Hi Guys,

The bike is ready for some new tyres.
What are good ones to get? and which ones to steer clear off!
Where's best to buy?

Not purchased any bike tyres since 1977 so I'm a little out of contact on tyres.

Your help/advise would be much appreciated on this one.

Regards,
Paul

If its a standard WD motorcycle than these tyres eBay no 260928465855 might be ok they're 3.25 x 19

Well it all depends upon how far your ride, how often you ride and where your ride.
I run a speedmaster ribbed on the front and K 81 on the back.
Then I am in Australia and think nothing of a 400 km ride to the All Britsh for example or 600 km up to the Newcastle branch on a day with road temperature around 50 deg C.
I am of course in Gods gift to Motorcycling, Australia.
K 70' look the part but tend to be way too flat profile unless you are hauling a chair.

With Trials Universala on the bike becomes almost lethal on the bitumen.
Lots of fun on the dirt but that is only about 1% of the riding.

Onr does tip the helment to the llads who rode them in apauling conditions during the hostilities shod with block treads.

Metzler Lazers ME 66 ? were good both ends but I don't think they do them any more.

email (option): bsansw1@tpg.com.au

All comes down to compounds - comparing +60 year old tires with anything modern is not relevant.

In the UK there are many East European and Far east tires of the correct size with a 'period-ish' tread patterns.

It funny that a K81 is mentioned as my Triumph had one fitted - from Indian (i guess it was Indian made?) - it actually ripped as i removed the damn from the wheel ..............?

Last year i lost the front end, twice on the Norton, on the same cold trip - shod with a 'modern' East European tire, i think a Barum (it was cheap!) - that quickly got autojumbled and new ribbed Avon fitted.

There are some good, low priced tires with a relevant tread pattern on the market - the lack of grip that some offer, only becomes apparent right when you need the grip!

You get what you pay for - stick with a know manufacturer .... Dunlops/Avons/Metz/etc.

Unfortunately, Paul doesn't tell us where he is and what he needs the tyres for...

Even WD bikes with 19" rims can vary between 3.25 and 3.50 as standard fitment.

I've been quite happy with the Indian Dunlop Uni-Grips. Even in the wet they're fine. The rear can lock but the Norton has a rear pedal that's about a yard and a half long so it would probably lock anything. I'm not really a wet weather scratcher though.

I'l try those Ensigns next time as they look the part. Plenty have been sold in the UK and I don' think that Vintage Tyre would carry on stocking if they were dodgy.

I'm puzzled as to why Trials Universals should be lethal. I've done plenty of road work on long distance trials with them, even at low pressures. They're obviously not a road race tyre but within their limitations, quite predictable.

Thanks Guys,

Sorry.........
I have a ww2 G3L with a rear tyre that now has splits around the side wall.
If the front is the same age then thought I'd change both to be safe.
The Ensigns look good and at a fair price.
Not sure as to fit the WD (knobbly)type? BUT THEY DO LOOK THE BIS!
This type was fitted as standard I'd guess to all wd bikes.
I use the bike on tarmac if riding out but if showing at ww2 events I cross grass mainly.

Much appreciate your input fellows.
hard to decide what's best so thought best to ask!

Regards,
Paul

i have some nice mitas sw07 3,75x19 on my bike,they look very close to a wd tyre

email (option): roy206@hotmail.com

MITAS is the current name for the old Trelleborg company.

I have run Their MX/Enduro tires as they tend to be road legal, durable, have some grip and actually round, so i would suggest them instead of the Insigns ...

i have a pair of 325x19 heidenau k67 trials tyre, universal on my WDG3L and they look great, there from vintage tyres




thanks,barry

email (option): fullerbarry@hotmail.co.uk

I use Mitas tyres for my WD bikes, fair quality for a very reasonable price (60 eur / 45 GBP). Enough grip in the dry, but be careful in the wet....

email (option): maartenengels@hotmail.com

['I'm puzzled as to why Trials Universals should be lethal. I've done plenty of road work on long distance trials with them, even at low pressures. They're obviously not a road race tyre but within their limitations, quite predictable.']..

I've had no problem at all with trials universals on a number of different bikes..

It's true you can 'feel the edge' when banked well over and perhaps a little more care needs to be taken in the wet due to the fairly low 'footprint'...

However, currently I'm running them on my 720cc B33 and they're fine on that...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Only a 275 x 21 on the front as well!...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Off-road tires, new or otherwise, all feel 'wrong' on tarmac -

'MX' tires feel (and are lethal) i dont know anyone who thinks otherwise - hence many competitions specify -

Enduro tires with reduced block height, which feel a lot better but as the scars on my KDX200 show they don't like cornering.

