Tires

TLRam1 · Post by **TLRam1** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:30 am

I would like to keep the vintage look of my old Suzuki's but wanted grip with a 26.5" diameter rear tire.

Has anyone used the Bridgestone Accolades, specifically AC02 & AC03? What's your impression.

I looked seriously at the BT-45's, Spitfire, Gt501's, a few Dunlops but I think it will ruin the look for me. I have pondered over this the last couple of months with data from various tires sizes for front and rear on Word Doc. and this is driving me nuts!

Preview, (I have another page of this also) I know too analytical but it's my nature to see what is what.

The format is off from my "copy and paste" method, gives you an idea I have worked on this for some time on a decision that should be easy.

Tires

Bridgestone

REAR

BT-45
Dia Trd Wth 32’s Rim Load PSI
120/90-18M/C 18 BT45R 65V V 26.5 4.8 9 (2.75)2.50-3.00 639 43

Dia Trd Wth 32’s Rim Load PSI
120/80-18M/C 18 BT45R 62H H 25.6 4.8 9 (2.75)2.50-3.00 584 41

Spitfire
Dia Trd W. 32’s Rim Load PSI
120/90-18M/C 18 S11R 65H H 26.6 5.0 9 (2.75)2.50-3.00 639 41

AC-02
Dia Trd W 32’s Rim Load PSI
4.00-18 18 AC02R BW 64H H 26.5 4.6 9 2.15-3.00 617 41

FRONT

BT-45
Dia Trd Wth 32’s Rim Load PSI
100/90-19M/C 19 BT45F TT 57H H 26.1 3.9 6 2.50 507 42

Dia Trd Wht 32’s Rim Load PSI
100/90-19M/C 19 BT45 TL - 57V V 26.1 3.9 6 2.50 (2.15-2.75) 507 43

Spitfire
Dia Trd W 32’s Rim Load PSI
100/90-19M/C 19 S11F BW 57H H 26.2 4.2 5 2.50 (2.15-2.75) 507 41

AC-03
Dia Trd W 32’s Rim Load PSI
100/90-19M/C 19 AC03F BW 57H 26.3 4.3 5 2.50-2.75 507 41

Dunlop

404

Pirelli MT 66

REAR
Rim Dia Dia. Load PSI 32’s
120/90-18TL 65H MT66 R 2.75 (2.50-3.00) 26.45 672 639 36-42 7.5

FRONT

Rim Dia Dia Load PSI 32’s
100/90-19TL 57H MT66 F 2.50 (2.15-2.75) 26.30 668 507 32-42 5.0

Metzler

Laser Tec
REAR
Rim Dia Dia Load PSI 32’s
4.00V18 TL 64V R 2.50 (1.85-3.00) 26.41 671 617 36-42 7.0

Rim Dia Dia Load PSI 32’s
120/90V18 TL 65V R 2.75 (2.15-3.00) 26.57 675 639 36-42 7.0

Michelin
Macadam
Tires: Very good are the new Metzeler Lasertec, old pattern with new rubber!
Also Michelin Macadam 50 and Bridgestone BT 45 are good choices!

FRONT

Dia Dia Load PSI 32’s Rim
100/90-19 57 H TL or 19MF 663 26.10 507 42 6 2.50 (2.15 or 2.75)

REAR

Dia Dia Load PSI 32’s Rim
120/90-18 65 H TL or 18MG 673 26.50 639 42 9 2.75 (2.50 or 3.00)

Dia. Dia Load PSI 32’s Rim 4.00-18 64 H TL or 18MG 671 26.42 617 42 9 2.50 (2.15 to 3.00)

muzza · Post by **muzza** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:51 am

I'd never ride Michelin again after a set threw me off once on a lightly damp road surface.

See here....

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=xYdW0ZpAQeU

jkevinlilly · Post by **jkevinlilly** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 4:53 am

Terry,
I went with the Spitfire's on my 550 last year, and really like the performance, both on dry and wet roads. Of course I was comparing this what was on it, which was worn out cheng shens, so anything would have been an improvement. But they do not have the look of the originals.

Kevin

rngdng · Post by **rngdng** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:33 am

I have Spitfires on my stock bike and my TS400, and BT-45s on Blueboy and the RD.

They're both very good tires.

Lane

TLRam1 · Post by **TLRam1** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:36 am

Ouch Muzza, that will turn you off of a tire quick. I had Metzlers and in the rain they were slippery.

From my searching on here and Kawa site the ones you guys mentioned are the favorites, BT's being the leader.

Bridgestone does have this info on their website referencing compounds for the Accolades. BT-45 are a duel compound tire, maybe these are similar to the "center section".

Our own special compound born from the tire technology that created BATTLAX. Offers high grip performance and excellent durability.

