Tyres are getting harder to source these Covid days. I've been running  Michelin Pilot Activs which are now  not available have now been replaced by Michelin Road Classic. I ran a local tyre dealer to get a set of Activs and was told of the replacement and that he could order a set, but said both the old Michelins and the new replacement lacked grip and that I'd be better off with a set of Bridgestone BT46's which he has in stock. Years ago ran Bridgestone BT45's and they handled OK but wore quickly compared to the Activs. Has anybody tried Road Classics or BT 46's or any other suggestions for tyres. Have I just opened a can of worms?
Regards Martin.

Olaf's running BT46s on one of his bikes. I still use Avon Roadriders as being perfectly adequate for the job.

Couldn't find a can'o'worms emoticon...

Can you get Shinko tires down there? 

I have used the Tourmasters and the 712's and have been very happy with both models.  Decent traction and handling(they work great for me, but I'll admit that I'm a bit old now to be grinding the pegs down), very good mileage, and the price is really hard to beat.

I've talked to a couple of the Kweensland K Kronies and one had tried the Shinkos and said while they were fine in the dry not much chop in the wet. We are currently in the wet season. One Kronie has suggested BT 46's based on experience with the BT45's as well as Metzeler Roadtec 01's. Another also suggested Metzeler Roadtec 01's. I'm waiting to hear of Olaf on BT46's. So far no votes for the Michelin Road Classic which I was leaning to until told they had good wear but no grip by the local tyre guy. I had no problem with my Activs.
Regards Martin.

Martin, I've used both model Shinkos quite extensively here and around the U.S. in some pretty wet conditions in temperatures not much above freezing.  I suspect that there may be differences in road surfaces that make them work better here than in OZ.  Also, as I get deeper into my 70's I don't seem to be as aggressive in the corners as I used to be. I probably can count the number of times I've dragged something in the past couple years on one hand.

In any event, the Shinkos are an option that you could try if you can't get anything else.  I had a bike a while back that had BT45 ties and they were pretty good.  I wouldn't hesitate getting the BT46's

Gryph I've done a bit more research and Metzelers are out they don't do my rear tyre. I also can't find much in the way of reviews for Michelin Road Classic except by Michelin who could be slightly biased. I'd like to hear off a member who has used Road Classics. I had another look at the Shinko's, the price is tempting but the K Kronies can get a bit spirited at times, and my lovely wife is footing the bill.
Regards Martin.

Why didn't you mention the financing up front?  I assumed it was coming out of your wallet.  I guess assuming always comes back to bite.

I'm a kept man, as in retired, lovely wife is still working part time to keep me in the manner that I've grown accustomed to. 
Regards Martin.

Hi Martin

I am really liking my Continental ROAD ATTACK 3 great grip all the way to the edge (with the bellypan scraping). 
Just on 5000km on them now and they are still looking like new. definatly not on the cheap side in AUS but great 
value for money.

Cheers Jamie

Gryph I hope you realise that some Ozzies are sensitive and do have feelings. Fortunately I'm not one of them. Living and loving retirement, and I don't know how I managed to have the time to work.
Regards Martin.

After half a day researching I finally bit the bullet and decided on Michelin Road Classics. Bruce also chasing tyres was after Metzelers but not available in his sizes. The local motorcycle tyre warehouse told him the best tyres were the Michelin Road Classics and everybody was giving them the thumbs up. However they only had rears in stock and after they rang Michelin the fronts were 6-8 weeks away. Both of us chased around trying to get  fronts and as a last resort I tried Ebay and scored one just down the road. I left a message with them to see if they had a second for Bruce. I'll pick it up tomorrow.
Regards Martin.

Dai wrote:Olaf's running BT46s on one of his bikes. I still use Avon Roadriders as being perfectly adequate for the job.

Couldn't find a can'o'worms emoticon...

BT46 on 2 of them and a very brisk and bendy run to 88 on Christmas Day pulling the trailer in torrential rain I had a ball. Grinning from ear to ear. The RT is on BT45 only because it has them since 2017.

MartinW wrote:Gryph I hope you realise that some Ozzies are sensitive and do have feelings. Fortunately I'm not one of them. Living and loving retirement, and I don't know how I managed to have the time to work.
Regards Martin.

