Tyres

[sgd37]

Could anyone identify these ones

Cheers

[sgd37]

Does anyone have any experience with the the ensign trials tyres?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325S19-ENSIGN-UNIVERSAL-MOTORCYCLE-TYRE-325-19-3-25-19-BSA-TRIUMPH-MATCHLESS-/260928465855?hash=item3cc08c6bbf:g:3cIAAOSwuLZY0p5e

They look pretty cool

[florence]

I've always used S rated tyres, perfectly sufficient.  Avon Speedmaster  and SM very good in wet or dry weather.

[Niko]

Could anyone identify these ones

Cheers

I like my metzler tourance


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[sgd37]

Yeah I think I will go with the Avon speedmaster safety mileage combo.

@Niko those tyres look cool for sure but I want something a a bit more retro. However I would like to know where you got that seat.

Cheers

[matthewmosse]

I always ran Avon sm mk11 on my bikes once I'd come across  them good tyres in all weathers, up to and including snow,  long lasting too. Fronts either Avon speedmaster or sidecar triple duty. Handily my solo bmw and sidecar cb500 and even my cb550k3 all carried the same tyres, 4.00 / 18 rear, 3.50, 19 on the fronts. My bmw even stayed sure footed over the Brecon beacons in 4 inches of snow and still falling a few times the year my wife was in uni before we moved in together. Not bad at all for an 800cc tourer sans sidecar, and I wasn't particuarly hanging about despite the snowfall. Really put my modern Honda ca125 and cb250s to shame, modern tyres are fatter and don't grip for toffee in even the slightest whiff of snow or ice, not that great in bad rain either ( Pirelli city deamon tyres I mainly used as cheap in that size and often come up part worn) 
I  like to keep part worn sm, mk11 tyres a few years in the shed to harden them off a bit, seemed to get a few more thousand miles out of them that way, when I treated the cb500 to a new set they seemed to wear faster than old part worns, though that bike did bring out the hooligan in me, K&n filter and probably re jetted by previous owner, and very free flowing exhaust made a recipie for abusive wheelspins and sending the whole sidecar outfit sideways through corners for fun, not nice to the tyres but immense fun.

[Niko]

Yeah I think I will go with the Avon speedmaster safety mileage combo.

@Niko those tyres look cool for sure but I want something a a bit more retro. However I would like to know where you got that seat.

Cheers

eBay cheaply....


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[Ian DB]

Hi Guys, I too am looking to change my current set up of an100/90 x 19” Kenda Challenger front tyre and a Chen Shin 4.00 x 18” rear tyre which were fitted prior to me purchasing the bike . Whilst both tyres do have good tread left on them I do feel the bike doesn’t handle as well as it should and it has a slight bouncing feel at around 40mph on the front, which I suspect is an issue with the front tyre.

The stock tyre size for the CB500 is 3.25 x 19 front and 3.50 x 18 rear, however some people are suggesting a 3.60 x 19 front and 4.00 x 18 rear hence I am looking at replacing both tyres with Dunlop K81 TT100’s if this is possible?
Dunlop's tyre fitment guide suggests fitting a more modern ‘Arrowmax Streetsmart’ tyre but I would rather keep with the traditional lines of a classic tyre if this is possible.

I have wrote to Dunlop and they are unable to advise re the fitment of any tyre that is not of standard size i.e. the TT 100's and therefore recommended I opt for the 'Arrowmax streetsmart'. I fully understand their stance but thought that as the TT's are their tyre some help may have been in the offing.

All help/advise much appreciated

Cheers

[Bryanj]

TT 100's for the 500 are 3.60x19 front and 4.10x18 rear, you will wear out at least 2 rears for one front.

The 550 went to a 425/85x18 rear which will last a bit longer.

TT100's were/are in my opinion the best tyres for the 500 but as soon as the rear tyre centre tread gets to the limit of 1.6mm(I think) the tyre is illegal

[jon stead]

I'm running Avon Roadriders on my 500. Used to prefer these on my old CX back in the day, and always trusted them in all weathers, so stuck with what I have had good, previous experience with.

[Trigger]

TT 100's for the 500 are 3.60x19 front and 4.10x18 rear, you will wear out at least 2 rears for one front.

The 550 went to a 425/85x18 rear which will last a bit longer.

TT100's were/are in my opinion the best tyres for the 500 but as soon as the rear tyre centre tread gets to the limit of 1.6mm(I think) the tyre is illegal

It is only cars, van and LCV that they changed to 1.6mm, motorcycles still stands at 1mm.

[flatfour]

I've run almost all of my 1970's bikes on TT100's since...the 1970's. Replaced a rear on the CB500 a month ago, the front has covered around 8,000 miles and is still as new. To me, they suit these bikes perfectly.

[Ian DB]

Cheers Guys for your help and advice, I presume you have fitted them onto standard size rims?

[flatfour]

In the case of all of my bikes, rims have always been standard size D.I.D. originals or their replacements.

[Green1]

I  like to keep part worn sm, mk11 tyres a few years in the shed to harden them off a bit, seemed to get a few more thousand miles out of them that way

This I don't agree with at all as tyres lose there ability to grip the road as they harden with age. The tyre on my pegaso was around 6 years old when I eventually got it back on the road. It was OK in the dry if a little vague. But when I was caught out in the rain it was just outright dangerous.   

I don't recommend keeping old tyres even if they look OK