So what's the best brand/model tires for the C10?

[ron203]

Tires?  so many different experiences.
My rear BT45 is almost done at 5000km (3000 mi).
BT45 has worked well, just not lasting. Driving to work and few day trips only.
I am looking at Shinko 777 for rear and mounted BT45 remaining on the front.
What do you think?

COGger Rock said on Saturday he likes his Shinko. How about posting up your  thoughts if you do that combo?If I do the Shinko, I'll have the same combo. I'm within a month or so of replacing my BT-045 rear. It's my second and okay, but for a supposedly dual compound, not giving the miles I thought I'd get. Maybe 5,500 when it's done.
Thanks!

[Slybones]

Tires?  so many different experiences.
My rear BT45 is almost done at 5000km (3000 mi).
BT45 has worked well, just not lasting. Driving to work and few day trips only.
I am looking at Shinko 777 for rear and mounted BT45 remaining on the front.
What do you think?

COGger Rock said on Saturday he likes his Shinko. How about posting up your  thoughts if you do that combo?If I do the Shinko, I'll have the same combo. I'm within a month or so of replacing my BT-045 rear. It's my second and okay, but for a supposedly dual compound, not giving the miles I thought I'd get. Maybe 5,500 when it's done.
Thanks!

My second PR3 front just arrived. My BT45 rear has a ways yet. But with all the positive feedback on the 777, better mileage and the nice price point looks like I might have to try the PR3 / 777 combo in about 4-5 months from now.

[connie_rider]

At the national I had to put an ME 888 (rear) on my Connie for Lars.. (Traveler from Sweden that borrowed my 03)
I didn't get to ride the bike with it on, but he was impressed.

Need a front now. Thinking I will install the mating tire. Is anyone using these?
Thoughts?

Ride safe, Ted

[SmokinRZ]

At the national I had to put an ME 888 (rear) on my Connie for Lars.. (Traveler from Sweden that borrowed my 03)
I didn't get to ride the bike with it on, but he was impressed.

Need a front now. Thinking I will install the mating tire. Is anyone using these?
Thoughts?

Ride safe, Ted

I am on my third ME880 put on last year.  I must have missed the new 888 but I did notice the tire is now made in Brazil.  Seems to be a little softer and slightly smaller physically from the previous tires.  I think the bad rep for the 880 comes from the wing sized tires.  As a multi-state interstate bomber, I like the security of knowing there won't be any tread separation.  This is a sturdy tire for running a continuous 85mph in 100 degree weather loaded down.  I still like to run a spirited pace in the twisties so I run the Z6 up front.  I've never had any issues with this combination.         

[Ride&time]

I know many said changing from what came stock Dunlops 700 and 701 was a big improvement. I just went with them again. When I got my bike used I knew no different and thought this is just a touring bike. The new ones made a world of difference. I have no Idea how old the tires were that I removed or how good the previous owner was with keeping good air presure in them. They were half worn and I put about 7500 to 8000 on them. Probably average conditions and average riding (in my opinion) Those tires that came with my bike were not good, but the same tires new were much better. I do like sticking to radials, just me. I think looking at the tires for abnormal wear and potential future prroblems is important. Maybe more so than the brand. When I checcked the balance of the old tires it was bad. I mounted and balanced them myself this time much better. If you use a shop make sure its a good one.

Mark,  2006 concours

[DamDan]

After putting a few hundred on my first pair of Avons, I'm liking them but time ans more miles will tell. They were a little more money than the Dunlops but MAY be worth it. Again, time will tell.

[Con Watcher]

I am looking to replace the ancient Dunlop D205's that came on the C10 I got this summer and am trying to make a decision on what to get. There seems by what I am reading to be a general aversion to Dunlop tires on these bikes, although probably due to my ignorance and nothing to compare them to they have seemed fine to me. They actually aren't in too bad of shape but the date code is scary. I live in Western Washington so I need something that does well in the wet, most of my riding is my long commute on the freeway. If I ride exclusively my commuting is 1300 miles a month alone, so I would like to not replace tires every few months. It seems that probably the new Avon Storm 3d xm or a combo with shinko 777 rear may be the best choices with the shinko maybe having the advatage in tread life. Any other suggestions, words of wisdom, ect. Why the dislike of the Dunlops?

[JimBob]

Are there any number-cruncher/statisticians/liars here that can handle compiling a survey for tires?

Would seem a survey of a few metrics (granted some would be rather subjective) like dry and wet traction (on a scale), noise, responsiveness/turn-in/, resistance to road flaws, size used, etc, would produce a significant volume of data points from this group.

Properly constructed, even in an Excel spreadsheet it would be very informative.

Any math/research geeks out there? I'd be glad to put legwork into this (I have a perspective and analytical skills, but don't know how to properly construct a study).

Maybe we could start with the old tire spreadsheet as a base of tires.

[Con Watcher]

In going back and re-reading it looks like some people are getting good tread life out of the Bridgestone BT45's 10,000+ miles and some are getting far less on Bridgestone's are they different model tires or just from more aggressive use. Can a few that have the BT45's post the milage your getting on them and give an idea of how aggressively you ride. They seem like they might be another option for me, I had dismissed them because I saw several reports of them only lasting 5000ish miles. 

