A lift 1.9mm would likely
be imperceptible to me on the busy, narrow roads around here, so I'll try not to worry about it

It is interesting to note the AM9 4.1 x 19 which looks like the tyres of the good (?) old days is 102mm x 667mm
inferring the tyres we used in the 70s & 80s were a bit taller ?

 

[maylar]

The BT 45's are quite good on the Commando , affordable and available.

They don't show a 100/90-19 rear.

 

[worntorn]

They don't show a 100/90-19 rear.

I don't know if any maker has a 100/90/19 dedicated rear tire these days.
Like a lot of Norton owners, I ve been using the universal fitment Avon Road rider.
Fully agree with Nigel's point that this is not a great choice, wimpy tread depth and very short useful tire life, especially if used two up.
I had a great opportunity to fix that when fitting new alloy rims to the bike a few years ago. Instead I just accepted the sizes that Classic wheel recommended (the stuff he had on hand for a Commando)
I should have gone to Central Wheel and custom ordered 2.5" x 19 front and 2.5" x 18 rear rims.
That would have given a lot more tyre choice.
If Avon suddenly decides to drop the Universal 100/90/19, I'll likely be stuck running front tires on the back.

Glen

 

[worntorn]

For Nigel and others with 2.15 or wider rims , 19 front, 18 rear-
Michelin Pilot Activ, 100/90/19 front, 4.00 x 18 dedicated rear, 64 load rating ( v good)

 

[kommando]

I don't know if any maker has a 100/90/19 dedicated rear tire these days.
Like a lot of Norton owners, I ve been using the universal fitment Avon Road rider.
Fully agree with Nigel's point that this is not a great choice, wimpy tread depth and very short useful tire life, especially if used two up.
I had a great opportunity to fix that when fitting new alloy rims to the bike a few years ago. Instead I just accepted the sizes that Classic wheel recommended (the stuff he had on hand for a Commando)
I should have gone to Central Wheel and custom ordered 2.5" x 19 front and 2.5" x 18 rear rims.
That would have given a lot more tyre choice.
If Avon suddenly decides to drop the Universal 100/90/19, I'll likely be stuck running front tires on the back.

Glen

The only dedicated 100/90/19 rear is the Conti Classic Attack but hard to find.

 

[worntorn]

Just had a third look at the Avon site.
It seems that perhaps the standard Commando has not been completely forgotten.
They have the AM9, mentioned by Staytite, in one size only, 4.10 x 19"
It is Universal fitment but at 7 mm tread depth has almost as much tread as a dedicated Roadrider rear (7.5mm)
Roadrider Universal's only have 5.6 mm tread, not much more than a straight front at 5 mm
So the AM9 could work very well for Commando owners who run 19s front and rear and like to swap fronts to back then fit a new front. It is permissible to run this tire on a 1.85" rim. Not many tires can be run on the narrow old 1.85" rims today, so that's a plus for Avon.

It is called the Roadrunner Universal.
I recall using Avons by that name in between the SuperVenom days and the RoadRider. I had good luck with the Roadrunners, they were as good as the Roadriders for my purposes.

Glen

 

[Bernhard]

The only dedicated 100/90/19 rear is the Conti Classic Attack but hard to find.

Why is it hard to find? Do u live in a remote part of Scotland? Any friendly discount car tyre (except National Tyres) distributor will order one for u, and fit it free of charge provide u give them a loose wheel.(discount on tyres vary)

 

[kommando]

Why is it hard to find? Do u live in a remote part of Scotland? Any friendly discount car tyre (except National Tyres) distributor will order one for u, and fit it free of charge provide u give them a loose wheel.(discount on tyres vary)

They are difficult to get in North America and Worntorn is in Canada. I answered based on his location.

 

[HoveToo]

I have a new set of 100/90-19 AM9 that came with my new ‘69 750 S project. Will use these when the Roadriders are worn out. The ‘69 is going to get Avon Safety Mileage/Speedmaster tires of the correct size, 100/90-19 fouls the front fender. The rear Safety Mileage has a tread pattern very similar to Avon GP that was original equipment.

My 850 came with 4.10x19 SM front and rear from new. I would avoid using the SM tyre on the front as mine wore in a way that caused tank slappers in low speed corners. Use a Speedmaster on the front if you want the period look but given a choice I would use the AM9.

 

[ludwig]

They therefore only have 5.6mm tread depth. A dedicated rear tyre has 34% more depth at 7.5mm.
Thats 34% more mileage... and less cost... and less tyre changing aggro...

More like 50% if you consider usable tread, say, down to 1.5 mm ( 4 mm vs 6 mm).
It would be nice if everyone posted the weight of their new tires.
Similarly sized tires can show a significant difference.
I always weigh my tires, but forgot to keep a record, but for starters:
Bridgestone rear BT45 110/90/18 is 5,400 kg
( Tyre or tire ? I always assumed 'tire' was the correct spelling..)

 

[MichaelB]

Tyre - UK

Tire - USA

 

[worntorn]

4.00 x 18 Avon RoadRider is 6 kg.

Glen

 

[lcrken]

They are difficult to get in North America and Worntorn is in Canada. I answered based on his location.

