Advice on new tyres please

[NZJLY]

Gidday, just getting back into bikes and am the new :blink: owner of a 1984 Honda NV400 (85000 on the clock and starts and runs beautifully). Just passed its warrant, but it was noted I need to change the front tyre soon (1.5 mm tread left)

Front is a Pirelli Sports Demon 100/90-18 and the rear is a Shinko 10 SR712R 110/90-18 (6 mm tread). Both running 35 PSI.

I use the bike for rural and urban around 200 k per week. I am unlikely to go much over 120 KPH (I am just relearning how to go round corners :facepalm:), and ride in wet as well as dry weather.

I am after something that will grip harder than I can ride (should be easy) and have good wear, but I don't want a teflon tyre in the rain.

Also - should I change both at the same time or leave the rear until it needs replacement.

The bike rides well, a little bit squirmy in the rear while cornering (I suspect it is probably me rather than the bike, and there was no swing-arm movement for the testing station WOF this week.

And, recommendations please on good places in Hamilton to get tyres.

I look forward to opinions, and thank you for your help.

John

[YellowDog]

I'm not a Shinko fan myself, but then you would be abetter judge than I would.

I can tell you that 1.5mm on a front tyre is no fun at all in the wind and rain, so changing sooner rather than later is a good idea.

I'm a Michelin PR3 fan myself. Great road holding and handling in wet conditions. there are lots of good tyres around, just look for the specials at your local supplier.

[riffer]

The Sport Demon is a good tyre for this bike I reckon. The Pilot Roads the previous poster has suggested don't come in your tyre size.


Continental also make a tyre called the Conti-Go which is a good tyre for your bike.

See here:

http://www.colemans-suzuki.co.nz/products/676-tyres_road/2323-continental_contigo_tyres.aspx

Bear in mind that it's a crossply, not a radial, so you'd need to have a new front and rear tyre, or your handling is bad (some say dangerous)

[fastoyz]

ive always like michelins, you can get pilot active in those sizes some details here http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/products/199-michelin_road/1513-michelin_pilot_activ_sport_tou.aspx

[ducatilover]

Sport Demons are great value for money and are nice to ride on

[Racey Rider]

Heidenau do a sticky tyre in that 100/90-18 size if grip is your main want.
See here (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=411108887)

[sharp2183]

+1 on the Sport Demons. Good even on a track, especially on a bike like yours. I have to disagree on the Pilot Roads though. Bad experience...

[Jerry74]

Metzeler M3 or M5 can't go wrong with them

[davebullet]

Pirelli Sport Demons are good. A mate on a ninja 250 loved his.

Ditch the stinko on the rear. Doesn't matter it has 6mm life left. Think of it this way - it has no grip left. It will just give you more and more shits in the rain.

We used to run Bridgestone Battlax BT45s on the VTR250. A very good tyre. Exceptional wear characteristics (resisted squaring off) and felt good in the wet.

I think either michelin pilot activ, pirelli sport demon or the BT45s above would do nicely. If you can't decide between the 3 - choose on price / deals. Check out cycletreads.co.nz as they have a bit of a sale going

[CHOPPA]

Nothing wrong with Shinkos but Pirellis are exceptional

[otter]

I'm running sport demons which even though I don't have much to compare them to, I'd say they're great.

I hear that sport demons or BT45s are the way to go. The BT45s are supposed to last longer and do better in the wet compared to the SD.
The sport demons are also supposed to be good in the wet and really sticky (wearing out a bit quicker). I think they're also cheaper. I didn't think I'd be able to afford new tires for a track day...until I found out how cheap they were, I couldn't believe it until I paid my bill.

You're running a 110 on the rear...that sounds tiny, are you sure that's what it should be?

[nzspokes]

I run those same sizes in SDs. Great tyres.

[NZJLY]

Awesome advice. I got it down to the road pilots and the speed demons, and on price the speed demons have it.

Thanks all,

John :sunny:

[sharp2183]

Awesome advice. I got it down to the road pilots and the speed demons, and on price the speed demons have it.

Thanks all,

John :sunny:

Good choice, those are surprisingly good tyres.

[Katman]

Nothing wrong with Shinkos but Pirellis are exceptional

I think you're thinking of a completely different breed of Shinko.

The Sport Demons are great tyres. Get the matching rear on there as soon as you can afford it.