new airhead appropriate tire option

[vanzen]

This product has been discussed elsewhere but I have yet to see mention on this forum.
http://www.conti-bike.co.uk/userfiles/i ... Attack.jpg
The tire may be of interest to some riders here.
(Please note the "opinion" sidebar / disclaimer)

[Jeff in W.C.]

It not my intention to open a can of worms here, but I have a question. My knowledge is very limited, and what I've read and heard has been not to put a radial tire on a bike that was meant to have bias ply. Now, Continental has developed this tire, which is a radial tire for older bikes originally designed to run bias ply. Now I'm confused. What's different with this tire? Can someone elaborate on this?

[melville]

It not my intention to open a can of worms here, but I have a question. My knowledge is very limited, and what I've read and heard has been not to put a radial tire on a bike that was meant to have bias ply. Now, Continental has developed this tire, which is a radial tire for older bikes originally designed to run bias ply. Now I'm confused. What's different with this tire? Can someone elaborate on this?

They have a 90 aspect ratio, and are designed for skinny 18" and 19" rims. Most sporting radials are for 17" wheels and have aspect ratios of 50 to 60.

Development was done kinda backwards to how it's usually done--the tire company got old bikes and developed a new tire for them. Nowadays it's usually the OEM providing next year's bike to the tire company.

I'm very encouraged by this development--it means there are enough of us actually riding our junk that Conti wants to tap our market. Note that one of the initial sizes available is a 19" rear--are Norton Commandos owners really using that many tires these days?

Sadly, it will be a couple years before I'll need to replace my Michelins.

[ME 109]

Can't say I've out ridden the abilities of tyres that have been available for years.....

The Metz front and Michelin rear have performed excellently.
I wasn't aware they were no good.

[Jeff in W.C.]

They have a 90 aspect ratio, and are designed for skinny 18" and 19" rims. Most sporting radials are for 17" wheels and have aspect ratios of 50 to 60.

Development was done kinda backwards to how it's usually done--the tire company got old bikes and developed a new tire for them. Nowadays it's usually the OEM providing next year's bike to the tire company.

I'm very encouraged by this development--it means there are enough of us actually riding our junk that Conti wants to tap our market. Note that one of the initial sizes available is a 19" rear--are Norton Commandos owners really using that many tires these days?

Sadly, it will be a couple years before I'll need to replace my Michelins.

So, the real issue is a size issue not a construction issue. The way I interpreted it in the past is that it was more of a construction issue.

I'm probably going to need new tires in about a year. I was initially thinking of getting a dual compound tire, but I may consider this new tire as an option. In the end, all tires will be able to handle my riding ability.

[melville]

They have a 90 aspect ratio, and are designed for skinny 18" and 19" rims. Most sporting radials are for 17" wheels and have aspect ratios of 50 to 60.

Development was done kinda backwards to how it's usually done--the tire company got old bikes and developed a new tire for them. Nowadays it's usually the OEM providing next year's bike to the tire company.

I'm very encouraged by this development--it means there are enough of us actually riding our junk that Conti wants to tap our market. Note that one of the initial sizes available is a 19" rear--are Norton Commandos owners really using that many tires these days?

Sadly, it will be a couple years before I'll need to replace my Michelins.

So, the real issue is a size issue not a construction issue. The way I interpreted it in the past is that it was more of a construction issue.

I'm probably going to need new tires in about a year. I was initially thinking of getting a dual compound tire, but I may consider this new tire as an option. In the end, all tires will be able to handle my riding ability.

True that! I've made a few passes up and down a nearby twisty 5 mile grade (2000' vertical) on my Airhead. While I'm more comfortable (and faster) going uphill I do not expect to ever go quite as quickly on that grade as I've done it on a bicycle downhill.

[dwire]

My Owner's manual here says nothing of bias or radials. I know in '53 passenger cars had no such thing as a radial; or they were not at all in use if they'd been devised. Did these bikes (like my early '71) come with bias ply's from the factory? Since I set a new "narrative free" policy here at Boxerworks.com, I can simply say if they came with bias ply's just from my own experience, there would be a number of reasons that one might prefer a bias ply over a radial on these bikes, regardless the compound; so it sounds interesting.

If anyone gets some, would you please report back to everyone on the forum?

[Major Softie]

dwire, your bike came with bias ply because there were no radials for motorcycles at the time. That's why your manual makes no mention of them. Motorcycle radials were developed much later than automotive radials.

Jeff, I've always been told the same thing you have, but it wasn't about size. It was about the suspension design being different for bikes designed for radials.

I have to assume that Continental knows what it is doing in designing these radials for bikes that were designed for bias ply tires, but it does fly in the face of everything we've been told up to now.

[Roy Gavin]

Just a bit photoshop and a bit of crap from someone who has never ridden a bike.

Just like most road tests these days

But even if true the opinion column at the top RHS says it all.

Would be nice to see the date on that article - it might have been April the first.

Remember too that Continental is a marketing company - most of their tyres are made elsewhere, mostly in the old eastern block Barum factories,and they are nothing special.

But what they do well is control the internet - few tire threads, anywhere, are without someone claiming mystical properties for their tyres, and bagging exactly the same tyre sold under another brand.

Royal Enfields have 19" rears too - wonder how they would cope with the thundering 19 HP they make.

[Major Softie]

Why, Roy, I believe you are bit of a cynic.


Interestingly, I do not find the tire listed on Continental's site, yet I find a place that says they are selling it:
http://www.mynetmoto.com/motorradreifen ... ttack.html