Need help selecting tires.

[2 Wheel Virgin]

I need to put new tires on my bike and I don't even know where to begin. I look in my Dennis Kirk Catalog and I can't find hardly anything in the same size as what is on it. The front is 3.60s19 and the rear is 4.10s18. Any and all help is appreciated.

[scan]

I wasn't sure about tires a couple months ago, and need to replace mine, and I relied on the knowledge of my local dealer mechanic. I don't know if you have a relationship with a shop near you yet, but if you do, let them know what your situation is (the importance of sticky vs. life of the tire). I have a sporty bike and didn't like wearing out tires as fast as the stickiest tires do, so he recomended a touring tire that was sporty. It is plenty sticky for me. But I can tell you, I felt as you do until I could talk to someone up close and personal about the issue. It is too expensive for me to make a mistake on (and the safety side too).

[poppygene]

I don't think those are the standard sizes for your bike. Seems to me they're oversized. Guess you better do as Scanevelexec says and get advice from your local dealer.

[Joe Mc]

I put Bridgestone spitfires on my 78 Cb400. Good tire, good price. 100/90/19 front. 110/90/18 rear.

[BuzZz]

The tire sizes on your tires are the old-style sizing system. They can be converted to modern sizes by the tire seller. And checking with the dealer to make sure they are original equipment size is a good idea, too.

[2 Wheel Virgin]

Thanks for the info. Can some one exlpain what the numbers in the sizes mean. Again, thanks.

[poppygene]

On older tires the first number indicates the section width of the tire, for example 4.10 inches. "18" would be the diameter of the wheel in inches.

The modern sizes are mainly metric, and also include a number indicating the aspect ratio of the tire. For example, a tire marked as 100/90-19 would be 100mm wide and its section height or profile would be 90% of that, or roughly 90mm, and it would fit on a 19 inch wheel.
Another example: a tire marked as 120/60ZR-17 would be 120mm wide, 72mm tall (120x60%), have a "Z" speed rating (150mph+) and be of Radial ("R") construction.

[ronboskz650sr]

The tire sizes on your tires are the old-style sizing system. They can be converted to modern sizes by the tire seller. And checking with the dealer to make sure they are original equipment size is a good idea, too.

My bike had an oversized tire on the rear, for that "cool look." I put the original size on and was shocked at the improvement in cornering...much easier initiating the turns on the skinnier original equipment size. Guess those design engineers knew what they were doing, even in 1979.

[wyomech]

I got a tire conversion chart "html", but don't know how to attach it for you......Help, anyone?

[honda599]

My advice to you is visit the local bike shops and ask for advice. Remember tires are very important...you only have two contacting the road so don't cheap out. Usually cheap tires are hard and do not provide good traction to the road surface.