Tires

[MSGQ]

OK, I've got the carb sync scheduled at the shop for next wednesday, the next question is tires.   I purchased sale rack tires just to get road worthy but my rear tire is quite small and I'm not confident pushing it through corners.   I've never laid down any of the 7 bikes I've owned yet so I'm not even sure what it would feel like if I lost the back end in a corner?
Just the same, the rims are from the F2 and read 2.15X18.  I'd like to get the maximum amount of tire I can on the road/bike any suggestions and or conversion information.
Thanks All!  

[sgtslag]

If you can find a Pirelli MT66 Route tire to fit the rim, they are fantastic tires!  Put them on my '79 K, rode two-up, bike loaded with luggage, in heavy rain, 60 MPH, leaning in curves...  We were glued to the road.  I put them on all three of my bikes (now down to two bikes), and I am happy so far, with their performance on my heavy Voyager, but we haven't ridden in heavy rain yet.  Check out their reviews on the Internet.  Don't know how long they will last, but their traction, on all surfaces, and in rain, is superb.  Cheers!

[TOOLS1]

Why pay a shop? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290585212284&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
TOOLS

[welovedon]

Anyone know what the widest set of tires I can get for a 78F model?  It has the stock com-star wheels.  

[TOOLS1]

I'm not sure what the metric equivalent is, but a 4.50X18 is top's on the SOHC bikes.
TOOLS

[Re-run]

I use shinko tires, 718 series I believe, maybe 712 series. They work very well. My 78K uses 110/90-19 front and 130/90-17 rears. They have been pretty good to me. And inexpensive from motorcycle-superstore.com

[shinyribs]

Regarding stuffing a larger than stock tire.I have read several places online(if you really trust that sort of source)that if you retain the stock size front tire,for an accurate speedo,but go bigger on the rear,that it can affect the handling.Something about the curvature of the extra width makes the bike not as balanced as it left the factory.No personal experience on that myself,just passing along a thought.Of course the swing arms will only let you go so big so its probably not a big issue.Its not like you got a 350 on the back.Just a thought.My rear tire is a 120 and it looks so tiny back there but it holds way better than you would think. I am no where near what you would call an experienced rider( only a little over 2,000 miles)but I can lay my bike down pretty far  with confidence(stoopidity?)to the point where i can feel it tip up on the corner edge of the tread.Eery feeling,but so cool!Just dont shift/throttle it while "tipping on the edge" or the rear slides out a wee bit and makes you "pucker"...if you know what i mean.These bikes handle surprisingly well.Everyone has their own taste/past history with tires.I know Sarge mentions his Perelli's a lot,so they must be good,but I have been very pleased with mine.Dunlops.Front is F24g 110/90-19 .Rear is 491 Elite 120/90B18.As far as wet traction,I dont even go there.

[sgtslag]

There was an article(?) in Motorcycle Consumer News magazine, about using tires as specified in the owner's manual, versus wider tires.  The upshot was that the factory specified tires actually gave better performance/handling, than the wider tires.  The author's comment was that the design engineers actually knew what they were doing.  He, too, used wider tires than normal, but he went back to what the book called for, and he was shocked that it actually handled, cornered, and leaned, better with the narrower tire.

With regards to brand, Shiny is right, I am a dyed-in-the-wool, Pirelli MT66 fan, having proven their wet traction qualities under real-world, God-help-us, conditions.    But please do not take my word for it:  do an Internet search on whatever brand/model tires you are interested in.  See what others have to say about them, so that you can make an informed decision, based on (hopefully) multiple opinions.  Cheers!

[Piute]

 

  Wide tires ,Long swing arms,the Idea was for a straight away track, dry,clean, no nothing
Real life ,sand,rain,GRAVEL,animals and kids.
There very important you know this or ytou wouldn't have asked
  My self lots of back roads that turn gravel !! Even mud and grass.So I prefer A cross tire 80-90% road I believe how it was rated.Only front and Not enough miles on it to rate myself.YET

 

[shinyribs]

So Piute,what tires give the best traction when riding over kids?

[Piute]

           

          Ever see a ball roll out between two parked cars ,meens some kids coming out after it,
         you need good nobbies to be sure you can get tracktion on there Lil heads,
         while you jump the curb to catch the other one

[seestheday]

Anyone have experience with the Kenda Challengers on their bike?  I can get these locally: http://www.siriusconinc.com/pro-detail.php?pid=&product_id=302