Radial Tires for a Guzzi

[smsw]

I posted an earlier discussion about mounting tubeless radials on my T3.  Several respondents suggested Conti Road Attack tires.  Looking at revzilla and online in the last few days, I saw no radials that were sized for my bike, unless I mix and match treads/weight ratings/maybe even tread designs.  I am not talking about mc shops being out of stock - but a given size not being available.

My hunt is for a front 100/90H - 18; rear 110/90H - 18.  To restate, I want radials because the wobblies on milled roads/concrete roads with irregularities will I hope be gone (compared to Bias ply tires).  Judging from responses here, radials are much more stable.

So, for you radial users - what will you buy next time you need tires?

Maybe another question I should be asking, should I go up a size to get a radial I want?

[guzzista]

I was looking for Conti Road Attack for the SP recently the  and sizes you re describing  ( stock for the SP) were unavailable.
Thinking the  supply chain issues have not  been resolved yet . As for road irregularities, a set of fresh bias ply tires  , such as Bridgestone BT46, resolved the same issue for me. Tontis IMO get all kind of wiggly over uneven road surfaces  with tires at 50%+ wear. As for wider tires,  narrow stock rims are the limitation. YMMV

[Travlr]

Love the Classic Attacks on my LeMans V.  Sharpened up the handling and the softer sidewalls smoothed out the ride.

Mike

[80CX100]

Love the Classic Attacks on my LeMans V.  Sharpened up the handling and the softer sidewalls smoothed out the ride.

Mike

     I've never had a set, but from the positive reviews, they will be what goes onto my older tontis when the time comes if road attacks aren't available in the sizes needed

[Stevex]

On my Le Mans 2 I have a Road Attack 100/90 18 on the front and a Classic Attack 110/90 18 on the back.
They run great together, so much better than the non radial Demons.

[lucky phil]

Love the Classic Attacks on my LeMans V.  Sharpened up the handling and the softer sidewalls smoothed out the ride.

Mike

Pretty bike the Mk5 esp in black

Ciao

[smsw]

On my Le Mans 2 I have a Road Attack 100/90 18 on the front and a Classic Attack 110/90 18 on the back.
They run great together, so much better than the non radial Demons.

I just went on Conti's website and lo and behold, this is a combination they recommend for the T3.  Now I just have to find a vendor who has them......

[Travlr]

I just went on Conti's website and lo and behold, this is a combination they recommend for the T3.  Now I just have to find a vendor who has them......

i doubt many places stock them.  They are such a small market.  But Dennis Kirk or Comp Acc can probably order them.

Mike

[JJ]

I am running a set of these on my '98 Centauro GT now...and they work just fine...and are cost effective...

[80CX100]

I am running a set of these on my '98 Centauro GT now...and they work just fine...and are cost effective...

     Hey JJ, Can you please expand a little bit on those Shinko Ravens.

     What are the road surfaces like that you ride on?

     I looked really hard at those on my last tire purchase, they were hitting all the right buttons but one.

     The area I ride in is rural, with a lot of sketchy pavement/repairs patches etc. Long road snake tar patches, are the norm rather than the exception.

     Some of the tires I've had, get really squirrelly/squirmish if I end up in a long tar snake. I've read that a center rain groove in the front tire, compounds the problem as that groove can tend to follow any line or patch it grabs onto.

     For that reason, the Shinko Ravens and many others with a center rain groove on the front, fell off my short list; other than that one characteristic, the Ravens looked and sounded great from the reviews, I've been impressed by other Shinkos for their quality/price.

      Tia

[egschade]

I ran Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires on my Griso for their more robust construction to deal with sketchy north Jersey roads. I found them to be predictable, smooth and tough. They're a dual compound radial which is basically the Pirelli sport touring tire with deeper tread.

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/pirelli-scorpion-trail-ii-dual-sport-tires?gclid=Cj0KCQiAzfuNBhCGARIsAD1nu-9AfHKl6ujUmoBRHT1TtdQBnqrzqdhZC-dIX-dZCOhRiTAbC1w1CGEaAj93EALw_wcB

[9fingers]

I have the Conti Road Attack 3 on the rear of my V7III and it is superb. Sill running the stock front Dunlop Arrowmax Street Smart front tire till I wear it down a bit more. At 6,000 miles it still looks too new. The back one was toast at 3,900. I will go for the Attack 3 on the front as well.
Scott

[JJ]

     Hey JJ, Can you please expand a little bit on those Shinko Ravens.

     What are the road surfaces like that you ride on?

     I looked really hard at those on my last tire purchase, they were hitting all the right buttons but one.

     The area I ride in is rural, with a lot of sketchy pavement/repairs patches etc. Long road snake tar patches, are the norm rather than the exception.

