Tire recommendations

[volador]

Bridgestone moto tires currently offering a rebate on select models to April 30. Rewards link You upload a copy of your receipt and got the approval confirmation in a week. A credit card arrived within 2 weeks, set up a pin number and used as a debit card.
Best price with free shipping I found from Chaparral Motorsports on eBay. Received tires banded/strapped together through UPS. Uploaded a .PDF copy of eBay receipt. No issues

93 k75s 3 spoke wheels Rear 3.00x17 Battlax T31 150/70ZR 17  Front 2.5x18 Battlax T31 110/80ZR-18

[beemrdon]

Michelin PR Tire Update

I now have 10,2xx miles on Michelin PR 4 GT-version (120-70-18) front, and the Michelin Road 5 (150-70-17) rear. Even now with all those miles, the tires perform well and turning in is no problem, although the rear has squared off from riding mosrly in the middle of the tire.

I believe they will last another 1,000 miles.

These are not the stock sizes and the bike originally came with bias ply, not radials but they work great.

[beemrdon]

...

[cycle]

Been running Shinko 712's on my airhead and two of my K's for several years. I think they're great tires. Good in the dry, good in the rain, and not upset by tar snakes. The other tire I'd recommend is the Bridgestone Spitfire S11. I've tried many different brands on my BMW's and these are my two favorites, regardless of price.

[John Lang]

+1 for the Shinko 712s. They are much cheaper than the Michelins I formerly used. I cannot detect difference in performance or endurance.

[beemrdon]

I now have 11,200 miles on the above tires and they do not look much different than in the pics from 10,200 mi. They also continue to handle well and the rear isn't particularly squared off. Good job Michelin. These are an improvement over previous generations, which I thought were pretty good. This is the most mileage that I have gotten on M/C tires. The good news is that I am going to get some more! FWIW, I am running 42 PSI rear and 40 PSI front.

[tidbits]

Just put some Shinko 230's on my K75S, and I've been loving them so far. Feel a lot more planted and far more eager to lean in than the 712's the PO had on there. It could've also been that the back tire was pretty squared off after a lot of highway miles. I'm looking forward to seeing how they hold up.

[Time To Ride]

   Getting a warning about this thread being old but I have spent a lot of time in here, it's been helpful and I did not notice anyone mentioning my final choice.
   My bike is an 94 K75S with 3-spoke rims so 100/90-18 front and 130/90-17 rear. I did want radials badly, went through the trouble/frustration of looking for a matching pair of same type radials in the original size nada. Looked ad going wider for a while but it to was a wild goose chase and maybe not a good idea.  So I made a list of the bias ply (or cross ply as they are starting to call them to loose some of the stigma) and looked at reviews, availability, price etc. 
   I finally ordered a set of Metzeler Roadtec 01 (replaces the Z8), these are a newly designed (2016) bias ply tire that people seem to like and I don't expect to be disappointed.

 Article buy a guy who got a free trip to Germany to write.
  https://www.rideapart.com/articles/247377/metzeler-roadtec-01-tire-review-dr-moto-review/

[BlitzenGruv]

Replaced both of mine last year. Since my K100RS uses an 18" rear I don't have so many options. I was able to get 160/18 rear in Metzeler Roadtec Z8 from J&P Cycle. They also had the Z6 for the front at a discount. Never had anything else on this moto, but they seem to be quite capable.

[pugsley]

I finally ordered a set of Metzeler Roadtec 01 (replaces the Z8), these are a newly designed (2016) bias ply tire that people seem to like and I don't expect to be disappointed.

It may be an old thread but I have had my head in here a fair bit over the last few years too and it is a popular thread with good reason, a bit like an oil thread.

