OPINIONS ON TIRES

I'll start by saying that this forum is awsome, the folks here have answered all my questions and made some really good suggestions to my previos posts...
i'm working on a 1983 seca XJ750RK and i'm looking for opinions on the best tires for that bike...i live in NJ and usually don't do much riding when the temps are below 40F degrees, when i ride i consider myself a pretty conservative rider although i like to air it out as much as the next guy when i'm on the highway... i've read a few threads and heard some opinions but haven't made a decision...i'm leaning toward DUNLOP's just wanted some additional input...thnx NJrider

 

i hear the dunlops are good although ive never been on any...

my750rJ has bridgestones on it and they seem pretty good...

my 550 H has metzlers on it and they ARE pretty good...

my 900rK has kendas on it and they are okay provided they get a chance to get warm. i dont care for them all that much when its chilly out...

id LIKE to try some Avons but i dont have the money to experiment...

 

dunlop 404s on my 1982 maxim

 

I am a conservative rider too. I

Dunlops seem a bit hard for me. They probably would wear well, however.

I'm the guy who gets over 10K miles on the stock rear tire of my VMax. How's that for conservative (and throttle hand restraint) for a VMax owner? Ha!

Anyway, I run Bridgestone Spitfires on my Midnight and SR500. Have only had them on a year or two on each bike, so the jury is still out on them.

Reasonably priced. Seem to handle fine. Don't know about what sort of mileage or wear to expect yet.

 

Metzeler Lasertec is pricey but will perform by its standards..Its compounds (high silica)is by far good n sticky on wet n dry roads. On the other hand Bridgestone battlax BT45 is reasonably priced with good wet n dry traction. I heard AMA membrship gets a further 10% discount.

 

I currently have Dunlop 404s, Continental Blitzs, Bridgestone BT45s, and Bridgestone S11s on my vintage bikes. The 45s are probably the best but the S11s are my favorites because of performance and price. Hard to beat. Everytime I install them on a bike, it changes the whole personality of the machine for the better.
Having said that, tire threads are like oil threads. I am simply answering a question here.

 

I'm in the final stages of wearing out a set of D404's, you certainly won't go wrong there. Looks like they'll end up going about 8K-9K with the rear wearing out first of course, but the front is thin enough to merit replacing when the rear's done.

I've got Avons on my other Seca 550, and they're excellent.

 

I've got Bridgestone Spitfire's on my bike at the moment -- they seem to be a pretty good tire. Wet, dry, warm, cold - they seem to be quite good all-rounders.

Having said that, hands down my favorite tires have been a set of Avon Roadrunners - I'd go back to those in a heartbeat (if I had the $$)

 

I've been thinking about the Avons and the Bridgestone Spitfires. Heard both are pretty decent. Depending on what $$ looks like after christmas i'll pick up a pair of one or the other. Preferably Avons
-Chris

 

Hard to beat D404's. Great tire, great availability, great rice great service life.

Sticky enough for me!

Loren

 

as of last dec i've put 11000.+ on my dunlop D404's. not down
to the wear marks yet on the rears ( but damn close) - lots left on the frnts.

performance has been good but definatley less sticky now that
the temps have dropped. i drive conservativly in town, but love to
drag the pedels and wot when i can.

BUT... I WANT MORE MILES FOR MY $$$$$ !!!

pls, any suggetions would be great. i only put on about 1000 miles per
month but spending $250.00 every year is ridiculess.

thx,ron

 

I'm a big fan of the Dunlop Elites. I regularly got 20,000 miles out of each one of the older Elite II's. Should set you back about $150 a pop.

 

thanks Robert,
my '82 honda nighthawk came stock with dunlop qualifiers.
i dont remember what kind of milage i got but thay handled
fantastic.

 

I like the Kenda Challengers for the money. Always have good reviews for better reasons than price as well.

 

i have a dunlop on the back,a metzler on the front. and i have fantastic grip.

 

I just got set up on Kendas for a VERY reasonable price (about $120 for both), we'll see if they measure up. I have mounted Metzlers but never kept any of the bikes I put them on long enough to form an opinion of them.

 

It's nice to have choices for the Yamahas. My LT is so heavy I only have 2 choices.

Metzler ME 880's REINFORCED

Bridgestone. Again reinforced for the weight.

$400 + per set.

Loren

 

Thanks to all of you guys as usual varied opinions on such a topic... i'll be shopping around soon and keep your suggestions in mind...thnx again, NJrider

 

I had a Dunlop tire on the back of my bike at the begining of this past summer, but it wore down pretty fast. Granted it was an older tire, but around turns it felt kind of unresponsive and it would wobble when going over the joint in the middle fo the road. Now i have a Bridgestone S11 on the rear, and let me tell you what, it handles beautifully. With the dunlop i could do decently sharp corners at 60 mph max. With the bridgestone S11, i can do 70 mph easily and its very responsive and comfortable. Tire grips well even when cold, and i have put about 3500 miles on it so far. Will probably always buy this tire from now on and i paid a little over $100 for it i think.

I am not always crazy on the tire either. Comfortable for calm riding, and kick butt for when you wanna lean her over through the twisties.

 

Sounds like you found a winner. Let us know the mileage you get with it. Traction and durability are usually a trade off. Dunlop D404's are good for long life and they keep up with my ability.

Loren

 

NJRider,
Where in SJ are you? I have a buddy in southampton near tabernacle that will mount and balance both tires for $60. He'll also get you a good price on any tires you like. I'm running Dunlop D404's on mine since 2006 and like them a lot.

 

wesley, i'm in the deptford area, hop,skip & jump from "the hill"...i ordered the dunlop d404's before reading your post ($140 for both inc shipping) , i think my friend in barrington can mount and balance them for me, but if not i'll IM you for your bud's address...thnx NJrider