Shinko 230s or 712s?

[Tom R]

I know the difference is probably slight…. As is the price. I’m going to put about 1,000 miles on my GS1100 in the driftless area of SW Wisconsin in a couple of weeks, and thought fresh tires would be nice. I have 230s on it right now with no complaints…. But it’s 3 year old rubber… and the rear is starting to get worn.

[Nessism]

On paper the 230 is V rated so it's supposedly better. That said, the 712 has similarly great reviews and is cheaper. Flip a coin?

[Tom R]

I don’t think I’ll be approaching 130 anytime soon.... I pulled the trigger on the 712s. Mostly just to try for myself.... and save $15.

[salty_monk]

I've used both. They both work well with no real difference between them that I can tell (I don't get much chance to ride in the wet....). Running 712's at the moment.

[bwringer]

Yep, I've strenuously abused both and I can't tell the difference from the saddle. The price difference is usually something like $5 or $7.

Follow your heart...

[Eli69]

I have some 712s on at least one bike. No problems. Everything from dirt roads to long highway rides at 85 mph.

[oldGSfan]

I read that the 230 is more heavy duty touring oriented somewhere. I looked at user reviews such as below and 712 seemed the way to go. I am very pleased for the ones I now have on my GS1000E. It may ruffle feathers but I wish I'd saved money and gone with them on my CB750 and GS1100E, which run Avon AM26s - they are great tires, but hard to find these days it seems.

https://advrider.com/f/threads/shinko-712-or-230.1063064/

[bwringer]

When I was piling a lot of miles on my GS850, I did the math and used the Avon AM26 RoadRiders. The rears lasted about twice as long as the Shinkos, and I could run two rears for every front (the AM26 100/90-19 front is also designed to be used as a rear, so it is especially durable). So cost per mile ended up cheaper even though the Avons are ridiculously expensive.

Nowadays most of my miles are on my other bikes, so I end up replacing the Shinkos about once a year; I like the warm and fuzzy feeling of having fresh sticky buns more often; with the Avons I'd likely end up with a front tire four years old at some point.

[Wingsconsin]

When I was piling a lot of miles on my GS850, I did the math and used the Avon AM26 RoadRiders. The rears lasted about twice as long as the Shinkos, and I could run two rears for every front (the AM26 100/90-19 front is also designed to be used as a rear, so it is especially durable). So cost per mile ended up cheaper even though the Avons are ridiculously expensive.

Nowadays most of my miles are on my other bikes, so I end up replacing the Shinkos about once a year; I like the warm and fuzzy feeling of having fresh sticky buns more often; with the Avons I'd likely end up with a front tire four years old at some point.

This reasoning is how I also change rubber on my Goldwing
The Bridgestones I favor are the least expensive GOOD set of galoshes for the Wing -
They only last about 8500 to 9500 miles (which is what I average annually on the Wing)
So Each Spring I put on a NEW set and love a full season of riding on fresh tires

[mmattockx]

I read that the 230 is more heavy duty touring oriented somewhere.

Based on Shinko's website I would say it is the opposite. The 712 is designed as a high mileage tire and the 230 as a higher performance tire. This is also suggested by the H speed rating on the 712 and the V rating that many of the 230 sizes carry. Your ADVrider thread is interesting, I have never seen anyone express discomfort with the 230's and I have no complaints with them myself, but I haven't tried the 712's for a direct comparison. I would say that either is a reasonable choice for our old bikes. I would use the 230's on my 1100E on a vintage track day with no concerns, but I am not a super fast track rider.

Nowadays most of my miles are on my other bikes, so I end up replacing the Shinkos about once a year; I like the warm and fuzzy feeling of having fresh sticky buns more often

I also do this. I chose the 230's partly for their shorter life because I don't put a lot of miles on the 1100 and prefer to change tires more often for fresher tires at about the same overall cost per mile.


Mark