Tire Options for our CB1100

[Redbird_imp]

An option I am considering is a Conti Road Attack 2 in 110/80 x 18 paired with a Conti Trail Attack 2 in 150/70 x 18. The tread patterns are similar and a BMW K1100LT rider reports that they are an excellent combination for his machine.
PR3 tires - Bike Bandit currently shows that they have Michelin Pilot Road 3 front in 120/70 x 18 and PR3 rear in 160/60 x 18. I believe Redbirds runs this combination. Don't know how many of each that they have but they show that they can ship these when I last looked less then 5 minutes ago.

[SportsterDoc]

An option I am considering is a Conti Road Attack 2 in 110/80 x 18 paired with a Conti Trail Attack 2 in 150/70 x 18. The tread patterns are similar and a BMW K1100LT rider reports that they are an excellent combination for his machine.
PR3 tires - Bike Bandit currently shows that they have Michelin Pilot Road 3 front in 120/70 x 18 and PR3 rear in 160/60 x 18. I believe Redbirds runs this combination. Don't know how many of each that they have but they show that they can ship these when I last looked less then 5 minutes ago.

Interesting tread, not cheap

https://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/m...gKlDvD_BwE

A 150/70 should be slightly over a 2% increase in circumference over a 140/70.

If the aspect ratios are correct, 70% of 140 mm = 98 mm and
70% of 150 mm = 105 mm. With an 18" (547 mm) rim, that would be 2050 mm circumference versus 2094.

I am cautious about larger tires, as I replaced the Metzler on my Triumph with a Shinko of the same size numbers, but the Shinko was so much bigger that the center stand no longer allowed rear tire rotation to lube chain. Should not be an issue on the CB1100, as the center stand clears the rear tire from the ground on mine by ~ 1.5 " (38 mm) and the increased radius of a 150/70 is only about 7 mm. However, I am so extremely satisfied with the CB1100 gearing, I would not want to change it at all.

The larger Shinko in the Triumph had a negative affect on acceleration.

[jedd_imp]

I'm getting the metzeller interact m8 put on my bike Tuesday. If I get 8k miles out of the rear tire, like what I'm getting w the stock oe d205 currently, I'll be satisfied. I'm happy that there's a radial sport tire in the stock size I can readily buy.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

An option I am considering is a Conti Road Attack 2 in 110/80 x 18 paired with a Conti Trail Attack 2 in 150/70 x 18. The tread patterns are similar and a BMW K1100LT rider reports that they are an excellent combination for his machine.
PR3 tires - Bike Bandit currently shows that they have Michelin Pilot Road 3 front in 120/70 x 18 and PR3 rear in 160/60 x 18. I believe Redbirds runs this combination. Don't know how many of each that they have but they show that they can ship these when I last looked less then 5 minutes ago.

I would not use that Trail Attack 2. It is much taller than the Road Attack, and this'll be exaggerated by the 150/70 profile. (The 150/65-18 works perfectly and there are a few options in that tire as well, previously mentioned in this thread.) The tread is a lot deeper and the tire is much heavier. I used these tires on my F800GS so have experience with them. Also have used Road Attack 2, Road Attack 2 Classic Race tires, and RA 2 EVO, several sets of Metzeler Z8's on various bikes.

If one is not worried about fitting correct sizes, run whatever. There are plenty of options out there in the right sizes and I'd call the Z8 as the best of them.

Tires are your lifeline to the road so I always keep a fresh set on, I never let them wear out first.

If you don't care so much about mileage, the Road Attack 2 Classic Race (made specifically to fit the CB1100 wheel sizes) are excellent.

The Road Attack 2 family is not available in the correct sizes.

I'm currently running a RA 2 EVO on rear of the Street Cup, a RA 2 Classic Race as a front tire. Good combo.

I don't concern myself much with mileage, just grip and handling. I really don't keep track of mileage but if I figure I get 2-3K miles from a tire I'm pretty happy, before the handling goes off.

