Tire recommendations

[KatoCafe]

Does anyone have any recommendations / opinions on tires?

GT650 with brat seat and clip ons.. Looking for a nice old school looking set of tires.. Not sure if I want to try and go the fatter Firestone look, or the knobby dirt tires..

Last image is my bike..

Any opinions are welcome..

 

[Woodstock]

Does anyone have any recommendations / opinions on tires?

GT650 with brat seat and clip ons.. Looking for a nice old school looking set of tires.. Not sure if I want to try and go the fatter Firestone look, or the knobby dirt tires..

Last image is my bike..

Any opinions are welcome..

Nice looking bikes. I'm changing to Bridgeston BT46s on Friday. The CEATs were awful but I did not know until I went to Pirellis. But the Pirellis have worn in 3400 miles. And though I go two-up a lot recently, I don't ride hard. Sad as I really enjoyed the Pirellis to ride on. If I don't get at least 6k miles front and back from the Bridgestones, I am going to Michelins. I only ride on the road. I have to really start investigating tires. I have been letting the dealership handle it but it is getting really expensive.

 

[Alan F.]

In June I swapped out my Pirellis for Shinko 244s and after nearly 1700 miles they're showing just a little wear. Finding correct tire pressure is important when going with different tires, I started at 28psi with these, and I'm running 26 now, next time out will be at 24psi. These turned out to be really good street tires but they do hum a little and they do have a balloon tire bounce with those tall sidewalls. If you ever get off pavement or just want to know that you can, I'd recommend these.
Website

If you've watched any ride videos from India where they go way up north, these tires would make those rides much easier.

 

[BernieBee]

The Shinko company runs under most people's radar or they think that Shinko is a "no name " Chinese company. Shinko is a Korean company that bought the Yokahama technology and molds. The tires are designed in Japan, produced in Korea.
They make good tires and obviously don't waste much on marketing!

 

[KatoCafe]

In June I swapped out my Pirellis for Shinko 244s and after nearly 1700 miles they're showing just a little wear. Finding correct tire pressure is important when going with different tires, I started at 28psi with these, and I'm running 26 now, next time out will be at 24psi. These turned out to be really good street tires but they do hum a little and they do have a balloon tire bounce with those tall sidewalls. If you ever get off pavement or just want to know that you can, I'd recommend these.
Website

If you've watched any ride videos from India where they go way up north, these tires would make those rides much easier.

Yeah, that's the other thing I should say as well... Just moved out to the country, and boy do the CEATs feel like garbage on the gravel roads.. ( which I now have plenty of options to ride on.. )

 

[Woodstock]

The Shinko company runs under most people's radar or they think that Shinko is a "no name " Chinese company. Shinko is a Korean company that bought the Yokahama technology and molds. The tires are designed in Japan, produced in Korea.
They make good tires and obviously don't waste much on marketing!

Good to know, thanks. I will investigate and consider Shinko road tyres.

 

[2LZ]

The Shinko company runs under most people's radar or they think that Shinko is a "no name " Chinese company. Shinko is a Korean company that bought the Yokahama technology and molds. The tires are designed in Japan, produced in Korea.
They make good tires and obviously don't waste much on marketing!

The 705 and 700's are my favorite tires. Affordable too.

 

[2LZ]

Nice looking bikes. I'm changing to Bridgeston BT46s on Friday. The CEATs were awful but I did not know until I went to Pirellis. But the Pirellis have worn in 3400 miles. And though I go two-up a lot recently, I don't ride hard. Sad as I really enjoyed the Pirellis to ride on. If I don't get at least 6k miles front and back from the Bridgestones, I am going to Michelins. I only ride on the road. I have to really start investigating tires. I have been letting the dealership handle it but it is getting really expensive.

I look forward to your post-100 mile review on the BT46;s. I have a set in the shop to install on my Interceptor. Just have to get my lazy butt out there.

 

[Woodstock]

I look forward to your post-100 mile review on the BT46;s. I have a set in the shop to install on my Interceptor. Just have to get my lazy butt out there.

So do I. I went with the original size, 100/90 and 130/70, versus the larger version. That back tire in the larger version, 140/70, looks really big in the box. There is enough positive rhetoric on the BT46 to be sure they are a good tyre. My hope is they wear well. We shall see and will advise soon. If I later go with Shinkos, which are now in the running, I want a road tyre.

 

[Dave C]

Timely thread; I'm considering replacing the factory CEATs this winter. Riding the Tracer 900, even with the OEM Dunlaps, is a much different experience than the RE. The CEATs are probably ok for India's crappy roads and lower speeds, but they are lousy on US roads. My neighbor has a Bonnieville with Shinkos and loves them. He had a set of BT46s and hated them but I'm not sure why other than possibly short life, which I've heard before, but the INT 650 should be pretty easy on tires. The big problem is the relatively odd sizes of the rims compared to modern bikes; there are very limited tires available in matched sets, the BT46s being one of the few. I am considering going with a Shinko 712 100/90-18 in the front, and a 741 140/70-18 in the back. (Will the 140/70-18 fit? )

 

[Alan F.]

