tire recommendations for T350

[jabcb]

Recently purchased 1969 T350 needs a new rear tire.
Currently has the stock front rim (1.6 x 18) & tire with lots of tread (Chen Sin 3.00 x 18).
Rear rim (2.15 x 18) is not stock & looks to be from a larger bike.
Rear tire needs replaced.

Intended use:
Few hundred miles a year mostly in the neighborhood & on back roads.
Nice weather only, but live in an area subject to unexpected weather changes.

Thinking about two options:
1) replace rear tire, or
2) put a stock T350 rear rim (1.85 x 18) on the front & replace both tires.

Am looking for recommendations for tire size & brand.
What combination will provide the best handling?
Will a stock-sized front tire & wider rear tire make for weird handling?

This is the bike:

[Zook-e]

I never did like the skinny rims on those. Relace the front hub with a rear rim off of a T500. That appears to be what you have on the back. Then you can go with a 110/80-18 rear and a 90/90-18 front. I use AVON Roadriders.

[TLRam1]

Also look at Bridgestone Spitfires and BT45's. The issue will be finding tires in the size you need.

[jabcb]

Thanks for the info.

Found sources for both Avon Roadrider & Bridgestone BT45.
Both are listed as available online in the sizes you recommended.

Checked rims sizes via the Avon & Bridgestone websites:
For 90/90-18, both list range of 1.85 to 2.5, with recommended of 2.15
For 110/80-18, both list 2.15 to 3, with recommended of 2.5

NOS 1.85 x 18 rim (rear T350) is still available.
NOS 2.15 x 18 rim (rear T500) is also still available but its about twice the price.

A 2.15 x 18 front rim would actually be wider than what's on my GT750.

Is there going to be much of a handling difference between the 1.85 & 2.15 rims on the front of a T350?

[tz375]

For a 1.60 (WM1) rim, you really need an 80/90 tire and they are not so easy to find. You can fit an 90/90 onto a 1.60 rim but it's a little learge and will be pinched.

That bike should never need a rim wider than 2.15 at the rear, so what I'd suggest is a WM2 - 1.85" front rim and 90/90 tire. That's what I have raced with on a TD3, TZ250, TZ375 and CB77 (350). WM2 front, WM3 rear is a good combo. Fit AVON Roadriders in 90/90 front and 100/90 rear and you should be golden.

Others may have other opinions of course.

[Zook-e]

This bike I built for a friend and laced up a 2.15 front rim from a T500 and used a complete rear rim from a T500 (2.15) Avon racing tires 90/90-18 front and 110/80-18 rear.

[johnakay]

This bike I built for a friend and laced up a 2.15 front rim from a T500 and used a complete rear rim from a T500 (2.15) Avon racing tires 90/90-18 front and 110/80-18 rear.

OK it might be daft question ,,how does this affect handling?

[Zook-e]

The bike handled great. Much better contact patch for the mods done to the engine to allow for some real aggressive riding. The bike was not over tired at all like so many people do. It is pretty much a race setup wheel and tire wise but works great on the street.

[jabcb]

Thanks for the advice.

Think I'll go for a 1.85 front rim & Bridgestone BT45 tires. The 1.85 rim will look a little more "correct" than the 2.15. This combo will also be a good bit cheaper than the 2.15 rim & Avon tires.

Zook-e, I noticed that your list of bikes includes a '69 T350 racer. I would definitely expect that the 2.15 front rim & Avon tires would be the setup for aggressive riding on my '69 T350. But my expected usage would be better described as casual ride on a nice summer Sunday.

The T250 you modified looks great. Gave serious thought to bidding on it when it was on eBay.
But I already have two T350s & a GT250, and am thinking about selling the GT250 & getting a T500/GT500.
I definitely liked the T500 you recently sold, did bid on it when it was on eBay, but didn't notice it posted in this forum till after you sold it.