WHY BIAS TIRES

[Moparnut72]

Radials are a bit hard to find for this model. I will be in the same boat soon. One thing that will help is to use 110-80 on the front. They are the same diameter as the stock size. I put these on my Triumph which called for the same front as the V7lll. I looked and found that Continental Conti radials come in these sizes. Unfortunately they may be hard to find. The supplier where I get my tires is out of stock on both.
With the doubts on my mileage on Dunlop K70s I didn't get that mileage on almost all of them. At the time they were made in both England and Japan. The English made ones got the good mileage, the Japanese made ones, not so much. There weren't good handling tires nor do I think they were intended to. They were kind if squarish and wore that way for sure. I did mostly highway riding. I had 100,000 miles on that R75/5, all on those tires except for the last couple which were on Avons. Those handled well but were absolutely terrible on wet roads. I got 8,000 out of the Pirellis  on my Bonneville but the rear was damn near smooth, the front maybe 2,000 left but I changed both, again a lot of highway miles.
kk

[mr_pacman]

Radials are a bit hard to find for this model. I will be in the same boat soon. One thing that will help is to use 110-80 on the front. They are the same diameter as the stock size. I put these on my Triumph which called for the same front as the V7lll. I looked and found that Continental Conti radials come in these sizes. Unfortunately they may be hard to find. The supplier where I get my tires is out of stock on both.
With the doubts on my mileage on Dunlop K70s I didn't get that mileage on almost all of them. At the time they were made in both England and Japan. The English made ones got the good mileage, the Japanese made ones, not so much. There weren't good handling tires nor do I think they were intended to. They were kind if squarish and wore that way for sure. I did mostly highway riding. I had 100,000 miles on that R75/5, all on those tires except for the last couple which were on Avons. Those handled well but were absolutely terrible on wet roads. I got 8,000 out of the Pirellis  on my Bonneville but the rear was damn near smooth, the front maybe 2,000 left but I changed both, again a lot of highway miles.
kk

I'm going to do some reading on the Michelin Road Classic's as they fit our bikes and the first few reviews I've read on them are positive.

[Kev m]

I'm going to do some reading on the Michelin Road Classic's as they fit our bikes and the first few reviews I've read on them are positive.

That's what I'm running on the Stone now and plan to run in the Carbon Dark soon. I'm happy but my priority is longevity over stick. Still it's plenty of stick.

[rocker59]

I'm going to do some reading on the Michelin Road Classic's as they fit our bikes and the first few reviews I've read on them are positive.

I'm running them on my 2004 California EVT.  They've been on for a year.  They're really good in the rain.  No hint of hydroplaning, with Nice handling and feel. 

My previous favorite on the 1100 Californias was the Michelin Pilot Activ, but it's been discontinued in favor of the Road Classic.  The Pilot Activ handled beautifully on the Californias.  I was able to really push my Bassa with them.  Really good grip at the front.  I'm not sure that the dry handling of the Road Classic is quite as good, but they're good enough, and I don't ride as hard as I used to...

I've been satisfied with the Road Classics.

[kingoffleece]

I just installed Road Classics on my 2001 Jackal.  All good.

[Moparnut72]

Spring must be coming a lot of tire talk going on. I have been involved in tire discussion on ADV in the V100 and V7 threads.  I don't need tires for the V100 but I will on my V7 very soon. I would like to put radials on it but availability????
kk

[Vagrant]

There is an article on Adventure rider. Pirelli tyres has a new I think 90/10 tire in our sizes. Scorpion Trail 3.

[mr_pacman]

Let's bump this one up vs starting a new thread.

a "go to" tire for V7's continues to be a challenge ever since the Road Attack 3's were discontinued and the Road Attack 4's don't come in the 100/90/18 (front) and 130/80/17 (rear) sizes.

What's everyone using these days either radial or bias ply?

Perhaps we can share updates on variables such as longevity, softness or how well they stick in dry, rain performance etc.

[bronzestar1]

By "V7", we're not talking about the 850 models like my '23 V7 Stone, correct?  The tire sizes on mine are 100/90-18 front and 150/70-17 rear.  These were the same size tires on a 2018 Triumph Street Twin 900 I used to own, and I got rid of the terrible OEM Pirellis and replaced them with Avon Storm 3Ds, but changed the front to 110/80.  Not sure if these Avons are available in the "V7" sizes being talked about in here.  If they are, I'd highly recommend them, they felt great on the Triumph.   

[mr_pacman]

By "V7", we're not talking about the 850 models like my '23 V7 Stone, correct?  The tire sizes on mine are 100/90-18 front and 150/70-17 rear.  These were the same size tires on a 2018 Triumph Street Twin 900 I used to own, and I got rid of the terrible OEM Pirellis and replaced them with Avon Storm 3Ds, but changed the front to 110/80.  Not sure if these Avons are available in the "V7" sizes being talked about in here.  If they are, I'd highly recommend them, they felt great on the Triumph.   

