Looking at Dunlops K70 or K81.
But I know what's offered now are not the same from back in the day.
So what other options are you using?
On my RD400 I have Avon Roadrider 90/90-18 & 110/80-18. Great performing tire!
The other tire commonly used on RDs is Bridgestone Battlexx BT46 (previously called BT45)
Bridgestone Battlexx.
I prefer Avon Road Riders but was unable to source them anywhere in the US this year so I went with the Bridgestone BT46s. In my opinion the Avon is a better tire, stickier and more stable. That being said the Bridgestone is running a close 2nd.
Continental Classic Attack - the first true radial for the RD. Expensive but next level tires. And in the right sizes 90/90 & 110/90. Most shops are out of them right now but some the big on line tire houses might have it.
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^ I was going to recommend this tire but John has it covered. :like: I have the Conti Attacks on my RZ350 and GT750 and love them! :love: The H2 has BT45s.
Bt46's on my GT750 and Shinko 712's on my RD.
Quote from: Kawtriplefreak on June 20, 2023, 04:44:32 PMI prefer Avon Road Riders but was unable to source them anywhere in the US this year so I went with the Bridgestone BT46s. In my opinion the Avon is a better tire, stickier and more stable. That being said the Bridgestone is running a close 2nd.
I run Avon Streetrunner AV83. Very similar to the Roadriders, but an upgrade in performance, IMO. They're a bit lower of a profile tire. Easily bought for under $100 each, usually in the $85 range.
Shinko 712s on my RD400c. Gets ridden maybe a max of 500 miles/yearm so will be out-of-date before worn out. Feels fine, I ride easy.
What about for an RZ350? I have a pair of CompK Metzlers 100 front and 120 rear which I fitted in 93 or so and they still work but it's time to treat the old girl to some new rubber.
I have fitted multiple sets of BT45/46 and Shinko 712s to GT750s but need something that sticks to our crappy roads for the RZ
Thoughts, suggestions?
Dunlop alpha 13's were the way to go a few years ago, but impossible to get here in the states.
I have Avon am22 and am23's on my RZ... but they are pretty old, and seem to be no longer available.
I have been looking as well with little luck.
I run Dunlop Sportmax on my FT500, which is set up like a Supermoto. Possibly the best grip for a street tire I've tried to date. The Avon Streetrunners I posted earlier that are installed on my RD are on the harder side for my taste. Not sure I am too happy with those tires.
I believe Avon was sold to Goodyear recently. Not sure if that changes quality, but I know they were heavily dependent on Ukraine for production of various products (they axed a lot of their racing products). I know we don't talk politics here and I very much respect that, but this is one case where geo political matters very much can change the attitude of a product we use. I was dead set on going to Avons and away from my Bt46's, but now I am not so sure. It probably doesn't help that I basically never had a tire from Goodyear that I thought was good outside of their special race division. So I'd say I am biased.
Quote from: sav0r on November 28, 2023, 10:39:40 AMI believe Avon was sold to Goodyear recently.
True. Over the past year there were a lot of articles in various motorcycle industry news sources about the acquisition and the impact on supply. Avon closed all their UK factories in 2022. I sort of recall seeing one article that listed the tire models that would be continued under Goodyear ownership and I didn't see the AM26 RoadRider on there. Don't know if that's the case now or not. Avon updated the Road Rider model from the original to the Mk II, and at about the same time supply was affected by Covid, and I think they're still getting caught up. When I was searching for tires earlier in the year the choices were limited by in-stock availability.
Here's what I'm running:
RD400F: Avon Road Rider AM26 90/90-18 & 110/80-18 (I got these quite a while back when supply wasn't an issue)
TZR250: Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV 120/70-17 & 150/60-17
Skinny wheels get Bridgestone BT46, fat wheels get Bridgestone S22.
When I did a quick check online I don't see a lot of skinny 18" tires.
- Dunlop recommends the TT100/K81. No sportmax in 18" sizes that would fit
- Avon race tires are no longer available and Roadrider 2 have limited availability and that is possibly old stock.
- Continental have some nice looking ContiAttacks but many sizes are out of stock. Looks like I could go with a 90 front and 110 rear but they are a lot more $$$ than say a Bridgestone BT46
- Bridgestone BT46 seem to be available in 90/90 and 100/80 front and suitable rears
- Shiko 712 are probably available but not sure I want to go that way.
- Pirelli list a new version of the old Phantom tire we race with decades ago, but no suitable sizes
- Metzler lasertec is available in 110 front and 130 rear which is a bit too wide IMHO
Not sure what else is available. Looks like many of us are using old tires :whistle:
I just put on a set of BT46s on the 72 R5, they are really good. For vintage look, last year i put a set of IRC block treads on the Ds7, because, its slow and was dead stock, but they actually worked really well.
Pirelli mt75 on my rd and Dunlap 404 on my kz650.
More great input. Thanks.
I could not find the Pirelli MT75 in current Pirelli catalog but I did find the Sport Demon, but all the suitable rear tires are out of stock, so that bird won't fly.
Just after I decided on the Sport Demon, that hope was dashed. Like the Avon sport tire I fitted to the Ducati and no matching rear available to match it. I checked the AVON US site again and it says that RoadRider Mk11s are available. I need to search again or stop wasting time and buy a pair of BT46s.
Or I could leave the 30 year old CompK's on for a few more years....
BT46 has the best range and not expensive.
I found a pair of ContiClassicAttacks at Partzilla and tehy arrived in 2 days. Boy are teh carcasses stiff. This could be fun trying to get them fitted.
Odd that they are so much softer than 30 year old Metzlers. Who would have thought... :whistle: :umm:
Shinko 712 has my vote for cheap and effective. I have done a track day on a bike with twice the weight as an RD. (CB900F) They did just fine and even started to ball up a little.