New Tires for Stock T3?

[Carlo DeSantis]

Hey all you Tonti guys:

I really need to replace the tires on my '75 T3.  It rolls on the stock Borranis and is still an 850.

I've been using Metzlers, but rather than slap on another set of same, I thought I'd ask for everyone's thoughts about the best replacement.

I use this bike for local rides only.  No touring on this one.

So, what do you suggest -- and why?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Best,

Carlo

[Perazzimx14]

Shinko 712's. Used them on my Eldo, 850T and T3.

[Guzzistajohn]

Shinko 712's. Used them on my Eldo, 850T and T3.

  Or BT45's

[antmanbee]

I also would go for the Shinko 712. I have them F&R on both my Jackal and calvin. 100/90 on the front of both and 130/90 rear on the Jackal and 140/80 for the calvin. They ride and handle good and the price is right. I just replaced both on the Jackal about 1K mikes ago and it took no weight to balance the rear and not much for the front. Check your rim first without the tire to find the true heavy spot. You will need a bit narrower on the rear for a T3, like a 110/90.

[acogoff]

     On my third set of Shinko 712. Rears safely go 6000 and fronts 10000. Am running a shinko 230 of a size 110/90 front now because I am the weirdo in the bunch that likes bus like handling.

[siabeid]

Avon Roadriders. Handle well. Great in the rain. Last a little longer than BT 45's. I use them on my t3, Eldo and LM3. About 6000 on the rear and 9000 on the front. I ride terrible roads. Most of the highways are chip sealed and my county road is three and a half miles of gravel. They do ok on the gravel, too.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Sport Demons. 

[cwiseman]

Bridgestone spitfires are a good choice, they stick well and last longer than a BT45, I just don't run much other than Bridgestone since they always make me happy and others haven't

[Triple Jim]

I ran Sport Demons on my Mille, but they wore quickly.  Handling was excellent for the first half of the front tread life, and then it got twitchy and wanted to fall into turns.  I know all front tires degrade handling as they wear, but this seemed worse than usual.

I ran Bridgestone S11 tires on it (Spitfires), and have no complaints.

I've run Avon Roadriders on another motorcycle and love the excellent traction and very reasonable life and wouldn't hesitate to try them on the Mille.

I currently have a pair of Bridgestone BT45s ready to go on it.  I got them on sale, and thought it would be interesting to compare them to the S11s.  I expect slightly better performance and slightly less tread life.

[swooshdave]

Avon Roadriders. Handle well. Great in the rain. Last a little longer than BT 45's. I use them on my t3, Eldo and LM3. About 6000 on the rear and 9000 on the front. I ride terrible roads. Most of the highways are chip sealed and my county road is three and a half miles of gravel. They do ok on the gravel, too.

I put these Avon on every bike I can.

[Gliderjohn]

From siabeib:

Avon Roadriders. Handle well. Great in the rain. Last a little longer than BT 45's. I use them on my t3, Eldo and LM3. About 6000 on the rear and 9000 on the front. I ride terrible roads. Most of the highways are chip sealed and my county road is three and a half miles of gravel. They do ok on the gravel, too.

I have no problem what so ever with either Avon Roadrunners or Roadriders concerning handling and general road worthiness on my T-3 but I have never been able to get more than 3,500 miles out of a rear but fronts will go 8-9K. Trying Shinko this time around.
GliderJohn

[Moto]

I have been happy with Avon Roadriders, but my next set will likely be the ContiClassicAttack radial tires by Continental. Made for vintage bikes, they come in 90/90 R 18 front and and 110/90 R 18 rear, just right for a T3. At $150 per tire, they're not cheap.

Moto

[Triple Jim]

Very interesting, Moto. 

[swooshdave]

I have been happy with Avon Roadriders, but my next set will likely be the ContiClassicAttack radial tires by Continental. Made for vintage bikes, they come in 90/90 R 18 front and and 110/90 R 18 rear, just right for a T3. At $150 per tire, they're not cheap.

Moto

That's the best thing about the Avons, you can catch them on sale for $80-90ea.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I have been happy with Avon Roadriders, but my next set will likely be the ContiClassicAttack radial tires by Continental. Made for vintage bikes, they come in 90/90 R 18 front and and 110/90 R 18 rear, just right for a T3. At $150 per tire, they're not cheap.

Moto

Classic Attacks rock.. I got em from AMT, $125 and $129. No, not cheap.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I put Shinko 230 Tour Masters on my Convert in 100/90-18 front and 120/90-18 rear sizes. I've been using them on my Ambos with excellent results - 9k miles on the rear and 11k miles with some life left on the front. Excellent traction wet or dry. Very little or no weight needed to balance usually. Best part? $126.75 a pair including shipping!