     Some of the tires I've had, get really squirrelly/squirmish if I end up in a long tar snake. I've read that a center rain groove in the front tire, compounds the problem as that groove can tend to follow any line or patch it grabs onto.

     For that reason, the Shinko Ravens and many others with a center rain groove on the front, fell off my short list; other than that one characteristic, the Ravens looked and sounded great from the reviews, I've been impressed by other Shinkos for their quality/price.

      Tia

Hi Tia!

The road I ride on are mostly rural, some highway...very few tar snakes...very few rain groves, overall, a very arid and dry climate, (northern Arizona). 

They work well for me....and they were about $200 a set cheaper than Pirelli Angel GT, so I thought I would try them...

JJC

[NC Steve]

I just went on Conti's website and lo and behold, this is a combination they recommend for the T3.  Now I just have to find a vendor who has them......

You may want to check these folks too.
Motorcycle tires is all they do, and they have most everything, at some of the best prices you're likely to find.

https://www.americanmototire.com/

[9fingers]

You may want to check these folks too.
Motorcycle tires is all they do, and they have most everything, at some of the best prices you're likely to find.

https://www.americanmototire.com/

I took at look at some Dunlops I bought back in May, for my V strom 650, from Chapmoto.com for $140 a PAIR shipped! They are nearly $500 from Americanmototire. It pays to shop around.
Scott 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I took at look at some Dunlops I bought back in May, for my V strom 650, from Chapmoto.com for $140 a PAIR shipped! They are nearly $500 from Americanmototire. It pays to shop around.
Scott

I do shop around and AMT is often the lowest price. Prices at all tire retailers have also increased dramatically since May. How do the prices at Chapmoto and AMT compare today?

[NC Steve]

I took at look at some Dunlops I bought back in May, for my V strom 650, from Chapmoto.com for $140 a PAIR shipped! They are nearly $500 from Americanmototire. It pays to shop around.
Scott

Not to talk bad about any retailers, but one thing I learned firsthand some years back was that Chaparral is known to sell 'old' tires at heavily discounted prices. This was hinted at to me by another major retailer we've probably all used, and it was done so in a very professional, non-judgmental manner. They were willing to match Chaparral's price because that is their policy, and I was very appreciative of the tip.

[jwinwi]

I took at look at some Dunlops I bought back in May, for my V strom 650, from Chapmoto.com for $140 a PAIR shipped! They are nearly $500 from Americanmototire. It pays to shop around.
Scott

What is the production date of these tires? Should be 4 numbers to the right of DOT embossed on the sidewall.

[n3303j]

*SNIP* My hunt is for a front 100/90H - 18; rear 110/90H - 18.  To restate, I want radials because the wobblies on milled roads/concrete roads with irregularities will I hope be gone (compared to Bias ply tires).  Judging from responses here, radials are much more stable.
*SNIP*

I've worn 85K miles of bias ply tires off my T3 so far. Milled roads and rain grooved concrete don't bother it. I'd be suspect that you might have a headset bearing or suspension issue with your bike (assuming the frame is true and all wheels & bearings to specs).

[smsw]

I've worn 85K miles of bias ply tires off my T3 so far. Milled roads and rain grooved concrete don't bother it. I'd be suspect that you might have a headset bearing or suspension issue with your bike (assuming the frame is true and all wheels & bearings to specs).

I won't discount that possibility, however, guys in our Guzzi breakfast group have said the same thing that I did*, some local BMW club members agreed with me, and even some posters to another thread I posted here said that radials track straighter and truer than bias tires.  I noticed a world of difference years ago when I changed from bias to radials on my car. None of the tire folks I've talked to at vendor displays at rallies or in customer service has ever said to me that bias tires will perform as well as radials when I bemoan the lack of selection of their tires (radials) for 'classic' bike sized wheels.  YMMV

*This includes Converts, Ambassadors, and Eldos.  'Classic' tread design bias tires will wander on milled roads and/or track irregularities in pavement.

[Tom]

Here's another thought.  Can you use bias ply tubes in radial tires??  Just because you can run radials on cars, doesn't necessarily translate to motorcycles.     And........can you run a radial car tire on a motorcycle???

[smsw]

Here's another thought.  Can you use bias ply tubes in radial tires??  Just because you can run radials on cars, doesn't necessarily translate to motorcycles.     And........can you run a radial car tire on a motorcycle???

Yes you can use bias tubes in radial tires.  My understanding is that tubes for radial tires are somewhat heavier (thicker?) and more abrasion resistant.  I might be wrong - its been quite a while since i quizzed the guys at tire booths at a BMW rally.
Radial car tire on a bike? - Why not if you run darkside.  That's not my cup of tea, but quite a few Goldwings and ST's run ct's.  The trick is to find one that fits the bike's wheel and does not rub the swingarm or rear fender.

[Tom]

Y'ep.  I have one on my CAl 1400T.