Tires - search function is not helping me

[UltimateLurker]

Let's talk about tires.

I have tried to use the search function and know the original sizes needed but still remain confused. Some of you guys are using tubeless, some tubed, etc. Still confused on converting the imperial sizing to the more available metric sizing?

For the neophite buying his first motorcyle in 30 years - and I was too stoned back then to know what I had - what tire do you use for weekend trips?

Tubed or tubeless?

What brand has provided the best service?  

For the rear, if you wanted to buy a tire with a little more grip for light off road exploring, what brand do you like?

Thanks in advance for responding.

[nhmaf]

Welcome.

As you may or may not know - tires and oil threads can become somewhat of a "religious" argument on motorcycle forums, so we usually constrain these discussions to the "Rants, Tires, Oil" subsection.   But, we've had plenty o useful discussions on these things in the past. I'll attach a few threads I found using the search function, below.

What year/model R65 do you have?    Most likely it is not an LS-model (which has different wheels) and uses the usual 18" cast allow 'snowflake' wheels.   There are a number of good brands/models of tires that will do the job, depending on your tastes and budget and type of riding.

First off - you should be using tubes.   These cast wheels weren't designed for tubeless application and don't have the proper "hump" on the rim to help retain the tire bead if the tire deflates - the valve stem hole is also not designed for a tubeless stem.     There are some people who will say that running tubeless is OK with these wheels and they get away with it.   That is just an area where we tend to "agree to disagree" and move on.   But, the official BMW position on these are to use tubes.

Next point/fact - you can use tubes in any tire -just because the tire is rated for tubeless doesn't mean it cannot be used with tubes.   It can.

The original tire sizes are 3.25x18 (front) and 4.00x18(rear).   You can still buy some tires from some manufacturers in these sizes if you shop around.   But, there are also many tires in "metric" sizes which work perfectly well.   The thing to know in the "metric" sized tires is that the sizing isn't all "exact/uniform" when mounted.   One brand's 120/90x18 tire when mounted on your rim may be 119mm wide and not rub on the swingarm - another brand's 120/90x18 tire when mounted might be 124mm wide and will rub.   The fact is that the RATIO of width/height on these tires is always correct (120/90) but the actual physical measurements can vary.   PArt of this is due to some variations in the nominal wheel rim width that the manufacturer uses/specifies for mounting the tires on.   Some manufacturers do a good job of specifying min/max rim widths for a given tire size, some do not.  

In general, most metric size tires will fit most easily on the snowflake rims if you go with a 90/90x18 front tire (or possibly a 100/90x18, but no larger) and with a 110/90x18 rear tire (some 120/90x18 tires will fit, but some won't).   Also, a number of the 120/90x18 rears may require you to at least partially deflate them when putting the rear wheel on/off for doing other sorts of servicing - this is a hassle in my book and I avoid it.

All this said, I run Bridgestone BT45 tires on my R65LS - a 100/90x18 front and 110/90x18 rear.   The LS front rim width is a little wider than the snowflake front rim width, so the BT45 100/90 size fits OK and is within the manufacturers spec for rim width in that size.   The also offer a 90/90x18 that should be fine for the snowflake.    Another popular tire model is the Spitfire S11 tire that also works very well on these airheads.     And, there still are the traditional Metzlers - though I've migrated away from them myself over years of airhead riding. Avon AM26 Roadriders are also popular with airhead riders.

Some folks have installed Kenda tires for offroad riding - I think the K270 model comes in 4.00x18 , but again, you will have to be mindful of possible clearance issues, both at the rear swingarm and fender clearance for the knobs, and under the front fork brake/mudguard mounting bracket for whatever you put out front.
Here are a few threads that may help-

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1313937611/9#9

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1260644197/28#28

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1250387641/7#7

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1371615149/1#1

[montmil]

Just to toss a little gasoline on the fire...

I run Bridgestone S11 Spitfires -100/90 F and 110/90 R- on my '81 R65 and have done so for years. TUBELESS.

[smiley=2cents.gif]

[nhmaf]

Heeheee - we can always count on Monte!
 [smiley=thumbup.gif]
Those Spitfire S11 tires have a tread pattern that are probably a little better than the BT45s for more frequent gravel road riding, if that is the extent of "light off road" use you are thinking of.  They also work great on pavement, too

Monte probably also says "PO-TAH-TOE" instead of "PO-TAY-TOE" , but we love him anyway!
 

[mrclubike]

FYI I have read that the Michelin's can be difficult to get the bead to seat on the back wheel

Remember the back tires has to clear the rear swing arm So you are very limited on the tire width
There is a spacer for the axle but it only gives you an extra 1,5 mm and makes the brake shoes hang out of the drums

The  tubeless debate is a whole  thing on its own.
The problem I see with the tubeless thing is a proper valve stem
But you need to do the research and make your own decision
Don't expect the dealer to even think about mounting a tire tubeless on these rims they wont touch it
But they will mount a tubeless tire with the tube

It has been discussed quite a bit on Adventure rider Airhead
  
 I use Metzeler Lasertec's  90/90 front 4.00's rear and I don't ride off pavement at all
I had a 120/90 rear  and I had to deflate it to get it off  (pain in the but)
This tire is very common on airheads  
I got them only because it was a German tire and I assumed the new tire would have been made in Germany like the old ones but they were made in Brazil or somewhere like that so next time will try  HEIDENAU"s
Just because I think they look cool and nobody else seems to have them  

To be honest I couldn't tell a bad tire from a good one I just ride my bike and have   fun  

[montmil]

If you're snowed in, have insomnia or just plain bored, read Snowbum's thesis on Airhead tires.

