Original Tires

[Roy Gavin]

Don't believe every thing you read , particularly PR from tire companies, some of whom don't actually make any tires.

The main functional change to tires has been the tread compound, and most classic pattern tires have the new compounds too. You have a choice of 3 compounds with Dunlop TT 100's for instance.

The profile of the original fitment tires suited the bikes fine and new profiles probably dont work as well.

Tread pattern is no more than fashion, and makes little, if any difference at our power level.

I fit my own tires and cut the old ones up before putting them out in the garbage bin, and most airhead size cross plies are built on pretty much the same carcase they were being built on 50 years ago. Michelin only just released a new Anneky 3, to replace the old one which was just a crude old four ply T66 trail tire carcase, which had been around a very long time, probably since "66, yet the Annekey 1 and 2's were lauded as great, advanced tires.

[radarcarve]

As the original poster I just wanted to say a few things. I asked about the 'original' tires on a BMW for one reason only... a local bike has the claim of 7,500 miles, and to justify the claim, the seller says that it still has the original tires. I just want to have some good info to back me up when I inspect the tires. As for keeping a bike 'authentic', I have not much interest in what tires are used. After all, I have a 1926 Buick Master, and there is no way to replace the current tires with 'originals'...

[chasbmw]

With only 2 wheels, forty year old tyres might be challenging!

If the original tyres have done 7500 miles, I would expect the rear at least to be nearly worn out .

My brother has had the luck to race a 1924 gP Bugatti , new tyres of a suitable skinny width are available and by appear to have a grippy rubber compound.

I have never deconstructed the structure of my current favorite tyre , the Michelin pilot, but they do seem to be very stiff walled, compared to other tyres I have mounted. Good results too.

[Major Softie]

Little of Roy's post is true.

The main functional change to tires has been the tread compound, and most classic pattern tires have the new compounds too.

Many classic pattern tires have more modern compounds than they had years ago, but most do NOT have the most modern compounds, and none that I know of have the 2 or 3 compound designs of the premium new designs.

The profile of the original fitment tires suited the bikes fine and new profiles probably dont work as well.

The profile issue Roy mentions is a real one, but "new profiles probably dont work as well" is a bit of a stretch. It CAN be true in some circumstances, but in others they work better. Fit is a more consistent issue.

Tread pattern is no more than fashion, and makes little, if any difference at our power level.

This is simply and entirely untrue. Old tread patterns were prone to far more tread squirm, groove following, and other handling issues. Modern designs have far more knowledge of how to prevent hydroplaning while having fewer grooves and keeping more rubber in contact with the pavement. Older designs had much more tread cut and were (and are) better able to handle dirt roads while new pavement designs are much more purely useful on pavement. And, finally, "power levels" matter to rubber compounds and carcass design but have absolutely nothing to do with tread pattern.

Lastly, carcass design is not the same as carcass materials, and many of those have changed a lot in 50 years. Cutting a tire would not tell you this.

By the way, Roy, who are these tire companies that do not make tires?

[Airbear]

As the original poster I just wanted to say a few things. I asked about the 'original' tires on a BMW for one reason only... a local bike has the claim of 7,500 miles, and to justify the claim, the seller says that it still has the original tires. I just want to have some good info to back me up when I inspect the tires. As for keeping a bike 'authentic', I have not much interest in what tires are used. After all, I have a 1926 Buick Master, and there is no way to replace the current tires with 'originals'...

Ah, useful information. Had that been provided in the original post, your thread could have drifted away from the topic much earlier. It's a Boxerworks speciality. Good luck with the bike.

[enigmaT120]

Mitas are still making the Conti twin, which they now sell under their own brand name,and I think you can get an 18"front from them.

Wow, you're right:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mitas-H04-tyre- ... 4897.l4275

At least it looks like a similar tread. Spendy.

[Roy Gavin]

http://www.motorcycletyres.net.au/tyres ... index.html

This is the choice we have in Oz, although there may be more available elsewhere.

I think there is a Canadian importer, who may be able to help.

Apart from Continental MItas also make MIchelin tires and a few other overpriced boutique European brands.

Mitas regularly post on other forums, there is a topic over on ADV on their tires, and they answer most questions asked of them.

But even when they are answering questions on their own tires they are still occasionally , err, roughly handled by the dull , the ignorant and the bombastic who seem unable to accept that there is someone, anyone, on the face of this earth who knows more about anything than themselves.

[Major Softie]

Roy, you do understand the difference between manufacturers that have some of their models manufactured by some plant in another country, and manufacturers who "don't actually make any tires" (what you said in your earlier post).

Still waiting to find out who these manufacturers are. I'd certainly like to know if I'm buying tires from a company that doesn't actually make any tires.

[barryh]

As the original poster I just wanted to say a few things. I asked about the 'original' tires on a BMW for one reason only... a local bike has the claim of 7,500 miles, and to justify the claim, the seller says that it still has the original tires. I just want to have some good info to back me up when I inspect the tires.

When I got my 79 at 28 years old and 6200 miles it still had the original tires. They were Continental RB2 front and K112 rear. I believe that tread pattern is still available if you check their web site. The harder a tire gets with age the longer it lasts at least in terms of tread wear so it's quite possible they are original at 7500 miles.

Vehicle manufactures don't usually source tires from only one manufacturer. I suspect some bikes came with Continental and some with Metzlers which I think were called Rille on the front and Block C on the rear. There may have been others.

Another clue for originality is to look for tell tale green dabs of paint on the top flats of the axle nuts. It's possible the wheel have never been off.

[Major Softie]

Another clue for originality is to look for tell tale green dabs of paint on the top flats of the axle nuts. It's possible the wheel have never been off.

Oooo, I didn't think of that. Did they mark the axles? I've seen the paint on brake fasteners, but I can't remember if I've seen it on axles.