I know some guys run them to the steel tread or the wear bars; I can't provide any meaningful information to those folks. I toss my tires when they get halfway to the wear bars. Actually, I donate them to my local shop, who gives them away to riders who may not have the dough to spring for a new tire. I've given him several sets of brand new tires which I immediately remove from any new bike I purchase, as well.

I suppose I could have written those off my taxes, but my shop isn't a charity.

[Guth_imp]

I'd imagine that in general*, the guys with just one motorcycle in the garage are typically going to be a bit more concerned about how much mileage they can get out of a set of tires than are the guys with multiple bikes in their garage (where the age of the tires might become as much of a concern as the number of miles that have been put on them).

*Real high-mileage guys like The ferret are excluded from my theory, lol.

[the Ferret]

I never worry about the mfg date on the tire, I usually wear them out in 4 or 5 months at 2,000+ miles a month and I don't throw them away when they still have half the tread left. I don't take them down to chords, but I don't waste a lot of rubber either. I get a good mix of straight flat and curves to keep the tire wear pretty evenly across the tire. I am going to really miss the Michelin's on the CB. They are great tires. Not sure what I am going to go to. I tried Z8's on one of my Yamaha FZ-1's and they didn't last for beans on that bike, maybe 4-6K iirc. I had no issues with the stock Dunlops on the CB, handling wise and ran them to the edges, but they only lasted about 8K. which is at the bottom of my acceptable list for endurance. Never been a fan of Bridgestones. May try the Pirellis like Ptero. I value his opinion and if he says they are good tires they must be.

[Guth_imp]

I never worry about the mfg date on the tire, I usually wear them out in 4 or 5 months at 2,000+ miles a month and I don't throw them away when they still have half the tread left. I don't take them down to chords, but I don't waste a lot of rubber either. I get a good mix of straight flat and curves to keep the tire wear pretty evenly across the tire. I am going to really miss the Michelin's on the CB. They are great tires. Not sure what I am going to go to. I tried Z8's on one of my Yamaha FZ-1's and they didn't last for beans on that bike, maybe 4-6K iirc. I had no issues with the stock Dunlops on the CB, handling wise and ran them to the edges, but they only lasted about 8K. which is at the bottom of my acceptable list for endurance. Never been a fan of Bridgestones. May try the Pirellis like Ptero. I value his opinion and if he says they are good tires they must be.

How did you like the Z8’s aside from the wear rate? Any recollections of how they did in the wet or how grippy they were in general?

I suppose that’s enough of an interrogation for now, lol.



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[the Ferret]

Guth I believe they were grippy enough, don't remember how they performed in the wet, but I never fell down while on them and certainly rode in the rain. Have to admit longevity is a big thing for me in a tire. I'm not a road racer, so grip is relevant. Like I said I ran my stock Dunlops to the edge with no chicken strips and they never let go on me, so I guess they were sticky enough for me, but being worn out at 8,000 miles I felt there were options that would give me the same grip but last longer. What good is paying extra for a top of the line dual compound tire with hard center if it doesn't last longer?

[CA200_imp]

I put the Met. Z8s on last time so far very happy with them, I was a
little disappointed to see they were mfg. in China. - at least the rear.

[redbirds_imp]

I never worry about the mfg date on the tire, I usually wear them out in 4 or 5 months at 2,000+ miles a month and I don't throw them away when they still have half the tread left. I don't take them down to chords, but I don't waste a lot of rubber either. I get a good mix of straight flat and curves to keep the tire wear pretty evenly across the tire. I am going to really miss the Michelin's on the CB. They are great tires. Not sure what I am going to go to. I tried Z8's on one of my Yamaha FZ-1's and they didn't last for beans on that bike, maybe 4-6K iirc. I had no issues with the stock Dunlops on the CB, handling wise and ran them to the edges, but they only lasted about 8K. which is at the bottom of my acceptable list for endurance. Never been a fan of Bridgestones. May try the Pirellis like Ptero. I value his opinion and if he says they are good tires they must be.

Just checked Revzilla website and see the Pilot Road 3 is still available there in 18'. Only the 120 front is in stock and that's the tire I've been using now for 3 years with zero problems. The 160 is in stock for rear.