It speaks well of your ability to "get the job done" that She Who Must Be Obeyed not only keeps you around in your idleness, but also finances your toys.  Hats of to you!

I got an email back yesterday just after their closing time saying they would have a look for another tyre for Bruce in the morning. They open at 0800 so I gave them a bit of time, I checked Emails and left at 0815 and tootled down there.  One of the owners was busy with another customer and after 10 min another salesman served me and couldn't find the tyre. 10 min later owner eventually came over had a look at my receipt and said he emailed me that morning, it must have been after I left. He said they had sold the tyre the previous day. He offered me a set of BT 46's which I declined. He didn't answer why the tyre was still on Ebay and why he hadn't told me when he emailed me. No apology and I definitely won't be going back, this is the forth time that they had stuffed me up, and the last time it could of ended badly and no apology. I have avoided them for the last six years and Hell will freeze over before I'll ever go back. When I got home I managed to located another front in Victoria and a rear locally. Hopefully I'll get them in a week or so.
Regards Martin.

I have to agree with point seven five on the Shinko 712's. I've used them on several bikes in the past few years and find them a good all around tire. The only complaint I could have is the front tire eventually cups after a while.

I've already got a Michelin Road Classic rear in the garage that I bought locally after I found the Victorian front one. And after the run around with the local tyre shop, I had found another front one on eBay in Victoria. I placed the order and they confirmed the order, three days later Bruce put an order in with same the place. However due to Covid and staff shortages I gave them a week and then queried whether it had been sent. The answer I got back was that they don't have any in stock. I just checked the ad is still running on eBay, no apology just an offer to supply a BT46. I sent them an email querying why the ad is still running and called them out as being unprofessional, with no reply. Sent a complaint to eBay and no answer there either. 

I let Bruce know and he also fired off a query as to shipping date. Bruce then sourced and paid for a set of BT46's locally. Two days later he received an answer that the tyre was on it's way and he should have it by the 27th. As Bruce now had two front tyres paid for he kindly offered to let me have the Michelin. We are both waiting to see if and what turns up on the 27th. Before Bruce offered me his tyre I had tried tyre shops in the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast to no avail. One however did go to Michelin and pushed for an answer on a supply date, the answer was at least three months. If Bruce hadn't offered me his Michelin the next plan was to get a Shinko and replace it when the Michelin became available.
Regards Martin.

Martin, Have you ever tried Avon Roadriders?

I have run them for the last few years. Get good mileage and seem to get great grip on wet road (the biggest reason I like them).

I run the under-sung Conti Go bias ply tubeless tyres on my R100 Mystic, in similar sizes to an early K. They tour well and can handle Cascade mountain passes when tested.

Mick67 likes the Avon Roadriders  but couldn't find them had to settle for Pirelli's all that was available. The only tyres around seem to be Bridgestones BT45's and BT46's and Shinko's 712.
Regards Martin.

Shinko's do white walls to

Do they come with handle bar tassels.
Regards Martin.

It took me months to get a pair of Michelin Road Classic in Sydney.  I had the front fitted already so simply had to be patient for the rear. Happy with them now though.

Now I am in Thailand riding my inferior Honda CB500x. Arrived here in Chiang Mai to realise my once near new Pirelli scorpion are two years older than when I last rode the bike. Needed a new battery too. Bloody COVID!

Come to think of it I haven't put much wear on my Sydney tyres either for two years.

 This saga started on the 12th of January, the local  tyre warehouse rang yesterday and said my Shinko has arrived however it was too late to go and pick it up. This was after the order got misplaced by Shinko. I've got the Michelin front on back order and it's probably about 6 weeks away. I'm now off to pick up the Shinko. I'll pick SSD up tomorrow and we'll fit and balance the Shinko. At the moment it's way too wet to ride.
Regards Martin.

On the K100 with the Y-rims I use Pirelli Sport Demons and love 'em. They're a single compound tyre and I've heard it said that they wear out quickly but I've always had good mileage out of them but I tend to use all of the tread.
I've heard the Roadtec 01 is ok. It's a high silica single compound tyre as well.
Very limited choices for those rims these days unfortunately

Bridgestone Battlax BT46 are great. I love them.