LCGB Forums

Need to bite the bullet this week and buy 3 new tyres for my stock TV3.
Light use (wear not an issue), simple rolling down county roads, no motorways, hopefully in the sun, but need a good wet tyre if I get caught out..

Huge choice, tyres are very important, so no budge polo-mint tyres for me.

I want whitewalls and the Schwalbe Weatherman looks a good tyre, side tread look extensive and ribbed.
Mich classic (not WW) which is a standard fitment on Vespa P125 etc must be good too?
Conti WW looks bad as the tread does not go well over the corners, wet cornering could be and adventure?

Any thoughts on this typical problem please?

Remember, 500 miles a year, one-up country side cruising, summer only.

Thanks,
Graham.

The only way you are likely to get a meaningful reply is if someone has the same scoot and riding habits as you I should have thought.
I probably have the same mileage onthe same roads as you but I only intend to ride in the dry as far as possible so I do not need wet performance tyres . I therefore went for Mitchelin S1 which is a soft compound tyre with good road holding in the dry but not so good wear performance.
All tyre choices are a compromise to some extent . A good wet weather tyre is unlikely to have a good dry weather performance but better wear performance than say the Mich S1. What you gain in wet weather performance with a wet tyre you lose in dry road holding and performance
You could do worse than have a read of MB Dev Marks tyre tests and opinions . http://www.lambrettaspares.com/info/mb-*-tech-articles/tyres-*-whats-right+247.html

Thanks for the reply, I'll have a read.
Bewildering choice out there.

following your brief:

if it has to be whitewall then Conti K62 (speed rating 62 mph)

Conti 365 will give superb grip in the wet but not whitewall (speed rating 83 mph)

Maybe look at SAVA MC20 whitewall, could well fit the bill. Have one on the rear of one of mine and been ridden in all weathers commuting, no issues, would be happy to buy more and probably will.

http://www.scootertyrestore.co.uk/tyre/ ... u0584.html

I've also seen some good reviews for the Sava MC20's they were my second choice

I guess you're looking for a classic look tyre? For whitewalls I use Continental K62s and for non-whitewall I use Michelin S83s, both good quality in my opinion.

Please do a search on Schwalbe before buying, especially Weathermans. They hit the market a few years ago and the early ones got rave reviews but something changed in the production and loads of reports started appearing of random bulges and de-laminations. Biggest problem for me (a former fan) is that they have never admitted any fault

Personally, I will o0nly buy from full on Automotive tyre manufacturers now (schwalbe predominately make mountain bike tyres) like Dunlop and Continental both of whom make excellent scooter tyres.

Colin

Thank you all.
I take the tyre bit seriously, it is a very important area for performance and safety, so keen to get the right tyre.

I had read about the sch' bulging when run underinflated, but liked the look of the block tread on the centre and a grippier design on the sides.

Elsewhere on here there was a discussion recently about the new Dunlops and the Conti 365.
Wish the 365's were in white wall too.

Happy to pay for the right tyre, but want some classic look to them too. Don't want much then...

If you want a classic look that's good both in wet 'n dry then Michelin S83s all day every day...
But don't forget the most important aspect of tyre performance: always have them at the correct pressure.

911hillclimber wrote:
I had read about the sch' bulging when run underinflated

they also bulged when run at low speed at correct pressure, i wouldn't touch 'em with a barge pole

Thanks, off the list now.
The prices differ so much for the Conti K62 whitewall from £27 odd to nearly £60 (each)!
The S83 looks to be a good buy and performance.
Easy to forget the tube cost.

Issue now is whitewall or black.

I swapped from S83s to Heidenau K38s last year and found that I had slightly more confidence in them over the winter. They are black though

Tony

How about whitewall inserts ?, any good.

Inserts, I built a hot rod in the 70's with those 'flappers' we called them.....not a good experience.
I have another thought and that starts with blacks.

Sava B14 tyres have a retro look imo.Only in black but a nice looking tyre worth looking at for your scooter.

There's a couple of Conti Whitewalls in the for sale section.

Indeed, saw those last night, but will buy fresh ones now I'm used to spend, spend, spend, spe.... with this restoration.

for some reason I want whitewalls but black are sensible.
Decision tomorrow,
Mich S83 the Sensible choice,
Conti K62 the Hearts choice.

911hillclimber wrote:Mich S83 the Sensible choice,
Conti K62 the Hearts choice.

for your proposed riding these would be on my short list.

my experience over the last 15 years with both makes would say the S83 will last a bit longer, K62 bit more corner grip in the wet, both types made by proper tyre manufacturers

Just read elsewhere on the scooter web that people find the Conti WW sloppy round corners as the trad pattern does not go round the edge of the tyre?