Indeed they are hard to find in NA, or at least in the US. I tried when we were looking for tires for my grandson's MK3, which still has the original 1.85"x19" rims. None of the major distributors or retal outlets carry the 100/90x19 Classic Attack rear, only the fronts. My local tire dealer also says he can't order that size. The two 18" rear sizes are readily available, just not the 19". The other problem with that tire is that it is not rated for 1.85" rim width, only 2.15" and wider. We ended up with the Avon universals front and rear. With enough effort, I could probably have found a way to order one from overseas, but the shipping would only make an expensive tire more so, and we still had the rim width issue. Still, I'd like to try them eventually, maybe with the 18" rear and a wider rim.

Ken

 

[Fast Eddie]

More like 50% if you consider usable tread, say, down to 1.5 mm ( 4 mm vs 6 mm).
It would be nice if everyone posted the weight of their new tires.
Similarly sized tires can show a significant difference.
I always weigh my tires, but forgot to keep a record, but for starters:
Bridgestone rear BT45 110/90/18 is 5,400 kg
( Tyre or tire ? I always assumed 'tire' was the correct spelling..)

Yeah, good point re the useable tread Ludwig.

So, are BT45s your preferred cover?

 

[RoadScholar]

Just had a third look at the Avon site.
It seems that perhaps the standard Commando has not been completely forgotten.
They have the AM9, mentioned by Staytite, in one size only, 4.10 x 19"
It is Universal fitment but at 7 mm tread depth has almost as much tread as a dedicated Roadrider rear (7.5mm)
Roadrider Universal's only have 5.6 mm tread, not much more than a straight front at 5 mm
So the AM9 could work very well for Commando owners who run 19s front and rear and like to swap fronts to back then fit a new front. It is permissible to run this tire on a 1.85" rim. Not many tires can be run on the narrow old 1.85" rims today, so that's a plus for Avon.

It is called the Roadrunner Universal.
I recall using Avons by that name in between the SuperVenom days and the RoadRider. I had good luck with the Roadrunners, they were as good as the Roadriders for my purposes.

Glen

+1

I am using a 100/90 - 18 V rated for the rear mounted on a Sun WM4 rim, and a 100/90 -19 V rated for the front mounted on a Sun WM3. I don't ride any one of my motorcycles far enough to wear them out, but I do change them out after 5-6 years.

The aspect ratios are suppose to maintain the Commando's rake and trail. My riding experience with the 18, 19 (as above) provides a less "nervous" front wheel than the traditional 19, 19 combination from the factory. I have, generally, found that when I try to put an engineers hat on my "tuition" bills go up, but I got the advice years ago from Matt at cNw.

Best

 

[Craig]

When I got my bike had original front rim with an unknown brand 18” on rear with worn out metzeler mounted .... local Brit bike mech. suggested Maxxi , he got s set of their sport tires that were same overall height mounted .... used them till I got the new rims from Madass .... never had any issues with the Maxxi’s they were actually pretty good , sold them with lots of life still left to a Triumph Guy .... I can’t remember proper #’s or model type but they really were pretty good for me and my Ride style ....

 

[Bernhard]

Only one reason. All of those rear tyres you show are not rear tyres, they’re universal fitment.

They therefore only have 5.6mm tread depth. A dedicated rear tyre has 34% more depth at 7.5mm.

Thats 34% more mileage... and less cost... and less tyre changing aggro.

Being nice and sticky, Roadriders don’t last too long anyway. I just find it frustrating to have to change them EVEN more often just cos it suits Avon!

With a shed full of bikes, reducing the cost and aggro is nice...

A lot of dispatch riders should their plastic maggots with a Conti TK17 on the rear - which only comes in two sizes 15 and 18 inch, these lasted without exception, for 15k miles yes you read that right 15,000 miles! I used up about 12 of them so I always wrote down the mileage at fitting and removal. I got to removing them at 10k because I wanted to avoid the puncture that always came after that. But I avoided using a Conti on the front as they were not grippy enough. That was my experience anyway but I did use Avons where another bike came shoddy with them.

 

[ILLF8ED]

My 850 came with 4.10x19 SM front and rear from new. I would avoid using the SM tyre on the front as mine wore in a way that caused tank slappers in low speed corners. Use a Speedmaster on the front if you want the period look but given a choice I would use the AM9.

By SM do you mean Speedmaster or Safety Mileage on the front? Norton put Avon GP on some Commandos from new that look very much like a Safety Mileage tread. The GP is no longer available and as you mention I didn’t care for it

 

[Fullauto]

Only one reason. All of those rear tyres you show are not rear tyres, they’re universal fitment.

They therefore only have 5.6mm tread depth. A dedicated rear tyre has 34% more depth at 7.5mm.

Thats 34% more mileage... and less cost... and less tyre changing aggro.

Being nice and sticky, Roadriders don’t last too long anyway. I just find it frustrating to have to change them EVEN more often just cos it suits Avon!

With a shed full of bikes, reducing the cost and aggro is nice...

illf8ed, 13 minutes ago
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Apr 13, 2009
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So, you're telling us that with a shed full of bikes, you use your Commando enough to wear your rear tyre out in a short period of time? I'm not buying it. I'm just replacing my rear 100/90 x 19 Roadrider with a new one after 5000 odd miles of use. At one stage you were telling us that you were doing 1000 miles a year. So, which is it to be?