Tire recommendations

[caliph23]

Hello All, I recently purchased a 1982 R65LS in Polaris silver with 22k. The bike seems to have been well cared for and runs well and looks great. I joined the forum to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and expert opinion.
 i would like to purchase a new set of tires. The bike is currently running
Metzler ME33 Laser 90/90-18 51H (front) and Metzler Lasertec 4.00-18 64V (rear). I mainly ride the back roads. The north Georgia mountains are about  an hour and a half from me. So there and back will probably be the extent of my touring. Looking for a sport tire or sport/touring. Are the Metzlers about as good as I can expect or is there something a bit stickier? Are the sizes correct? Thanks

[Bob_Roller]

I've had Metzeler ME33 and ME99, now Lazertec since '86 .

I get about 11-13,000 miles on a front and 9-10,000 on a rear tire .

They seem to need a good warm up in cool/cold weather, or they may not do want you want them to do  !!

Make sure you use current published tire pressures, the owners manual has way outdated pressures !!!

Low to mid 30's psi seems to be a common pressure .

See what works for you .

Biggest negative for these tires, is the cost, they are more costly than other popular choices, you need to make that call on your own .

[mrclubike]

Yes  most people feel they are the best sizes  for the Bike

Just know the Lasertec will follow rain groves.
I suspect I ran my Lasertec to low on pressure because I only got about 5K out of the rears.
The Avon AM26's I am running now  are getting a lot better mileage  But I am running them at the pressure  Avon's website recommends (mid 30's) .  

The most popular brands in the USA seem to be  Metzeler Avon  Michelin and Bridgestone .
I would love to try a set of Vintage Heidenau's but they are pricey in the USA (even more than the Metzeler's).
They still have the 3.25 and 4.00 - 18's with the old style tread.
Heidenau's are made in Germany and the Lasertecs are now made in Brazil. Avon in the UK.
 

[georgesgiralt]

Before running on Heidenau, my bike had a Lasertec (V) on the front following a flat whcich cut a lot of thread. The lasertec was the only tire on stock. It lasted less than 500 km and was not the best tire I had. Also very pricey.
The rear had an ME77 in H rated speed. It was a PITA under the smallest rain on the road and did not last long either. Add to this that it needed a lot of lead to be balanced and it made me think that I will refrain the Metzellers in the future.
A friend of mine use the Michelin Pilot Activ and is VERY satisfied with them. I'm, as I already said, sold to the K34/K36Heidenau.
Hope this helps.

[caliph23]

Wondering if anyone has tried Heidenau K65's? I can't find Bridgestone BT45's in 100/90-18. I can find 90/90-18 or 100/80-18. Maybe the original size is the way to go. any thoughts? If this ground has been covered to death in other threads would someone point me in the right direction. Can't find much using the search window. Thanks

[suecanada]

I ended up having to put on a Heidenau K34 in Billings MT at the National rally and I gotta say I am not too fond of it as it folows grooves too readily and I am pretty sure it would be quite unpleasant on a steel grate bridge. I had an Avon on the front just before this change overe and I liked it very much and it's price. The Lasertecs are OK but expensive. I might try Shinko just to test them out when this
Heidenau tire needs replacing. The K36 tread model Heidenau does look fine and would be worth a try I think. Heidenau has such a great reputation. If it was the last set I put on LRB I would choose Avons again.

[rdteeler]

I see that on Max BMW web site the Metzler is what they have for sale for my 84 R 65 ? it seems to be the easiest to get.Whay Im asking is it best to go by the pressure on side of tire are in the hand book ? Perry told me to run 34 psi rear 32 front so far that is what I do. I am learning alot of cool stuff from y'all. Thanks.

[Barry]

32/34 PSI is about what I use and I don't see the need for pressures in the high 30's. Generally I look for the recommended pressure on the tire manufacturers web site as it does vary between makes of tires. I understand the lawyers have discouraged the manufacturers from providing that info in the US so you might need to look at a European site.  I wouldn't use the pressure on the side wall as that is the maximum safe pressure.

[Kookaburra]

I have been running Heidenau K60 Scouts at around 32 psi front 34 rear for about six months. I have heavy duty tubes in them. They are a 50/50 tyre which are always a compromise. They have led me to a more conservative on road riding style. They are noisy on the road at around 100kph and perform adequately on dirt roads and fire trails. I can't comment on their wet weather performance.

[mrclubike]

I remember   when I was looking at tires I could not find the Bridgestone in a 4.00-18.

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
I had problems at first with the K34 on my R65. Phoned them with a friend talking a perfect German: They say that the pressure SHOULD be above 2.2 bar and as high as the max pressure depending on the conditions. (sorry for the Bar, I'm a metric man)
So you may give a try on your remaining thread.
My bike left factory with H rated tires.  Under the seat the sticker said to use S rated tires.
Tje maximal speed advertised is 175 km/h when new. So below the continuous 180 which is the S rating maximum. So I wrote to the French BMW importer to ask what type of tires I could use. The response was either S or H rated. At your choice.
I've found that the S tires have more thread than the H (and the H have more thread than the V). So last longer. And I can find them cheaper than the H rated.
Having owned a Triumph Legend (T3 engine with spokes wheels) I can tell you you have to order and INSIST to get Bridgestone delivering the tire you want in the correct size. On occasion it took me near 5 months to get the Tube Type BT57 sole manufactured approved tire for my bike...

[Bob_Roller]

2.2 bar , is 32 psi .

1 bar is 14.7 psi .

Bar is also noted, as atm, or atmosphere .