tires

[CWilliamson]

Well now that I have all the parts ordered to get the biek moving I decided to start looking at the slow-fast leaks on the tires. changed out the valve on the front and found the back wasn't tight . Pumped them up and found that the sidewalls of the front tire are covered with a fine spiderweb of cracks and the rear looks like it has a crack about a quarter of a inch from the wheel that goes most of the way around. Definitely not ridable...So what size and brand work best for a '79 xs11 special? The front tire that's on their now says it's a 3.5x19 Metzler.

Thanks,
Clark

[fredintoon]

size is one thing, make is another.

Hi Clark,
Clymer's book still sez:- 3.5 x 19 front but those old inch-sized tires are a 100% height/width ratio, 100/90-19 is the same outside diameter but is a little bit fatter width.
Clymer's sez the rear is a 130/90-16.
So much for fact.
As to what brand, that's an opinion.
Cheap tires wear quickly.
Really expensive tires? Sometimes what you pay for is a racetrack suitability you don't need on a road bike.
So, middle of the road it is.
Metzlers are good but at the top end of affordable, I've been happy with Bridgestone Spitfires but many another make would do as well.
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[Jerry]

Clark:

First, check your rear tire. The '79 production run started with 17 inch rear rims, then switched to 16 inchers. Chances are you have a 16, think the 17 was on standards but check anyway. If it is a 17, there were two types: tube and tubeless. If tube, you might want to see if you can locate a tubeless unit. Tube rims will have two studs on them for the bead locks that are inside the rim, and will have the word "Tube" cast into the rim.

Again, chances are it is a 16 inch, tubeless rim, but check.

Most popular tire for these bikes is Dunlop touring tire, the Elite II which has been recently replaced by the Elite III.

A couple things to consider. Stay with conventional, not radial, tires. Radials don't seem to work well with the XS/XJ series. These are heavy bikes. Cheaper tires do not have the load capacity; they are designed for small and midsize bikes. For example, my Yamaha 400 Maxim had the same size rear tire as my XJ, 130/90-16, but weighed a couple hundred pounds less. I might have put a Kenda on it, but never on the XJ.

My $.02 is to stick with Dunlop Elite series.

[jimboreeno]

YEP....

I just went with the Dunlops and really like them. They were recommended by the shop I trade with and so far....

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Jerry,

The Dunlop Elite II's are still there, they have just produced a newer style the EliteIII's, but you can still get the II's. I don't like the looks of the III's.

Clark, when you go to the Dunlop website to look over their tires, they are listed in the IIRC, Cruiser or Classic section! BTW, in the LINKs section, you'll find a list of manufacturers so you can do lots of browsing. Happy Shopping. Do a search here on Tires, or "what tires are recommended", and you'll find several threads and equally as many suggestions and opinions.
T.C.
PS, I've put a 140/90-16 EliteII on my 81SH, it was raised white letters, and they(the letters) did rub some, but otherwise is okay. Black walled would not rub...unless you do lots of 2 up riding...I experienced this with my mom and I in NY, had a bit of side wall flex during the twisties, and got a bit of rubbing on the driveshaft swingarm side. So...if you want the widest you can get, it will fit vs. the stock 130/90.

[CWilliamson]

Thanks!

I was going to ask what series of tires for the different manufacturers but you gave me the info befor I could request it :-D

I'll check the Dunlops out. Do those 140s come without the white lettering? Is there any danger of the rubbing? could the letters be trimmed down to avoid it?

Thanks,
Clark

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Clarke,

The Dunlop Elite II's come in a blackwall, so the letters don't stick out far enough to rub. Trying to trim the white letters down is no better than having them rubbed off, still doesn't look so good, and would be rather tough to do!

Constant rubbing is not good, cause it will cause the rubber sidewall to heat up, and eventually break down, not good. A previous Yamaha tech recommended putting a washer on the left side to slightly space the wheel further to the right, but I wasn't sure where to place it? I would think putting washers under the mechanism that bolts to the rim would be better, that way you wouldn't be interfering with the meshing of the final gear assembly on that side.

I didn't do this yet, cause my previous one hadn't rubbed much, and I was down in Ga. at a rally when I had to get my new one. It doesn't rub when I'm solo, and only rubbed 2 up when running the tight corners and getting lots of sidewall flex!
T.C.

[excess11]

Dunlops

I found the cheapest prices ever on Dunlops chaparralmotorsports.com . I got a Dunlop 491 elite II's RWL tire in size MT90HB17 for the rear for $98.97+ $9.00 shipping. Check them out!