Tread for the cruiser?

[Papa Bear]

After recently purchasing my first Boulevard, C90T, and after doing a couple of decent days rides, Iv decided that I dont like my back tyre. It has a 180/70 15 Bridgestone White Wall........ so my question is, what do think is the best tyre you have found for the C90's ?? Im not really into high speed but do enjoy cornering.

[Doug]

I don't believe anyone else other than Bridgestone make a white wall Tyre the same size for the rear. Some of the overseas Boulevard Sites mention about using a White Wall Dunlop but they are slightly narrower and taller than the standard OEM Tyre.
I too don't like my rear Tyre - bit slippery in the wet for my liking.

[9rider]

If you don't mind loosing the white wall, Metzler do good tyres for cruisers

[The Lone Rider]

Metz Marathon ME880 hands down are the best cruiser tyres for anything not a chopper style or wide arse.

They come in profiles better suited for cruisers, and a compound combination that lets you maintain an upright position with comfort and little wear, and extremely excellent softer compound on the outer tread pattern that grips to the extreme. The treat pattern is also excellent at dispersing water.

I have gotten a consistent 20,000K out of a front tire if they are ME880s, and a bit more over 10,000K for the rear. By comparison, a set of Bridgestones lasted me less than half that, and they were no where near as steady leaning and in the wet.

Read cruiser magazines, the top dogs are metz for non wide arse and avon for wide

[Jerry74]

Metzeler ME880 are the best I have run, my harley handles and can keep up ( sort of) with a ZX 6R, dunlops and bridgestones are horse shit compared to the metzelers
Pirelli are worth a look too.

[Gone Burger]

I've only got the M50 - but definately agree with above few posts. Metz ME880. Fantasitc tyre, gives you plenty of confidence in a corner knowing it's going to stick beautifully in a corner, and get you smootly out of one.

[bluebird]

Metz Marathon ME880 hands down are the best cruiser tyres for anything not a chopper style or wide arse.

They come in profiles better suited for cruisers, and a compound combination that lets you maintain an upright position with comfort and little wear, and extremely excellent softer compound on the outer tread pattern that grips to the extreme. The treat pattern is also excellent at dispersing water.

I have gotten a consistent 20,000K out of a front tire if they are ME880s, and a bit more over 10,000K for the rear. By comparison, a set of Bridgestones lasted me less than half that, and they were no where near as steady leaning and in the wet.

Read cruiser magazines, the top dogs are metz for non wide arse and avon for wide

That is my experience too, the Metz 880 made a huge difference to my S50, and the Avon Cobra is great on the M109.

[Festo]

I have the C50 and recently changed the rear to an avon venom and it proved its worth coming back to Aucks in wind driven rain from Masterton wings over wairarapa sunday before last. Swung it around plenty in the wet and stuck like shit to a blanket. Just been in to drury performance and had the front matched with the same tyre as about to hit the S.I. roads. Had the standard issue of IRC tyres on before this and managed 16k on the rear and 21k on the front.

[blgdave]

Just dug up this old thread to ask if people are of the same opinions on C90 tyres??

My bike has a mixed bag of IRC GS23 (all black) on the back and Bridgestone G703 (white wall) on the front.

I have only ridden the bike over about 180 ks so far but most of that was on damp roads and through the twisties of the Brynderwyns and SH1 between Auckland and Whangarei. Not used to Cruiser bikes as yet but I was not fully confident in the feeling from the rear tyre? There is heaps of tread on it and I was not pushing hard. Maybe its just me getting used to the bike and teh fact that it was wet? Or is it the tyre itself??

What are peoples experiences of the IRC GS23?

Are folks still saying a better option would be to swap for a Me880?

What about a matched G703/702 for the back??

Last one... What are your thoughts on mixing tyre manufacturers and patterns front and back on these bikes??

Chers all

Dave...

[blgdave]

Going to chance a few runs and see how I get on. Then go for 880 if I still feel the same. Still after anyones personal input if any?

Cheers...

[skippa1]

I didnt like the Avons or Dunlop Elite 3's. Neither have inspired confidence in the wet. I have a matched pair of Pirelli Night Dragons and like them a lot.

[skinman]

I had the same feeling from the previous rear on my bike. put on a metzler. sticks good now, even feels controlled crossing white lines (wet), slips but regrips nicely not a nasty snap.

[hellokitty]

I had the same feeling from the previous rear on my bike. put on a metzler. sticks good now, even feels controlled crossing white lines (wet), slips but regrips nicely not a nasty snap.

I have Metzlers as well (on the Harley)- I chose sticky over hard-wearing cos as the tyre shop guys said "you seem to like your corners, look the tyres are worn right to the edge"
I rode to and from Warkworth (via the old roads) on brand new tyres in torrential rain and not once did I feel nervous, or feel the bike slide.

[GrayWolf]

problem with big V's is the torque pulses which can rip a rear tyre to pieces quite rapidly, A dual compound rear will give you wear (centre) and grip (edges) but even though it will wear faster I still keep to a more sporting compound tyre on the front... doesnt have to be THE stickiest, but stickier than the back... rear slips can be recovered,,,, front slips usually end in grief.

Personal use at present.. bridgestone dual compound tour rear... sport (standard type) front.
Also think of the weight of your machine.. sports tyres are designed for modern lightweight sprotbikes.... (190kg) not 240kg+ which also starts leading into carcass deforming etc on bends.

[blgdave]

Anyone running IRC rear tyre like mine? I think I have convinced myself its going to slip now and so dont have confidence in it. So I ride like a nancy! Is this in my mind as it really has not let go at all. I just feel like it might??

Cheers all