140/70-18 will fit the stock 3.5" wide rear rim.

 

[Woodstock]

Timely thread; I'm considering replacing the factory CEATs this winter. Riding the Tracer 900, even with the OEM Dunlaps, is a much different experience than the RE. The CEATs are probably ok for India's crappy roads and lower speeds, but they are lousy on US roads. My neighbor has a Bonnieville with Shinkos and loves them. He had a set of BT46s and hated them but I'm not sure why other than possibly short life, which I've heard before, but the INT 650 should be pretty easy on tires. The big problem is the relatively odd sizes of the rims compared to modern bikes; there are very limited tires available in matched sets, the BT46s being one of the few. I am considering going with a Shinko 712 100/90-18 in the front, and a 741 140/70-18 in the back. (Will the 140/70-18 fit? )

Thanks. I have started researching the 712 for front and back.

 

[Alan F.]

I've been interested in 712s for a while, but is there a wide enough 18" rear to fit our 3.5" wide rims?
https://shinkotireusa.com/product/712-tire/211902

 

[Roy Gavin]

Does anyone have any recommendations / opinions on tires?

GT650 with brat seat and clip ons.. Looking for a nice old school looking set of tires.. Not sure if I want to try and go the fatter Firestone look, or the knobby dirt tires..

Last image is my bike..

Any opinions are welcome..

https://pablos.com.au/products/tt100-gp
If you want the classic look these come in the right size, and work well.
18" is not hard to find in classic race tires,

 

[Woodstock]

I've been interested in 712s for a while, but is there a wide enough 18" rear to fit our 3.5" wide rims?
https://shinkotireusa.com/product/712-tire/211902

Bugger, apparently not. Which I am thinking now is why Dave C is inclined to the 741 140/70-18. I hope for feedback. Will also investigate Dunlop per Roy's outpoint. I prefer to hear other's real-world experience. Add, after another quick squint I also bow to superior knowledge.

 

[Alan F.]

I've been tempted to lace up a stock 2.5" front rim to a rear hub to run that 120 width 712 rear if i found the right deal.

 

[2LZ]

I went the one size up that Alan F mentioned above on my BT46's. Curious to see how they do.
I've only had one bike tire that I found unrideable and that was a Maxxis tire I don't even see on their website anymore. I've steered clear of anything Maxxis ever since. They were downright dangerous. They made it about 500 miles on my Victory TC and off they came.
The stock Dunlop's that come on Harley's I'm not keen on either, but since I paid for them on the bike, I rode them to death. I find they like to track around, especially on highway grooves.

 

[Alan F.]

I've been tempted to lace up a stock 2.5" front rim to a rear hub to run that 120 width 712 rear if i found the right deal.

Actually looking at all of the numbers it looks more like a safe idea to go with the 2.5 rim on the rear and mount the 120 width Shinko 712, when compared to the specs of the stock Pirelli rear.

Shinko 712 120/90-18 rear has a load index rating of 65 (640lbs) and an H speed rating for 130mph.

The stock Pirelli rear had a load index of 63 (600lbs) and was V speed rated for 149mph.

Load rating chart

 

[Dave C]

Bugger, apparently not. Which I am thinking now is why Dave C is inclined to the 741 140/70-18. I hope for feedback. Will also investigate Dunlop per Roy's outpoint. I prefer to hear other's real-world experience. Add, after another quick squint I also bow to superior knowledge.

Exactly, there isn't a 712 that's a direct fit for the rear as far as I can tell. They do make a 120/90-18 in the 712 line that is close so that might be an option, but the 741 seems like a closer match.

I just talked to my friend with the Bonneville to ask what he didn't like about the BT46s. He said the main problem was they were the OEM tires (he thought) and 17 years old, which would explain a lot. His Bonnie has a 17" rear so he was able to get a matching pair. Since I can get a set of direct replacement size BT46s I may go that route; they couldn't possibly be as bad as the CEATs.

 

[Woodstock]

Exactly, there isn't a 712 that's a direct fit for the rear as far as I can tell. They do make a 120/90-18 in the 712 line that is close so that might be an option, but the 741 seems like a closer match.

I just talked to my friend with the Bonneville to ask what he didn't like about the BT46s. He said the main problem was they were the OEM tires (he thought) and 17 years old, which would explain a lot. His Bonnie has a 17" rear so he was able to get a matching pair. Since I can get a set of direct replacement size BT46s I may go that route; they couldn't possibly be as bad as the CEATs.

I hope the age of the tire was his problem.