Let's talk tires

[dbeardslee]

Prom - I LOVE that analogy! It was right on target and very appropriate. I knew you wouldn't let me down

TC - Thanks very much for the conversions for tire sizes. It was starting to make my head hurt. After my last post I went looking for the III's and only found them in 16 inch. I'll take a look for the II's, and as per Jerry's suggestion will check the load rating.

Here's my thinking, and somebody stop me if I'm wrong. The reason I want the same kind of tire front and back is so the handling characteristics will be the same. It makes a difference on a car, but I don't know if the same applies to motorcycles.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey DB,

Yes, matching tread patterns is helpful in reducing wander and such. Remember, you can't use RADIALs on our bikes! The reason I went with the D404 was because of price, AND it matched the tread pattern of the EliteII. I do realize that it has a lesser weight rating than the EliteII, but I don't put much weight on the front....more accellerating than braking!
T.C.

Hobbyman, I have found the EliteII's to be a good all around type of tire, grip, wear, etc.! Some folks have posted about the EliteIII's with similar results, and they have a more modern Radial style tread pattern and shape, but again, if you have a Standard with 17" rear, can't get them in the EliteIII!

[7911special]

I will ad a vote for the Dunlop GT501, rate for 149+ and has hooked up alot better than the elites.

I also like the tread pattern alot better. A little more modern.





Forgot to mention I almost always ride by myself, nekkid bike, and ride pretty hard. There has only been a few times of acceling around very tight corners I've had to let off the throttle keep the back end from going around, but those were in uncommon situations.

[dbeardslee]

O.K. I've narrowed it down to four choices. Phil - thanks for the heads-up on Chapparal-Racing.com. Their prices do seem to be the best, but I couldn't find all the tires and sizes I was looking for. They ship free 2nd day air on orders over $149. Here's how it's shaking out:

Dunlop K491 Elite II - 'H' rated - Available in both sizes.
Front Load Rating - 570@40psi $91.85
Rear Load Rating - 870@40psi $112.85

Metzeler Lasertec - 'V' rated - Available in both sizes.
Couldn't find the load rating.
Front - $135.85
Rear - $140.85

Bridgestone S11 - 'H' rated - Available in both sizes.
Front - Load Rating 507@41psi - $57.85
Rear - Load Rating 694@41psi - $68.85

Above prices are quoted from Chapparal-racing.com

Bridgestone BT-45 - 'V' rated - Available in both sizes.
Front - Load Rating 507@43psi - $86.95
Rear - Load Rating 694@43psi - $101.95

Above prices are quoted from MAWOnline.com

I'm leaning towards the Elite II's due to the superior load handling, but with the price differential those S11's are sure talkin' to me. The BT-45's look good too, but I don't think they'll wear as well as the II's or the S11's. Then again the Metzeler's are some good looking tires. SOMEBODY SLAP ME!

7911 - Looked at the 501's but can only get for the front wheel.

[saddle up]

Re: Venom

Originally posted by Da-Bubble
Ok I have to mention Avon Venom's. That's what I put on the Mad Mos and that's what my bro in law has always used. I have only put 1000 miles on them but they have never broken loose and corner very well. Around here I see them on sport bikes and cruisers. Has anyone else tried them?

Da-bubble, I got the Avon venom's. I like them. Good traction in the rain (did alot of riding in the rain this past fall and most of winter until the ice and frozen dew hit), only slipped on me one time going up hill around a corner WOT in third gear. and the wear seems pretty good.

[oldnortonrider]

Hey; TopCat,~~don't want this to sound like a dumb question, but it probably will be~~?why do you say "no radial tires" on these rims or this machine? I'd been thinking of an "experiment" along these lines..................

[7911special]

7911 - Looked at the 501's but can only get for the front wheel. [/B]

Oh, mine was a 16", didn't think about 17's...

[fredintoon]

On the third wheel,

Hi JCR,
about the "No radials" thing, I dunno.
the sidecar wheel has a Vredestein radial, but hey, it's on a Honda car rim. The XS11 has a TwinTire on the rear wheel and oh my, it sez "radial" right on it but hey, it wears like iron and it stays pumped up and that's all I need. The front is the odd wheel out, it's running a Cheng-Shin Marquis but hey, that tire was just hanging around the garage when the Bridgestone Spitfire that was on the bike when I got it finally got bald enough to be really worrying.

[DiverRay]

Fred, your rig doesn't count, you have a THIRD RIM AND TIRE to help out!

[fredintoon]

Ain't sidecars great?

Hi Ray,
yeah my rig is operating on a radial car tire that nobody has ever heard of on the sidecar wheel, half a pair of meant-to-be-used-as-duallys radial car tires on the back wheel and everybody's least favorite bike tire on the front wheel. The rig handles just great, too. Admittedly the only needful thing on a rig tire is that it holds the air in.

[TopCatGr58]

Originally posted by oldnortonrider
Hey; TopCat,~~don't want this to sound like a dumb question, but it probably will be~~?why do you say "no radial tires" on these rims or this machine? I'd been thinking of an "experiment" along these lines..................

Hey Carlton,

Just like tubeless on a tube type rim, the XS11 rims were designed for Bias Ply, along with the geometry of the bikes frame and steering and handling components.

I've heard of a few folks...I think in Aussieland that ...that put Radials on their XS11's rims, but YMMV! There is info about this in the FAQ's of the Dunlop site! The EliteIII's come very close to the radial style but are available in Bias for the older bikes as well as Radials for the newer ones!

Unlike cars that have benefited greatly from the design of radials allowing better grip and control in corners due to the rolling affect of the tread pattern keeping more tread in contact, vs. tilting up on the edge of the old bias square shaped tires,.....Bikes ride on a radial shaped tire all the time, so I don't see the benefit of a "RADIAL" tire vs. a Bias motorcycle tire for our bikes!?

T.C.

[Jerry]

So you're saying that MM90-19 is the right size for the front in an elite III, right? You must have a special 'cause my rear wheel is a 17. Does it then follow that the correct size would be MT90B17? Would that be the same as a 130/90/17? I looked at the elite III's earlier today but couldn't make heads or tails out of the sizes.

Looks like you have already figured it out. BTW, I have an XJ; the 16 inch rear is stock.

Ran Elite IIs before the Elite III came out. Didn't realize you could not get the 3s in a 17 inch rear! I have come to trust the Elite series, which is one of the reason s I have stayed with them since 2000 - 2001. Ran many other tires on many other bikes before that.

Part of this discussion is to let folks make an intelligent choice after considering all the factors; load rating should be considered, along with correct size and budget. To often it is overlooked.

[dbeardslee]

Found a place that beat Chapparal-racing.com's price. Motorcycle-Superstore.com was $4 cheaper on the elite II's. They also ship free on orders over $75, as opposed to $149 at Chapparal.

[bikerphil]

tires

Good to know. Free shipping on tires? Freakin' amazing!

[Axel]

Battlax Bt-45 dual compound

The BT-45V Battlax is definately superior to the Spitfire . Tried and tested by many friend of mine . I went to get some and was in a hurry for a trip . I ended up with a Avon on the front and a Spitfire on the back . I imagine I will match up the Avon when the Spitfire wears . Shouldnt be in a hurry with tires ...