Where do you buy your tire?

[Geezer]

I need to get a new front skin for the Mongrel and I'm trying to keep the price down while avoiding the junkier brands.

Any sugestions?

Geezer

[Jeff]

I just replaced the rear tire on my 78 and was forced to do so on a budget. My favorite cycle shop here in town, Night Wing Motorcycles is primarily an Avon and Dunlop dealer but they offer the Kenda Challenger as a lower priced alternative. My rear was $60 and with labor to R&R the rear wheel and a tube... the bill came to about $95.

[Robert Haller]

I shopped around and found the best price for Dunlop K491 Elite II's at Chaparral Motorsports.

[Snow]

One of my local shops mounts and balances Dunlops tires bought new from them for free - so I tend to go there. Call around and check on free mounting/balancing. My rear tire was under $130 mounted and balances and the front was under $100 I believe - both are Dunlop K491 Elite II.

[Geezer]

Mounting a tire isn't a big deal for me. I'm hoping to find a good deal on one mail order. I got a killer deal on a couple Avon rear tires off eBay but the guy didn't have any fronts.

I'm going to pass on any Taiwan made tires for now. I realize they probably have improved in the 20 years since I last tried one but the bad memory is still with me.

Geezer

[buffalo]

Did you check out Dennis Kirk? I bought a pair of Cheng Shin Hi-Max's This spring from them and am very pleased for the price. I only have about 600 miles on them so I can't say how they wear, but they stick like glue and I tend to ride hard. A local independent bike shop dealer recommended them, said he has been running them on liter size sport bikes for years.

[Geezer]

Originally posted by buffalo
Did you check out Dennis Kirk? I bought a pair of Cheng Shin Hi-Max's This spring from them and am very pleased for the price. I only have about 600 miles on them so I can't say how they wear, but they stick like glue and I tend to ride hard. A local independent bike shop dealer recommended them, said he has been running them on liter size sport bikes for years.

One of mp parts bikes came with a Cheng Shin on it. I was able to break the bead with my fingers. I'm going to hold out for something with stronger sidewall.

I used to have a M48 PZ2 Michelin on the front of my old Guzzi and before that I ran one on the front of my Suzuki water buffalo. These were amazing tires. Once I was showing off (for a chick) and I had the old buffalo leaned over way to far and the front end was washing out. All it took was a slight tug on the bars and the tire gripped I straightened it right up. I don’t know if I impressed her but it sure impressed me.

Geezer

[Bill]

Re: Where do you buy your tire?

Geezer wrote:

I need to get a new front skin for the Mongrel and I'm trying to keep the price down while avoiding the junkier brands.

I've been happy with the Bridgestone Spitfires. They're inexpensive, but by all reports they don't last nearly as long as Dunlops and some others.

Since I live out in "the boonies" I buy mail order. I use Dennis Kirk because they will beat any advertized price by $1.00. Service is good. Just check the latest magazine ads and tell them the company and page in the mag. However, DO NOT ORDER DIRECTLY FROM THE DENNIS KIRK CATALOG! Their catalog prices appear to be manufacturer's recommended retail price. They won't price match unless you ask. Simple enough.

Once I get my tire delivered I take it and the wheel to a local shop that'll mount it for $15. If it's a rear, then I take the opportunity to check the drive splines. See Ken Talbot's article:

Greasing the Driveshaft Splines

Right now I have the cheapest tires available... the ones that came on my $500 '79 F!

Good luck on your search...

XSively,

[Geezer]

Re: Re: Where do you buy your tire?

Originally posted by Bill
Just check the latest magazine ads and tell them the company and page in the mag.

Now there's something I hadn't considered, looking in a bike rag. I don't think I've bought one in over 20 years. I think I'll read one or two at the news stand and maybe take a note or two.

Geezer

[bobbjhnsn]

best tire i ever rode

when u can try a set of metezeler rain tires they are so soft! u can ride on wet roads like they was dry they get sticky on dry road and really hold the road an wear decent too

[Geezer]

Re: best tire i ever rode

Originally posted by bobbjhnsn
when u can try a set of metezeler rain tires they are so soft! u can ride on wet roads like they was dry they get sticky on dry road and really hold the road an wear decent too

www.discountmotorcycletire.com had the best price and I'm going with a ME33 Lazer.

Thanx all for your input.

Geezer

[Pat Kelly]

I just (today) ordered a Dunlop K491 Touring Elite II from South West Moto Tires:

http://www.swmototires.com/

$97.95 plus $8.50 shipping. If you order two of any of their tires then the shipping is free.

[Geezer]

Originally posted by Pat Kelly
I just (today) ordered a Dunlop K491 Touring Elite II from South West Moto Tires:

http://www.swmototires.com/

$97.95 plus $8.50 shipping. If you order two of any of their tires then the shipping is free.

I just checked, their prices are about 15% higher than Discount Motorcycle Tire and the shipping is only $2 cheaper. At those prices they can afford to give away shipping on a pair.

I can't say I've found the best deal on tires but so far, it's looking that way. I went to a bike shop that I sell motorcycle electrical parts to and they wanted me to pay full retail. So much for being a valued supplier.

Geezer

[sixtysix]

Chaparral and Discount MC Tire have the best combination of shipping discount and price. MAW is sometimes cheaper but shipping (and handling) is $16-$20 for each tire. Chaparral charges a flat $10 to ship and Discount motorcycle tire .com was $10.50 per tire. dennis Kirk will beat it by $1 eitherway. Here is my list of online tire suppliers (In no particular order):

http://www.motoextreme.net/
http://www.swmototires.com/
http://www.discountmotorcycletire.com/
http://www.mawonline.com/
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chap...asp?URLCheck=1
http://www.sporttour.com/tires/motorcycle.htm

I can ususally find the lowest price between these guys, there are lots of others but I get tired of looking.

[Geezer]

That's a pretty good list. It's still a close call on the ME33 Metzler.

Tires for the XS11 are getting hard to find. What are we going to do when they're discontinued? Has anybody tried putting later model wheels on an XS11 to use the later generation tires?

Geezer