[RevLee]

While doing the work on the bike I realized it was time to get a new rear tire. I know the size, 130/90-16, already, but what does everybody recommend for brand/style? Currently it has a Dunlop K627 on it. Not really impressed with its wearablity. What so you?

 

[Karma]

Avon Venom-X is good.

 

[rickbert]

Your timing is amazing. I just about an hour ago ordered a set of Bridgestone Spitfire S11's from Motorcyclesuperstore...are $125 for the set...not a bad price and I've heard good reviews from some of the guys here of getting 12,000 or more miles out of them.

 

[RevLee]

Your timing is amazing. I just about an hour ago ordered a set of Bridgestone Spitfire S11's from Motorcyclesuperstore...are $125 for the set...not a bad price and I've heard good reviews from some of the guys here of getting 12,000 or more miles out of them.

Thanks, I was trying to remember which Bridgestones had been recommended from a similar posts several months back. If I remember, that was a main favorite.

 

[Blindstitch]

Your timing is amazing. I just about an hour ago ordered a set of Bridgestone Spitfire S11's from Motorcyclesuperstore...are $125 for the set...not a bad price and I've heard good reviews from some of the guys here of getting 12,000 or more miles out of them.

+1



I have about 13,000 on mine and the rear still looks like it has a lot of tread.

 

[rickbert]

If I get 12,000 miles out of the new rear I ordered then that will be 3 times the mileage I've gotten out of the last two Kendas I've had on the rear and I will be EXTREMELY happy as I've only gotten 4,000 miles out of each of them.



In reality that's a steal in comparison



Kenda roughly $50 for 4,000 miles

Bridgestone roughly $75 for over 12,000 miles



Anyone can do THAT math !

 

[marshallf3]

Always went with the best (or close to it) Bridgestones on my cars and around here they get a lot of turture - especially if you like conrnering and changing lanes as quickly as I do.



43K on the current set of Potenza RE960AS Pole Positions I'm running on and they look like they've got another 10K or 15K more until I'm down to 6/32. Couple of years ago in Colorado they even took me over the 12,000' Loveland mountain pass during a blizard the locals with their 4 wheel drives were having trouble with. In daily driving around here it's a pleasure to be able to snap back and forth between lanes at 80 mph without any hesitation, of course the unusual suspension has a lot to do with that too.



Guess I was first sold when I had RE730s on my highly modded Pace car when a pair lasted a bit over 30K miles, had about 15K on the second set when the car was totalled and put into storage. Historically a summer only racing tire doesn't last anywhere near that long when you're constantly pushing them.



I can only guess that they've incorporated similar technology and compounds into their line of motorcycle tires.

 

[Shep]

There are a lot of variables in tyre decision.If you want mileage then you inevitably sacrifice some grip.Then there's how much mileage will the rider do and how long the tyres may be on.Then there's riding style.Also local road conditions.



Personally how long a tyre lasts is not my priority,I prefer grip and braking and cornering performance.As I only have two large match box areas of contact on the ground on a bike I want the best possible grip and handling in wet and dry.



I've run Avons/Dunlops/Continentals but by far the best I've had I took a chance on as they are budget tyres made in Malaysia.They are the best grip and handling tyres I've had and so far seem to be wearing evenly and well.



The present square profiled Dunlop K70 I have on my now Main CX does not handle anywhere near as good as the budget rear on my other CX.It's near the end of it's life so I'm going to swap the tyres/rims soon.I don't think I will ever have another,"Square Profile" tyre again.They skip badly on the ruts we have on some of our roads whereas the round profile ones seem less affected.Also the Square profile ones don't allow me to lean on cornering anywhere near as good as the round profile ones.



My 10 penn'th

 

[marshallf3]

I never could figure out why they'd even build a square profile tire for a motorcycle unless it was meant to be a drag bike. Just thnking about it sounds dangerous on cornering.



Of course I haven't figured out the huge rounded ones on the crotch rockets either, on that light of a bike the contact patch would end up being rather wide at the sacrifice of length.



Must go back to the days where muscle cars came stock with rather small tires, such as when they'd' stuff a V-8 into a Mustang yet still used the skinny factory tires that were on the small 6-cyl models. Wider tires helped in many of these situations because you couldn't get a large enough contact patch unless you deflated the rear tires quite a bit.



Plain stupidity and vanity play a big part in seeing the wider tires people toss on today's cars. Contact patch remains the same yet having it spread out wider just means more wear in the turns and in most cases reduced mpg.

 

[Shep]

Plain stupidity and vanity play a big part in seeing the wider tires people toss on today's cars. Contact patch remains the same yet having it spread out wider just means more wear in the turns and in most cases reduced mpg.

