Tire Options for our CB1100

[Pauley]

I recently switched from the Metzeler Z8 tires to the Bridgestone T32. Radials, stock sizes. A little grippier than the Z8s. I like them.

@Pauley, going from any old tire to any new tire will most likely make the new one (after run-in) "feel" grippier, don't you think ?

@Pauley, going from any old tire to any new tire will most likely make the new one (after run-in) "feel" grippier, don't you think ? My frame of reference is overall after "scrub in". The T32s are better performers. Just feel more confident with the grip.

I recently switched from the Metzeler Z8 tires to the Bridgestone T32. Radials, stock sizes. A little grippier than the Z8s. I like them.

Whats your riding habits like? Deep twisties? Hard cornering? Id have to look and see if the t32 comes in the oversized profiles of 120/70 and 160/60 because the stock sizes are too narrow for me. Id run out of contact patch and it would limit my lean angle significantly.

Whats your riding habits like? Deep twisties? Hard cornering? Id have to look and see if the t32 comes in the oversized profiles of 120/70 and 160/60 because the stock sizes are too narrow for me. Id run out of contact patch and it would limit my lean angle significantly.
I do a lot of deep twisties with hard cornering and my tire wear patterns reflect that. One of my regular rides: from my house to the top of Mt Diablo a few times a week - 13 miles up from the park entrance and 13 miles down on a very twisty road.

Looks like the Bridgestone T32s come in 120 70 18 and 160 60 18 in addition to 110 80 18 and 140 70 18 stock. I prefer the stock tire profiles.

 

[misterprofessionality]

Interesting...the last time i rode on a 140 rear i felt very unsteady when reaching the point where my pegs might touch down, and as it turned out it looked like my contact patch was shrinking. That was one of the main reasons i jumped on the 160 tires when i found outi could do that. Sure enough even when throwing sparks i still have plenty of room on the tread.

 

[widude]

Speaking of tires, I think availability is still rather limited, my search anyway. My 2014 needed new tires last year, ordered some a week ago through the local dealer.

He was able to find my 2nd choice of Bridgestones available. I went with the OEM size.

There may well be a better tire out there, but a fresh, adequate tire is better than an aged, worn tire.

 

[peterbaron]

Absolutely!

 

[skidmarkart_imp]

I'm running a 160 tire. Is the performance better? I don't know, I am doing it for looks. It certainly isn't worse though. The tire works great. My big change was going from the stock tires that were on the bike when I got it, to a Conti Road Attack CR (classic race) 2 tire. OMG, totally transformed the bike. I will never mount another tire! These are sticky and transform the handling. I know they probably not wear as well as my stock tires, but the improvement is worth it. I never scrub these out to the outside edge, and believe me I use ALL the handling this bike can manage (my feelers were ground-off long ago). BUT, the grip and performance of the tire is absolutely shocking compared to the stock kit.

 

[misterprofessionality]

I'm running a 160 tire. Is the performance better? I don't know, I am doing it for looks. It certainly isn't worse though. The tire works great. My big change was going from the stock tires that were on the bike when I got it, to a Conti Road Attack CR (classic race) 2 tire. OMG, totally transformed the bike. I will never mount another tire! These are sticky and transform the handling. I know they probably not wear as well as my stock tires, but the improvement is worth it. I never scrub these out to the outside edge, and believe me I use ALL the handling this bike can manage (my feelers were ground-off long ago). BUT, the grip and performance of the tire is absolutely shocking compared to the stock kit.

well yea, those stock bridgestone tires are basically cruiser tires. they're universally awful for any kind of spirited riding. you could have gotten literally anything else sport-touring oriented and it would have been a massive improvement.

 

[the Ferret]

I could run my 140 tires to the edge, no matter how hard I try can't do that with the 160. Comforting to know if I get too hot into a corner there is a margin for (my) error with the 160's.

 

[Roadrasher_imp]

Currently running Bridgestone Battlax T31’s, 110/80 on the front, 160/60 on the rear.

 

[misterprofessionality]

Today I got myself a pair of Bridgestone T32 sport touring tires on the glowing recommendation of a forum member. They'll get slapped on tomorrow to replace my balding Avon tires. The compound on the sides of the tire feel appropriately grippy to the touch and the profile is a bit less rounded over than the Avons and Michelin tires I've used before. They're still 120/70 and 160/60 though. I may have a little bit less contact to work with at extreme lean angles but maybe just enough to satisfy the admittedly meager maximum lean of the bike. I don't see a lot of thin runnels for water displacement though, which reminds me of some Dunlop tires I've ridden on....it may be a bad set to ride in the wet.

More to come

 

[peterbaron]

Can you provide tread depth, front and rear

 

[misterprofessionality]

Do you mean for the new tires or the old?

 

[peterbaron]

Old are trash, new one of course, but measure.
Source says 8, I assume mm, which is hard to believe.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Some old tires are very useful in Mexico, even with 2 mm.

 

[mvk24_imp]

I was looking for tires by "model" the other day and didn't have much luck finding a matching pair of anything. Feel like there were lots of lots of options last time I grabbed tires for the CB?

I think I'm going to search by "size" this time and maybe go for the size larger that a bunch of you guys run.

I know its up there somewhere but could anyone reply with the tire sizes nice and neat so I can copy any paste?

After all these years tire sizes still confuse me for some reason.

I think its the 160 size for the rear is the commonly Larger size you guys are using right? Is there a commonly larger front or you guys still rocking the stock front tire and just a wider rear tire?

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

 

[the Ferret]

110 or 120 front

140 or 160 rear

 

[mvk24_imp]

110 or 120 front

140 or 160 rear

Thank so much ferret, its been awhile since I've talked tires. You guys find any benefits to the larger front also? I know the larger rear is looks and little more meat in a corners

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

 

[misterprofessionality]

Can you provide tread depth, front and rear

Tread depth on the Bridgestone t32 sport touring tire comes to 6.3mm close to the center.

 

[peterbaron]

That’s a lot of rubber for a moto tire

 

[the Ferret]

110 or 120 front

140 or 160 rear

Thank so much ferret, its been awhile since I've talked tires. You guys find any benefits to the larger front also? I know the larger rear is looks and little more meat in a corners

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

Thank so much ferret, its been awhile since I've talked tires. You guys find any benefits to the larger front also?
No, no benefit really for me. Just a matter of availability at times.

 

[mvk24_imp]

110 or 120 front

140 or 160 rear

Thank so much ferret, its been awhile since I've talked tires. You guys find any benefits to the larger front also? I know the larger rear is looks and little more meat in a corners

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

Thank so much ferret, its been awhile since I've talked tires. You guys find any benefits to the larger front also?
No, no benefit really for me. Just a matter of availability at times.

Thank so much ferret, its been awhile since I've talked tires. You guys find any benefits to the larger front also?
No, no benefit really for me. Just a matter of availability at times. Okay wonderful good to know

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca