Finding rare tyres in NZ - how & where to import?

[atalagk]

Hi guys, I have an '88 Honda AX-1 dual-purpose bike and need tyres.

Original ones are:
Front: 90/100-19 55P Trail Wing TW39
Back: 120/90-16 63P Trail Wing TW40

Unfortunately the OEM ones (Bridgestone Trailwing 39 and 40) are not imported to NZ. Dunlop K460 is also known to have been fitted as OEM and unavailable. Other fitting options are Shinko SR732 and Veerubber VRM-298 or VRM 163 which is kind of possible to find but I don't prefer at the moment.

Neither tyre dealers (I talked to many!) nor bike shops are willing to import for me. So the only option is to buy online. Has anyone ever imported tyres from overseas? Many US websites and the common ones (ebay, amazon etc.) don't ship to NZ. I found Webike.net which ships from Japan and they have Dunlop K460 but quite expensive (>NZD 500 for front and rear - these tyres are USD60-70 in US)

Your help will be much appreciated.

Cheers - koray

[malcy25]

Why do you specifcally need OEM tyres? Woudn't just a good brand trail tyre of appropriate size be okay, or are they very specific sizes? I seem to recall thee had mag wjheels?

[Ender EnZed]

This seller (http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=A3TGC5XRRCX4P2) will ship both the TW39 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GZNDHQ/ref=sc_pgp__m_A3TGC5XRRCX4P2_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3TGC5XRRCX4P2&n=&s=&v=glance) and TW40 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GZNDJY/ref=sc_pgp__m_A3TGC5XRRCX4P2_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3TGC5XRRCX4P2&n=&s=&v=glance) to NZ for NZ$435.70. As above though, why do you need these tyres? There aren't many 20 year old bikes out there still on OEM rubber.

[RideLife]

We have 100/90-19" fronts available in the 50/50, Road/dirt K60 Heidenau range. see here (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/tyres/auction-436880081.htm)
That's only 10mm wider than the 90/100 and the same circumference. $205

Just an option.

[atalagk]

Why do you specifcally need OEM tyres? Woudn't just a good brand trail tyre of appropriate size be okay, or are they very specific sizes? I seem to recall thee had mag wjheels?

Thanks for your response. Yeah these are kind of weird size tyres and yes AX-1 has mag wheels and I'm after tubeless ones.

[atalagk]

This seller (http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=A3TGC5XRRCX4P2) will ship both the TW39 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GZNDHQ/ref=sc_pgp__m_A3TGC5XRRCX4P2_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3TGC5XRRCX4P2&n=&s=&v=glance) and TW40 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GZNDJY/ref=sc_pgp__m_A3TGC5XRRCX4P2_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3TGC5XRRCX4P2&n=&s=&v=glance) to NZ for NZ$435.70. As above though, why do you need these tyres? There aren't many 20 year old bikes out there still on OEM rubber.

Hey thanks for pointing out to that site - yes they do ship to NZ.
BTW is there any particular brand/tyre that you have in mind in place of the OEM ones? I'm not sure if there are many other options at this weird size.

[Gremlin]

I was pointed to these guys by a kind fellow: http://www.jakewilson.com/

They shipped to NZ, but it wasn't cheap. Still, the tyre wasn't available here yet, and they were so much cheaper there, the extra shipping made them a bit cheaper than here (if I could buy them).

[budda]

I was pointed to these guys by a kind fellow: http://www.jakewilson.com/

They shipped to NZ, but it wasn't cheap. Still, the tyre wasn't available here yet, and they were so much cheaper there, the extra shipping made them a bit cheaper than here (if I could buy them).

your favourite bike shop can access the correct tyres through the NZ Importer, typically indent orders are minimum of 5 each part number though .... get yourself a lifetime supply !!!!!!!!!!!!!!