Tire Sources

[Tundra]

I've been searching tire sources. AMT (American Moto Tire) is the only source I find that has both front & rear tires. Pricey @ $404.78 front and rear for A-spec radials.
Pirelli Angel GT-II
Gran Tourismo Sport Touring A-Spec
Front 120/70ZR/19
Rear 190/55ZR/17

After 6 hours of research this will give me the closest match I'm looking for when changing the front size.
Front diameter increase 0.47mm...................Rear diameter increase 0.43mm
Front sidewall height increase 0.24mm..........Rear sidewall height increase 0.21mm
Front circumference increase 1.48mm...........Rear circumference increase 1.36mm
Front width decrease 0.4mm..........................Rear width increase 0.48mm

I attempted four sources I have used previously and cannot find these tires/sizes.
Anyone have an alternate tire source I can try.

This tire sizing link is invaluable, especially trying to match wonky Valkyrie tire sizes.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=180-60r17-190-70r17

[st2sam]

I also use AMT, can't remember the last time I bought elsewhere, yep been that long.
I noticed their selection is low, lots of sold out's, but that seems to be the case everywhere.

Just two weeks ago I purchased a set of Dunlap Road Smart III's.
This is the second set, approximately $305.00 delivered, or there about I don't have the recite.
120/70r/19 Front & 180/55r/17 Rear is the size I've used since the OEM's wore out.

I have yet to put a GT spec tire on my Valk., never a problem in almost 50,000mi.. (the max weight rating is very close)
As you know I've hit potholes big enough to dent my rim and the tires held up fine.

Hope this helps?

[Tundra]

I also use AMT, can't remember the last time I bought elsewhere, yep been that long.
I noticed their selection is low, lots of sold out's, but that seems to be the case everywhere.

Just two weeks ago I purchased a set of Dunlap Road Smart III's.
This is the second set, approximately $305.00 delivered, or there about I don't have the recite.
120/70r/19 Front & 180/55r/17 Rear is the size I've used since the OEM's wore out.

I have yet to put a GT spec tire on my Valk., never a problem in almost 50,000mi.. (the max weight rating is very close)
As you know I've hit potholes big enough to dent my rim and the tires held up fine.

Hope this helps?

[..]

I just bought this

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T6J6PGY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and this

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Achilles-ATR-Sport-High-Performance-Tire-195-55R16-87V/973888475

Smokin Joe and Reb use the Achilles on their Goldwing and F6B

[..]

Shinko on top

Achilles below

[Robert]

https://www.chapmoto.com/michelin-road-5-gt-rear-tire.html

They also have a 190/55/17 all in stock and good tires.

[..]

I know that tire choices are very personal.

BUT

$440 compared to $180 buys me more gas / motel rooms / tires.

[Robert]

I know that tire choices are very personal.

BUT

$440 compared to $180 buys me more gas / motel rooms / tires.

Motel rooms HUH? 

[..]

I know that tire choices are very personal.

BUT

$440 compared to $180 buys me more gas / motel rooms / tires.

Motel rooms HUH? 

Places to stay when on a multi day bike ride. Pretty cool huh?

[Robert]

On its way to me now and there is a rebate available

[..]

On its way to me now and there is a rebate available

I know tires are VERY personal choices.

https://www.amazon.com/Shinko-009-Raven-55ZR17-Motorcycle/dp/B001CDALNU

[Robert]

I know tires are VERY personal choices.

Like another oil thread  

I have seen Shinko on many sport bikes and have watched the reviews here, some good, some bad, I just have it in my mind that they are cheap tires not of good quality and dont hold good in the rain. I may be totally wrong but that is my perception.

My reasons for picking Michelin are reliability and picking what some would say the best tire MFG out there.

 I have never had trouble with Michelin and I have never had a tire hold so good in the rain. The fact that it also has reinforcement for heavier bikes I like also. They do not follow any road surface imperfection either. They also are not going to discontinue a tire usually either without a better replacement. Because its a bummer to find a tire you like and they go out of production. The fact that front and rear I can get close to the same tire is also kind of important.

