Discontinued tires

[jetmechmarty]

It seems everything I like to run on my Yamaha Specials is gone. Sizes 100/90-19 and 130/90-19 appear to be going away.
My favorite was the Dunlop GT501. It hasn't been available in those sizes for some time.
Now, it appears the Bridgestone Spitfire is gone from those sizes.
The Pirelli Route 66 is also NLA in 130/90-16.
At first, I thought it was supply chain issues, but I've learned that isn't the case. The tire market for our bike is dwindling. (Yes, I know Shinko has them.)

[cajun31]

It seems everything I like to run on my Yamaha Specials is gone. Sizes 100/90-19 and 130/90-19 appear to be going away.
My favorite was the Dunlop GT501. It hasn't been available in those sizes for some time.
Now, it appears the Bridgestone Spitfire is gone from those sizes.
The Pirelli Route 66 is also NLA in 130/90-16.
At first, I thought it was supply chain issues, but I've learned that isn't the case. The tire market for our bike is dwindling. (Yes, I know Shinko has them.)

Sad really. Yamaha would have never envisioned that these bikes would literally outlive the supply chain for them. I have been looking at the Bridgestone Battlax BT46 tires. They are the replacements for the BT45's and have the same speed rating as the spitfires. They are also available in the sizes needed for our 11's. Chapparal has them in stock as of a few minutes ago.

[jetmechmarty]

I just ordered Dunlop D404 for my XS650 Special and my Eleven Special. I liked the Spitfires on the 650 very much. I've been running with Pirelli MT66 on the Eleven and I have been pleased with them. Hopefully, I'll be satisfied with the D404.

[DiverRay]

Michelin makes tires that fit. I'm running a set on my '79S, and so far they have been good. I've only got about 2K miles on them, and they still look new. They are bias ply, and I did go to 100 on the front. It's a bit of work to get them on, but it gives me that little extra on the front.

[jetmechmarty]

Right now, most of the stuff I'm clicking on says "NOT IN STOCK" or "BACK ORDER". There are still tires available, just fewer options and not the ones I wanted.

[oldyam80sg]

I used to like Metzler tires as they were great for riding in the rain-, maybe, I was younger and careless back then. Hope they are still around.

[jetmechmarty]

I used to like Metzler tires as they were great for riding in the rain-, maybe, I was younger and careless back then. Hope they are still around.

That all depends which ones you want.

[oldyam80sg]

I think ME 33 was the tire of choice. That and ME 99.

[jetmechmarty]

I think ME 33 was the tire of choice. That and ME 99.

Lasertec and ME 880 are NLA for XS1100.

[oldyam80sg]

OK does that mean no longer available?

[jetmechmarty]

OK does that mean no longer available?

NLA = No Longer Available

[Radioguylogs]

I also liked the Spitfires, and found them NLA.

I chose Battlax BT46 for the XS1100SF and put them on last winter. So far I am pleased with them, but I have only rode that bike about 200 miles since the retread.

[jetmechmarty]

FWIW, I measured the Bridgestone Spitfire S11 before removal. It was 138.6 mm wide. That for a 130/90-16. The Dunlop D404 that replaced it is 132 mm wide. No fitment issue with the Bridgestone.