vintage tires - Page 2

craydds · 01-28-2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TINK

I've been buying from http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/

Great link - easy to find the tires in our sizes, and they have a great selection. Some suppliers do NOT carry sizes for our old bikes.

chipsdad · 01-28-2013, 06:05 PM

all the tires you guys are mentioning don't look like the firestones. I have been working on my bike I have reshaped the seat and fenders to look better with the more oversized tires. Am I really gonna hate the firestones or will they be fine. I will be riding lots in the summer however never over 60mph and mostly in town.

supershaft · 01-28-2013, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipsdad

all the tires you guys are mentioning don't look like the firestones. I have been working on my bike I have reshaped the seat and fenders to look better with the more oversized tires. Am I really gonna hate the firestones or will they be fine. I will be riding lots in the summer however never over 60mph and mostly in town.

I have no experience with tires for looks. I suspect you should have customized a KE100.

DaveBall · 01-28-2013, 07:08 PM

Well, I think you have to figure out what you really want. The Firestones were never stock on any BMW. And from all that I have talked to, they handle like crap. Don't even think of riding very far or at all spirited on them. If you want to make your bike handle as well as or slightly better than stock, put on some Spitfires. They are reasonably priced and actually work. If you are a very spirited rider and have done some other upgrades to the bike, then definitely go for the Avons or Pirellis, or whatever.

I average 12000 miles on a set of Spitfires, which means at least 1 or two sets per year. That is on my R100RT. I know of others that ride them harder than I do and get in the 10,000 mile range. they are very happy with them for what they are. Almost all of those miles are done touring and to and from work. We are not into posing at the local coffee shop. We would rather be riding.

SOLO LOBO · 01-28-2013, 07:17 PM

When you go wider on the front, you will sacrifice handling... if it is only looks you are after, just pick your favorite and be done with it.

chipsdad · 01-28-2013, 07:26 PM

damn they just look too cool. trust me function first is my concern. in the end my bike 's looks will only matter to me. Every rig pig in this part of the world rides a brand new billion cc crotch rocket or chromed penis enlarger. I might just go to the local dealer and find something practical and decide while I am busy wearing them out.

supershaft · 01-28-2013, 07:55 PM

Do you know why just about every type of competitive bike out there has a much smaller front tire? Because the rules don't force them to use the same size tires like they do in AMA flat track. If you want your bike to handle, keep the monster truck tires off the front.

chipsdad · 01-28-2013, 08:07 PM

i am aware of the tire size factor. i used to race downhill bikes on the circuit. we used larger front tires in some cases to use the gyroscopic effect to help on some courses. I am sure the rotating mass is the largest contributor to people not liking these large rubbers. I was more interested in hearing about the rubber quality and sidewall mannerisms.

Leadnuts · 01-28-2013, 08:49 PM

Friend of mine got a couple of Heidenau tires... German made and seems to really like them. Seem pretty reasonably priced. He got them from here.

http://www.motorcyclemaniacstore.com...torcycle-tires

Kai Ju · 01-28-2013, 09:59 PM

Does anybody here have any experience with Duro Tires ?
They make a copy of both the K81 and Conti Twins ( K112/RB2) and are quite cheap. Maybe it's a case of you get what you pay for?

http://tinyurl.com/b4twmct

ME 109 · 01-28-2013, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveBall

I know of others that ride them harder than I do and get in the 10,000 mile range. they are very happy with them for what they are.

Wowsers! that is at least double what i've ever got from any rear.
I'm gonna pull a spark plug lead off.

rufusswan · 01-29-2013, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kai Ju

Does anybody here have any experience with Duro Tires ?

I put on Duro's on because they were cheap and I considered the old tires dangerous. I still have the Duro on the front but swapped the rear for a Spitfire. I got about 5K miles out of the rear and replaced it with a Spitfire.

They seemed Ok to me but I ain't the most expert or spirited of drivers.

lake_harley · 01-29-2013, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kai Ju

Does anybody here have any experience with Duro Tires ?
They make a copy of both the K81 and Conti Twins ( K112/RB2) and are quite cheap. Maybe it's a case of you get what you pay for?

http://tinyurl.com/b4twmct

I had wondered about the Duro tires as well, and rufusswan replied then too. I just wanted something inexpensive to get some miles on my project R75/6 once I had it running reasonably well. The Duro's "are what they are", but I'm not disappointed. Heck even 5K on a rear is fine with me. I don't think my /6 will ever be my main bike, so for me they'll do the job. The Duro's have the classic tire look, I think. If you're racking up a lot of miles you might want something a little more "Duro-able" (sorry, I couldn't resist)

Lynn

craydds · 01-29-2013, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipsdad

I was more interested in hearing about the rubber quality and sidewall mannerisms.

