Need tyre help

[cahurst2001]

I need some advice from the gurus, so here goes...

I need new tires for my 74 cb360 using the stock wheels. It is actually a 3 part question.

1. I have heard mixed things about using tubes w/tubeless tires, but that it generally isn't bad. It just allows the TL tires to seal on the old laced TT rims. Do you all agree?

2. What size should i go with? I'd like a little larger than stock, but something that fits/look good w/out rubbing. Bike will be 2" lower than stock, no front fender, and a shorty rear. 3.00-18 up front and 3.5-18 out back for those that don't know.

3. I want a good tire that also looks kind of nostalgic. Performance is first, but i want it to look as period appropriate as possible. I was looking at the Spitfire S11. What is the consensus?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tim]

I like stock size tires. Bike was engineered to work in a specific way. At minimum you should try to retain stock overall diameter, so if you go wider, go with a lower aspect ratio. I wouldn't jump up more than 1/2 inch on either front or back.

If you're running spoked rims, use rim strips and tubes. The idea of sealing spoke nipples is way too risky in my mind, and how do you adjust spoke tension if they're sealed?

There are some classic looking tires out there - I'm running Avon Roadriders on one of my bikes (haven't used them yet) but they sure don't look vintage. My BMW has Michelin Macadams on it, again not vintage looking.

Avon has a nice vintage line as does Dunlop. Many others likely do as well.

 

[cahurst2001]

I like stock size tires. Bike was engineered to work in a specific way. At minimum you should try to retain stock overall diameter, so if you go wider, go with a lower aspect ratio. I wouldn't jump up more than 1/2 inch on either front or back.

What about just a .5 increase, or running the same size front and rear? i.e. 3.00 to 3.50 and 3.50 to 4.00 or 3.5 for both?

There are some classic looking tires out there - I'm running Avon Roadriders on one of my bikes (haven't used them yet) but they sure don't look vintage. My BMW has Michelin Macadams on it, again not vintage looking.

Avon has a nice vintage line as does Dunlop. Many others likely do as well.

What about the Firestone Deluxe Champions? Anybody heard good or bad things?

These:

 

[woody1981]

I have a set of those Firestones sitting in my garage waiting to be used on my CB450 project. They look cool IMO on everything I have seen them on... but on the down side they are a little spendy considering what you can get other tires for. Also the 18" for the back of my bike was on back-order from Coker for 2months... good thing I wasn't in a hurry. I think mine were about $240 shipped.

A lot of guys on here really like the Avon Road Riders. I just put a set on my CL350 and they look sweet... not really vintage though. I will have pics posted late this week. I got Avon AM26's in 100/90-19 and 120/80-18. They ran me about $160 shipped from Motorcycle Accessory Warehouse. Check out ProTeal55's big arse project thread and you will see them on pg 4 or 5 I think... he's running the same rubber. Also ChrisF is running them on his CB360.

- Woody

 

[Mortikan]

As far as tyres I run Avon roadrunners like tin-tin. but you have to realize 1 very important thing.
Unless you are racing or really planning on doing some major miles or a lot of wet weather riding. Any tyre you chose is better than what you had on the old girl as stock back in 1974. The rubber compounds have come a long way and handling is going to be better than stock for it. So my advice is run what you wnat to run if it's a certain look you are going for. When I bought my tyres dunlop was on strike so the original tyres I had picked we out of stock and no one knew when production would begin again.
Look around and get a good deal.

 

[cahurst2001]

As far as tyres I run Avon roadrunners like tin-tin. but you have to realize 1 very important thing.
Unless you are racing or really planning on doing some major miles or a lot of wet weather riding.

I have noticed that you gentlemen like the Roadrunners, which aren't vintage looking, but could be worse. I'm concerned, of course, with safety/performance than looks, so I may go with those.

Mortikan, you touched on another really good point i forgot to ask, how are the roadrunners on wet pavement and what are some good wet weather tires? living in the PNW means one thing: rain.

 

[buzz286]

Keep your front tire to stock specs,,or it won't steer forth a shit!!

 

[chrisf]

Keep your front tire to stock specs,,or it won't steer forth a shit!!

I don't know if that is entirely true--in my experience. Others' may vary. I went 1" wider all around and it looks really cool, both on the CL350 and the CB360.

Being that I have never seen the Firestones on a cafe racer before, I think you should go with those!

--Chris

 

[liam]

here's some pics of the firestones,

but i think these avon speedmasters look a little nicer, never heard of them before though

 

[dcmspikes]

nice tires, but whose bikes are those??
they just flip flopped my whole cafe idea world

 

[Tim]

http://www.deus.com.au

Yep - there are some talented folks out there with some seriously good taste.

 

[liam]

yeah, deus, a sydney garage/showroom/coffeeshop started by the founder of a big australian surfwear company.
their value for money is highly questionable, but they sure have an eye for aesthetically pleasing bikes

 

[cahurst2001]

those avon speed masters do look pretty cool

so, for those of you w/the roadrunners, how is the wet traction?

 

[buzz286]

cool tires or your hot arse sliding down the road,,,,,,,some one has to be joking ! firerocks as real tyres on a bike, fuck that shite! ANY avon will do!!!!!!!!!(dunlop,bridgestone,michelin,etc etc) they can't even make a good car tyre!!!!!