Best tires?

[LCS249]

Hey all,

This may be in a sticky thread somewhere but I haven't been able to locate it.

Noticed in some pics that some of you have new Dunlops.

In the land of Triumph, Avons and Metzlers are king.

However, the Yamaha XJ1100 is an entirely different animal.

So, what have you all found that you like best.

Personally, I prefer "sticky" tires for cornering better.

I know they don't last as long, but I like the control.

thanks, Leon

[planedick]

Dragging

You'll drag all kinds of steel on the road long before those sticky tires are needed. I run Dunlop 491's and I can drag stuff in a right turn like freeway onramps and don't slip at all. She's not a crotch rocket so sticky isn't necessary as it won't lean that far down anyway. Left turns can't lean as far as the center stand hits early going left.

[LCS249]

ok, thank you, planedick.

Good, sound feedback.

I didn't want a crotch rocket, and have never ridden the Trophy the way so many of its owners do... which is why I am planning on fixing up the XJ and selling the Trophy.

[It's a gorgeous bike, but (what I imagine a a Ferrari to be like) only feels really good when it's going really fast.]

I'll start some searches on the Dunlop 491's.

best, Leon

[trbig]

Just about all new tires these days will hold these things down to the metal scraping angles, so most go for the mileage factor. Yadada (Randy) showed up to the Talihina Rally with a Dunlop E3 that had 12 thousand miles on it (Rear tire) and it still looked good... several thousand left.

I was told that Avon had a good tire, and that Goldwings were getting 15k out of them. Brent rolled into the rally with one that had @ 7k on it, and looked like it should have been replaced long before that. I have since heard that it's kind of a crap shoot with them. Some have a set that's great... next set wears out quick.

Dunlop went on strike for quite a while and lost a lot of business. I personally think they will be building a heck of a tire for a while to get the loyalty back. But you know what they say about opinions...

Which tire is best is like asking which oil is best. What's good for one bike and one person's style won't work well for another. Your bike will let you know when you find the right one.


Tod

[LCS249]

Also good advice, trbig.

And I completely agree about opinions ... and that everybody's got one.

I'll do some research and also ask around.

But what you all feel is the best direction to go in is what I'd value most.

best, Leon

[AlanB]

Hi LCS,

Lots of people on here try to avoid joining in the "OIL" and "TIRE" threads, 'cos there are dozens on here!

Try a search for either, and you will find enough reading material for a year.

AlanB

[81xsproject]

I just got my Metzler Lasertechs on and am loving them.

[snowdog51]

planedick

cut foot tab of center stand its only slightlly more hard than stock to get on stand than you can get looow to the left.
as ever bill

[LCS249]

Thank you all for your replies. And thanks Alan for the pointer.

Leon

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Leon,

Just another little FYI, don't look at Radials! These machines were built for Bias Ply, and that's what you'll want to find and put on. Funny, folks whom I ride with will tell you that I "Try" to ride mine like a crotch rocket sometimes....I do like to lean, and have adjusted my centerstand foot plate and my right side muffler of my 4-1 to give me ground clearance, and I STILL scrape them on occasion! I put on a 491 Elite II in 2003, still looks almost new, but I've only put on a few thousand due to riding mostly at rallies. I put IIRC D404 on the front, same tread pattern, slightly lesser weight capacity, but I ride solo, just some lightweight saddlebags/trunk, not much in them, and I'm a lightweight at 220 lbs. Stock size front is 100/90-19, but 110/90-19 fits easily. Stock rear is 130/90-16 = MT/90-16, but folks have squeezed a 140/90-16=MU/90-16 BLACK WALLED on there. The Raised white letter style gets rubbed off! Very little clearance on left swingarm side!
T.C.

[mason79]

i like my bridgestone spitfires, low price, high quality

[LCS249]

Hey T.C. -- thanks for that heads up.

Something else I didn't know about these bikes.

[saddle up]

Some times when I ask a question there are a couple of replies that direct me to search... but some of the topics are out of date, or there is newer products.

So, yeah. I am interested in the newest tires ect...
So how about some input from you all..lol

As an example, best high mileage, but still has grip on wet roads????

[DiverRay]

saddle up,
Check T.C.s reply. I run the Elite II on the rear, and an Elite III on the front. I was riding in the rain today, and had NO problems. I get about 15,000 miles on the rear tire. This is a 1979 STANDARD, 17" rear tire, and 110/90 front. Front tire wear is NOT an issue.

[Dsxs11]

Round and black. That's as far into a tire debate as I would go.