Forum

[stevewatkin]

papasmurf, do you reckon those TKS80s would fit under the valenced mudguards of the B5 ?

[Gwilly]

Thanks peeps, Dave confirmed the niggle in the back of my mind, Namely different tread patterns and compound may not be the best combination, Also i don’t heal as fast as i used to so not pushing my luck…

Beeza, i had a quick check and both tyres where fitted just before the MOT 2011 so will be 4 years this summer.

As evidenced by the MOT have only covered 3000 miles since 2011 (lousy summers) and then only tootled around the moors at the pace of an old fart..

Yet there we are, worn out. Nature of the beast i suppose, soft compound equals good grip in dry conditions but wears down quick.

The old SM’s needed a hacksaw to cut off the rims but would last 8 years before perishing and still have loads of tread..

Pays yer money and takes yer choice..

Norm this is the mildly modified 500ES Iron lung, so point and hang on for grim death..

Sounds like its shifting if nothing else… Thanks again all, K81’s on order..

[papasmurf]

stevewatkin, all that is necessary is to compare the diameter of the tyres, that and the rolling radius is on the technical specifications of tyre manufacturers websites.
The Continentals are lower profile the usual "normal" 19inch tyres fitted. But you really need to check for yourself.

[simon]

I believe that both the K81's and the TT100's are now made of modern softer compounds and therefore as you say hold well but wear fast. The old Avons look the part but seem to wear square on the back and last so long they get hard and slippery. I'd go for the K81's but 3:25 front and back as it give a classic look. I'm still running universal MT80 Pirellis they are front tyres in truth so wear out on the back in around 3000k but stick like the proverbial to a blanket and as the were being jobbed off by a rural bike dealer who was swapping them out for proper knobblies they were really cheap. However they do howl on the Tarmac but parsimony has its price.

[sofiaspin]

I have Avons and they are superb, however, I dont lean over hard as it is a Bullet and hence they wear quickly. 3000 is a bit quick but I have averaged 3500 and then changed them over. Being upright ish most of the time leads to squaring. They provide sold secure road holding and given that the only thing between you and the road is the rubber they do the job well.

[Scalyback]

Chris D



they are Ensign universal trails,



3.50 - 19 so it says on them

[ChrisD]

Thanks Scaley - did you have to modify the standard mudguard or stays?

Some 90% of the roads in South Africa are dirt, so once you're away from the main routes you need a more grippy tyre than the standard Avon ribbed SM and I haven't found any of the Dunlop tyres (K70, K81 etc) in 3.50. Actually they're not Dunlop they are Hanoi specials anyway.
I can import tyres from our host, but the landed cost here in Cape Town is ~110% above their list price (the GBP55 Ensign tyre will cost ~GBP120 landed) so you don't do that if you're not certain the item will fit!
Cheers, ChrisD