Sport touring tires for CalVin????

[Tom Hansen]

I know.

It is not a Norge or BMW 1200 RT, but   I need to have some recommendations.

I tour a lot in the mountains of Colorado and NM (we do have mountains here) and I like to approach and corner as fast as I can. That's about all the thrills a 74 year old coot can have, so I need some recommendations and only a few really good smart ass answers. I enjoy your thinking processes. Some of you are nuckin' futs and that is why I ride Guzzis.

Would like a dual compound, i.e., hard compound in the center and sticky on the sides.

Suggestions?

[sturgeon]

Dunno about sizing for a Calvin, but I've been using Michelin Pilot Road 3's on my RT with great success. I reckon I'll be replacing the current set with Pilot Road 4's come spring. If it ever does come. Good longevity, good traction, great in the rain.

[oldbike54]

 What's wrong with charging corners on a Calvin ? Good for you Tom  ;-T 

  Dusty

[190 Octane]

Michelin Pilot Activ tires have been the best balance I've found between longevity and performance.  I get around 10K on a rear tire before it squares off here in the flat lands.

Pirelli Sport Demons if your willing to trade thread life for performance.

[LowRyter]

Metzler 880s

 ;D

[rocker59]

I really liked the Michelin Pilot Activ on my California Bassa.  Performed really nicely here in The Ozarks.

[Kiwi Dave]

Calvin comes with bias tyres and tubes.  Not sure if the Michelin Pilot Roads are appropriate for this bike, but I'm hoping some expert will chip in and explain why.

I've got the dual compound Michelin Pilot Roads on as replacement tyres.  They are dual compound like the Bridgestone BT45s that I usually fit to Tonti models, and feel at least as good.

I need to get out and try these more.  It's just hard to stop swinging my leg over the 1400 Custom.  

[rocker59]

Calvin comes with bias tyres and tubes.  Not sure if the Michelin Pilot Roads are appropriate for this bike, but I'm hoping some expert will chip in and explain why.

Reports vary from people using radials on the Tonti California.

Generally speaking, the bias tire sizes are narrow with a tall sidewall and using a radial can make the bike feel squirmy.

Stock sizes on the Cal Vin are 110/90 18 front and 140/80 17 rear.

Most of the time you will find radials in aspect ratios of 50/55/60 for rear and 60/65/70 for front.

[geoff in almonte]

Metzler 880s

 ;D

The ME880s are OK - they last forever.  The rear is good, but the front is a bit slippy in the wet.

I'm gonna try a set of Avons on the EV this summer.

As always, YMMV.

G

[charlie b]

Shinko.

[redrider]

I use Avon Storm Ultra. Never ever had an issue on the Sport, Café Sport and Benelli. Can't say the same for the others I've had. (Most of my herd is used and came with a variety of skins and spares)

The Mille GT wears Avon Roadriders. Those are great in the small size from that era.

[190 Octane]

I've run 880s, I get close to the same thread life out of a Pilot Activ.  The Pilot Activ out does the Metzler every where else.

[cwiseman]

I've tried Avon's and hated them, the bike didn't feel right, the front tire looks too big. I had them on for two weeks and took the front off the rear seamed ok but not as good as what I normally run.
Had Metzler ME880's they were ok but nothing to write home about.
Had a Michelin macadam and wow was it slippery on dry pavement when new but finally broke in and was ok.

BUT what I run and have not interest in changing cause they work the best for grip & wear reasonably well are Bridgestone BT45's. I ride like a bat out of hell and love charging into corners so that's the best I've found for that type of riding period! And they are cheaper than others so it evens out anyways.
If that wasn't my riding style I'd probably go with something that lasted a bit longer

[mtiberio]

picking up a calvin soon, and was already looking into some low profile tires to lower the gearing. 7:33 vs 8:33 is a 14% difference. a 140/70 vs a 150/80 is a 7% difference, and could be just right for a bike I hear is geared a tad too tall with the stock 8:33. A rear tire is a lot cheaper experiment than a 7:33... Not afraid to try a radial.

[toma nova]

For bias ply, I've had good experience with Bridgestone BT-45s.  For radials, BT-020 and Michelin Pilot Road 3 (though 2s are probably just as good but without the rain sipes).

I'll be going with PR3s on the Stelvio next.

[LowRyter]

picking up a calvin soon, and was already looking into some low profile tires to lower the gearing. 7:33 vs 8:33 is a 14% difference. a 140/70 vs a 150/80 is a 7% difference, and could be just right for a bike I hear is geared a tad too tall with the stock 8:33. A rear tire is a lot cheaper experiment than a 7:33... Not afraid to try a radial.

going up to a larger 150/80 would make even higher gearing.

[mtiberio]

going up to a larger 150/80 would make even higher gearing.

Right, stock is 150/80, alternative is 140/70, unless the spec sheets on the interneck are wrong...
 ;D

[Californhihay]

Michelin Pilot Activ  :+1  (BT45  >:()

[Dean Rose]

Metzler 880s


Dean

[stmike]

I just ordered another set of Pirelli Sport Demons for my CalVin. 90% of my riding is in the mountains, and I really like these tires.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I just ordered another set of Pirelli Sport Demons for my CalVin. 90% of my riding is in the mountains, and I really like these tires.

Absolutely. I've never had a better tire on a Tonti in the mountains.

[mtiberio]

right now I'm running 110/80-18 front, and a 130/70-17 rear to lower the bike and shorten the gearing. So far so good.

[Sheepdog]

 I've used Metzlers (880s & Lasertecs) and Bridgestone BT45s. The Lasertecs were the worst with unpredictable traction near the limit. The BT45s stuck well, but wore quickly. The 880s were the best, with great traction and long life, but were quite expensive. I have a set of Michelin Activs that will go on as soon as the BT45s hit the wear bars (this is imminent). I'm hoping that the Michelins will be the best value of the lot..

[krglorioso]

picking up a calvin soon, and was already looking into some low profile tires to lower the gearing. 7:33 vs 8:33 is a 14% difference. a 140/70 vs a 150/80 is a 7% difference, and could be just right for a bike I hear is geared a tad too tall with the stock 8:33. A rear tire is a lot cheaper experiment than a 7:33... Not afraid to try a radial.

I'm running a 7/33 rear drive on my 03 Stone Touring and am very happy with it.  The 04 Stone Touring has the OEM 8/33 R/D and is fine on the open road for covering ground, but in town is simply too tall.  I think Guzzi erred when they dropped the 7/33 gears as standard fitment.  Ditto the omission of "valvole idraulische" for their post-'04 bikes.   

Metzeler 880s have served me well but they are quite pricey.  It seemed that about a year ago Metzeler really jacked up their prices. 

Ralph