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-TT100-K81-Retro-Front-Rear-Tire-4-25-85-18-TL-64H-/370770545218?pt=Motorcycles_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...prd/540770.sku

[rockhammer]

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.com/3/31/401/1/0/393/DEPARTMENT/IRC-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%20TIRES/metzeler/metzeler_me_77.htm

http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/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%20TIRES/Continental/continental_conti_twins.htm

Shinko "Standard Rib" for that extra-squirrely feeling on smaller vintage bikes:

http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/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%20TIRES/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%20TIRES/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%20TIRES/Bridgestone/Bridgestone%20MC/bridgestone_spitfire_s11.htm

Same with the Dunlop 501 -- been around since the '80s, so was a common replacement.

http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/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%20TIRES/Dunlop/dunlop_oe_d404.htm

Egads, you can still get a few sizes in the Dunlop K70 and K81 :

http://e-tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/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.

[chef1366]

I think I have a pair of Phantoms




Somewhere