The time has come for new tyres. 110/90 x 18 on WM3 rear rim is 10 years old and near legal limit, 90/90 x 19 on WM2 front rim has plenty of tread left but is pushing 20 years old. It is probable that the inner tubes are at least as old so time for some new ones. These are Avon Roadriders and while I would happily replace like-for-like, that isn't an option at present until they come back into production, if ever.
I have spent the afternoon doing an audit of options which I have uploaded (hopefully it remains readable) for the benefit of anyone else in the same position. I have no connection with the named supplier, they were just a convenient constant for my availability search.
A question on widths and profiles - the 110/90 x 18 on WM3 clears OK on my 850 Mk1. The obvious non-metric 4.00 width tyre available from some suppliers is OK on a WM3 rim but I don't know how wide these tyres would be compared with the 110/90. 4" is several mm narrower than 110mm but it is a rare day that you will measure an actual tyre width and find it is the same as the nominal size. Does anyone have any experience of the 4.00" fit? And what sort of tyre height to expect?
Suggestions/advice/recommendations welcome!
Mark
tyre sizes
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If you're happy with the…
If you're happy with the tyre sizes you're currently using I'd stay with them. They're a good match for the rim widths you're using and there's a wide choice in those sizes; I like Metzeler Roadtec 01 x-plys.
Somewhat confusingly, a 4.00x18 is wider than a 4.10x18 and is roughly equivalent to a 120. And the old inch-size tyres are 100% profile, so it's as high as it's wide. Quite a big tyre. But it will go in your rear fork if that's what you choose.
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Heidenau alternative for front
If you are looking for narrow 19" front tyres, Heidenau offers:
K34 3.50-19:
Tyre width min/max 93/100 mm, tyre diameter min/max 675/689 mm.
K65 90/90-19:
Tyre width min/max 90/99 mm, tyre diameter min/max 645/657 mm.
Values for Avon RR 90/90-19:
Tyre width nominal 99 mm, tyre diameter nominal 647 mm.
Rim width:
For all recomm/min/max 2.15/1.85/2.50 inch.
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Roadriders nearly 20 years…
Roadriders nearly 20 years old - the pre 2011 tyres were withdrawn from sale back then as they not up to the job, yours have done well.
As long as they fit and meet the speed / weight requirement and can be used in the correct front / rear combination then you'll be fine. I would not go too wide on the rear, pretty pointless and the wider tyre on the road will hardly get warm. Many of the more narrow tyres about these days have great specs that exceed what a Commando needs. With a WM3 on the rear you are pretty spoilt for choice. if you find a radial check what it can be used with, I have used radials on a Commando in 19'' and they were far superior in handling than the Roadrider but did not last that long and expensive, they are more sensitive to the rim width as well.
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Thanks Ashley. Trawling back…
Thanks Ashley. Trawling back through the archives you have commented quite a lot on Commando tyres in an an informative way that suggests you may be speaking as one in the tyre trade.
You aren't the first to suggest that one can go too wide at the rear with a Commando, would perhaps a 100 width be better than a 110? Both look like bicycle tyres compared with the one on the rear of my 600 Yamaha!
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100 width is more than…
100 width is more than sufficient if it has a suitable speed and weight rating. In this day and age don't let width fool you, technology moves on and I suspect in the past a wide tyre was needed but these days with modern compounds and how the tyre is laid up in the mould gives a far superior tyre.
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https://www.avontyres.com/en-gb/tyres/roadrider-mkii
shows all the dimensions of Roadrider 2's. I realise that there is a shortage right now, but don't other manufacturers provide this information? I have googled for dimensions of tyres in the past and sometimes found that tyre distributors list the relevant data.