What tires to run???

[DiverRay]

Path,
Just looked at the tires as I washed the rain/mud off the daily ride. Dunlop 491 Elete II tires, from and rear. I am getting very good milage out of the tires, and they handle well in the wet or dry. I have a fairing and box, so I don't try to run with the "zip/splats", but I can get over the mountain as fast as I like to ride.
Good tires, and they fit the standards. Front size, MM90-19, 500+ lb raiting. Rear is an MT90B-17, 800+lb raiting. Both tires are 40 PSI at max raiting.
Ray

[mtmopar]

79 XS11 Special - Just put a new set of Dunlop Elite III's on front and back. Very nice feeling tire and after four thousand miles there are still looking new. Wife runs Michelin Macadam on her beemer and they are holding up great also.

[motoman]

Choices......Choices!

One thing I've found over the 25 yrs. of XSing, is these rides are very forgiving to any tire choice. My Venturer is riding on A Metzler ME33 front, 3.25x19 and just removed the ME88 and put on a Dunlop404, 130x17 on rear. The problem with the ME88 Metz is the compound being harder, have to watch rear brake application as it will break loose very quickly. Being a 6ply rated tire it is stiff riding also, wears like iron, but beware of its adhesion factor. Having just mounted the 404 today(it also balanced perfect with no weights), and ran it some hundred miles, it works perfect with the ME33 front. Both look to be radius the same configuration. 25 years ago, ran the Elite 2 and liked it well also. Decided on the 404 for price(local Honda dealer cuts me a good discount at $74) and it is same tread and configuration as the Elite2, but somewhat softer compond, so certainly not gonna get the miles compared to the Elite2. Having the 85mph speedo, ran it up to 7,500rpm with no bobble, vey smooth and stable and the XS still had some left. It'll hit the 7,500rpm level very easily, and since I only run it at a constant 75-80 on Interstates, seems to ride very smooth. Also cornering it is very constant and predictable with the 2 different brands of tires. The ME33 has been famous for the Beemer riders since the 70"s, and I see why, as it loves water, very smooth, and holds corners extremely well. Also being a Standard tour model, that's how it's ridden. Never has had a fork brace, although that would improve front tire longgivity and handleing(Have the Honda ST1100 if I wanna play some in the twisties). Lot's of choices for our XS's, just don't go cheap, as the tires your riding on is cheap insurance as opposed to the alternative!

[DeanR]

I've liked the 404's. also got them due to price and similarities to the elites. Will need a new rear in the spring. has about 6K on it now. How does that compare to what folks generally get for rear mileage?

[motoman]

Just depends how hard you twist your right hand laxdad. That's bout normal mileage for that tire on these bikes. The 404 is asofter compound and squirms more than the EliteII. I just ate up a Dunlop 205 radial on the rear of my Honda ST1100 in 5,000miles. With that tire listing for $199.99 this year, haven't twisted the throttle with the new 205. Got 4,000 miles on it and it hardly shows any wear. That sport touring bike pounds out 110 horses to the rear, and with its 730lbs, it to can be hard on tires, depending on the right hand. The XS with its bottom- end torque can also be hard on the back tire, so you can have mileage spread from 5,000 to 12,000 miles on a rear tire, just depends on the rider. Even though I didn't pay that much for the Dunlop 205's the bike tire prices have went up just like everything else, so am riding a little more reserved, plus the bikes will last longer with less problems...........still fun to twist it to the lock occassionally

[MAXIMAN]

Been running AVON. Get XSive mileage out of the rear. The Venom-X...10-12000 miles on a rear. And I'm not light handed on the throttle.

Have a couple friends that Ride Elevens and report same on Venom.

They stick good in the curves as well.

[The Lorax]

I am running the first set of motorcycle tires I have purchased in a long time. my old kaw had a 4" metzler on the rear & a 3.5" something or other on the front...yokohama maybe? Don't remember. When I was gatting my XS ready for the road last year, I went to my local MC boneyard as he can order in new stuff when the need persists. I ended up with a set of Chin sheh's or whatever they're called. I was initially happy I was able to get tires that fit without any goof ups as I have a standard with a special rear wheel....Tank also I believe....anyway, got a little over a thousand miles on them...no complaints. I'm still getting used to a big bike, (it felt real top-heavy at first...probably from being lowered), but It's all good right at the moment, but I don't beat on it too hard...yet...Gimme some time. hee hee hee

[HobbyMan]

Briggstone Battlax BT45. I believe these are close to OEM

[webbcraft2150]

Dunlop 491's front and rear for me. Usta run Bridgestone S11, they got had to find.

Good thing about buying new tires is you go out in the street, lay down some bleach water and SMOKE em (the kids get a big kick out of it )

[yamarider]

Whether it's my truck or motorcycles, my first criteria in choosing tires is the ply rating. A higher ply tire is tougher and will hold up bettter to road hazzards. I currently have a Dunlop six-ply front and five-ply rear on the XS.

[dale_1]

OK OK so I promised myself i wouldn't get involved in the tire threads.......

oops

currently running Bridgestone S11 Spitfires

about 10000 miles outta the back and 20 from the front. Done it twice !!!

They handle great and yes I occasionally scrape in the turns. But I am getting older and slower, just not much.

100/90/19 frt 53.95 at accwhse
130/90/16 rear 63.95 at accwhse

Enjoy

[motoman]

That works yamarider.....but a harsher ride, not enough flex so have to enter corners more cautiously, a harder compound to go with the extra plys, and way more heat build-up. Myself, never have lost a tire to an adnormal road hazard, be it chuck-hole whatever. Some fourty years of riding, guess I've been lucky. Have run the heavier ply tires over the years, and even long distance touring prefer to compromise some of that toughness to a better adhesion in the we and dry. Fortuanately the XS's are very forgiving no matter what tire you prfer to run, don't even have to be same name-brand. My Metzler ME33 on the front went through a Metz ME55 on the rear, and now have the Dunlop 404 new on the rear, spun balanced with no weights needed. Some 25 years ago ran the Dunlop Touring Elite(EliteII now) on the back of this bike. Liked it well and got some 10,000 miles out of it then, even with some hard XS'in throttle. Decided to try the lesser 404 having the same tread pattern, and less ply rating. Have put a 1,000 miles of long distance combined with some mountain cornering and the Metz and Dunlop work perfectly together. Of course, like I said, the XS doesn't care what combination you run on it, as long as it has good tread, decent adhesion, and 40-42lbs. of air in both

[81XS1100-2006]

404's

I've been running a set of Dunlop 404's on mine all summer, not sure how many miles as my odo is non functioning! But no squaring, city and country riding. The only advice I recieved was the weight rating might be a bit low, but I've noticed no ill effects. Price on em is right too. I think I dropped $110 for the set before mounting.

[xj11john]

Hey 81XS1100-2006,

That is a good price on a set of tires, I might have to look into those on the web or locally.

[motoman]

tires

Hey there XJ11john, if there pricey locally, check out americanmotorcycletire.com, they have without a doubt THE best prices on tires period.