Avon Roadrunner question

[Worty]

It does seem a bit difficult to get a modern tread, rear tyre other than Avons - if anyone can point me towards another such tyre (at a price that doesn't require a second mortgage) then please let me know.  I have actually found a very good looking tyre which will fit and has good reviews, but I'll update you on that in due course - this was also linked to my question of whether it's essential to have a 100/90 (3.50 x 19) on the back or whether you could go for a 90/90 (3.25 x 19) instead.  I'm no purist when it comes to tyres, so willing to experiment a bit.

One other thing about the AM26 I have on at the moment.  The centre line is almost down to the 1mm bars, but the rest of the tyre has piles of tread left (despite my hefty cornering).  Given that a lot of modern tyres are sold new with a bare centre line, why would the Avon be considered 'worn out' once the centre tread has worn down?  The 'central' 3/4 of the tyre having at least 1mm of tread is a bit misleading I reckon.  I'd still say that the AM26 has a lot more than 1mm across the central 3/4 without the tread in the middle.

[limeyrob]

I would not go for a 3.25 on the rear, 3.50 at least.  I think its a bit harder to be sure about 3.25 or 3.50 on the front. A lot of us run better front brakes than "in-period" and the 1950's ribbed 3.25 front couldn't stop anything.
I too am doing some tyre searches, my A10 came with a 3.50 Metzler on the rear but i see they seem to be discontinued?
Looking a the K81-82 am I right in thinking that there are "real ones" at £130 and clones at £50?  Seems an odd situation.

[Worty]

I would not go for a 3.25 on the rear, 3.50 at least.  I think its a bit harder to be sure about 3.25 or 3.50 on the front. A lot of us run better front brakes than "in-period" and the 1950's ribbed 3.25 front couldn't stop anything.
I too am doing some tyre searches, my A10 came with a 3.50 Metzler on the rear but i see they seem to be discontinued?
Looking a the K81-82 am I right in thinking that there are "real ones" at £130 and clones at £50?  Seems an odd situation.

Don't tell anyone Rob, but this is what I was considering: https://tyretectrading.co.uk/tyres/kenda-k761-100-90-19-57h-tl-universal-motorcycle-tyre/  not a bad price either (the 90/90 version is even cheaper)!

It offers a combination of 70% road and 30% off road, which seems fair due to the roads I like to travel on, and looks quite hardwearing.  I don't want a 'classic' tyre as I've had squeaky bum times with those a bit more often than I'd like.  The only exception is the AM26, which has been excellent.  I guess I could go with the RR Mk2, but I really don't like those prices.

I've just ordered a pair of Kenda Challengers K657 for the Kwaka - £134 for both, which I think is good.  Kenda look pretty good on the whole, will be interesting to see how they perform.  They'll eventually replace the Battlax combo I've got on at the moment.

As for the Beeza front tyre - it's a CST 3.25 x 19, has been on for 10 years and 11,500 miles - pretty hardy and sticks to the road like glue - I run a standard brake.

[Black Sheep]

Not a lot wrong with the Avon SM MkII, really! It has tread where you actually need it, not up the sidewalls where it never gets used.

[groily]

Just my own current experience, but 19" K81 TT100s (mine are made in France and aren't the cheapo clones if such exist) have a short life on the rear end. 2500 miles-ish on 650s. They last well on the front though. A K80 that preceded one of the 81s a tyre or two ago wasn't much better.
The old SMs are much more durable, with a bit less stiction obviously. Not a lot wrong with them, indeed not. Do what they say on the tin.
But the Avon Road Runner 100/90/19 on the rear of a 500 is at 4500 miles with some life in it yet. Good grip, despite a too-modern profile for some tastes I do agree.  Also noticeably affects the gearing - it's like dropping a tooth on the gearbox sprocket on the bike it's on, compared to running an SM.
Have been thinking about other makes, but will probably go Road Runners for the K81s and see how they last with 40-50 bhp as compared to 30-ish on the smaller bike.

In the pix the left hand TT100 has done about 1500 miles; the right hand one just on 2000 - clearly tired and will be past it at 2500. The Avon has 4500 approx and is starting to go a bit flat in the middle. All run at  30-32 psi or 2.25 bar, solo almost always.

[Rex]

Not a lot wrong with the Avon SM MkII, really! It has tread where you actually need it, not up the sidewalls where it never gets used.

And they're much more pliable and grippy than they were back in the day. Probably a good choice for the way most of us would ride these days.

