Good low cost tires Kenda, Chen Shin, IRC, Maxxis?

[Fry]

I need new tires for my bike and was going to get some Dunlop D404's but the price of them has gone up by $30 a piece, the same is true for Pirelli MT 66's, and Bridgestone S11 Spitfires are up $20 a piece. So now that all the affordable "name brand" tires are $165+ for a set I need some suggestions for some $130ish a set tires. This is my first motorcycle and the first time I've needed tires so I have know experience with different brands. I'm thinking maybe a set of Kenda Challengers that's what I have on the back now and it's tread has held up ok but it's weather checking really bad and just doesn't look safe. I've heard both good and bad about Chen Shin Barracuda's and HiMax's, and I like the looks of IRC WF920 Wild Flares and Maxxis M6102/M6103 Promaxx's but haven't heard what anybody thinks of them. Open to any suggestions.

Oh and those prices include shipping because I haven't been able to find anyone that can beat Dennis Kirks Prices and they ship orders over $100 for free, so once you figure in shipping there always cheaper. But if you know of somewhere cheaper let me know.

Thanks
Fry

[WA1DH]

I have the Spitfires. So far I've put 7k miles on them and the tread is still holding up pretty well. They have a special compound on the center of the back tire which is supposed to last longer for touring. I bought the raised white letter ones, which are a few dollars more but look pretty cool.

[tomterrific]

For my XS I went with Cheng Shin Barracuda's from JC Whitney for the unreal price of $70 shipped to my door. I wanted the cheap tires to hold up the bike and, truth be told, I did not expect much else from those tires. My T140 Triumph Bonneville has Avon Super Venoms in the same size and these are GREAT tires. I am surprized how much the Barracuda's feel like the Super Venoms. Don't get the impression the Bs are as good as the SVs, they are not. Still, I'm very impressed with the Barracudas if price is included in the formula. The Barracudas have a round tread profile with a stiff sidewall similar to the Super Venoms. The basic feel of the two bikes is improved over the old design tires in the same way.

Tom Graham

[Fry]

Well WA1DH it's a good thang that you like the RWL spitfires because the price hasn't changed on them but RWL don't match the look I'm going for and the black walls are now about $165 a set and I need something cheaper so I can aford other parts that my bike needs.... and the list is gettin long

[pablosixfivezero]

Bridgestone BT45's

[Fry]

I'm also sorry to say that the Barracuda's are now $103 +shipping for a set from JC Whitney. You just can't catch a break these days

[woodman]

Cheng Shin or whatever it is was supposed to stop production of motorcycle tires as of 1/1/09 according to what I read a while back. Im sure the warehouses still have plenty. I use them on everything but the Harley, I dont put enough miles on the rest to warrant top of the line tires. Some are 6 years old with 500 miles on them, too many bikes. They work fine the way I ride but Im old. ;D

[WA1DH]

Bear in mind the 'stickier' tires also wear faster. A cheap pair of tires could actually cost you more in the long run if you have to replace them more often. Not a big deal if you don't do serious mileage every year and commute (like I do). You might want to look on google or google groups for certain tires and see how many miles people report getting out of them.

[Fry]

I'm starting to think I might just want to go ahead and cough up the extra $60 and get the Dunlops although they might last to long I've only managed to put about 1500-2000mile a year on my bike for the last 2 years. Anybody ever run Maxxis's or IRC's?

[grizld1]

I haven't used the IRC Wildflares, but I have used IRC Durotours in a nonperformance application. IMO it's a very nice utility tire, good compromise between longevity and adhesion, a lot of bang for the buck.

The proprietor of my home shop talked me into a set of Barracudas years ago, pitching them as a performance tire; did a thorough break-in, threw the scoot over in a corner I was used to taking with Bridgestone BT45's, and wound up scratching through it sideways. Went back to the shop, said something like "Get this greasy C---- Sh-t off my wheels!" (among other things better left unrepeated). Maybe they've improved.

Last tires were Pirelli Sport Demons. Loved 'em; but as long as Pirelli/Michellin gives exclusive distribution to Parts Unlimited, an outfit that's committed itself to abusive policies toward dealers in general and small shops in particular (Dennis Kirk is their retail subsidiary), I won't buy any more of those--or any other PU/DK product, until their policies become less extortionate. This season's rubber will be Conti TKV's. Pricy, yes, but cheaper than the consequences if you need the grip and find out you don't have it.

[tomterrific]

I want to clear up what I said earlier in light of how Griz has experienced the CS Barracudas. The BT45s are the top of the heap for the XS. Just as the Super Venoms are tops for my Bonneville. The 'Made In England' sold me on the Avons as a tire for an English bike over the BT45.

When I mention feel, I did not mean how well the Barracudas stick leaned over to the max. I meant the steering and general feel of the way the bike handled just riding around. I got the same feeling with the XS as I did with the Triumph when I switched from K81 Dunlop to the round profile Super Venom. Both bikes just felt better, nicer to ride around, esier to steer.

I have felt the Barracudas slip a little over white lines that the Super Venom would not notice. I actually cornered the Avon SV over a manhole cover by mistake and It was like it wasn't there. The Avons have been very confidence inspiring. As I get more and more miles on the XS and develop it into a better bike for sport, I plan on BT45 Bridgestones because then the better tire will be worth it. Under no circumstance do I think the Barracuda is a better tire than the bias sport tires from the top Manufacturers. The Barracuda is probably a better tire than the rest of the lower end tires.

Tom Graham

[woodman]

I just put a set of Maxxis with an off/on road tread on an XT500 but its a bit snowy to try them out yet

[Fry]

Well I think I'm gana get the Bridgestone S11 Spitfire's unless someone can give me a good reason to spend an extra $20 on some Dunlop D404's. I'm sure the BT45 would give me more grip but with my riding ability/style and my bikes worn out stock suspension I just don't need that expensive of a tire. Does anyone have any experience with the Spitfires I the rain? I have bad luck and get rained on alot

[Fry]

I know what your sayin about the snow Woodman, it was 40* out the other day and I would have loved to take my girlfriends "new" 81 special (my 79 has some clutch issue's) for a spin but I knew there was know way I would make it up the snow covered gravel road I live on.

[WA1DH]

All I can say is they hold up better than the worn out Dunlops I had before. I wiped out at 40 mph in the rain on those - that's why I got new tires (the Spitfires). I haven't ridden them in any downpours but they seem to hold up well.