[Carlo DeSantis]

Sport Demons. 

Classic Attacks rock.. I got em from AMT, $125 and $129. No, not cheap.

OK, Chuck -- So which do you recommend?  I was not surprised by the Sport Demon records.  And what is AMT?  I don't think I"m familiar with them.

Thanks for the input!

I put Shinko 230 Tour Masters on my Convert in 100/90-18 front and 120/90-18 rear sizes. I've been using them on my Ambos with excellent results - 9k miles on the rear and 11k miles with some life left on the front. Excellent traction wet or dry. Very little or no weight needed to balance usually. Best part? $126.75 a pair including shipping!

I have no experience with Shinko, but your record  makes me want to look into them.  May I ask where you bought them for that price?  Outstanding value, eh?

Thanks, Charlie!

Best,

Carlo

[Carlo DeSantis]

Thanks, guys, for the input.  I really appreciate the help.

Best,

Carlo

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

OK, Chuck -- So which do you recommend?  I was not surprised by the Sport Demon records.  And what is AMT?  I don't think I"m familiar with them.

Thanks for the input!


I have no experience with Shinko, but your record  makes me want to look into them.  May I ask where you bought them for that price?  Outstanding value, eh?

Thanks, Charlie!

Best,

Carlo

AMT = American Motorcycle Tire http://www.americanmototire.com/

[Carlo DeSantis]

AMT = American Motorcycle Tire http://www.americanmototire.com/

Thanks, Charlie!

Best,

Carlo

[yackee]

Pirelli sport demons are common on that bike. That's what I run. They have good handling but aren't exceptionally long-lived.

The narrow size of the rear tire means your options are kind of limited.

[antmanbee]

I got my shinkos at Dennis Kirk with new IRC tubes for $134 shipped. Yours would be about $10-15 cheaper because of the smaller rear size. It was the best deal with new tubes that I could find. Just search online as there are about 4 or 5 places that stock and ship reasonably for shinko.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I have Shinko Podiiums on the MZ that is now out in SoCal. I thought they were fine when I had it in Indiana, but not so much out there. I just don't feel confident in the really twisty stuff with them. Of course, that doesn't mean squat in Illinois or Indiana.. 

[antmanbee]

I have Shinko Podiiums on the MZ that is now out in SoCal. I thought they were fine when I had it in Indiana, but not so much out there. I just don't feel confident in the really twisty stuff with them. Of course, that doesn't mean squat in Illinois or Indiana.. 

Just curious, did the shinkos display some bad behavior on the roads in SoCal or is it a psychological issue with having inexpensive tires and the lack of sport bike tire hype?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Just curious, did the shinkos display some bad behavior on the roads in SoCal or is it a psychological issue with having inexpensive tires and the lack of sport bike tire hype?

I've had both of them sliding. I really don't care for that feeling..

[Carlo DeSantis]

I have Shinko Podiiums on the MZ that is now out in SoCal. I thought they were fine when I had it in Indiana, but not so much out there. I just don't feel confident in the really twisty stuff with them. Of course, that doesn't mean squat in Illinois or Indiana.. 

Chuck,

How would your rate the Conti Classic Attack vs the Sport Demons, since you apparently have experience with both?

Thanks!

[tpeever]

I put these Avon on every bike I can.

 :1: on the Roadriders. They made my T handle like a dream

[Triple Jim]

Roadriders are almost like track tires the way they stick.  My first experience with them was on my Yamaha DT100.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Chuck,

How would your rate the Conti Classic Attack vs the Sport Demons, since you apparently have experience with both?

Thanks!

Carlo.. I don't know. I haven't ran the Classic Attacks long enough to see how they wear. They stick as well, though..I can say that. The Kid has Classic Attacks on his 96 Spot and loves them. No chicken strips. He hasn't had them long enough to wear them out either. I had trail Attacks on Darth Quota, and really liked them, but Darth found a new keeper before I wore them out. I have them on the Monza now, but only have less than 1000 miles on them. They are *very* good, but how long will they last? Dunno. Sharing miles between 3 bikes means none get very many miles per year.
I *do* know that Sport Demons stick like glue, and give around 4-6K miles wear. YMMV of course.

[Fnq1000]

Onto the 3rd set of Pirelli Sport Demons  on my SP, I reckon they are great. Cool name too!

A mate of mine works at a tyre store and is wealth on info and he backs it up with 350,000km on his Laverda RGS - onto his 75 or 76th rear tyre! He rates the Michelin Pilot Activ but if you are after performance and not concerned about wear, Conti Attack are the go.

I have spoken to a a number of people who have tried Pilot Activ from Sport Demons, happy with them and get extra distance.

Cheers
Jason