[works4me]

I can give a fair comparison between the BT-45 and 777.
My C-10 is my commuter and I ran them back to back.
Same bike, same roads, same commute with as few
variables thrown in as reasonably possible.
( I own other bikes for 2-up, long distance, etc. )
The BT-45 was completely done at 5500 miles.
The 777 will turn 10,000 miles next week and is
still not at the wear bars. I will likely finish out
the season with it.
I have been quite pleased and will definitely get another.
No surprises or disappointments with this one.

[ron203]

Just finished my second BT-45 rear and while I like them okay, both tires wore out between 6500 and 6800 miles. Might try the Shinko next summer/fall.

[DamDan]

With two C-10s to ride, I have now been using the Avons on my '98 long enough that when I got back on my '06, which has the Dunlop K series tires, I must admit that the Avons feel better. Now, if I could just get the price down to the Dunlop level. LOL  Plus, we'll have to see about mileage.

[Zenfab]

Hi all!!!! Just did a 2106 km run and put avon storm frt and azaro rear much much better then my bt 45 and 20 ! Paid 424.00$ for the pair installed and balanced tax in and shopped around that was the best price I found in the province ! I ride 2 up 95% of the time and gotta say what a difference and got to try them on the rain so I'm a avon guy for now sorry for grammar English is my 3 rd language

[Greenie]

Hi all!!!! Just did a 2106 km run and put avon storm frt and azaro rear much much better then my bt 45 and 20 ! Paid 424.00$ for the pair installed and balanced tax in and shopped around that was the best price I found in the province ! I ride 2 up 95% of the time and gotta say what a difference and got to try them on the rain so I'm a avon guy for now sorry for grammar English is my 3 rd language

I've had those tires on my C-10 for 3 years now(2 pairs), the front tire has 8K miles and is still fairly good, the rear tire let me down in Mexico with less than a 1,000 miles on it (the tire was out of round and I was unable to get the tire to Avon for inspection or warranty adjustments). Other than the premature failure the tires wear much slower than anything else I've tried and the tires handles very well.

[Jo]

Ted, put a set of ME 888's just before the Vermont National rally..heavy rain to and from and variety of weather since...tires are wearing well... still going strong and  yes I have put on the miles.

Jo
central fl '01 connie

[LessPaul]

Mine is more FWIW observation than anything. But I know I'll be tire shopping eventually, so I'll throw this out there.

Bought my '86 Connie last fall. It has Avon Venoms, front and rear. They had about 1K on them when I bought the bike. They looked basically brand new. I've since put another 6K on them this season and they still look new to me. No cupping in the front, or squaring off in the rear.

As for my observations/evaluation, I really don't have anything to compare them to. This is my first bike in 35 years, and my only set of tires on the Connie to date. I really have nothing to complain about. They seem to ride just fine for normal commuting (50 miles/day) and the occasional camping trip. 99.99% of my riding is 1-up, and camping trips put another 70 lbs on the seat behind me. I'm 59, and this being my first bike in ages, am not very aggressive.....tho I do love a spirited (but conservative) run. I rode for about an hour this summer in heavy rain at highway speeds and never felt like I was in danger of losing traction.

I have nothing to complain about with these tires. I guess I won't know if I have anything to rave about until I try a different set.

I see from many comments that the Avon Venoms don't seem to last very long. I haven't measured tread depth after 7K yet, but they still look to have a lot of life left. Unless they go to hell in a bucket, I expect I'll get another season out of them.

[Paulie]

...
I see from many comments that the Avon Venoms don't seem to last very long.
...

Nope. Those comments are about the Avon radials, like the Azaro/Storm models. The Venom models are bias & last FAR longer. I use a rear Venom X 160/80-16 (for the GL1500 Wang)...and me likey!

[ACISROC]

Pirelli Sport Demons front and rear, Really nice tire, grips excellent in rain too!

[Uncle Rob]

Just replaced the original Dunlops on my 2003 (7000 miles) with a 110 PR3 front and 150 Shinko 777 rear.  The rear Dunlop was to the wear bars, the front probably had a couple thousand left in it.  Both were hard as a rock but had no age cracks.  The rear developed a crack when I broke the bead on it.  It feels like I added power steering to the bike.  Much smoother turn in with the new tires.  Have not really pushed the bike with the new tires yet. 

[Strawboss]

Just took off an azarro rear radial, around 13000 miles, it was spent, probably should have replaced it at 10,000 miles, guess I was used to wing size bias Metzlers. Replaced it with the new style/compound Storm ultraX 3-D, only put 100 miles on it in the last week, will know more next year, supposed to be the best thing since sliced toast. $144.00 to my front door.

[Zorlac]

supposed to be the best thing since sliced toast.

I tried gluing sliced toast to the rear rim once but wasn't all that impressed.

[Rev Ryder]

supposed to be the best thing since sliced toast.

I tried gluing sliced toast to the rear rim once but wasn't all that impressed.

Texas Toast unsliced is the ticket... may not be available in Joysie though. 


EDIT TO ADD:
You MUST use real buttah... no fake stuff.

[Zorlac]

Texas Toast unsliced is the ticket... may not be available in Joysie though. 
EDIT TO ADD:
You MUST use real buttah... no fake stuff.

Hmmm, what's wrong with this picture?

[Zenfab]

What do you guys prefer radial or bias ??? I ride 2 up at 95% of the time

[Zorlac]

What do you guys prefer radial or bias ???

Both.