Trials tires tend to feel better at higher air pressure, but for 'normal' trial's pressures again feel very 'squirrelly' - like a running on flat tires, which is what they basically are!

Simply - its the rubber in contact which grips, not the fresh air in between.


Blocky road tires are a different thing altogether - with lower/stiffer blocks and compounds.
For you military types out there - there are several period(ish) looking modern tires out there.
Otherwise you cannot go far wrong with ribbed front and universal back tires from Avon, etc.

Just don't oversize them - i tried 'for comfort' and quickly went back the other way (too narrow @ 2.75" ?)

Any tire can be made to get you round a corner - it's trying to stop (when banked) that's the problem

roy

i have some nice mitas sw07 3,75x19 on my bike,they look very close to a wd tyre

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

[' Trials tires tend to feel better at higher air pressure, but for 'normal' trial's pressures again feel very 'squirrelly' - like a running on flat tires, which is what they basically are!']..

I should think most tyres aren't much good if run well under inflated...

Trials Universals are designed for both on and off road use so should (and do) happily carry out both functions within reasonable limits..but of course they should be inflated to the correct pressure for the application...

I thought MX tyres were illegal for road use because of their full off road design?....Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Hi Guys,

Thank you all for you input on this subject of tyres....most interesting and in-different.
Very much appreciated.

Will need to decide which now.


Message for BARRY FULLER................

Hi Barry,
Where did you purchase the Exhaust system shown in the photo please?
It looks great.



Many thanks again,
Paul

hi paul, the exhaust on my bike is an original with early example silencer, the silencer and pipe are pepper potted inside for the baffles.
most repro pipes today are all most straight through.
I read your post on the exhaust, I used Armours in the past and fitting wasant to bad but the last couple of systems ive had from them didant fit properly so I had to fettle them to fit, the silencers are not to bad though.
ive brought a couple of systems from feked and they wasant to bad.


thanks, barry

email (option): fullerbarry@hotmail.co.uk

There are several MITAS and MICHELIN - MX tires that are road legal - in the case of the Mich's they change the compound but the tread is the same.

They all feel spooky at any angle of lean on tarmac and when wet they are lethal - my 'reduced' tread FIM Enduro tires (@ £85 each !) I had to fit for the ManxEnduro - eventually had me on my ear, on a T junction, in the wet ..........

As for trials tires - low pressure (6-10 psi) is the norm between sections often miles apart - the forthcoming Jersey Trial has something like a 50 mile lap on day one - much on tarmac - hence two tires bolts, to keep them on their rims.

I now run the Ensigns 3.50x19 on my Enfield..very confident tyre. And looks good.

http://www.vintagetyres.com/products/motorcycle-tyres/motorcycle-standard--wired-on-/ensign

Cheers, Jacco

Have a look at these on Ebay - 191313543408 - Mitas 350 X 19 H02 @ £35.00

I have run Mitas on my MX and Enduro bikes (actually prefer the front Mitas to Michelin S12's) and they seem to grip and wear well.

The HO2 seems to have a reasonably 'period' tread ?

Hi Guys,

Finally ordering my tyres this week but.......
Could anyone please confirm what size tyres I should fit front & rear to the 1942 G3L ?

Should they both be 3.25 x 19 ?
I have fitted at present a 3.50 x 19 on rear and 3.25 x 19 on the front but believe they both should the 3.25.

Regards,
Paul

email (option): eastwood007@ntlworld.com

early war G3Ls had 3-50 rear and 3-25 front. i do and i would fit 3-25 front and rear.
a knobbly 3-50 on the rear is tight, something like a 3-50 ensign universal tyre will fit ok

thanks, barry

email (option): fullerbarry@hotmail.co.uk

Several makes (including BSA) had a 3.50 rear early on but rubber shortages and a wish to standardise led to 3.25 all round later in the war.

Thanks Guys,

Seems the 3.25 all round would be best.
I plan to get the Ensigns and give them a try.
I like the idea of wartime tread.
I was speaking to a friend in Normandy who has these fitted to his m20 and he liked them.

Thanks very much to you.

Thank you all who has replied to the topic.
You've all been a great help both in information and recommendations.

Have a great riding summer.

Cheers,
Paul

email (option): eastwood007@ntlworld.com

the ensigns from vintage tyres look good



barry

email (option): fullerbarry@hotmail.co.uk