Tires Conversation - (might not belong here- but hey..? ) Serious thinking here-in

[Wingsconsin]

Suppose Your ride needs new rubber -
You are now faced with the challenge of picking what you are going to place on those wheels
What is (are) your criteria for making a choice ?

Do you just find whatever fits and buy the cheapest pair you can find?
Are you brand loyal ? (and why?)
Are you anti-brand for a particular reason?
DO you ask the community here - the GS hivemind?
Will you always stay with a brand/model front & rear?
Are you seeking longevity? Grip? Wet weather performance ? Looks?

What is your process for deciding the rubber that hits your road ?

[Noreg]

I want the best tyres for my specific riding.

I don't particularly care what the price is (like the difference between the cheapest and most expencive is like $40-80, insignificant).

I am going Bridgestone this time, because they have served me excellently for the last 8000 kilometers, and they have a new and improved tyre. Probably the most expensive option, but tyres is what keeps me from the pavement, cost is not a factor. How would I live with a disability that I know could be caused by saving an amount equal to a couple fo cocktails? It makes no sense.

I will ask for others opinion, but I value my own experiences somewhat more.

I want wet weather prefromance and ability on gravel (and somewhat on mud/snow). Looks do play a part, but is less important than wet grip. On dry asphalt, it doesn't matter. Im not a racer, Im not pushing the tyres or the bike to its limits. Gravel, wet roads, sand, dirt, thats the issues. On dry pavement I could ride on anything that remotely resembles a tyre.

[Steve]

Currently viewing this on the little computer that lives on my belt. I HATE “typing” on it, poking at those little pictures of letters. I will give you a proper reply when I have a KEYBOARD available.

.

[Grimly]

Price, miles per buck, and overall grip performance - all in a varying degree of importance, depending on what is available.

[bccap]

I consulted the tire threads here to aid me in my decision. I eliminated Avon from my choices because of the cracking issues .......

[Rich82GS750TZ]

I also consulted here. Was looking for a 70/30 tire because I’m on Forrest roads a lot. Shinko 705s were highly recommend and were a good price. When a member like Steve stays stay away from Kenda, I heed the warning.

[Noreg]

I also consulted here. Was looking for a 70/30 tire because I’m on Forrest roads a lot. Shinko 705s were highly recommend and were a good price. When a member like Steve stays stay away from Kenda, I heed the warning.

God they are cheap. I wonder if my tyre shop has them. I suspect the H-speed code might make them illegal for my bike though...

[Grimly]

I finally found some Shinko on a German site - at around the price of Avons.
They can keep them.

[Big T]

Almost 1,600 posts and you haven't found the tire forum yet?

[Nessism]

Hum, is this a philosophy question? If so maybe this thread belongs in the Campfire? If it's about tires then clearly it belongs in the Tires forum.

And if this thread is about tires then first step in the selection process should be hitting the search function here because there have been at least 1000 threads here on that topic. Try "advanced search" and then toggle "titles only" and type "tires" in the search field.

Far and away the number one forum favorite is the Avon Roadrider and for good reason. It sticks well and lasts a long time. I think there is a new version of Roadrider hitting the shelves which is reputed to be even better than the last. Can't go wrong unless you are broke.

Second favorite tire(s) are Shinko's, either the 230 or 712. Both stick well, are cheap, but will wear faster than the Avons. For many that's a fair balance of factors because they don't ride tons.

Third favorite is ad hock. Too many choices to list. Most good, although expensive, and a couple bad. This category is where things like brand loyalty come out in some people.

That's about it.

[Steve]

I decided to just answer the questions as they came in your quote.

Suppose Your ride needs new rubber -
You are now faced with the challenge of picking what you are going to place on those wheels
What is (are) your criteria for making a choice ?
That depends on what bike needs tires, as the requirements change. Fortunately, I have gone through enough tires in my riding lifetime that I have had the opportunity to experience many brands/types and have been able to form my own opinion.

Do you just find whatever fits and buy the cheapest pair you can find?
Not necessarily. I will evaluate how the bike is likely to be ridden (and by whom), then look for the "most affordable" tires for that type of riding.

Are you brand loyal ? (and why?)
If a certain brand performs well and is not outrageously priced, I'll buy it again. If something else shows up that others are recommending (and it's affordable), I try that. Sometimes that has worked out, other times not.

Are you anti-brand for a particular reason?
Just one, so far. There may be others, but I have not experienced them.
Fortunately, I am not alone in my opinion of that brand.

DO you ask the community here - the GS hivemind?
I may search through some threads (in the TIRE forum), but will likely not post a public query.

Will you always stay with a brand/model front & rear?
Usually, but sometimes circumstances dictate otherwise.

Are you seeking longevity? Grip? Wet weather performance ? Looks?
Again, depends on which bike. The GS usually gets by with Shinkos, they get changed every couple of years. When we were prepping for our cross-country trip a couple of years ago, I looked for tires that would not need to be changed before we got home. Got them on the bike, trip was cut short, they will probably still be on the bike until we get ready to try the trip again. The Shinkos have decent longevity for those of us who don't flog them mercilessly. They are also grippy enough, wet or dry. Unless you are talking about pink tires, who cares what they look like? If they are round and hold air, they are good to go.