I may have to buy one tire a year or just a bit longer. Actually since I have been riding less its been about 2 years. So at that price its not a big deal.

Tires are critical for a enjoyable, safe ride, so tires and brakes I like to know they are good. Some areas you can save some money, this is not one of them for me, but its just a personal choice.

On my cars bike or truck I pick accordingly but even from top brands the noise, grip, tire wear, and comfort vary greatly and sometimes between model of tire from the same MFG. So knowing tires becomes paramount to getting the most enjoyable ride out of any vehicle you own. But the expertise in getting the one you like is kind of time consuming and expensive. So that is why I stick with Michelin on my bike. On my cars I have Michelin and Toyo, they are about equivalent in feel, wear and grip with the Toyo being less expensive .

The only way to get the experience with tires is to see how they do, for the bike I dont buy enough to really know if a particular tire is good. So I get what I know works without to much experience. Automotive tires are different, I know what works by experience.

I went out on a test ride when I bought my bike and it had the dunflops on it. There was a light rain and I was on blacktop. I kept spinning the tire and it almost came out from under me once. I was seriously worried if the bike was going to be for me. That taught me a good lesson about tires. I only kept the factory tire on there a short time and changed it out for the Michelin and never looked back. I know some guys who bought the bike stayed with the stock tires till they went, I really dont know how they did it.

Sorry I went on so long, tires to me are important, like my ride and to maybe sacrifice the ride or hate one aspect of it is not an option if I can overt it.

Thanks though and I cannot say that it wont stay in the back of my mind to revisit those tires doing research.

[Robert]

I dont know if Adrian is still active here but I trusted his input on tires. When it was hard to find a tire for the bike I found the Michelin's and he did the road test. If you look there are a few reviews from him on different tires. That is why I stick with Michelin, I have my bikes for a long time and other MFGs are known to change lineups. But Michelin is pretty much steady so for a no brainier once picked I stay with the Michelin.

[..]

Commander coming off. Shinko going on.

[Tundra]

I know tires are VERY personal choices.

Like another oil thread  

I have seen Shinko on many sport bikes and have watched the reviews here, some good, some bad, I just have it in my mind that they are cheap tires not of good quality and dont hold good in the rain. I may be totally wrong but that is my perception.

My reasons for picking Michelin are reliability and picking what some would say the best tire MFG out there.

 I have never had trouble with Michelin and I have never had a tire hold so good in the rain. The fact that it also has reinforcement for heavier bikes I like also. They do not follow any road surface imperfection either. They also are not going to discontinue a tire usually either without a better replacement. Because its a bummer to find a tire you like and they go out of production. The fact that front and rear I can get close to the same tire is also kind of important.

I may have to buy one tire a year or just a bit longer. Actually since I have been riding less its been about 2 years. So at that price its not a big deal.

Tires are critical for a enjoyable, safe ride, so tires and brakes I like to know they are good. Some areas you can save some money, this is not one of them for me, but its just a personal choice.

On my cars bike or truck I pick accordingly but even from top brands the noise, grip, tire wear, and comfort vary greatly and sometimes between model of tire from the same MFG. So knowing tires becomes paramount to getting the most enjoyable ride out of any vehicle you own. But the expertise in getting the one you like is kind of time consuming and expensive. So that is why I stick with Michelin on my bike. On my cars I have Michelin and Toyo, they are about equivalent in feel, wear and grip with the Toyo being less expensive .

The only way to get the experience with tires is to see how they do, for the bike I dont buy enough to really know if a particular tire is good. So I get what I know works without to much experience. Automotive tires are different, I know what works by experience.

I went out on a test ride when I bought my bike and it had the dunflops on it. There was a light rain and I was on blacktop. I kept spinning the tire and it almost came out from under me once. I was seriously worried if the bike was going to be for me. That taught me a good lesson about tires. I only kept the factory tire on there a short time and changed it out for the Michelin and never looked back. I know some guys who bought the bike stayed with the stock tires till they went, I really dont know how they did it.