[Worty]

Not a lot wrong with the Avon SM MkII, really! It has tread where you actually need it, not up the sidewalls where it never gets used.

Thing is BS, I do use it quite a lot

I've done around 3k on the rear AM26, and the centre line tread is almost up.  Had a Mitas in the past - 2k and horrible, never had a SM (Skid Master??), what IS 'safety mileage'??.

Years ago,  when I was on a YB100 riding 20,000 miles per year for our business, I asked the guy at the bike shop in Stoke-on-Trent (who we knew very well), what was the hardest tyre he could get his hands on as the constant stop-starting and country lanes were wasting a tyre every couple of thousand miles.  He went up the loft amongst all the debris, and picked out what looked like a square section sidecar tyre (Avon, I think).  Hard as rock, tons of tread, no grip wet, careful when dry, around 8k miles.

[berger]

worty i tried hack sawing one of those tough as old boots tyres and soon gave up

[Worty]

worty i tried hack sawing one of those tough as old boots tyres and soon gave up

Had to use an angle grinder to get through some old bike/car tyres during Covid.  Those things are pretty tough!

[Black Sheep]

Worty, you won't know what you are missing until you have tried it. The Avon SM MkIIs had a bad press back in the 1960s. Things have moved on since then. They are surprisingly good. Wet grip is better than you might expect, dry grip is excellent. An they last well. The only old fashioned aspects are the traditional name and tread pattern. Otherwise they are fully up to date. 

[Worty]

Worty, you won't know what you are missing until you have tried it. The Avon SM MkIIs had a bad press back in the 1960s. Things have moved on since then. They are surprisingly good. Wet grip is better than you might expect, dry grip is excellent. An they last well. The only old fashioned aspects are the traditional name and tread pattern. Otherwise they are fully up to date.

Cheers BS, I'll do a trawl of the 'net and have a look at prices.  If they compare well to some other items, I may have a crack at them.  Would be nice to try out other types of tyre just to see how they perform, and how long they last!  I like a bit of 'spirited' riding (centre stand needs to be higher ), so they need to stick well - don't do much wet weather, especially on the GF.

Just ordered some Kenda K657s for the Dubya to replace the Battlaxs.  Went for a slightly taller rear at 130/90 18 instead of an 80 as this was part of the deal.  £134 after a discount seemed reasonable - let's see how they fare (watch this space).

[groily]

Just poking about on the Vintage Tyres site and there is a decent range Worty. 
With those modern SMs, AM26s and also their AM9 Universal, at 4.10 19, listed under Avon. The AM9s were always quite good I thought when I used them in the past  (but same issue maybe with the profile being a tad low looks-wise). I think I'll order up a couple anyway to replace the TT100s when next month's pension shows up. (If there's any spare after sorting out the crankshaft I messed up the other day!)
Avon prices are very much in line with what you just paid for the kwakkeroo. (Dunlops aren't!)

[Worty]

Just poking about on the Vintage Tyres site and there is a decent range Worty. 
With those modern SMs, AM26s and also their AM9 Universal, at 4.10 19, listed under Avon. The AM9s were always quite good I thought when I used them in the past  (but same issue maybe with the profile being a tad low looks-wise). I think I'll order up a couple anyway to replace the TT100s when next month's pension shows up. (If there's any spare after sorting out the crankshaft I messed up the other day!)
Avon prices are very much in line with what you just paid for the kwakkeroo. (Dunlops aren't!)

Cheers Groily.  The Kendas I bought for £134 were for two tyres (front and rear).  Looks like the AM9 is that price just for the rear.

Will keep looking around though.  Did spot a SM2 for £82 but it was ex VAT and postage  

[groily]

Blimey! That WAS good, for two! Don't think that'll be too easy to match in 19".
https://www.idealo.co.uk/compare/1833845/mitas-h-02-4-00-19-71p.html shows Mitas H-02 4.00 19  at around 80 notes UK delivered (less in Europe it seems, on some sites). A lot of folk out here use them happily on classics. But no idea what they're like when pushed hard.

[Worty]

HO2s gave me a squeaky bum at times, and wore out far too quickly.  I ride fairly hard, so all the tyre gets a workout.  Think I'll try the Kenda 761 universal 100/90 19 at £75 delivered.  I know some people will frown, especially with the tyre pattern, but I don't mind trying something a bit different - and cheaper!!!!!

Front tyres seem really easy to get, and at a good price.