What is your process for deciding the rubber that hits your road ?
See the comments above.

.

[Wingsconsin]

Almost 1,600 posts and you haven't found the tire forum yet?

I debated the placement of this post (even noted it in the title) but it isn't really ABOUT tires --
It is a discussion of the choice process - the deliberation one does to choose -- not a specific recommendation

Hum, is this a philosophy question? If so maybe this thread belongs in the Campfire? If it's about tires then clearly it belongs in the Tires forum.

And if this thread is about tires then first step in the selection process should be hitting the search function here because there have been at least 1000 threads here on that topic. Try "advanced search" and then toggle "titles only" and type "tires" in the search field.

Far and away the number one forum favorite is the Avon Roadrider and for good reason. It sticks well and lasts a long time. I think there is a new version of Roadrider hitting the shelves which is reputed to be even better than the last. Can't go wrong unless you are broke.

Second favorite tire(s) are Shinko's, either the 230 or 712. Both stick well, are cheap, but will wear faster than the Avons. For many that's a fair balance of factors because they don't ride tons.

Third favorite is ad hock. Too many choices to list. Most good, although expensive, and a couple bad. This category is where things like brand loyalty come out in some people.

That's about it.

Philosophy question more than specific about a brand -- Moreover -- HOW does one choose (not WHAT does one choose)

[Nessism]

I debated the placement of this post (even noted it in the title) but it isn't really ABOUT tires --
It is a discussion of the choice process - the deliberation one does to choose -- not a specific recommendation




Philosophy question more than specific about a brand -- Moreover -- HOW does one choose (not WHAT does one choose)

Well okay then. Fair enough.

For me the first thing I do is check real world feedback, and GSR experience is tops for that in my view. Again, doing a search for info is the first thing I'd do. I also put at least some faith in brand reputation, although that's not an ideal method because any specific model of tire (or product in general) may be better/worse than others. For example, a friend put (very expensive) Metzler's on his 850 and they craze cracked like crazy soon after install. I lost a lot of faith in the brand after that while previously I always considered Metzler's one of the top brands. Another example is that I put ContiGo tires on my bike because Continental has a good reputation and the Go tires were a little cheaper and readily available for purchase when I needed them. Given all things being equal, I'll let price decide which tires to get if that's the only difference.

[Gorminrider]

FIT is the first for me. Finding a tire to suit these '80s rims is the first trouble. I have a spreadsheet now.
Less important, but a pair available suiting front and rear is nice to start with a new-to-me bike with old,old tires. (Though the duros and irc and bridgestone that came with the bike age very well in my climate- I often ride the old ones awhile.

Bridgestone BT45 and Shinkos (on some bikes-Hondas and ?)have worked as pairs ...The others...well Avon roadriders have given me trouble but were good to ride on. Many GSers have not had problems so reading their experience on Their bikes with Their rims might be advisable. These Fit a lot of bikes and as pairs are often "reversible direction" which has worked ok whichever brand.
D)

[bwringer]

One factor is whether or not you mount your own tires, or you at least know a guy.

That can change the cost/hassle equation to the point where it's worth getting something more expensive but longer-lived.


Another factor for me is expected tire age. As my stable grew to three bikes, I found that I was riding the GS850G less, totaling maybe 2,500 - 3,000 miles per year. So an Avon RoadRider on the front that lasted 12,000 miles for (normal people get a lot more) would be four or five years old at replacement, which was unacceptable. (My personal hard limit is three years.)

So I switched to the Shinko 230 or 712 (can't tell the difference between these two from the saddle) and spoon on a fresh set every year. They work fantastically wet or dry. Again, normal people usually get around double the mileage I get.


There are several brands that make good tires and only a few bad tires.

These are the bad tires, the ones I warn people to NOT install:
Kenda - Just no. Never. Ew.

Bridgestone Spitfire - Nope. Short-lived and turns evil as it wears. Bridgestone's other vintage bike tire choices are quite good (BT-45 & 46), but the Spitfire is badly outdated.

Dunlop 404 - Also short-lived and turns evil as it wears. It's cheap and looks good to some, but not worth installing. Depending on your tire sizes, there may be other Dunlops that work quite well -- for example, the Dunlop Elite 4 is quite good and wears like iron, but is only available in 16" and 18" rears.


I'd also avoid the whole category of "vintage reproduction" tires for a bike you're actually going to ride.

https://www.cokertire.com/tires/styles/motorcycle-bike.html

If you just gotta have that particular look, understand that you're giving up a lot of safety and performance, and these can be damn expensive. We're lucky to have access to some remarkable modern tires nowadays, stuff racers in the '80s would have given a limb for. There's no reason not to take advantage of that progress.


And for research into what's available, American Moto Tire has a list tires by size tool that's fantastic, and they're a great tire supplier if you mount your own or know a guy. Excellent prices, fast shipping, and they're probably one of if not the biggest so things tend to be fresher:

https://www.americanmototire.com/

I've also been very happy with Rocky Mountain ATV/MC; they have a 5% back program that makes them come out the cheapest most of the time when you factor that in, and with their warehouse in Kentucky, I normally get my goodies here in Indiana the next day.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/

Yes, they have street tires along with lots of dual-sport goodies for my KLR.