Experience of a Bias Front Tire

[old1959]

FYI. I needed a front tire while on a trip in Canada. The only tire available in stock was a Dunlop "Harley Davidson" tire which happened to be biased and not radial. Also, slightly different in size; 100/90-19 versus stock size of 110/80R-19. I determined new tread was better than no tread so I bought the tire. After 11,898 miles, I'm now replacing the tire with a radial and correct size. However, having heard for years not to mix to bias and radial tires I want to share, in this case and with this particular combination, the bike handled fine. Consequently, if you are ever in need of a front tire while out on a trip, check the HD dealer as I was told this is a popular size.

 

[Madhatter]

good to have options

 

[OldRider]

Just a few years ago the 100/90X19 tire was one of the most popular tires on a lot of motorcycles. Most styles of bias tires still come in that size. As far as mixing bias and radial, take a look around the OEM showrooms and you'll find brand new motorcycles with a radial on the rear and a bias tire on the front.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Bias front radial rear is fine. And I'm honestly not sure about wrong way mixing ever being an issue with motorcycles. Where the whole 'issue' came into being was way back when radials were first being installed on cars and trucks that still had a good pair of bias on and they only wanted a pair. You did not want to place the radials on the front of the vehicles. The characteristics of the radial tire, traction, sidewall... it was known to have vehicles swap ends on hard braking. It seems like a radial front and a bias rear could still be an issue on a bike, I'm not gonna try it, but blending has always been fine if the rear is the radial.

 

[old1959]

And today I got new rubber installed. Trying a Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2 and in the correct size...

 

[BaldKnob]

You’re gonna like those Pirelli’s!

 

[beastie]

I put a front Heidenau K76 bias ply on my s10 by mistake. Was perfectly fine,really noticed no great difference with a radial,but,it lasted just on 2000kms and was absolutely had it. I ran it at 38-40 psi. I don't think the bias tyres are really up to the weight and torque of a s10. Of course,it may just have been a bad tyre but it was never very inspiring,to say the least.

 

[jrusell]

Seems strange. Heidenau K60 tires are known for their durability and I would have thought the K76 would have faired even better for durability. They are the same load range and a higher speed rating. 33-36 is more where I would keep my front pressure, but would not have thought 4 psi would do that to your tire.

Lots of people running the K60, shinko 705 and other bias ply tires with no issue. Definitely no issue running bias on heavy bikes like the Tenere. Hopefully just a bad tire and the next brand you try gives you better results.

 

[beastie]

I'm currently running Shinko 705 radials front and rear,40/42psi.
Great tyres and cheap too.
When I bought them,the web site said not to use bias tyres on the Tenere due to it's weight/performance characteristics.
The Shinko bias tyres were suggested for adventure bikes under 650cc,radial for anything larger than that.
Might well be that the K76 falls into the same category,where as a bias ply tyre for a Harley sized bike would be more than up to the task at hand.
K76 may just have been a dud,which changes everything. If I were running bias front again,I'd go heavy tourer type.

 

[OldRider]

That "Harley" tire would be a Dunlop 401 57H rated at 507lbs and 130mph. Most of the 110/80 tires for the S10 are rated 58 (520lbs) or 59 (536lbs). Not much difference at all. A 100/90-19 is a real good replacement size for the 110/80-19. I wouldn't hesitate to run one at all. The Honda 750 Spirit also runs a 110/80 and we've been putting 100/90's on them for years because of the lack of affordable 110/80 tires available.

 

[beastie]

Thanks for that bit of schooling. I'm assuming I had a dud tyre.
I was so excited at the price it took about 3 months before I found it was a bias ply tyre.
The 705's on the other hand,are very good,wet or dry,tarmac or metal,both fine and coarse and a little mud too.