Tires that look like they are from the early 80s.

[rockhammer]

Hello can some one post an image or link to a set of tires that look like that were from the early 80s. I am thinking about new tires and would like the look of older style tires, I think.

Thanks

 

[Planetsmasher]

http://www.revzilla.com/product/metzeler-lasertec-bias-sport-touring-front-tire

 

[chuck hahn]

IRC makes the vintage treads.

 

[tkent02]

If you plan on riding it at all, go with modern rubber. There is a reason tire technology moved on. The old tires sucked.

 

[steve murdoch]

Dunlop re-issued the K81 TT100.
No idea on the performance.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dunlop-TT10...Parts_Accessories&hash=item5653a58a42&vxp=mtr

 

[subid]

I use the Duro HF317 & HF314 on my Honda, I think they're decent tires if you want the vintage look. The rear went about 4,000 miles. The front is still good at about 6,000. And they are inexpensive. I got mine from https://www.denniskirk.com/duro/rear-hf314-3-50s-18-blackwall-tire.p540770.prd/540770.sku

 

[rockhammer]

rubber

rubber

If you plan on riding it at all, go with modern rubber. There is a reason tire technology moved on. The old tires sucked.

Dont they just make a vintage looking tire with modern rubber??

 

[tkent02]

No, I haven't heard of it. And the modern rubber from ten years ago is no where near as good as the new stuff today. Try RoadRiders, Sport Demons or even Shinko 230s if you want traction and handling.

 

[chuck hahn]

Tom....Yes...IRC are new tires with new rubber technology..far as I know. Got them on the 78 1000C. Only thing I donmt like about them is they "hum" at over 40ish..not loud but you can hear them.

 

[Gorminrider]

IRC were OEM on lots of bikes alright...I was looking at GS-11 and RS310 when I was in the market ...you have to look hard for a selection of sizes....I think that's where I "lost it"-that and the difficulty of finding them here in the GreatWhiteNorth

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...Cruiser-Motorcycle-Blackwall-Tires-Tires.aspx

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/31/401/19085/ITEM/IRC-GS-11-All-Weather-Front-Tire.aspx

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/31/401/19086/ITEM/IRC-GS-11-All-Weather-Rear-Tire.aspx

Duro too..has something
https://www.denniskirk.com/duro/rear-hf314-3-50s-18-blackwall-tire.p540770.prd/540770.sku
plus the British Tiremakers

 

[bwringer]

Add me to the list of people who can't begin to fathom why you'd want to install crap tires just to get a certain look. But whatever -- it's your bike.

There are a few Metzeler models that have been in production since sometime in the '80s.
http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/metzeler/metzeler_me_77.htm
http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/metzeler/metzeler_me_88.htm

The Metzeler Lasertecs were mentioned above -- not OEM, but a popular replacement back in the day.


Some vintage-ish Contis:
http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/Continental/continental_conti_twins.htm

Shinko "Standard Rib" for that extra-squirrely feeling on smaller vintage bikes:
http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/Shinko/Shinko_standard_rib.htm


The IRC GS-11 is close to what most GS models were wearing from the factory -- very limited sizes:
http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/Irc/IRC_allweather_gs11.htm

The IRC Durotour is actually a pretty decent tire, and is available in some oddball sizes. Not sure if it looks "vintage" enough, whatever that means.
http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/Irc/Irc_Durotour.htm



Many GS models also came with Bridgestone tires. The delightfully hinky "Mag Mopus" is, thankfully NLA, but the S-11 spitfire has been available since the late '80s.
http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/Bridgestone/Bridgestone MC/bridgestone_spitfire_s11.htm

Same with the Dunlop 501 -- been around since the '80s, so was a common replacement.
http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/Dunlop/dunlop_gt501.htm

The Dunlop 404 has that classic Dunlop tread pattern if you're going for a Harley-esque thing:
http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/Dunlop/dunlop_oe_d404.htm

Egads, you can still get a few sizes in the Dunlop K70 and K81 :
http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL TIRES/Dunlop/dunlop_vintage_k70.htm



Or, go all the way -- pony up some big bucks and spoon on some vintage reproduction rubber from Coker Tire:
http://www.cokertire.com/popular-tire-applications/motorcycle.html

 

[rockhammer]

I am just doing some research. I am new to older bikes like this and am trying to figure out how I want to approach this. Thanks

 

[tkent02]

I would approach it by asking which tires give the best traction, but that's just me, I don't like falling down all that much anymore.

 

[chuck hahn]

I hear ya Tom....Ive been down one time since I was 16 ( 50 now ) and i still remember it..Wasnt a tire issue though. Cell phone jockey decided to come around a car making a left turn in front of him. I was right next to him. He came out ( he was stopped behind the left turner at the time actually and got impatient ) and I was fender bait.

 

[Guest]

I think I have a pair of Phantoms




Somewhere

 

[bwringer]

Personally, I think older bikes look really racy with Avon RoadRiders mounted. If you peruse the classic motorcycle magazines (or any GS rally) you'll see tons of old bikes wearing RoadRiders and ridden hard. The Bridgestone BT-45 has a more "complicated" pattern if that's what you're into (again, I have no idea what you think "looks right") and is an excellent modern tire.

The Coker repro tires are for guys who roll the bike out of the trailer onto a piece of clean carpet, then place a path paper towels to protect the tires from the desecration of clean grass as they roll carefully into their designated spot at the show. They then place a perimeter of snotty "do not touch signs" around the bike and hover anxiously nearby with an umbrella to protect the paint from the horrific rays of the sun and a ready supply of microfiber towels in case a grain of dust should fall.

 

[Wingsconsin]

From personal Experience

From personal Experience

In 2012 my son and I restored (preserved) a 1982 Honda CX500 Custom and our thoughts were the same as yours..to find a vintage style tire without sacrificing handling traction.

After some research we settled on Bridgestone Spitfire S11's
Grip is good, looks are vintage, longevity undetermined but when we traded it off it had over 8K on them and they looked great.

 

[Gorminrider]

..hmm. I went for non-vintage and am happy enough but you never know. I have an owners manual for an eighties bike that specifically states the bike was designed with its OEM tires in mind. So if you want the OEM ride, you need the OEM tires

 

[rockhammer]

Those spitfires look nice have not had a chance to look at all the suggestions yet. I like the white raised letting as well. I can not imagine modern tires with a vintage look would not handle well.

 

[GS ace]

Though a little pricey for what they are compared to the new stuff, a classic tire set that still does pretty well is the Continental K112/RB2. The size selection sucks, but suits GS owners quite well. I've gone through several sets since '76 and never had a complaint. The 750B will need rubber soon and that combo is the choice, just as they were on my 750B from '77 to '81.