What tires do you use?

[Big Daddy Funk]

Bias vs Radial

So If I have this correctly, Radials are a somewhat better tire but our XS's should use Bias ply because of the rim lip? Thx Rick.

[fredintoon]

So If I have this correctly, Radials are a somewhat better tire but our XS's should use Bias ply because of the rim lip? Thx Rick.

Hi Rick,
I am not so sure it's about the rim. Because of the peculiar tire needs of a sidecar rig, I have been using a "Twintire" on the rear wheel of my XS650 and my XS11 and that's a radial tire. The first one ran perhaps 15,000 miles before it went bald and #2 still looks new after it's first season and although #1 developed an annoying (needed a top up once a week) slow leak towards the end of it's life they have never given me any trouble at all that had to do with the way they fitted on the rim. Most likely it's the radial tire's increased flexibility that can change a bike's handling characteristics.

[DeanR]

Tod, when you went to the Elite 3's did you notice that they were noisy (turns/curves)?
It was the first thing my brother in law noticed when he put them on his Royal Star Venture. Bothered him enough so that he doesn't want em again..

[trbig]

Between the pod filters' growl, and the cam chain/motor noise being funnelled up to me with a fairing.. not to mention wind.. there's no way I could hear a tire. BUT.. there are some big hills sometimes where I just pull in the clutch and coast at idle.. I've still never noticed any noise except the wind?? The tread isn't a "Busy" pattern compared to maybe the Elite 2.

So.. short answer long.. I don't ever recall actually hearing the tires.. definately not loud enough to notice and become annoying? Add on my full faced helmet and MP3 player.. and pretty much NO external noise could become annoying! lol.

Tod

[snowdog51]

tires

if you can hear your tires then you need louder exhaust.

[Dragon Tamer]

Again, I find myself going with Trbig. The E-3 is a superior tire, I have never had a rear tire last as long or stick to the road better. As for noise, no louder than any other tire I have ever had on there. My main riding buddy has an '07 Royal Star Venture and has NO tire noise issues with his E-3's what so ever! The only noise issues with that bike is the clutch basket whine, there is a feeling that some tires may aggravate that however but the E-3's did not seem to be a problem with him.
Two of my other bikes will need new tires this spring and there is no doubt at all in my mind that they will be getting the Elite Threes! Just an incredible tire.

[Axel]

Front?

Tod , What tire do you have on the front ?

[trbig]

Ummm... lol. Hand-me-downs. I was about to buy one to replace a Cheng chit (Yeah, sometimes you do dumb things when you don't have the money) and a buddy had a good Maxxis he said he'd give me. Same company as Cheng Chit.. but this one has been a much better turd than the others. Not great.. but got the job done for @ 14k miles with some cupping going on at the edges in the last couple thousand.

When it was time to replace that, he told me he had another hand me down that he wouldn't use.. An Avon Venom with at least half the tread left. SO... with money still tight... that's what's on right now, but that will be replaced this weekend with a new tire... as well as a new rear. I'm hoping they'll be Elite 3's.. lol. But the guys I'm helping tear a motor down and fixing the tranny on are buying me a set of tires. I didn't ask for them, nor expect them, and I think it's way too extravagant a gift for a little help, but they knew I needed them. They were going to surprise me with them.. but I found out. They know I love the Elite 3's.. so.. we shall see!

As normal.. a long story made out of a short answer... I can vouch for an Elite 3 rear without question. I can't say a thing about one in the front since I've never ran one.. yet!

Tod

[meteor3178]

I love my Conti Milestones, Handle great in all types of weather

[GARTHXS]

bridgestones

Just put about 350 miles on my vrated battleaxes and they are really nice on the highway and the twisties

[trbig]

I just had new Bridgestone Battle Axes installed front and back. They aren't NEARLY as stable feeling as the old Elite 3 rear/ Viper front I had. A bit squirrelly actually in grooves and lane ruts. They require much more attention than before. I will play with the tire pressure a bit to see if that helps. They are supposed to be a good dual compound tire though, and I've only got 115 miles or so on them, so I'll report back after I break them in more.

Tod

[Montreux_Blue]

I just had new Bridgestone Battle Axes installed front and back.

Traitor! You must have gotten a good deal right?

[DiverRay]

Jeremy,
read back a few posts. HE didn't buy the tires, someone bought them for him. Let's give him a little time to adjust to the "new" tread design and pressure requirements.
I AM running E3's on the MNS, and will be going to a Metzler ME88 on daily ride, as I was able to get a new 130/17 for $60. I'll let everyone know how it holds up in about six months, as I should have about 7K miles on the set by then.

[Montreux_Blue]

They don't pay me enough to read, just judge. But if they were free, no ill feelings then.

[yooucan2]

I will be needing to get new tires this year. I have been considering getting E3s for the front and back. Motorcycle superstore has them on sale right now and I was going to buy some, but my bike is in storage at my sister's house and I can't go check the size of my current tires. I am thinking that the rear is MT90HB-16 and the front is MM90HB-19. Is that correct?