i need new tires on my bike and im just wondering what are some good ones to get? i have a 2002 1200custom. thanks in advance....could you give me the sizes too?

i need new tires on my bike and im just wondering what are some good ones to get? i have a 2002 1200custom. thanks in advance....could you give me the sizes too?

My favorites are the Avon Venom X/ Venom R tires. Best dry pavment performance with good wet grip. The only downfall is that they will wear quicker than stock tires, but the performance is well worth it.
Metzelers will give you longer wear than Avons and stock Dunlops, but due to the harder compound your dry grip will not be quite as good, still better dry grip than stock though. Wet grip is excellent on Metzelers too, much better than stock.


Sizes: 130/80/16 for the rear, 90/90-21 for the front if you have a 21" rim, 100/90-19 if you have a 19" front rim.

¿Does anyone offer a race compound 19" front tire? I use to run race compound Dunlops that had a tread pattern. I cannot find them anymore.

JB

Good is a relative term. There are a bazillion good tires but if you are an average rider that is looking for longevity you will need a different tire than a sporty rider. Price can also dictate your decision. You can get a 60 dollar Kenda Challenger(good cheap tire) or a venomx(good pricey tire) and be happy with both depending on what you expect. I had the supervenom, metz, contiblitz, dunlop, and now the Kenda. I like my cheap tire. It grips as well as the pricey tires and is not very expensive. It is good in the rain and grips really well in the turns. I don't drive like a psycho much anymore but when I do they work. You need to be more specific and the recomendations might be more meaningful.

Hey EC1250R won't that 150 Avon be a slight to wide for that 2002 model? They (Avons) seem to have a slightly wider profile than most and you will probably have to do some mods to squeeze them in. I put a 140 Dunlop Arrowmax GT-501 on without any major mods other than shaving the excess threads under the rear fender. Still though there is very little room. Pic enclosed.
Swankster

Good is a relative term. There are a bazillion good tires but if you are an average rider that is looking for longevity you will need a different tire than a sporty rider. Price can also dictate your decision. You can get a 60 dollar Kenda Challenger(good cheap tire) or a venomx(good pricey tire) and be happy with both depending on what you expect. I had the supervenom, metz, contiblitz, dunlop, and now the Kenda. I like my cheap tire. It grips as well as the pricey tires and is not very expensive. It is good in the rain and grips really well in the turns. I don't drive like a psycho much anymore but when I do they work. You need to be more specific and the recomendations might be more meaningful.

Maybe to some there are a "bazillion" good tires, but there are only a few brands I personally would be willing to stick on my bike or recommend. My life is worth the best tires I can put on. You get what you pay for. Why put cheap tires on a bike you probably have many thousands of dollars invested in? Alot of the cheap tires like Cheng Shin will cut corners somewhere to get to a retail price point. Somethimes its the compound, the ply design/material, amount of material on the tire(which can help to determine road hazard resistance) etc.

To my term of "good" in this reference means "better than stock". Avons and Metzelers both give better wet performance than Dunlops.

THe only thing I have experience with concerning Kenda are their ATV tires. They were cheap, their traction was "OK", but I went through a set of em in less than a months time, and ended up going back to a brand name ATV tire after that, normally a set of quality ATV tires last me a full season. If thats any indication of their motorcycle tire, I wouldnt be adding them to my "recommend" list anytime soon.

Hey EC1250R won't that 150 Avon be a slight to wide for that 2002 model? They (Avons) seem to have a slightly wider profile than most and you will probably have to do some mods to squeeze them in. I put a 140 Dunlop Arrowmax GT-501 on without any major mods other than shaving the excess threads under the rear fender. Still though there is very little room. Pic enclosed.
Swankster

Yep, I keep forgetting Sporties had a 130 on the earlier models. Already made the correction.

I've got a question...I'm looking at going to a different rear wheel size when I change tires next season (to a 4.25 x 18" on a 2004). The Metzeler ME880 160/60/16 will clear this, but it's only availible as a radial. For the front, the only size they make to fit my 19" front wheel with fender is only availible as a bias ply. Are there any issues with mixing the two?

I've got a question...I'm looking at going to a different rear wheel size when I change tires next season (to a 4.25 x 18" on a 2004). The Metzeler ME880 160/60/16 will clear this, but it's only availible as a radial. For the front, the only size they make to fit my 19" front wheel with fender is only availible as a bias ply. Are there any issues with mixing the two?

Its ok to mix a rear radial with a front bias ply. You just cant do it the other way around.

A 160/60/16 is for a 16" rim, not an 18" rim. Typo I assume? Avon makes a 150/70-18 which is a great tire and made to fit a 18x4.25" rim. Metzeler makes a 140/70-18 that will also fit. Both in bias ply.

Metzler also makes a 160/60-18 in Radial. Unless your packing baggage, raidals I think are a better performing tire. They also improve ride comfort too. Doing a 160 rear radial on an 18" rim and a front 130 radial on an 18" rim ='s a killer handling Sporty thats well balanced. Thats our next upgrade for our bikes actually. Unfortunately there are not too many mfg's that make 18x4.25" rims.

