New Tire recommendations, what size?

OK I am slowly getting my '82 650 maxim back into tip/top shape. Currently I am looking at replacing my tires.

Current tires are REAR: KENDA CHALLENGER 130/90-16
question: Was this the size of the stock tire as well? Should I stay with this size?

FRONT: DUNLOP GOLD SEAL F11 100/90-19 (57H)

although the wear is not bad, these tires are not inspiring me. My gut would like to replace them both (or should I just leave them alone)?

OK now for the controversial question: WHAT SHOULD I BUY? I don't want the most expensive and I don't want the cheapest. I want a very good tire at a reasonable price. anyone?

 

-that was the stock rear tire size, and you really don't want to go any bigger.

-the front tire is one size bigger than stock, which is fine HOWEVER Dunlop hasn't made the "Gold Seal" in quite a while, that's an oldie.

There are a lot of good choices out there:

Dunlop D404
Bridgestone Spitfire
Bridgestone Battlax
Kendas like your current rear
Metzeler ME880
Pirelli Night Demon

Go shopping! 130/90-16 and 100/90-19 or 90/90-19.

 

Always a good idea to have the same tire/tread pattern on front and rear.

That way you don't have one tire that reacts differently to, say, a wet surface or gravel.

 

I'm about to order tires for my X650J also. After looking at a lot of different online vendors, the best value I found for the Dunlop D404's was at Dennis Kirk. If you get both the 130/90-16 rear ($64.99 plus $5 'tire charge') and the 100/90-19 ($61.99 plus $5 tire charge) the total is $136.98 shipped.
Or, if you want a little cheaper you can get Kenda challengers for $123.97 shipped at JCwhitney.com until 8/1/11 midnight when free shipping ends.

One thing about ordering tires online.... prices change frequently so you'll have to check around a bit when you are ready to pull the trigger. (I'd swear that about 3 weeks ago you could get the kendas shipped from chapparal for less than $100 but that deal is gone.)

 

Also, many on this forum tend to avoid tires with a center groove like the Bridgestone Spitfires, because they can track onto tar snakes, rain grooves, pavement seams, and cause erratic handling.

 

hey thanks for input guys!

 

I've got Dunlog D404's on my 650 Seca and am pretty happy with them. Have not decided if I want to trust Chinese tires yet. They were on sale at my Yamaha dealer.

 

Dunlop D404's are known as one season tires in my area. They wear fast.

 

OK, that's good to know. I only have about 1k on them since purchasing this year. Hope it's not true for me.

 

Wasn't true for me; I have about 9000 miles on a set of D404's and it's just getting to be time for a new rear; front is at half-life. That's on a 550 Seca, which is admittedly a lighter bike.

 

How many miles in a season?

 

I dont advise the dunlop 404s. The me880s are much better, in my opinion. even the kenda challengers that i got with my bike at like 60-80% tread lasted longer than the 404s i had: seriously, the kenda's went about 4000-4300, i want to say, and they weren't even new, while the 404s got about 3000-3500 miles per pair.

+1+1+1

check this link:
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=2 ... rt=15.html
The huge chunk of text is a comparison i wrote b/w the 404s and the 880s. also check out the first page, where i have pics of my 404s with no more than 3500. seriously they dont last. and that was probably in the 3000-3200 mi range.

I only have experience w/ these tires on this bike, but if you can afford the 880s than get those. if you cant, get the kendas over the 404s. (i hate to say it, as i always used dunlops on my dirtbikes, and they were awesome, but, their street tires are poop. took me 2 pairs to realize it).
my only complaint on the 880s is that they are really really heavy. it takes paul sr. shoulders to be able to flip back-and-forth through tight twisties at mach 1.8. however, they hold their line like nobody's business. freekin awesome tires? yes! mach 1.8 race tires? no! confidence inspiring? yes!

fyi i have the 100/90-19 and MT90B16 M/C 74H (i have yet to decipher the rear tire size notation, but it looks about a 130/95-16--like those Funny Yamaha Dual Sports (ok maybe not that extreme).

hope that helps.

Disclaimer: don't get d404s cuz you'll be tire shopping again before you even know what just happened. :?

 

I agree with pillowmaster! I had Dunlop 404 and when through 3 rear tires in 1 1/2 10,000 miles. I just put on me880s and they are great! hold the road well. Will see how the hold up top the mileage but expect that they should do very well as designed for bigger bikes.