Cruising on Chinese tyres... help!

[Machiavelli]

Hey all,

As I understand it, tyres that are good for the dry won't necessarily be good for the wet.

Is it also true that tyres that a sports-biker might prefer will be much different for a cruiser?

I want to buy better tyres for my GN250 rather than stick with the Generic Brand Super-Dragon-Lucky-Star-Turbo tyres I have right now.

I plan to ride as much as I can, countryside and commuting, dry and wet.

What tyres do you recommend for safe, all-weather cruising?

p.s. I could have put this in the equipment/tires section but I wanna make sure I get some cruiser biker opinions

[Tank]

GN250's are known for having terrible tyres (esp the front), Im not sure what mine were swapped for (I will pop down and have a look for you later) , but I was told that it was one of those things that you just HAD to do.

[Machiavelli]

...I will pop down and have a look for you later...

Cheers that'd be most useful.

I know there are heaps of varieties and options depending on what I want to do on my bike which is why I wanted to get some opinions on what might be the best compromise for open-road cruising and regular commuting.

I take it your 'Chinese Fury' is a GN250? Even better getting opinions from somebody who owns one like mine!

[Tank]

I take it your 'Chinese Fury' is a GN250? Even better getting opinions from somebody who owns one like mine!

nah ... mines red and dirty.

[xwhatsit]

Anything is probably better than what you've got on at the moment. If you were up in Auckland, you could pop into Motohaus or Cycletreads and they'd give you a good recommendation to fit your budget -- that's their job, and a lot of people around here think they're pretty good at it.

I wouldn't get too hung up on getting `cruiser tyres', the GN250 is a commuter with relatively sane suspension geometry (front end not raked excessively), and the too-fat rear wheel is the only weird thing about it. A set of Avon Roadrunners or similar would probably do very well and last for yonks, for a relatively good price.

Can anybody recommend a good tyre shop in Christchurch for this man?

[bmz2]

Anything is probably better than what you've got on at the moment. If you were up in Auckland, you could pop into Motohaus or Cycletreads and they'd give you a good recommendation to fit your budget -- that's their job, and a lot of people around here think they're pretty good at it.

I wouldn't get too hung up on getting `cruiser tyres', the GN250 is a commuter with relatively sane suspension geometry (front end not raked excessively), and the too-fat rear wheel is the only weird thing about it. A set of Avon Roadrunners or similar would probably do very well and last for yonks, for a relatively good price.

Can anybody recommend a good tyre shop in Christchurch for this man?

i agree, ring cycletreads they will sort the bike out for everyday use

[deanohit]

I've got some shit tyres on my bike, but now I'm gonna get the stickiest road tyres for my trail bike this week. I don't commute on my bike, so hopefully they will last for a few thousand kays.

[Rashika]

yeah pop into cycletreads on manchester street, opposite Sportszone, Don will be able to give you some good advice if you chat to him... hes a good bloke ;)

[xwhatsit]

Oh! My bad, are Cycletreads in Christchurch too? Same crowd as the guys we've got in Takapuna?

[Squiggles]

and the too-fat rear wheel is the only weird thing about it.

I had an oversized tyre on one of my gn's when i got it, that bike had character (then i swapped it because it was nearly worn out and it became just another gn :confused: )

I'll see if i cant attract twinkle's attention, he's probably got some good suggestions for ya

[The Lone Rider]

Theres a place called Pit Lane or something I believe. Could try them also.

Haven't had to buy new tires for any of my bikes yet, and only traction problems has been the odd slip on those damn white painted lines :D

[Rashika]

Oh! My bad, are Cycletreads in Christchurch too? Same crowd as the guys we've got in Takapuna?


Theres a place called Pit Lane or something I believe. Could try them also.

Haven't had to buy new tires for any of my bikes yet, and only traction problems has been the odd slip on those damn white painted lines :D

Pitlane/Cycletreads = same place

Same name as the one up norf but Don is def a one of a kind... hes the one with the mohawk :cool:

[twinkle]

I want to buy better tyres for my GN250 rather than stick with the Generic Brand Super-Dragon-Lucky-Star-Turbo tyres I have right now.

I plan to ride as much as I can, countryside and commuting, dry and wet.

What tyres do you recommend for safe, all-weather cruising?


I've almost worn out a set of Pirelli City demons... they are fine. The front wore out surprisingly quickly (20,000km) but has huge rain grooves, if you like riding in torrential rain. The rear has a different profile to the Super-Dragon-Lucky-Star-Turbo tyre that you have on it now, which will make corners a happier place to be :hug:

At the moment I have a Bridgestone BT45 on the front which I haven't made up my mind about yet. It feels like it has much more grip but the steering also feels much heavier. Might be because it is a tubeless tyre with a tube in it?

I haven't tried Avon roadriders yet, there wasn't any in stock when i needed them.

edit: I should have said, any tyre from one of the well known tyre manufacturers will be miles better than the ones on it.

[BASS-TREBLE]

I have got Pirelli City Demons on front and rear, very pleased and they heat up amazingly fast for a little bike wit no 'oomph'.

Massive rain grooves as said before and gravel riding isn't special but better than stock.

[Spuds1234]

yeah pop into cycletreads on manchester street, opposite Sportszone, Don will be able to give you some good advice if you chat to him... hes a good bloke ;)

Another vote for Don.

Awesome bloke.

The guys that work there are awesome too.

You wont be disappointed with the service there either. That I can guarantee.

[The Lone Rider]

Mac will soon be due for a bigger bike.

And he hasn't been doing much riding I believe.

Just shifting house at the moment he is.