I can understand the cosmetic appeal of wider tyres but on a motorcycle it's dangerous enough without removing possible grip and performance IMHO.If you only go in a straight line it's not a problem<grin>

 

[marshallf3]

I can understand the cosmetic appeal of wider tyres but on a motorcycle it's dangerous enough without removing possible grip and performance IMHO.If you only go in a straight line it's not a problem<grin>

Agreed, as with my cars I try to stick to what the manufacturer recommended unless there's an obvious reason for not doing so.



Back when I was running the Pace car I think I bested a lot of the others merely due to the fact my tires gripped so well I didn't waste a lot of power and time while they sat there spinning out a cloud of smoke. They were not only sticky tires but also the correct size for the weight of the car, thus I would suppose maximizing the contact patch area.

 

[Shep]

Agreed, as with my cars I try to stick to what the manufacturer recommended unless there's an obvious reason for not doing so.



Back when I was running the Pace car I think I bested a lot of the others merely due to the fact my tires gripped so well I didn't waste a lot of power and time while they sat there spinning out a cloud of smoke. They were not only sticky tires but also the correct size for the weight of the car, thus I would suppose maximizing the contact patch area.

The reason I mentioned road conditions as well is that over here in the UK/Europe our roads are much more,"Condensed" e.g smaller and with many more tight bends.From the videos and films I've seen of north America the roads are mainly wider and more sweeping curves.Of course this depends,I'm sure,on where one lives as I'm sure there's lots of smaller twisty country roads,the type I love to ride.That's wear good grip tyres come into their own.



Many times I've left Crotch rocket riders in my wake on small country roads as their bikes are not that good for it,even though they come from racing stock.They have the biggest,fattest tyres on but just can't handle the really tight bends well and I mean,"Tight"

 

[ncjasen]

After reading some reviews I ended up going with Bridgestone Spitfire S11 Sport/T. I found them for $87 on old bike barn.

 

[morrow]

I love my new Bridgestone Spitfire S11s...amazing tire for the price.

 

[timothy_d]

If you are an advanced, and very aggressive rider, Here's the scoop.



I have tested Avon AM 26's, Metzeler Lasertec's, IRC Durotours, and Bridgestone BT45's under extreme duress.

I cannot speak to the durability of the tires under normal riding conditions, because I ride with guys on modern sport bikes. My tires typically last about 2k-2.5k miles and they are done.

However, if you want to know which is the best for sport riding, I finally have a definitive answer.



Hands down, the Pirelli Sport Demon is the best tire for the CX if you are an aggressive rider.



Of all the tire's I have ridden on, it is the only one that has heated up, boiled, and peeled like a race tire.



In my latest side by side comparison, I spent two sessions on the Avons on the Eurosport, and one session on the Sport Demon on the 500 turbo at Infineon,



The despite having a 125lb weight disadvantage, the Turbo was more stable in the corners, more predictable, and was actually better on the brakes than the 650E.



Each bike got absolutely identical prep prior to the track day- brand new tires, EBC 69HH sintered pads (front and rear).



Here is what the Sport Demon looked like after one session:

There we go! Facebook worked.

 

[Trickster]

I am no expert on tires, but have read in some vintage MC magazines that the newer style tires produced today



have a less forgiving sidewall, thus less "give" or cushioning effect. Great for newer bikes with modern more forgiving



suspensions and frames, but harder on the older machines. Bridgestone Spitfires S11's are a recommended tire for older



bikes. I have no first hand knowledge of this as I have never bought an expensive modern tire for my vintage bikes.



The logic does sound sensible to me though.



Shep as far as you outpacing sportbikes on the CX, I think that is more an attribute to your riding skills.

 

[timothy_d]

I am no expert on tires, but have read in some vintage MC magazines that the newer style tires produced today

have a less forgiving sidewall, thus less "give" or cushioning effect. Great for newer bikes with modern more forgiving

suspensions and frames, but harder on the older machines. Bridgestone Spitfires S11's are a recommended tire for older

bikes.

This is not really the case. 99% of the tires for our bikes are bias ply tires, and while bias ply technology has advanced considerably, the construction has not changed a whole lot in the last 30 years.

 

[Shep]

Shep as far as you outpacing sportbikes on the CX, I think that is more an attribute to your riding skills.

It helps to know where the cows Cr*p as well

 

[Trickster]

This is not really the case. 99% of the tires for our bikes are bias ply tires, and while bias ply technology has advanced considerably, the construction has not changed a whole lot in the last 30 years.

Oh Okay then.



Michelin Pilot Power 2 CT are next on the lil CX.

 

[biker jr]

I put a set of bridgestone s11 spitfire on my bike last week, I rode the tail of the dragon on saturday and they worked great, it was like a different bike with these tires. biker jr