Correct. I was referring to the V7 version 1,2 and I believe the 3 which came out right before the 850 series.   These ones use 130/80/17 rear which makes options limited. 
 
So far, it seems like two good bias ply options are the Michelin Road Classics and the Avon Road Rider II's are decent options that provide good longevity, decent dry pavement performance with decent wet performance. Downsides are they tend to track grooves in the road more than radial tires.

I haven't quite found good options for radial tires since the Continental Road Attack 3's were discontinued.

[kingoffleece]

My 2015 V7 was so much better in every regard with Conti Road Attack 3 over the OEM tires it wasn't even funny.
Every metric.

[mr_pacman]

My 2015 V7 was so much better in every regard with Conti Road Attack 3 over the OEM tires it wasn't even funny.
Every metric.

Unfortunately, the 3's have been discontinued and the 4's don't come in the right size.  I've read nothing but fantastic things about them.

[red stripeguz]

I've got almost 10k miles on my year old V7 Special and the rear Dunlop is about wore out. I have a replacement set of (radial) Avon Spirit STs in the garage, just waiting to get installed

[Kev m]

I have the Road Classic on the back of both my V7s. Very happy with them.

[Stevex]

Im running radial tyres tubeless on my LM2 

[John Warner]

I wasn't even aware you could still get Bias-Ply Tyres any more, at least for anything with more performance than a Pizza Delivery Scooter.

Why on earth would anyone use them by choice?   

Maybe if I was half-way across Africa/India/S.America/other, being pursued by some despot warlord, and I irreparably damaged a Tyre, and a Bias Ply was the only option, maybe, just maybe I'd go with it . . . 

Bias-Ply Tyres, for me, fall into the same category as Points Ignition, Leather Belt Drive, Drum Brakes, Acetylene Lighting, Cork Helmets, Exposed Valve Springs, etc, etc.

Just about acceptable on a genuine Classic/Vintage Bike, but they have no place on any 'modern' Bikes.


.

[Dirk_S]

I wasn't even aware you could still get Bias-Ply Tyres any more, at least for anything with more performance than a Pizza Delivery Scooter.

Why on earth would anyone use them by choice?   

…

Just about acceptable on a genuine Classic/Vintage Bike, but they have no place on any 'modern' Bikes.

I’ve read they still handle load better than radials. So, they probably benefit baggers, tourers, porky ADVs, etc.

[Kev m]

I wasn't even aware you could still get Bias-Ply Tyres any more, at least for anything with more performance than a Pizza Delivery Scooter.

Why on earth would anyone use them by choice?   

Maybe if I was half-way across Africa/India/S.America/other, being pursued by some despot warlord, and I irreparably damaged a Tyre, and a Bias Ply was the only option, maybe, just maybe I'd go with it . . . 

Bias-Ply Tyres, for me, fall into the same category as Points Ignition, Leather Belt Drive, Drum Brakes, Acetylene Lighting, Cork Helmets, Exposed Valve Springs, etc, etc.

Just about acceptable on a genuine Classic/Vintage Bike, but they have no place on any 'modern' Bikes.


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But they don't (fall into those categories). It's more like the same category as a dual live axle vehicle, or dual shock rear suspension, or how about pushrods and two valve heads, and... Other shit that works just fine for its intended purpose.

An advantage, isn't an advantage, if it's not needed.

I did a track day on my V7 with bias-plys and pushed that bike to limits I wouldn't dare on the street.

So, they not only do everything I need on the street, but were fine on the track too.

And in my experience they last longer than any of the radials I've had.

[jcctx]

Did Dunlop quit making the 404s~ a belted bias ply IMS???

[Alfetta]

INHO, tires are an expence item, so i like to keep the cost as low as possible. I am not Joey Dunlop or Mr. Fogarty, thus i tend to purchase bias ply, an then enjoy the cruse...

Now, In the dirt, I am pushing as hard as i can, so my rubber choices are skewed more to performance

[mechanicsavant]

I’ve been an advocate of radials on V7’s for quite a while. I prefer a “Z”rated tire . Not that I’m going to go that fast , but ya get a higher quality tire . Truer & les weight to balance . Also I usually change them out long before the wear bars are touching the road . Usually about 7-8 k Mi. I agree tires aren’t cheap ! But still a better deal than plaster of paris!

[sign216]

I ride spoked tube bias ply on my vintage bikes, and on most modern bike; an '09 V7.  On advantage is the stronger sidewall of bias ply.  I've had a tire go flat, but been able to ride at 15-20 mph to either a safe place for a repair, or home or a shop, rather than stuck road side.

Bridgestone Battleax has some low profile sizes, that lower the bike slightly.  When used with other lowering adjustments, I'm flat foot at a stop (I'm 5'8").

[Brand X]

Battlax BT-46 are very good tires.. As were the Conti RA3 I had on my V-7
The Battlax are Bias, and the Conti were Radial ..