What's your favourite tyres for an R65?

[NC Steve]

Let me ask a question: I've been all ready to buy a set of Bridgestone BT-45s too, and finally started looking at prices & such, only to see they're rated as "Tubeless" tires. Most other brands that fit (Michelin, Dunlop, even Bridgestone Spitfires) are listed as "tube or tubeless".

I know the standard snowflake wheels require tubes, so everyone is just running tubes with these tires, I take it?
Aren't there some issues with heat involved?  :-?

[nhmaf]

It is my understanding that it is perfectly OK to run tubes in these tires.  An old rule of thumb
(I never found out whose "thumb" it actually was) basically stated that if you're running tubes,
then derate the speed rating of the tire by 1 grade, so if running a Z (149+ mph) derate to a "V",
"V" -> "H", "H" -> "S", etc.   Since the tire can't dissipate internal heat as well with a tube as it can
without, this seems to make practical sense to me.

Since so few new bikes run with tubes these days (though at least a number of the retro-spoke wheel
cruisers do) this seems to have been forgotten.  OR perhaps it was never widely accepted, but I'm
sticking with it !
 8-)

[NC Steve]

Thanks, Mike, I had some vague recollection of such a formula too, but wasn't sure what it was. Since the R65 will never, ever, never find itself running past maybe 90, I should be safe with whatever speed downgrades are necessary.  

Now, though, another question/problem has arisen: Bridgestone also lists the BT-45 as a "radial construction", verses the bias- ply common to it's competitors and own other tires. Is this in fact true, or is Bridgestone just messing with my head tonight??
I've heard nothing but good things about these tires, but radials are "bad" on such a stone-age machine, aren't they?  :-/

Grrrrrr!! Anyone have experience with Bridgestone's cheaper, tube-type, bias ply Spitfires??

[nhmaf]

Hi Steve -

Not sure where you got your information, but there are many different tire models from Bridgestone
that begin with "BT", so that could be confusing.   The tires you want for the R65, or other airheads, would
be the BT45, which are bias ply tires.  I just lifted the following text directly from their website (including
the spelling error):

"BT45
            Sport Touring Bias-Ply tire designed for older sport bikes and mid-sized sport-touring bikes.
Features a Dual Tread Compound (DTC) rear tire which offers longer mileage and stability from center,
while also maintaing a excellent grip and performance while cornering. Available in H and V-rated sizes."

I got the H-rated (130 mph) tires as there really is no need to go with the V (150 mph) speed rated ones
on the little R65, even with downrating for tubes, the H rating -> S or T rating still allows for at least 112 - 118 mph.
Here is the Bridgestone website with the sizes, ratings, etc.

http://www.motorcycle-karttires.com/glamourindex.aspx?productID=3&LookupID=8

another thing to note - if the tire is a radial, there is *almost* always an "R" in the tire model number, since no
manufacturers rate tires to an "R" speed rating anymore ("R" = 106 mph rating) that I know of.
One can run radial tires on the older bikes, but in many cases there isn't much practical benefit to be had.  The
key thing to remember is to never mix radial and bias ply tires on the same bike - while it has been done, it is
(strongly) not recommended !

Hope this helps.
Mike

[NC Steve]

Thanks a lot Mike, I had been mislead by an unscrupulous, unnamed (Dennis Kirk) online parts peddler.
Upon checking your chart and looking around further, it appears the BT-45 is indeed a bias-ply tire.

Still, though, anyone familiar with the Bridgestone Spitfires?
Same sizes, H rated, quality tire (I would think), about 25 bucks per tire less...

Thanks again.

[dewjantim]

Thanks a lot Mike, I had been mislead by an unscrupulous, unnamed (Dennis Kirk) online parts peddler.
Upon checking your chart and looking around further, it appears the BT-45 is indeed a bias-ply tire.

Still, though, anyone familiar with the Bridgestone Spitfires?
Same sizes, H rated, quality tire (I would think), about 25 bucks per tire less...

Thanks again.

Bridgestone Spitfires, had them on my Z1 Kaw. They stuck like glue even while grounding out the case guards. Can't tell about the longevity though, I sold the bike (at a great profit) after one riding season......Dew.