Choice of Tires for 16" Frt Wheel Bikes

[Cdn850T5NT]

Folks, I have a 1985 850 T5 NT - i.e. it has 16" X 2.15 front wheel and 18" X 3.00" rear.  The OEM tires were:  110/90 - 16 Michelin A48, and 120/90 - 18 Michelin M48.  I need to buy some tires, and I was considering Continental TKV 11 and 12 (see pix), but these have been discontinued.

Instead, now I am considering Metzeler ME77 Perfect tires, which have an identical pattern, front and back, but they are formulated differently front versus back.  Unfortunately I cannot get 120/90-18 rears... just 110/90 rears.  I lose some load capacity... but not too much.  My bike is not heavily loaded.   Please see photos / graphics.  Note that they only come as S Rated... and they are billed as a touring tire, not really a high performance sport-touring tire.  However, good life expectancy apparently.

I believe that 16" front-tire Guzzi's need all of the help they can possibly get to NOT have an unstable steering - and so for folks who do not usually go on rain-grooved freeways - a central groove, that is straight-as-a-die - is necessary, front and back.  Also, I would bet that an SPII with its big, fork-mounted fairing is worse-off in this whole regard, versus the bikini-fairing on my T5.  No way would I want to add hand-protection / brush-guards for some additional wind protection as I think it would exacerbate matters.

There are, unfortunately, very few choices out there for 16" front wheeled Guzzi's.  Note, as well, that there is very little side-clearance up front... I cannot go to a 120 section-size tire.  To avert all of this difficulty, I may have to change to an 18" front tire (which I believe I can - with some fairly minor fender mods and spacers for the front fork-brace).

Impressions, comments, most welcome!










upload

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

https://tinyurl.com/16-front-tires

https://tinyurl.com/18-rear-tires

[Two Checks]

16" front tires will kill you!
I wonder how those Wing and Voyager riders ever lived with those big fairings and FIFTEEN inch tires?


Never noticed a thing on my SP II.

[Cdn850T5NT]

https://tinyurl.com/16-front-tires

https://tinyurl.com/18-rear-tires

Thx.  I see that it brings up the Continental TKV11, as a front tire, and the Mezeler Lazer front, as well.  The latter is well known - but I am lead to believe that both of these tires in 110/90-16 are ceasing production.  That means I need to move fast to try either of them.  Those are the only ones with the single, central, straight groove, which I think I should have.

For the rear, I could find these (with that same attribute):





DuroTour.  I had not heard of them before.

Anyone have any experience with them?

Thx

[Cdn850T5NT]

16" front tires will kill you!
I wonder how those Wing and Voyager riders ever lived with those big fairings and FIFTEEN inch tires?


Never noticed a thing on my SP II.

Fair enough... 

Not saying that it is so much, the rim size, but the overall gyroscopic effect.  On the fully dressed tourers, above, they no doubt are heavier/wider than the puny 110/90-16 I have.  Further, those fairings are all frame-mounted, I believe.

I heard a Youtube video from a guy in Australia with both an SP, and an SPII.  He said the latter, with its 16" wheel, was a disaster.  The former ran straight as a die.  I noticed the tread pattern he had was NOT central, straight groove....

??

[bigbikerrick]

FWIW I have an 85 Lemans with 16" front running a shinko, and its very stable ,and steers sweetly. I think the 16" front wheel handling problems were proven untrue, although my LM likes about 37 psi in the front tire, otherwise, it just feels a bit "heavy", but never unstable.
 Yes ,the selection of 16" tires is not great, I wish there were more to choose from.  I dont think the shinko has a straight groove down the center, the metzer lazertech I had before did, but I noticed no difference in rain grooves or otherwise. 
  As a matter of fact, the fat, meaty front tire works very well for the broken up pavement and occasional brutal chuck hole you find  in the rural areas where I ride.   
Rick.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Thx.  I see that it brings up the Continental TKV11, as a front tire, and the Mezeler Lazer front, as well.  The latter is well known - but I am lead to believe that both of these tires in 110/90-16 are ceasing production.  That means I need to move fast to try either of them.  Those are the only ones with the single, central, straight groove, which I think I should have.

For the rear, I could find these (with that same attribute):





DuroTour.  I had not heard of them before.

Anyone have any experience with them?

Thx

The IRC Durotour gets good reviews on various sites, but I've never tried them - I try to stay away from tires with a center groove. I do use IRC tubes and they're the best quality on the market at present IMO. Made in Japan.

[Cdn850T5NT]

I appreciate the info...

[slopokes]

I guess if dr.john could win races on his Guzzi with a 16 inch front wheel then it should work for you.😀

[antmanbee]

The IRC Durotour gets good reviews on various sites, but I've never tried them - I try to stay away from tires with a center groove. I do use IRC tubes and they're the best quality on the market at present IMO. Made in Japan.

I always use IRC tubes too but the ones I get seem to be made in Thailand and not Japan.

[Cdn850T5NT]

I guess if dr.john could win races on his Guzzi with a 16 inch front wheel then it should work for you.😀

Hey, I'm not hankering to change out to 18", believe me.  I would have to do a relief-cut  in my front fender to be able to fit an 18", and I refuse to drill holes or muck with the factory-delivered product (that's just the way I am, hehe).

I will make the 16" wheel work for me.

[pehayes]

'87 SPII
I use Bridgestone Battleax BT45 F 110/90/16 M/C 59V
Works well as long as you keep the pressure up at 38-40 psi.  Drop a few pounds of air pressure and it starts to feel very heavy.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Turin]

+1 Bridgestone Battlax 110/90-16

The taller tire give you close to the same diameter as a 17" wheel and tire.

'87 Guzzi Lemans and it rides like it's on rails.

[Ryan]

Ran Metzlers on my Interceptors and they were awesome.

[huub]

have a look at scooter tires
i run pirelli dragon scooter tires on the 16 inch front wheel of my lario.
absolutely briliant tires ,
way better than the metzeler and bridgestone i tried before
 

[omega1]

Pirelli Sport Demon is available in both sizes you require.

[Cdn850T5NT]

Thank you All for your info + helpful replies :) .