Sorry I went on so long, tires to me are important, like my ride and to maybe sacrifice the ride or hate one aspect of it is not an option if I can overt it.

Thanks though and I cannot say that it wont stay in the back of my mind to revisit those tires doing research.

I ran the Shinko's on my Bandit and my Concours with zero complaints. They rode well, handled well, an wore well, better than most. They are actually a product of Japan / Yokohama, headquartered in Japan and designed in Japan, although some manufacturer is in Korea. I can't say much for the not holding well in the rain, I try very hard not to ride in the rain, too much new blacktop in Florida...the oil and water don't mix. I had a good scare last year going down in the rain on new blacktop. I don't ride for commuting, so it's easy to avoid. All my riding friends know that when my garage door goes up if the roads are wet, they won't see me. I don't even have to call, I took some ribbing although I really don't care. I ride for enjoyment now and riding in the rain is not enjoyable for me. Especially after going down like I was riding on ice. I don't think Shinko's are cheap, just inexpensive. Give a review after you get some miles logged. That shouldn't be long for you.

[Robert]

Ok guys thanks to both of you, it has made me think of them in a better light.

But I do ride in the rain, I like you Tundra used to hate it, but as I would ride, since I was on the bike most all the time and the weather here is can be dry in one area and wet in another was keeping me from riding. Heck that is one of the reasons I like this bike since its easy to clean and has much plastic on it.

So I decided to say the heck with it, since our bikes perform very well in the rain. They actually protect quite well with the Honda windshield also. Sometimes when it was so hot and sunny I would look for the clouds and ride that way it was glorious when the rain came and the smell the cooling off, the water misting as I went down the road. The track of the tire in the wet pavement behind me. The water beading off the bike. Sometimes it was like a kid in the puddles and I would laugh as I went through the
Everglades. The sky was so unbelievably beautiful and just the water on the open fields was something I was glad I was able to experience.

Admittedly I really don't want to change tires to something different unless I have a good reason. Money to me is not a good reason. I have always been under the idea that I want to get into my car or hop on my bike and ride it across the country without having to do anything to prepare.

I want it prepared from the minute I get on it for every condition that I encounter without having to think about the repair or condition of the bike or car.

Its my spur of the moment ride mentality and the fact that every ride is an adventure that makes this important to me. Because you never know what you will encounter on every ride. Almost like mission critical thinking, since if I am out on the bike or taking a ride for my enjoyment that is a critical mission. LOL 

So Thank you for the tire recommendations and they are truly helpful to many but I will stay where I am and will look differently on Shinko's

 

[ledany]

Alas Robert, I think that the Michelin Road 5 is not as good as you expect. I had a pair I think and I was not completely satisfied. I read the "Reifentests" from Motorradonlne.de years ago and the Pirelli Angel GT II is #1 on wet roads (braking distance, grip, handling), by far. This is the parameter which interests me the most, I don't care about the price, I just want to ride worryless on wet roads. Two weeks ago, I changed my rear Pirelli, 25,000 km old, it could have run 2,000 km or 3,000 km more but it is not sufficient for a trip from Paris to Marseille so I didn't want to bother.

[Robert]

Alas Robert, I think that the Michelin Road 5 is not as good as you expect. I had a pair I think and I was not completely satisfied. I read the "Reifentests" from Motorradonlne.de years ago and the Pirelli Angel GT II is #1 on wet roads (braking distance, grip, handling), by far. This is the parameter which interests me the most, I don't care about the price, I just want to ride worryless on wet roads. Two weeks ago, I changed my rear Pirelli, 25,000 km old, it could have run 2,000 km or 3,000 km more but it is not sufficient for a trip from Paris to Marseille so I didn't want to bother.

Awesome thanks for the info.

[..]

Commander coming off. Shinko going on.

Old Commander had balance beads in it which may have contributed to the even wear.

Shinko now has 2 ounces of BB's in it.