Tyres

3

3crider

New member
I note in Bike magazine this month, Michelin have introduced their new Road Classic tyres. They claim these tyres to be the latest technology but they are still 'bias-ply' construction. I have recently fitted Continental radials (100/90 & 120/90-18's) to my 3C and they were a revelation especially in the Alps a few weeks ago. The (Continental radials) ride is better, the side to side roll is fantastic and they track very well even over white lines and road striations etc and I suspect they will last well.
So why have Michelin, who know a little about tyres, brought out new bias-ply tyres for classics? Discuss.
 
I took have Continentals on my Jota. Frankly I had BT45 and saw no need to change but they were part worn and had to come off when Keith Nairn was starting up the wheels and adapting for tubeless..and he insisted Contis were the way to go. I agree with all that you say...and will stick with them...
 
Pretty happy when the Contis are finally worn down on the RGS, will be going back to the trusty Bridgestones. Better front-end feedback, more reassuring in the wet. Means more to me than the supposedly better handling of the Contis, which imho, is hardly noticable.

piet
 
sfcpiet said:
Pretty happy when the Contis are finally worn down on the RGS, will be going back to the trusty Bridgestones. Better front-end feedback, more reassuring in the wet. Means more to me than the supposedly better handling of the Contis, which imho, is hardly noticable.

piet
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I've been running BT45s on my trusted Guzzi T3 since 2007, and haven't had any inclination to change to any other tyres, as they have been good all year round performers.
 
Lucky you can get Conti's, none available here in Oz. About the only thing left is BT46. I like the Michelin's as well, but current availability is crap. Something to do with a war.
 
much of a muchness in modern day tyres , rubber tech is as good as each other in most reputable brands of tyre
 
This is really about Radials vs X-ply's rather than manufacturers. I have written to Michelin and asked them why they choose to go down the X-ply route with their new Road Classic tyres instead of following Continental with their excellent radials. Its been nearly a week and I have yet to get a reply as the query has gone to the technical department. I suspect their might be a raging debate about how to reply with the tech team saying yes, radials would be better and the marketing teams saying 'but these ol' duffers still want X-ply's'. :)
 
3crider said:
This is really about Radials vs X-ply's rather than manufacturers. I have written to Michelin and asked them why they choose to go down the X-ply route with their new Road Classic tyres instead of following Continental with their excellent radials. Its been nearly a week and I have yet to get a reply as the query has gone to the technical department. I suspect their might be a raging debate about how to reply with the tech team saying yes, radials would be better and the marketing teams saying 'but these ol' duffers still want X-ply's'. :)
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As soon as Radials became available 20 years back I wanted them, as I promised myself after a crash I had I would always use the best available tyres I could get. I still laugh at what I was told by a Salesman Expert at my local bike shop. He said their grip was so high they would cause my frame to break. So dumb, anyway Bridgestone back then was the only manufacturer making 120 rear radials and that lasted for about 2 years before that changed to 150s and bigger only. Thankfully now even though its tricky you can get a few 120, 130 and 140 rear radials and 110 fronts from some manufacturers and to me its well worth the search.
 
My twopenneth- early Pan European Hondas had a spate of instability problems that was linked to switching to radials, the bike was designed to run on crossplys. That was the only time I was ever advised not to use radials ( by my Honda rep) - might have been on Police spec bikes that are notoriously over loaded. I would have thought radials might be better suited to a lower aspect ratio tyre and possibly not the older style higher carcass tyres. I would say even budget tyres now are far better than Pirelli Phantoms of the seventies. Never heard of anyone preferring crossplys or even knowing the difference on the road.
 
They were not radial, I used them back then. First retail radial was from Pirelli iirc, weirdest tread pattern ever and they rode weird too, skittish but apparently brilliant in the wet for those days. Made people sceptical of radials.
 
If is doesn't say 'R' its not a radial tyre. My Continentals are 100/90 R18 & 120/90 R18. Anything else, including the new Michelin's are X-ply's, you know, just like your grandads old Cortina used to have!

Still no response from Michelin!
 
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3crider said:
If is doesn't say 'R' its not a radial tyre. My Continentals are 100/90 R18 & 120/90 R18. Anything else, including the new Michelin's are X-ply's, you know, just like your grandads old Cortina used to have!

Still no response from Michelin!
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Modern cross-plys don't have much in common with the tyres of 40 years ago, except maybe shape and colour. ;) The Bridgestone BT45/46 are a prime example, their sidewalls are almost as soft and pliable as those of a radial tyre, which is probably the reason why they are such an excellent all-rounder. Add a modern rubber compound for the tread and there's not much more to wish for.

Took the 3C to a track day last year with a BT45 fitted to the front (very short notice, no time to fit a more suitable tyre). Tyre took it in its' stride without issue. Could not have asked for more...

Just cos it sez "R", doesn't necessarily mean it's any better.

piet
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3crider said:
Have you tried the Conti Radials yet?
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See my reply further up.

All the classic racers were on them as soon as they appeared, so I tried them as well. Big disappointment for me. Front is very narrow for a 110/80 with a tiny contact patch, not exactly inspiring under heavy brakes, gives a very vague feeling for the front end. Must admit it is quite nimble though. But wet weather performance is also under par imho.

Bike was shod with 110/70 Komp-K MBS Metzelers for decades, I bought a pile just before production ceased. Back in the day, these degraded everything else to simple rim protectors. They could still hold their own when I wore out the last one around 2015.

Metzeler road tyres in Komp-K compound were used by many club racers as an intermediate tyre back then.

piet
 
Wanting to buy a set of tyres for my 750SFC.
I see the BT46 come in 2 front sizes 100/90 [56V] and 100/80 and the rear 120/80 and 120/90.
Whats the 56V in reference to?
I'm thinking of going with the /80 profile. For those that have experience with the BT46, any preference?
 
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