Tires we run on the 650

[rstnick]

A buddy is trying to sell me some Avons that he's used only for racing.
He says they are a sticky tire, and expesive too, $300 each or so.
Apparently the tires have some wear on the sides from agressive cornering, but the center of the tread do not have much wear.
After your input Mark, I'm re-thinking those Avons.

[fury413rb]

im having trouble finding a decent "sport"   16'' rear tire.
definatly more options with the 18'' wheel.


i probably should convert to a proper C1 18'' but im low on money and i need to check axle size

[verner_650]

Both i and my little-brother use Bridgestone Battlax BT45 on our 1977 Z650's; on mine: 3.25 H 19 Front & 4.00 H 18 Rear and on my brothers: 3.25 H 18 Front & 4.00 H 18 Rear.
Only used them for one season, but happy about their performance, both on dry and wet roads. We are the types, where the tyres worns in the middle - so wouldn't know about "extremes".
The tyres was test-winners in 2004 (maybe other times too?).
http://www.motorradonline.de/static/specials/ReifenSpezial/Reifentest2004/FrameSet_reifen_04.html

Well - of now- I'm "tired"
Verner 

[SteveMS]

Verner, I had Battlax BT45's on my CBX550 and they too were a good tyre, so I am going to skin my rims with them very shortly. That way, I can move my project round in the garage to get my car in.

[H2RICK]

Both i and my little-brother use Bridgestone Battlax BT45 on our 1977 Z650's; on mine: 3.25 H 19 Front & 4.00 H 18 Rear and on my brothers: 3.25 H 18 Front & 4.00 H 18 Rear.

Verner: Can you get inch dimensioned BT45's in Europe ?? We can't get them in North America. I would be VERY interested in finding a dealer that sells inch dimensioned BT45s.

[verner_650]

Hi H2Rick.

Here they sell them (UK) - if they would send overseas, i don't know.
http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?suchen=Ordern&cart_id=32757835.110.15791&ranzahl=1&Breite=4.00&Felge=18&Transport=P&F_F=&dsco=110&m_s=1&Achse=&LoadRange=&Ang_pro_Seite=50

Last year i bought a set (4.00x18 and 3.25x19) and last month, we bought a 4.00x18 for my brothers Z650. (In the danish section of the above shop)

Verner.

[H2RICK]

Thank you for the link, verner. Pricey tires....but about the same as the Metzler LaserTecs, so not so bad. I'll contact them at their US office and see if they stock the inch size tires in North America. I've been trying to find Bridgestones in inch sizes for years and years. Now maybe I'll get what I want....finally.....even if I have to order them from the UK.

Or maybe one of the Canadian distributors will stock them this year ??? Hmmm......

[H2RICK]

Oh, oh....bad news. Those guys' North American branch don't handle motorcycle tires !!
Rats !!! Well, I have a couple of buddies in the UK that can buy them for me, but....
the freight will be a killer. Well, I'll have to check it out and see if it's doable.....

[fury413rb]

what is a good 16" rear tire?
I cant really find anything other than a Dunlop 404 which i heard isn't a great tire and some shinko somethings.
I might have to break down and order something off of online.

[H2RICK]

Taylor:
You should be able to get a 130/90-16 rear in a bunch of brand name tires. I know Bridgestone makes the Spitfire S-11 in that size. The Spitfire line is their entry level tire.
They probably offer it in their upscale line, the Battlax BT45, as well. The rest of the majors also offer that size, too.....Michelin, Metzler, Pirelli, etc.
These will all be bias ply tires which is what these old girls work best with for durability and all round handling.

[H2RICK]

Verner....and all:
I spent about an hour on the phone this morning trying to track down the inch dimensioned BT45 Battlax tires. I FINALLY got through to the one guy in Bridgestone (in Nashville, of all places) who knows about bike tires. Bridgestone North America has no intention of importing that particular line of tires to North America, now or in the future.
Their bias-ply tire line is running full out supplying the metric series of Spitfires and BT45's
even now and has been for 2 years. That's why you/I have been running into supply problems with bias ply tires from Bridgestone. They have switched most of their manufacturing over to radials....which makes sense from a monetary perspective, I suppose.
Sooooo.....I either order the inch dimension BT45's from the UK and pay big bucks for freight, or...I put inch dimension Metzler Lasertecs on my GT550.
Hmmmm.....decisions, decisions.....

[JerseyKawa]

Metzeler's on my ride right now..

[OKC_Kent]

I ordered another Cheng-Shin rear tire from American Motorcycle Tire and got an email a few hours later; they said the Hi-Maxx has been discontinued and they refunded my money. So I went and bought the Bridgestone Spitfire for a few dollars more. I'll see how it works with the Hi-Maxx front tire I put on last summer.

[Nate]

I just read in the latest Cycle World Service column that Cheng Shin will no longer be selling road tires in North America.

My SR has a pair of Conti-Blitzes on it and the B has a Pirelli Route 66 on the rear and a Cheng Shin something or other on the front.  Both have rather traditional tread on them and handle very well on gravel roads.  The Blitzes are good on asphalt and tend to be a bit squirrelly on gravel.

[rstnick]

Are you guys installing your own tires when you've ordered them online?
Do you buy new tubes each time you replace your tires as well?
I was looking at the AMT web site.
Sure is tempting to order through there, but I see they ship via courier (UPS & FEDEX).
When these hit the Canadian border, Canada Customs likes to hit us with Duties and other fees. 
Have any other Canadians ordered from the USA online? And how much have the fees been getting them over the border?
What about a Canadian supplier? Who's THE one to order from in Canada?