I will ride the Buffalo more aggressively than the Titan, I might do BT's on the Buffalo and the Accolades on the Titan.

GT Tim · Post by **GT Tim** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:21 am

I have the BT-45 Battleaxe on my CB1100F, excellent tire for the price. I think you would be pleased with a set of them

TLRam1 · Post by **TLRam1** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:20 am

Regarding the Accolades AC02 & AC03

Unfortunately, the tires are currently out of stock. The anticipated restocking date is about 4-6 weeks for the front, but the Rear has been Discontinued.

Since we cannot process your entire order, you have not been charged and your order has been completely cancelled.

Round 2.

jkevinlilly · Post by **jkevinlilly** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:55 am

Naturally, when you find what you want, it ain't there anymore.

Bummer.

Kevin

h2okettle · Post by **h2okettle** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:28 am

Terry, another tire that works real well is the Continental (conti tour).. I like them for the high mileage reasons... I use them and also Avons..Up to 15K miles per set... But they do not have a vintage look.. Plus the good part is I have used them at Deals Gap and they stick well enough to drag the pipes on my GT in the corners...... I have used Dunlops but they only got about 5K miles before they were worn out.. The Cheng Shin tire is a cheap tire and believe it or not they stick to the road also... I had a set on my 73 GT750 when I bought it and I was suprised how well it rode.... They have a short life span but they do have the vintage look about them if thats what your wanting.. I have tested many tires trying to find the ones best suited for traveling.. I hope this helps some...

Allen.....GT rideaholic

muzza · Post by **muzza** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:07 pm

I use Continentals on my Guzzi...I love them...front and back.

rngdng · Post by **rngdng** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:55 pm

The Cheng Shin tire is a cheap tire and believe it or not they stick to the road also...

I have also used the Hi-Max tires, and on some bikes (like my Nighthwawk S, and Barry's GT750) they can cause a nasty speed-wobble. I also found them to be a little slippery in the rain, but I don't push it in the rain so it wasn't a big problem.

Allen would have to be the authority on tires, as many as he uses!

Lane

TLRam1 · Post by **TLRam1** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:06 pm

I will have to look at Continental's and Avon's.

What I have read about Cheng Shins are wet wise they slip, not that I plan on being in the rain with the older bikes but you never know, and I don't know how well they grip. Skeptical, may warrant another look though.

Vintage look may not be happening as we are pushed into what's available and I am also looking for a diameter of 26.5" (rear) to easily put the bike on the C. stand.

I did run across these ME77 Mets, show to be 90 dollars a tire plus shipping.

GT Tim · Post by **GT Tim** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:15 pm

What you have to ask yourself also is, unless your chassis/ suspension is modified or otherwise upgrades from stock, the suspension units and 70's chassis geometry will only allow you to take advantage of only so much of what modern rubber has to offer.

IMHO, don't overthink this. Buy a quality name brand non - Chinese tire (CST, KENDA, ETC) and you can hardly go wrong. Unless your Allen the Ridin' Fool

, or your bike is your only source of transportation you won't make a bad choice.

muzza · Post by **muzza** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:13 am

what bike are looking to put a tyre on?

One consideration is that the older Suzukis do not take kindly to being over-tyred...ie. don't put bigger tyres on than were standard if you can avoid it. The Suzis handle best with the narrow tyres they came with.

TLRam1 · Post by **TLRam1** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:53 am

GT Tim wrote:What you have to ask yourself also is, unless your chassis/ suspension is modified or otherwise upgrades from stock, the suspension units and 70's chassis geometry will only allow you to take advantage of only so much of what modern rubber has to offer.

IMHO, don't overthink this. Buy a quality name brand non - Chinese tire (CST, KENDA, ETC) and you can hardly go wrong. Unless your Allen the Ridin' Fool , or your bike is your only source of transportation you won't make a bad choice.

Thanks for putting this in perspective Tim.

I'm stubborn and know what I want and hate to concede I can't find it for reasonable dollars. All this feedback helps.

Muzza, I looked at the Continentals, found the rear I like K112 until I saw the price...ouch about 130-140 bucks. I need both for the Buffalo and T500 than not long after, the 380. Just put one on my other bike, becoming rubber poor.

Bought a HF tire changer, going to buy the No-Mar bar to use instead of the HF one, static balancer, bought spoke weights, etc. Getting setup to do all my tires.

Continentals K112 4.00 X 18 -------130.00 delivered Vintage

BT - 45's 120/90 X 18 ----- 88-90.00 ?

Spitfires 120/90 X 18 ------ 65.00 delivered

Metz. ME 77 4.00 X 18 ------- 97.00 delivered - Vintage