Firestones? Are you only interested in "the looks"? I didn't know Firestone even made a tire for our bikes. Any good motorcycle tire - Metzler, Bridgestone, Avon, Continental, Michelin, Heidenau, etc., made in the RIGHT SIZE for these our bikes will out-perform a Firestone. I would be cautious of any of the other "off brands", but that is just my subjective opinion. I do ride at a spirited pace, I have spent a lot of time and money setting up my suspension to ride hard and fast, so I want the best tires I can get.

squish · 01-29-2013, 07:05 AM

There's on,y one way to know if you like the Firestone doughnuts. Buy them put them on ride them enjoy how wrenchmonkees your bike looks ride them some more. Wear them out get a normal tire and understand why everybody here is suggesting more modern tires.

The ribbed front of the FS will wander in rain groves. The round fat profile will make steering effort harder.
The older compound will not inspire confidence. That is assuming you are talking about repops and not real old vintage tires which you would be flat crazy to use.

But if you like the style, you like the style. Worse thing is you might hate 'em
They are after all just tires. They do wear out.

01-28-2013, 06:05 PM	#17
chipsdad ^OP Adventurer Joined: May 2011 Location: edmonton Oddometer: 52	all the tires you guys are mentioning don't look like the firestones. I have been working on my bike I have reshaped the seat and fenders to look better with the more oversized tires. Am I really gonna hate the firestones or will they be fine. I will be riding lots in the summer however never over 60mph and mostly in town. __________________ on a mission

01-28-2013, 07:26 PM	#21
chipsdad ^OP Adventurer Joined: May 2011 Location: edmonton Oddometer: 52	damn they just look too cool. trust me function first is my concern. in the end my bike 's looks will only matter to me. Every rig pig in this part of the world rides a brand new billion cc crotch rocket or chromed penis enlarger. I might just go to the local dealer and find something practical and decide while I am busy wearing them out. __________________ on a mission chipsdad screwed with this post 01-28-2013 at 07:34 PM

01-28-2013, 08:07 PM	#23
chipsdad ^OP Adventurer Joined: May 2011 Location: edmonton Oddometer: 52	i am aware of the tire size factor. i used to race downhill bikes on the circuit. we used larger front tires in some cases to use the gyroscopic effect to help on some courses. I am sure the rotating mass is the largest contributor to people not liking these large rubbers. I was more interested in hearing about the rubber quality and sidewall mannerisms. __________________ on a mission

01-29-2013, 07:05 AM	#30
squish Out of the office. Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Where the Ghetto meets the sea. Oddometer: 4,948	There's on,y one way to know if you like the Firestone doughnuts. Buy them put them on ride them enjoy how wrenchmonkees your bike looks ride them some more. Wear them out get a normal tire and understand why everybody here is suggesting more modern tires. The ribbed front of the FS will wander in rain groves. The round fat profile will make steering effort harder. The older compound will not inspire confidence. That is assuming you are talking about repops and not real old vintage tires which you would be flat crazy to use. But if you like the style, you like the style. Worse thing is you might hate 'em They are after all just tires. They do wear out. __________________ *On vacation for a spell*

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01-28-2013, 07:08 PM	#19
DaveBall Studly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Vancouver Island Oddometer: 932	Well, I think you have to figure out what you really want. The Firestones were never stock on any BMW. And from all that I have talked to, they handle like crap. Don't even think of riding very far or at all spirited on them. If you want to make your bike handle as well as or slightly better than stock, put on some Spitfires. They are reasonably priced and actually work. If you are a very spirited rider and have done some other upgrades to the bike, then definitely go for the Avons or Pirellis, or whatever. I average 12000 miles on a set of Spitfires, which means at least 1 or two sets per year. That is on my R100RT. I know of others that ride them harder than I do and get in the 10,000 mile range. they are very happy with them for what they are. Almost all of those miles are done touring and to and from work. We are not into posing at the local coffee shop. We would rather be riding.

01-28-2013, 07:55 PM	#22
supershaft because I can Joined: Sep 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay area Oddometer: 6,082	Do you know why just about every type of competitive bike out there has a much smaller front tire? Because the rules don't force them to use the same size tires like they do in AMA flat track. If you want your bike to handle, keep the monster truck tires off the front.

01-28-2013, 08:49 PM	#24
Leadnuts do-over... Joined: Sep 2011 Location: KCMO Oddometer: 115	Friend of mine got a couple of Heidenau tires... German made and seems to really like them. Seem pretty reasonably priced. He got them from here. http://www.motorcyclemaniacstore.com...torcycle-tires

01-28-2013, 09:59 PM	#25
Kai Ju Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Oddometer: 1,026	Does anybody here have any experience with Duro Tires ? They make a copy of both the K81 and Conti Twins ( K112/RB2) and are quite cheap. Maybe it's a case of you get what you pay for? http://tinyurl.com/b4twmct