What's the least expensive tire you've found?

[GLoweVA]

I've been pricing tires to see what I can get for the least amount of money.
I know... you get what you pay for... But I just want some new rubber on my machine and don't want to pay through the nose for them.

Here's what I've found so far: 100/90-19 & 130/90-16
Shinko 712
$43 front $54 rear (bike bandit)
$45 & $56 (@ MC SuperStore)
Shinko 230 Tourmaster for a few dollars more:
$55 & $62 @ Bandit and $56 & $66 at MC SuperStore

I know a lot of you will say: spend a little more and get a better tire.
I'd love too, but the budget is so tight that spending an extra $20-30 more per tire that may last a little longer just isn't an option right now, and right now I need some tires!

Maybe after these 'cheap' tires wear out, then I'll have a little more in the budget to get some better ones.

I'm just asking if any of you guys (and gals) might have stumbled across anything that costs less than these.
Mounting isn't that bad at Cycle Gear. (I think it's like $15-20 per tire)

One time a few years ago, I got a deal on a dunlop at Cycle Gear. They were closing out their old harley tires and I got one for the front for like $40. Sure it said 'harley' on the side, but hey for that price I couldn't pass it up.

[dpotter58]

looks like you have your answer from your search.

[Joab]

I am running the Shinko 712 rear right now...not sure how long it will last, I only have maybe 1000 miles on it, but it handles fine so far.

[sweet78xs]

I have been running Bridgestone S11 Spitfire tires and usually pay 140 each. Dennis Kirk has rears at 130/90-17 for 71.. Snagged one of those Monday.. Should have it tomorrow.

[Fix]

I'm running those shinko 712s. Went from Detroit to Cleveland and back, Detroit to Tennessee and back, and Detroit to Birmingham Alabama and back on em last year.

Front has a little wear, I've got maybe half a rear tire left, if not a little less. They've handled and stuck just fine, even on the Dragon.

[Fix]

Around 4500 miles on these.

Front:




Rear:



I'll probably be replacing the rear soon.

[crazy steve]

This is one of those 'personal' things, so you have to make the choice. Different riders will like different tires, so it's what works for you.

For myself, I've found that the dollars-per-mile ratio gets worse as I spend more for motorcycle tires, so I stick with the budget models. I used to really like the ChengShin Barracudas, but they dropped out of the motorcycle market for some reason so I've switched to the Shinko 712s. So far I've been pleased, a pretty good bang-for-the-buck IMO. I don't think you'll find anything cheaper...

[dpotter58]

Back in the day I used to run Dai yungs

[Fix]

Back in the day I used to run Dai yungs

Only the good Dai Yung!

[trbig]

I have been running Bridgestone S11 Spitfire tires and usually pay 140 each. Dennis Kirk has rears at 130/90-17 for 71.. Snagged one of those Monday.. Should have it tomorrow.

Well.. since he's asking for cheapest, that would be more where I went to school.


I don't know about Bikebandit, but Motorcycle Superstore has free shipping on anything over 70 or 80 bucks, so if you bought both, that would more than make up for the couple dollar price difference if Bikebandit does charge shipping. Also, the last several times, I've put an order in at the MCSS on Monday morning and had the tires on my porch on Wednesday. If the order was made in the afternoon, it will probably be Thursday. Pretty impressive lately on their shipping.

There's nothing wrong with the Shinko tires. Shinko bought out Yokohama and got all their tire molds and rubber recipes. I rode with them in a pretty hard rain this last weekend for 150+ miles, and they worked great. The grooves seem to be angled the correct way versus many that seem to gather the water to the center of the tire. You aren't going to get 10k miles out of a rear tire, but they are worth the money, and the front tire WILL go at least that far, but most any will. As a plus, they don't follow the sawed grooves in the road like many will. In the dry, they gripped just fine when I accidentally scraped the pegs a couple times in the curves.

So, short story long... eventhough they are cheap, they seem to be a decent tire and are actually better and will last a bit longer than many I've had that were more expensive.

[GLoweVA]

I didn't think about the shipping.
I just looked and Bike Bandit is a flat $8.95 for shipping and MC SuperStore is free for those orders >$89
$101 total from MC superstore and $108 from Bike Bandit.
So.... I guess MCSS it is.

They've also got the cheapest air filter I've seen too. $16.99

[Lonerider62]

I got a set of Bridgestone Spitfires last December from Jake Wilson for $135.98 and free shipping. I mount them myself because I have my own tire changer. On my FZ1 I run Michelin Pilot Roads or better and they run danged near two and a half. times what the Bridgestones run. As long as a person understands the limitations of the tires they are using and can work with that, all is good.

[trbig]

I just don't get it? The thread is asking about the cheapest tires, and people post about tires they paid more than the prices he's listing?


"What's the cheapest tire? I found these for $56."

"Yeah? I bought some Elite 3's for $150!"


?????


Maybe I just need to get home, have an adult beverage, and chill out.

[Brent]

Cheapest? FREE

Cheng shins had the lowest price, But short life, soon shaking...Not again. I have bought tires from JC Whitney...But for maximum value get a used tire at the local HD dealer or aftermarket bike shop. If it has been plugged, not quite so good, but it could be patched from inside and/or run with a tube.

Some of the HD show bikes get new tires at each oil change or when they get dirty. Ask. You might get lucky. And Free is pretty cheap

I just don't get it? The thread is asking about the cheapest tires, and people post about tires they paid more than the prices he's listing?


"What's the cheapest tire? I found these for $56."

"Yeah? I bought some Elite 3's for $150!"


?????


Maybe I just need to get home, have an adult beverage, and chill out.

[TopCatGr58]

Mounting isn't that bad at Cycle Gear. (I think it's like $15-20 per tire)

Hey George,

I've been working on my front brakes, trying to come up with an adapter plate for the dual piston calipers I got off ebay to replace my wonky slanted Special ones....I've got the gear and know how to change the tires, so if you want to drop by one weekend after you get your new tires, I'll be happy to help you in changing/mounting them, could save you a few bucks aside from gas money travelling here! Let me know!

T.C.