Cheap tyres - recommendations?

[Arfdog]

Hi all,

The time has come and my 1985 GS450 needs some new shoes. It is blatantly not a performance bike, and the fastest it ever goes is up to 100 on the motorway. Most of my riding is a 4 mile work-and-back commute.

I want tyres that will last, with maximum possible grip (don't we all).

I was quoted £110 for a set of Shinko, + £32 to fit them (cost for removing wheels). That is the cheapest so far. add another £40 onto the tyre price for the cheapest pirellis.

So, should I just go with the Shinko? Does this price sound right? I am in Kent, anyone who can tell me about cheapest places or best value for money tyres, would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Arf

(front 3.00 18 rear 110/90-18)
____________________
I'm a lover, not a fighter.

[Jamie S]

[Ichy]

Might be worth taking a look at M&P or MPS. Despite all their faults they do sell off odd sized tyres very cheap. I brought a set of Lasertec for my GSX for £60.

£140 is very expensive for budget tyres, I was quoted the same for BT45's last year. If you want cheap try Maxxis, I had a set on one of my bikes and had no problem with them. Try to stay away from the Chinese tyres, they have a well deserve bad wet weather reputation.

Just had a quick look and M&P do a rear for your bike for £35 quid.

[Jamie S]

[Finglonga]

As Jamie says take the wheels off yourself and take them to the tyre fitter. Have you tried Kwik-Fit, National tyres and places like that? They will be much cheaper than bike shops and just as good. I usually go to National tyres and they charge £5 to fit tyre to loose wheel, and no they haven't scratched the rims as they use the proper gear.
____________________
Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Ichy]

[Arfdog]

Cheers chaps, thats saved me heaps!

Arf xx
____________________
I'm a lover, not a fighter.

[Arfdog]

One other thing:

When searching, I need to be sure to find the right sized tyre .I'm happy with the 300S18 rating for the front, but my rear tyre says 110/90-18 on it. I can't fathom what the numbers mean.


Well ok I gather it means 110mm at widest point, and 90% of that width at rim, and 18mm is the wheel rim diameter...

but then how can the front be 300S18? 300mm wide tryre? Can someone explain please, my brain hurts!
____________________
I'm a lover, not a fighter.

[Arfdog]

Aaah waaaaait a minute...

does the 3.00S18 refer to 3 INCHES wide? that would make more sense. Obviously imperial and metric are mixed indiscriminately in tyre circles..
____________________
I'm a lover, not a fighter.

[stinkwheel]

Metzelers are usually pretty good.

Maxxis ae also fine, I went through 3 sets on my supermoto and they were better than the MEZ1s I had been previously using.

That said, If you can stretch to a set of BT45s, they'll probably last that bit longer as well as being stickier due to them being dual compound.

You might want to have a search on the web and see if anyone still has avon roadrunners in your size. There are still a few floating about, they'll be cheap and the roadrunners were the 'top' tyre you would have fitted to a bike like that back in the day.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[T1z3R]

can recommend metzlers here too.

got them on my GS500 and they do a good job
____________________
duck my sick!

[Arfdog]

Ok, metzelers ME 22 look like they're it. Apart from sounding suspiciously like an Ashford postcode...

Only thing is sizing... Am I right in thinking a 350P18 Metzeler tyre is a good choice to replace the 110/90-18 reinf 52p I currently have on my rear?
____________________
I'm a lover, not a fighter.

[Arfdog]

Crap.. the 300P18 metzeler front is a T/L (tubeless I assume0 tyre, while the rear 350P18 is a TT (tubed tyre).

Is this normal? Do I have to buy a tube too? Why everything always so complicated...
____________________
I'm a lover, not a fighter.

[lukamon]

100/70/14 , this means the tyre is 100mm across, and seventy percent of that width high, and the rim is 14 inches.

on my old vespa they had a diffent measurement. 3.00 x 10 with 3 inches tall, 10 inch rim.
____________________
killa wrote: Im an ass man myself