Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Best tyres?

Ok so, foglefar mentioned not liking Metzlers.. Sine I've been thinking of upgrading my front to something a little wider anyway... is there a consensus about what is a good tyre? Something that grips and is good in weather (holding the road is more important than longevity to me).

Thanks,
Lance

I have a 120/90 IRC WildFlare front tire on mine, it's a softer compound so it's a bit stickier. I have 4-5k on mine right now, looks like I should be able to get at least 3-4k more out of it. It has been pretty good to me in the rain, and being a bigger tire than stock, it really feels better on the highway because it doesn't get in the grooves and jump around as easily. Smooth ride with less road whine, too. This is my 3rd front tire, and I like it the best.

Hey Dave, the tread pattern of that tire really matches you paint job. That's the real reason you got that tire isn't it?

Well... yeah! It's just dumb luck that it performs like it does, and I like it a lot! The_Dog33 turned me on to it.

I like it a lot too. I haven't used the front yet but am on my 3rd rear tire.I first bought it because of the look too but like the way it rides.I just put a new one on Wendy's bike and mine too. The IRC Wild Flare is cheaper but wears faster so no real savings but I think it's a better tire.

Avon Venoms. Pretty sticky. I usually get 8k out of a rear and a more like 10k out of the front. Last couple years I've done a lot more long distance trips mostly on the superslab, so add a couple-three thousand onto those ranges. Apparently that kind of riding doesn't tear them up like 2-lane twisties and stop-and-go commuting. I think I'm on my fifth set. Just put on a new rear 170 (Avon doesn't make a 180 as far as I know) and this time I'm trying a 130/70 on the front. I've tried both the 100/90 and 120/90 on the front. Don't really notice much of a difference, except in how the speedo and odo read. On my bike, the 120/90 makes the speedo very close to correct but the odometer under reports by about 5%. With the 100 it's the reverse. I'm hoping the 130 splits the difference but I didn't compare rolling radii of the tires.

When speeking with my local Triumph mechanic the other day about tires, and he's a pretty savy guy, he recomended Avon Venom tires for ride and traction improvments. My tires are still in pretty good shape, but when I'm ready to switch, I think that's the way I'm going. Front first, because I'm lacking confidence in the feel of the Metz. that's on it now.

Ok then... Avon Venoms ordered. 130x70x18 on front, 170x80x15 on back... Should be here in a couple of days.

for UK guys, I just fitted an Avon venom 170/80 on the rear and an Avon roadrider 110/80 on the front as i couldnt get a front venom here? the front is what is recommended on the Avon website. I have done about 80 miles so far and feel a big diffrence but my metzelers were shot after 15000 miles and the bike had become a bit skippy in the wet and roundabouts were a bit of a buttock clencher.

Thanks for that Neil. Was looking at new tyres, nice to get an opinion on the Avon venom for U.K. riding.

Bodger, I looked on the net for a cheap price and a local bike garage was £1 cheaper than I could get them with free fitting if you took the wheel in. It cost me £194 both fitted to the bike with valves and a wheel balance. I asked why the tyres were cheap and the guy said they do them cheap to get people into the shop and hope they come back for more work, so they they get them and fit them for almost no profit. So its worth asking around your local garages, if you are lucky they will be doing the same.

and hey I've just noticed..... your flag is bigger than mine.

Not many places to shop around here in sunny Aberdeen.
I need a big flag, further north you are the bigger the flag gets.

So no problem with the larger size and using with an inner tube on a BA? What rear tire are you running with it? I'm running a Bridgestone Mag Mopus stock 350.18 up front and it wares well but a little jiggy in the groved highway.

I think the clearance problem is with the height, not the width.
A 120/90 is 108mm tall
A 130/70 is 91mm tall