Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Yeah, but are they any good......

I always, and mean always hear people raving on about their Metzlers or Avons, undoubtedly good tires. Myself though, I'd really love to put a set of whitewalls on, ya either like 'em or you don't. I've looked through the photopost enough to see our bikes outfitted with the whitewalls and I think it just looks too cool. Problem is I have no testimonials as to the quality/ride of the tires. Looks like there is only two choices for said whitewalls. Dunlop or Maxxis. I'ver never ran either brand of tires so know nothing about them. So what's the deal, are either of them any good. Do I sacrifice durability and quality for the sake of good looks. Any of you out there with the whitewalls care to comment?
As much as I have searched I would think if somebody else made them to fit our bikes I would have come across them by now but no luck. Rear no prob, front nada.

Steve

avon makes white walls

Metzeler White Wall 880

Put on my Dunlops in -04. Love the looks and the handling is very good. Can't compare to Avons or Metzelers since I never have used them, but the step from the stock Bridgestones to the Dunlops was HUGE!

I've never used anything but what Triumph recomend. No problems with 'em for me.

I think it depends on where they are used - the UK weather differs to pretty much anywhere else!

Warmer climes might benefit from different tyres.

yeah, the Bridgestones are a lot like snow tires......

Thanks piper, good to know, although I personally think that ANYTHING would be a step above the stockers. I think most of the whitewalls I have seen on our bikes are the Dunlops.... the bike that Case put together is the only one I recall seeing with the Maxxis tires. Leaning toward the Dunlops myself.

Bill,Rob.... yeah, Avon and Metzler have the whitewalls but only for the rear. No 18's for the front from either. Shame, I'd take either in a heartbeat.

Steve


OH OH, almost forgot..... piper what did you do to your front fender to accomodate the Dunlop? I see that mikey made some little extensions for the fender mounts. I've heard others mention they just dremeled the holes out into slots to slide the fender upward a hair.

I raised the fender one inch. Had cut off the middle section of the brace to let the wheel spin freely, but was concerned that the brace itself was made that sturdy for a reason. Bought a new one and using the bottom of the old parts, I cut and welded a brace that looks exactly like the OEM one, but as I said 1" higher. Spray painted it black and noone can tell it wasn't there to start with. Oh, yes. As a bonus my speedo is now almost dead on...

Hey Piper.. did you have to go a full inch higher on the front fender? Would 1/4" or 1/2" be enough? I've got a friend of mine looking at making brackets like mikey's but I don't want them any bigger than absolutley neccessary.

Matt

Well, I went out and measured the gap between the front fender tip and the tire. It's 17mm (.67"). I guess you can stop at 1/2" if you want the fender to "hug" the tire, but I wouldn't suggest going lower. Hope this helps!

Thanks piper.... everything I wanted to know! I have seen the "debate" if you will before about the fender brace. Needed, not needed and so on. Thinkin' I'll just weld on an extension, smooth it up and squirt it black as you did.
Not sure if it's gonna happen or not but I have kinda planned on pulling all the tins this winter and putting a new paint job on. I was looking at the steel fenders you can buy that you need to drill, and shape if you want, to fit your setup so that's another option.

Oh and piper..... Happy Birthday DOOD!!! Do like I do... always buy YOURSELF a birthday present, that way you ALWAYS get what you want! hehehehe

Thanks Steven! I actually ordered a pair of T-bike pipes as a birthday present to myself. I asked if I had deserved them and after a slight hesitation I approved...

Thanks much!