You want to maximise your Sporties true cornering potential? Dump the bias ply tires altogether and go radial. Bias ply tires are best suited for baggers or people who do alot of 2up riding.

Yes, that was a typo. Should have been for the 18" rim

I don't want to go any narrower than my stock size (150), so I don't want the 140. I'm just wondering if putting a bias on the front and a radial on the rear will hurt anything.

Yes, that was a typo. Should have been for the 18" rim

I don't want to go any narrower than my stock size (150), so I don't want the 140. I'm just wondering if putting a bias on the front and a radial on the rear will hurt anything.

Bias on the front is fine with a radial rear. As I said you just can't do a radial on the front with a bias on the rear. That would be dangerous(as it would alter the handling characteristics of the bike creating a bike that would want to severly oversteer).

Bias on the front is fine with a radial rear. As I said you just can't do a radial on the front with a bias on the rear. That would be dangerous(as it would alter the handling characteristics of the bike creating a bike that would want to severly oversteer).


Sorry...didn't see you said that before...thanks

Sorry...didn't see you said that before...thanks

Think about doing a 130-18" for the front too! :banana It is soooooooo worth it! :banarasta

Ec1250r, my point was not that everyone should by a Kenda, it was that different types of riding require different tires. He could use a Avon roadrunner for example, it has good road characteristics and lasts longer than a soft tire. You have taken a tangent that is correct and also personal. He did not ask which tire does ec1250R like. He asked for recommendations and that is what he got with a request for more information to better narrow the selection. I have over 30,000 miles on my sporty and I might just have a little feel for what tires have worked well and which have not. I might also be full of crap.

A 150/80 Avon Supervenom does fit with proper offsets and shimming if you are clever and Brave(crazy) enough to make it work. When this Kenda is dead(140/90 6 inches wide but too tall for my taste in the looks dept.) I will probably go back to the supervenom 15080 or if I can get one a 70 just because it does not fit(according to everyone but me because I have done it). My Metz was crap in the rain and spun everytime I goosed the bike. I would buy another Avon but you could not give me a Metz.

Ec1250r, my point was not that everyone should by a Kenda, it was that different types of riding require different tires. He could use a Avon roadrunner for example, it has good road characteristics and lasts longer than a soft tire. You have taken a tangent that is correct and also personal. He did not ask which tire does ec1250R like. He asked for recommendations and that is what he got with a request for more information to better narrow the selection.

People make recommendations on their own experience. Most people who "like" a specific product tend to recommend them. Rarely do you find someone recommend a product they dont like.
I recommended some good brands, and stated reasons why I recommend them. You question my first post on what "good" meant. I therefore explained my interpretation of "good".
Now your questioning my whole point of view on my posting in essense. :rolleyes:

The guys original post couldnt be any simpler: What are some good tires to get, and in what sizes....... My answers couldnt be any simpler or more direct. :rolleyes:

And if the gentleman is looking for specifics on what he wants in a tire, I am sure he can let us know.

I Have upgraded my sportster to the Metzelers, and I Couldn't be happier. I didn't just go out and but x brand because of some ad. MY father has used every type of tire imaginable, and he settled on the Metzelers for their grip and stability. I noticed an IMMEDIATE change in the handling of the bike for the better with the Metzelers over the Dunlops.

ME880 seems to be one of the best for the sportsters.. In MY opinion..

Ec1250r you are right. Good luck with your riding.

I Have upgraded my sportster to the Metzelers, and I Couldn't be happier. I didn't just go out and but x brand because of some ad. MY father has used every type of tire imaginable, and he settled on the Metzelers for their grip and stability. I noticed an IMMEDIATE change in the handling of the bike for the better with the Metzelers over the Dunlops.

ME880 seems to be one of the best for the sportsters.. In MY opinion..

ME 880's are very good "all weather" tires. Probably one of the best for wet traction, and they last a long time too. For people who do alot of foul weather riding, its a top choice no question about it.

ME 880's are very good "all weather" tires. Probably one of the best for wet traction, and they last a long time too. For people who do alot of foul weather riding, its a top choice no question about it.


You betcha by golly! Great tires :D

I Have upgraded my sportster to the Metzelers, and I Couldn't be happier. I didn't just go out and but x brand because of some ad. MY father has used every type of tire imaginable, and he settled on the Metzelers for their grip and stability. I noticed an IMMEDIATE change in the handling of the bike for the better with the Metzelers over the Dunlops.

ME880 seems to be one of the best for the sportsters.. In MY opinion..


I'm a Metzler guy... no doubt...

K

Think about doing a 130-18" for the front too! It is soooooooo worth it!


That won't fit under my fender (width-wise). I can only got a total of 12mm wider before I make contact, and even running a 110 puts me WAY too close for comfort, even though I'm told it will fit.

Just to chime in on the 160/60-18 from Metzeler. I run this tire on my '04 1200C. Love the ride traction and it looks great. It just doesn't last long. About 5000 miles per tire. My ME880 on the front has over 10K miles on it and looks great. I just wish that rear tire would last longer. Other than that, it is a great combination. I truly love the looks of the spoked 18" rear wheel.

P.S. the new wheel/tire combination is over 5lbs lighter than the original whel/tire combo. -5 lbs = Horsepower