Need Tire Suggestions!

hawknt650 · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:40 am Post subject: Need Tire Suggestions!

I found my Moto Giro ride, so now I'm looking for any suggestions on tires. It's a honda cl175 and the tire sizes are 275/18" and 300/18". Front ribbed tires are NOT recommended for the Giro by prior participants (apparently some dirt roads might be involved), so I'm looking for a good universal tread.
any suggestion??
thanks!
scott

Bentwheel · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:23 pm Post subject:

Kings Tire have just what you need.
For a pic see my post on page one of the thread below.
CL175 tires

Russell · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:36 pm Post subject:

Also Google the following

KENDA, VEE RUBBER, DURO

Each lists the sort of tyre you want. Just a case of what you can access...Kenda K270 would work well.

hawknt650 · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:35 pm Post subject: cl175 tires

are the lower end tires decent for handling? My family ran a kaw/yam dealership for about 25 years and the Kendas weren't regarded too highly back then. Mind you, that was over 10 years ago that' I'm talking and they could be much better these days, I just don't know. Depending on what'll fit, I may have a little leeway to go bigger and that would expand my choices.
thanks for the suggestions so far!
scott

KirkN · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 6:46 am Post subject:

I don't think a CL175 is decent for handling... Not too highly regarded....

Laughing

Gotta keep these things in perspective, y'know... Laughing

hawknt650

geeeesh, I'm rallying it, not racing it...

KirkN · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 9:38 am Post subject:

Yeah, that was my point - you're rallying a CL175, not track-racing an R-6. In other words, you don't need to look down on Kenda's. They'll do great for what you're needing.

Russell · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject:

Kenda's K270 is tough as old boots dualsport type tyre. You would NEVER be short of traction on a CL175 wearing K270's.
Vee Rubber have some block pattern tyres very reminiscent of 70's Dunlop road stuff. My CB175 wears a 3.00 Vee Rubber on the front comfortably .Looks very like the Kings tread pattern on Bentwheels CL.Don't know whether your guard clearance is similar.
These value for money Asian tyres are built to be used in seriously adverse conditions on bikes that carry incredible loads.Lots of the scepticsm of such tyres in the affluent West amongst recreational riders is pure speculation and hearsay based on a sort of misinformed snobbery.

hawknt650 · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:16 pm Post subject: tires

"misinformed snobbery"! You've hit the nail on the head (and made me laugh). You'll be pleased to know I'm contemplating a set of Cheng Shin universal tread tires, I'm just not sure whether a 300/18 will squeeze into the 275/18 front and will a 350/18 fit on the 300/18 rear rim, or just go w/ the stock sizes.
scott

Russell · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject:

Going on my CB175 both ends can take the upsize you contemplate but my pick is that if you stuck with the 3.00 on the back and put a 3.00 on the front it wouldn't cause any seriously adverse effects.

hawknt650 · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:16 pm Post subject: CL175 tire size

I'm actually picking the bike up Thursday, so after I get her home, I want to measure the rim width sizes and try to go from there. The funny thing is, I can't even list a good reason why I want to go oversize.....it's something I did to my street bikes in my youth (60's and 70's) but I don't do it now on my hawk. I know there's a danger in too wide of a tire for a narrow rim, but I wouldn't think one size over would enter that territory.

Anyway, I'm a Moto Giro novice (or will be!) and apparently sometimes there's short sections of dirt road and the rally does run weather regardless. I've read a few viewpoints by earlier entrants and a front rib tire is to be avoided "I found out the hard way" was mentioned. The rally average speed is supposed to be under 30 mph, so I'm thinking that universal treads would be the way to go. I'm interested in Russell's notion of running a pair of 300/18s and if there's any thought behind that, please let me know.

I found a guy w/ a shitload of Cheng Shin universal tires, manufactured various weeks of 2008 and they're around $45-$50 each shipped. I've attached a pic.
I do appreciate any insights,
scott

duceolsen · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:50 pm Post subject: tires

how do you think those Cheng Shin tires would do on pavement?

KirkN · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:54 pm Post subject:

I'd go with the next size oversize without hesitation. I mean, for the front, you're talking going from a tire that's 2.75" wide to one that's 3.00" wide. A quarter of an inch? An eighth of an inch on either side of the centerline? No worries. Same with the back.

I bought new tires for my '74 CB200 a year ago - I went with Duros front and rear - front is 3.0, rear is 3.50. There's a HUGE amount of room between the front fender mounts and even more at the rear swing arm. There must be 3/4" on each side in the back... Smile

I'd go with the Cheng Shins if you like or whatever other non-ribbed tire you come across for the cheapest. Absolutely no need to go with anything more $$$.

I've run any number of bikes with 'em (Cheng Shins, Duros and Kendas) and have been very satified. 'Course, I'm not a peg-scratcher with my bikes, either.

Good luck, and have fun in the MotoGiro! Is that the original MotoGiro in Italy, or the one here in the US? Isn't there one in California, and a similar event (though maybe not MotoGiro) run around Lake Erie?

I love the small displacement runs. I'd love to do the round-Lake-Erie deal on a 1982 Honda MB5! 50cc of hot-rodded, two-stroke, 10,500 rpm screamer! Yeah, baby! Laughing

Kirk

hawknt650 · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:10 pm Post subject: giro

The first I heard about it was a month ago on a mailing list. This one has been around 5 years, primarily in the Northeast, based on the Italian model, and the fall event is in Corning, NY 9/17-9/19

hawknt650 · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:35 pm Post subject: cheng shin

as for the appropriateness of the universal tread, it looks like an exact duplicate of the old Dunlop K70, the staple for Brit bikes back in the 70's.