Das Bum really has done several thousand miles of tire tests and his recommendation for "classic Airhead handling" is the Bridgestone Spitfire S11. What Robert does not define nor explain is his definition of "classic".

I like the S11's as a good combination of stick'em, twisty road performance, no freeway wandering, mileage and a nice price point. Besides the '81 R65, I just recently had a pair of S11's spooned onto the R100S.
Spoked alloy rims on the "S" so I'm running tubes.

The '83 R65 still has the Dunlop D404's that came with the bike. Not a bad choice either.

[mrclubike]

Just to toss a little gasoline on the fire...

I run Bridgestone S11 Spitfires -100/90 F and 110/90 R- on my '81 R65 and have done so for years. TUBELESS.

[smiley=2cents.gif]

Does the 110/90 fit without the wider spacer

can you tell I am snowed in and have nothing better to DO  

[montmil]

Just to toss a little gasoline on the fire...

I run Bridgestone S11 Spitfires -100/90 F and 110/90 R- on my '81 R65 and have done so for years. TUBELESS.

[smiley=2cents.gif]

Does the 110/90 fit without the wider spacer

can you tell I am snowed in and have nothing better to DO  

The Bridgestone and Dunlop rear 110/90 tires fit fine without any rub on the swingarm/driveshaft although, for ease of maintenance, I do let air outta the rear tire when I remove the wheel for periodic chores. No biggie.

I'm a little bored myownself. Atlanta Motor Speedway is wet, foggy and the Cup boys are just putt-puttin' around the track behind the pace car. May have to hit up NetFlix for the latest House of Cards episodes. A bit chilly to be out on a naked bike.

[k_enn]

<snip>
Don't expect the dealer to even think about mounting a tire tubeless on these rims they wont touch it
But they will mount a tubeless tire with the tube
<snip> 

Don't always count on the dealer to do the right thing.  When I replaced my tires a couple of years ago at the local BMW dealership, they ordered the metzler Lasertec tubeless tires for me.  When I brrught the bike in, i wanted to make sure that they had new tubes (the old ones were approxmiately 8 years old).  The response I got was "Why tubes?  These tires are tubeless."  I told them that may be true, but the rims were not.  

IMO, it pays to ask around on your own, and not just rely a dealer.  Sometimes they don't know sh!t from Shinola.  

k_enn

[Barry]

Here's some indication of actual mounted widths. Anything over 120mm is getting to be a problem but measure the width of tire you have and how much clearance you have and form your own judgement of maximum width.

[montmil]

Dealership you say? There are way better options for tire installation than your $90-120/hr labor chargin' stealership.

The last time I took a motorcycle to an actual 'dealership' was about 1974 when my brand-new Hodaka 125cc Combat Wombat suffered a transmission fatality that was covered under warranty. Since that time, and with every motorcycle that has ever been in my care, all work has been carried out in my shop. < knocking wood here >

But since the last DIY tire mounting chore with the Spitfires that required the ritual blood letting, all my tire work is now carried out by a nice indie shop that mounts n' balances for $25.00 a wheel. I drop off the tires and the rims -with the old tires still mounted. Next day, I'm back on the road. Band-Aid free.

BTW, I still have the tire spoons from the OEM toolkit that came with my 1953 Triumph T100C. Kinda miss that bike; although the memories are probably sweeter than our two-year relationship. Devilish Lord Lucas came between us.

[UltimateLurker]

Wow,

I didn't mean to kick a fireant nest but there are some great responses.

One thing - I do have a 1982 65LS. Or I should say I am having one restored and repainted. It's silver and it's going to be beautiful. Still waiting on some small parts I was able to scrounge up.

So I have the cast alloy wheels...does this make difference?

Thanks in advance. This can be moved to the rant thread if that will help. I do appreciate all the links I was unable to bring up.

[nhmaf]

With the LS wheels, the rim width on the rear is the same as the snowflake rear.  The front wheel rim width is about 0.25" wider than the snowflake, IIRC.   So, you can easily use the 100/90x18 tires on there.   The 90/90 ones will look too small.   Don't go wider than the 100/90 though, or the tire profile will be pinched up in the middle and won't wear well/handle well... Unless you are going for the offroad thing... but then you aren't restoring it - you're customizing it..

The LS wheels do have more of a rim bead retention "hump" than the snowflake wheels, so they are at least more appropriate to consider running tubeless, IMO.  But, I still run tubes in mine as that is how BMW shipped these bikes from the factory.   Some have run tubeless on the LS wheels and not had problems, and others have had persistent slow leaks.   I just go with tubes so as not to worry about it.

I think we've given you plenty of options to check out!

[Barry]

Some guidance on rim width /tire size compatibility.

[NC Steve]

I'm lucky in that I have a very large Honda dealership nearby, with a bunch of great guys working in the back; even the service manager is a decent dude! I drop off the new tires and tubes, run home and get the R65, and ride it in still rolling on the old rubber. They'll yank the old ones off, put in new tubes and tires, then balance and remount them, while I have a cup of coffee and wander around looking at bikes.

It takes them about an hour, and they charge me 80 bucks. I feel like that's a good deal, and I know they're always correctly installed, and with no pinched tubes or out of balance. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]