I had the same grief as TTR  looking at a pair of radials for my 1986 K75S (fitted with 3 spoke wheels). I ended up buying and fitting a pair of the new Metzeler Roadtec 01 bias ply tyres in the OEM standard size front 100/90-18 56 & rear 130/90-17 68. They have now done 7,000 miles, half of it two up fully loaded. They have seen warm dry and cold wet roads. Having had Metzeler Lasertecs, Bridgestone BT45s and Michelin Pilot Activs in the same sizes I think that the Roadtec 01s give me a lot more confidence in grip on cold wet roads than the others. On warm dry roads they feel equally as planted as the BT45s and the Pilot Activs. Tar snakes don't seem to bother them much. Wear wise they are probably going to finish up similar to or better than the BT45s. Photos attached. Unless I find a pair of new radials to fit with a 140/80-17 rear that is a full road based tyre I will probably be going for another pair of Roadtecs next time around.

I'd be interested to know what are others experiences of the new Metzeler Roadtec 01 bias ply tyres?


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[gildo]

Definitely important thread, as tires make a world of difference!

I have a stock 18" snowflake wheels on my K75C with 100/90 front and 120/90. Both wrapped in old(cracked) Metzeler Lasertecs from previous owner. I too don't have that many options(wished that I am able to get a wider tire in the rear). After exhausting a search for matching radials in stock sizes, I almost ended up getting the Metzeler Roadtec 01. However, I recently found out that Bridgestone just updated their BT-45 with the new BT-46 this year! It's pretty much the BT45 with newer, upgraded compound to also handle wet weather. And they actually have the right sizes for my wheels and ordered a set. They also cost a little less than the Metzeler Roadtec 01 which is a plus.

Hope to get them installed soon. But still always on the look out for Radials that'll fit.

[volador]

gildo need to upgrade- 3 spoke wheels Rear 3.00x17 Battlax T31 150/70ZR 17  Front 2.5x18 Battlax T31 110/80ZR-18

[Paul_Waterloo]

I have to get tires for the K1100, really the last thing I need, just bought a used front master cylinder to finish the brakes.

I don't know how long I will keep the bike, but I am thinking Metzeler Roadtec Interact Z8's. They are $120 for the front and $150 for the rear from a seller on ebay. My friend has a mounting and balancing machine.

[volador]

you should talk metzlers with/to bizarro when he not having his arse twiddled by his doctor

http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,7993.msg121731.html#msg121731

[Time To Ride]

   Put the 01s on and ran down to Victoria and back, very pleased with tires, put a new rear shock and fork emulators/springs on the front last year and these tires where the cherry on the cake, a bigger improvement then the suspension upgrades.  The bike tracks well now, enter a curve, roll into it and it stays there, hit a dip while leaned over and it still wants to stand up a little but nothing like before.  The ride is somehow softer now, hard to describe sort of velvet like.   A much more relaxed ride.

[beemrdon]

Last update on Michelin PR 4 GT front/ Road 5 rear tires from previous posts in this "Tire Recommendations" thread.

Total mileage = 13,746 miles

I still had tread on both of them but changed them out "early" because I had to take a trip to L.A. (from Las Vegas) and didn't want to take a chance on getting a flat on I-15.
I have had the exact same duo installed again and am around 6,000 miles into them.

[bizzaro]

Hey Don,
So what sizes are you using? 150/70/17 rear and 120/?/18 front.  With that kind of mileage and it is a great tire it is hard to say no.  I love my Roadtec Z8's, but can't get more than 5k out of them.  The only tire I have gotten over 10 k was the Michelin PR 3.  And the last set of PR 3's I Had shipped from Poland(for real) and I only got about 7.5 K.  But I loved that tior as well. Handled great and the mileage is unbeatable.  I would rather be riding than changing tires!

[Laitch]

So what sizes are you using? 150/70/17 rear and 120/?/18 front. 

The answer is here in Reply #276, Bizz.

[bizzaro]

Silly me.  I should have just asked you!😂👍.  I knew it was in here somewhere but didn't want to spend 30 minutes trying to find it.  Plus  Beemer Don and I have history, and he doesn't know who I am.  A fun little game for my tiny brain!😂 Thanks for the post #. 
Addendum: Ha, right on this page in plain site! Also the size I assumed. 🥴