Forum

[Davie Hall]

Sorry guys, I had a bit of a senior moment. The tyre fitted is a mitas h-02 not 08 as I said

[Beezabryan]

Got TT100/ K81 back & front. Never checked mileage so can make no real comment other than that the rear is getting close to where I replace bike tyres.
The wheel alignment is OK rides in straight line hands off the bars yet it can sometimes be quite "white liney/ squirrely" at the rear end.
I am contemplating maybe trying a K70 this time but leaving the K81 on the front until it too needs replacing. I know very little about tyres and used to rely on the advice of a respected fitter who is sadly no longer with us hence my thoughts posted here. I have no wish to re ignite a tyre debate, my interest is Dunlop K81/ K70 only.
Thanks folks

[ric]

Changed the last 100/90-19 Roadrider over at 6125 miles with 2mm of tread remaining. Its replacement has only done 5,500, probably because I've been running it at a different pressure and currently has 2mm of tread left. I think I'll risk it for another couple of weeks on the warm dry roads we've got at the moment.
I'm also a great believer that the only thing keeping the pain away from bent metal and limbs is the rubber on your rims.

[Gwilly]

Don't worry about senior moments Davie.

I've just done the same, reading BB's comment he mentioned TT100 which sounded familiar so went and looked.

Sure enough its a pair of K81's i've fitted not K70's as reported..

At £247 delivered with inner tubes i should of remembered, the wife does....

Strange how they always remember the smallest unimportant detail...

[2cvandy]

I've not owned my 2009 Electra long enough to comment on tyre life, I've only done around 1,000 miles on her so far, although I bought it with 5,000 miles on the clock wearing an Avon front and a Mitas rear so clearly at least one has been changed. The low mileages being quoted seem surprising though for such a low powered bike. I run my Harley on Avon Venoms and expect at least 8,000 miles from a pair, my Transalp runs on Michelin Annekees which last around 10 - 12,000 which seems fair enough as it's much lighter than the Harley. So what is it about the humble Bullet that causes it to eat tyres?

[jefrs]

I'm also surprised by some of the low mileages. The only car I've had which could scrub tyres in less than a year, say 15,000 miles, was an old AMG with a serious amount of poke and it hated cheap tyres because they wouldn't stick to the road. You can tell when a tyre has "gone off" because it won't stick to the road, that happens around 4-6mm, not wait for the bald tyre-wear indicator at 2mm



I call M&S tyres "muck and snot", they're also known as "all season" tyres and very suitable for english winters i.e. they're not a full-on winter tyre but do work well when it's below 7°C and/or wet and slithery - which we get all year round.

[Gwilly]

Could it be to do with the width of the contact patch? Its skinny on an enfield compared to say a Harley..

My tyres are always worn in the centre 2" width, perhaps at 30psi a sign of over inflation on the rear..

The K81 and 70 seems to have a larger flatter width than the AM26 which has a more rounded width giving more contact in cornering..

Probably talking rubbish as usual but we shall see in time..

The old Avon skid makers that came with the bike where awful for corner braking but lasted for years tread wise, harder compound i guess..

Had to use a hacksaw to get them off the rims, if i'd had a puncture i don't think i would have noticed..

[grahamwalker]

Avon SMs for me perfect for a bullet and last very well, don't believe the rubbish quoted by some about them.

[Reg]

I changed the original tyres on my bullet at 10,000kms when they were ten years old. Still had plenty of tread though.

[Robin]

Hey Beezabryan. I used to solely run k70's on the Bullet for many years. Soft compound, fast wearing, great gripping. Don't waste them if you mainly ride on good quality tarmac, as they are meant for C,D,E...roads. Chin sheng and Maxxis C 180's are K 70 replica's. Identical in every way, but cheaper.