Another tire option for the 1600's

[VulcanE]

I really like the Metzeler 880's, but after about 2-3 thousand miles, the front starts to send a vibration through the handlebars while in a corner. I DO NOT like the stock stones (only got 8000 miles out of them), and my last 2 sets have been the 880's, and am averaging 8000 miles out of those too. I was looking at the specifications of the Triumph Rocket III Touring the other day and noticed that the tire sizes were 180/70R-16 rear, and 150/80R-16 front. I thought Hummmmmmm.... that's the sizes I run on my bike, and both were radials http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif. I started looking for tires for the Triumph Rocket III Touring and come up with a set of tires from Avon. They are a new line of tires for heavy cruisers called "Cobra", here's a link to them-

http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/?....0III&year =2008 (http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/?page=fitment&method=fitments&manufacturer=62&id=1764&model=rocket%20III&year=2008)

I think these will be my next set of tires coming this fall sometime, and the best price I have found is

http://www.tireexpress.com/prod.cfm/cid/9001/pid/18931
http://www.tireexpress.com/prod.cfm/cid/9001/pid/18932

Just remember to type in for the 2008 Triumph Rocket III Touring
What do ya'll think?

[Top Cat]

I'm lookin' for different tires than the Metz next time also. These look like they may be it.
I didn't find the Cobra in the price link though ???

[Yellow Jacket]

Type in Cobra in the keyword search box at the top and it will give your the Avon Cobra tires.

Here's what I found:

Front 150/80-16 V-rated $153.42
Rear 180/70-16 H-rated $192.04

V = up to 149 mph
H = up to 130 mph

Both of these are radials.

[samkjr]

Great tip thanks for sharing. Just dont be mad when we all copy you and get the same tires

Too bad they don't make a rear 160/80-16 for the back of the 1500. Strange, as that size fits a bunch of Goldwings.

[VulcanE]

TC, sorry about that, I went back and changed the link to include both the front and back tires. Strange though, when I found these the other day the front was $150.32, and the back was $188.10. They have went up $7.04 a set since a couple of days ago. BUT, they have free shipping.

[VulcanE]

CQ, they offer it in the 180/60-16, about an inch wider and 2" smaller on the diameter, but I guss you wouldn't want a smaller OD

A 180 would rub on the 1500.

[Top Cat]

TC, sorry about that, I went back and changed the link to include both the front and back tires. Strange though, when I found these the other day the front was $150.32, and the back was $188.10. They have went up $7.04 a set since a couple of days ago. BUT, they have free shipping.
http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif They wrer probably made when the price of a barrel of oil was $144. ;)

[phenrichs]

Found them at http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=33_61_834
Shipping was only $25 for the pair.
I am thinking of giving them a try next year

[dogdoc]

I like the Avon tires, very good. Seems everybody jumped on 880's and they may not be as good as thought. Thanks for the tip VulcanE, Im checking them out too.

[redjay]

I am getting Avon Cobras as soon as the Bridgestones wear out. That wont be this biking season as the weather sucks ! I will be lucky if I get 5000 miles on the bike this year.

[coloradontexas]

anyone tried the dunlop elite 3's

[flavor]

I was thinking about the Elite III"S but I wanted to go to the tire size that correct the speedo and couldn't find them listed. I haven't looked for awhile at tires since I have 7300 on the original stones and they have enough rubber left for at least a few thousand miles.

By the way, and Caddman knows this answer, as many others, what size was it again that corrects the speedo? I went brain dead.

Also correct me if I wrong, a tire size such as 150/80/16 equates to 150 is the profile height and the larger the number the taller the tire. The 80 is the width?

What's the largest size tire that will go on the 1600 in the rear comfortably.

[phenrichs]

The size that corrects (partially in most cases) the speedo is the 180/70/16. It is an inch taller. Doesn't exactly correct the speedo but the reading is more in line with the actual travel.

[VulcanE]

I was thinking about the Elite III"S but I wanted to go to the tire size that correct the speedo and couldn't find them listed. I haven't looked for awhile at tires since I have 7300 on the original stones and they have enough rubber left for at least a few thousand miles.

By the way, and Caddman knows this answer, as many others, what size was it again that corrects the speedo? I went brain dead.

Also correct me if I wrong, a tire size such as 150/80/16 equates to 150 is the profile height and the larger the number the taller the tire. The 80 is the width?

What's the largest size tire that will go on the 1600 in the rear comfortably.



In the example you gave above, 150 is how wide the tire is in mm, the 80 is the aspect ratio(which is how tall the side wall is) and the # is what percentage of the width is in the side wall. And the 16 is the wheel size it fits. So in other words the tire is 150mm (5.9") wide, the side wall is 80% of that=120mm (4.72"). Take the side wall and multiply X 2,= 240mm (9.45"), and add the wheel size (16") and get a diameter of 25.45" on the inflated tire.

[VulcanE]

Flavor, I forgot to add, the 180/70-16 is the largest tire that will fit on the 1600's as far as width goes, I don't know about the diameter.

[flavor]

Thanks for the breakdown. I didn't know about the ratio to the width.

Great explanation.

[dank]

Anybody know how long the Cobra's last? I need a new rear tire. Planned to get a new Metzler, which would be my third, but they are on backorder right now according to my dealer. I'm getting around 13,000 miles on the Metzlers. Will the Avon's give more than that? I'd love to get 18,000 - 20,000. That would reduce it to about one tire per year for me, although some of you would still need multiple tires per year.

[VulcanE]

Anybody know how long the Cobra's last? I need a new rear tire. Planned to get a new Metzler, which would be my third, but they are on backorder right now according to my dealer. I'm getting around 13,000 miles on the Metzlers. Will the Avon's give more than that? I'd love to get 18,000 - 20,000. That would reduce it to about one tire per year for me, although some of you would still need multiple tires per year.

They are a "new" tire for Avon, so I don't think anyone has run them long enough to wear one out yet, but I would love to get the kind of mileage out of a Metzeler that your getting ;). I am only averaging 8000 miles on 2 Metzelers. :(

[michiganmike]

I have the Elite III for my back tire and it has almost 15,000 miles on it and it still looks good. The manual says change the rear tire at 3 mm tread depth, and the rear tire still has 4.5 mm tread depth left. I had to put an Elite II on the front because they did not make an Elite III at the time, and it is down to 3 mm tread depth. I bought some 880's this time because of the good reviews on this forum, but I have to say that I do love my rear Elite III.

PS - I am going to put the dyna beads in when I do put the new tires on. My brother did it when he put his new tires on and he is very pleased with them.