Tire options???

[10drum]

Greetings, I need tires for my 82 R65. What is a good set of tires for my bike which will work well on oil gravel roads?
I have always been on vintage triumphs and really like the the stock Dunlop K70. They work well on the paved county roads of Southern Illinois. This R65 has a 18" front wheel and Dunlop does not make an 18" front in the K70.

[Matt Chapter]

As you note, finding tires in the right size can be tricky.  You'll want to determine what sizes you desire.  I prefer a 90/90 on the front as it handles sharper.  You can run a 110/90 or 120/90 on the rear, again the smaller size handles quicker.  Also it may wear quicker, all other variables the same.

I've run Metzlers quite a few times, they're a solid choice.   There was a front tire I really disliked, may have been a dunlop or bridgestone, but I'd have to check my records.  I think my next tires will be Avons.  Try some, if you don't like them... ride until they wear out and buy something else.

If you go to bikebandit.com, you can search by tire size. (on the left side bar)  This'll give you an idea of what's available.  Be sure to specify between front and rear tires - there are several makes of front tires that are the same size as the R65's rear. http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/street-tires/t113uh6y?ps=60

[montmil]

Lemme check some MC mag back issues. There is a tire manufacturer that makes a replica K70 pattern. Back later...

[Ed Miller]

Lemme check some MC mag back issues. There is a tire manufacturer that makes a replica K70 pattern. Back later...

Um, Dunlop?  I just bought a pair for my Triumph.  They don't have an 18" front for our R65s though.  

I can't remember if I ever had factory tires on my Triumph.  The K70s look like they'll be really good on dirt and gravel, but my Triumph went pretty well on those surfaces even with the Avon Roadriders.

[Motu]

K70's are an excellent gravel road tyre, way better than the dirt track K180's I currently have.  There is no ''front'' K70, they are all the same....but perhaps you mean you can't find an K70 in the right size for the front?  I used 4.00x18 front and rear on my mono, the rims are the same size.  I prefer a fat 18 or 19 in gravel over a skinny 21, specially in thick stuff.

[10drum]

I found a Heidenau K34 that may be good on the loose stuff.

http://heidenautires.com/vintage-motorcycle-tires/

Has anyone used these?

[georgesgiralt]

The K34 is a very good tire. I use it on the R65 on the front and a K36 on the rear.
Traditional design with modern rubber.
Very good value and made in Germany !
But these are street tires. Not dirt.

[10drum]

George, What I mean by loose stuff, is pea gravel. Illinois back roads are oiled and graveled. Most of my riding is on these type of roads. You never know when you may get into fresh oil/gravel, the dunlop K70's work great on those. The Heidenau K34 looks similar to the K70s. If you're running a tire like the Heidenau K65, you'd better stay off the loose stuff.

[Tony Smith]

Greetings, I need tires for my 82 R65. What is a good set of tires for my bike which will work well on oil gravel roads?
 

It's always been my experience that round black ones are a good start - after that everyone has a (usually divergent) opinion.

Both my R65 and my wife's R65/80 currently wear Pirelli city demons.

In my opinion they are lovely tyres that grip wonderfully, but they are also quite soft so I suspect that they will not have a long life.


Best of all they are available in Imperial sizes.

My R65 wears a 4:00*18 rear and a 3:00*18 front. Sadly Pirelli do not make a 3:50*18 front.

The Wife's R65/80 in deference to the extra weight of the R80 engine got a 4:00*18 rear and a 3:50*18  REAR pattern turned 180 degrees.


My bike handles well, in fact much better than I am ever likely to explore, but the wife'sis even better - when I wea rout my rear I intent to buy two tyres and do the same to mine as I did on the R65/80.

Dunlop are making a number of "heritage" tyres  in our sizes in the K81, K181 and TT100 moulds, I was considerign them but there were none in Australia when I was looking.

[montmil]

Lemme check some MC mag back issues. There is a tire manufacturer that makes a replica K70 pattern. Back later...

Motorcycle Classics magazine advert for Coker tires. They have K70 and K81 replicas in their Phoenix product line.

https://www.cokertire.com/tires/phoenix-cycle-tire.html

[10drum]

Tony, Thanks for the link, that phoenix tire is copy of the K70 with a 3.50X18 front, it may be just what I need. The Dunlop K81/TT is what was on my T100R when I bought it, they were good street tires but not so good on a freshly oiled and graveled road (the loose stuff).

[10drum]

Montmil, I'm sorry, thanks for the link.

[montmil]

Montmil, I'm sorry, thanks for the link.

Ah, rats! I usually hope to blame Tony for most of my misdeeds.