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I bought my 82 900SS with Avon Super Venom's fitted (AM20 front and AM 18 rear). The thread on these tyres are still as new, but is there any way to determine how old these tyres might be? I've read once that one should replace tyres if the are older than four years even is thread is still okay. Also, as a general allround tyre are these any good?

I've used the Super Venoms for the past 4 years and been very happy, wet or dry, US and UK. Good grip, though the rear tyre is now pretty worn round to the edge :-) after only 2500 miles. This is on a 77 900SS. So 4 years is fine... It's a real shame they don't sell them any more!

Peter, I've looked at the DOT numbers and whereas in my 97 SS's tyres it follows the format you mentioned, the Avons on the 82 SS have a format that starts with a W and then three digits after it. Any idea what the W would represent?

Geoff, does Avon not have a replacement tyre for the Super Venoms, or would one need to change to another brand when these are worn out?

I've found a couple of places in the UK that still have the Avons so I was going to phone up and ask as to age of tyre; the replacements (I can't remember what they were now) don't seem to be as grippy... If I don't manage on the Super Venom or reasonable age front, then I'll fit BT045s.
Cheers
Geoff

I've Googled the DOT codes and it seems the W (and the X on the front tyre) in front of the three digit DOT code is just an indication in which plant the tyre was manufactured. The normal three digit DOT code depicts the week and year of the 1980's and if it has a little triangle behind it then the year is in the 1990's. My rear tyre is 034 and my front tyre 443 with the triangles - this means my tyres go back to the end of 1993 and beginning of 1994, thus 14 years old!! What a pity, they are still brand new when looking at the thread, but I don't think I'll be able to trust such an old tyre.

Has anybody got experience with the Michelin Macadams? My brother fitted those to his BMW R100RS recently and seems to be happy, but then again, anything would have been better than the rock hard things he had on before them. Based on popular recommendation I'd opt for the Bridgestone BT45's, but I don't know if they're available locally?

Following on from the link Steve posted, it seems that the Avons replacing the Super Venom is the AM26 Roadrider - or that's what the Avon website suggests in any case...

http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/ ... wtyre&id=6

gorman wrote:it seems that the Avons replacing the Super Venom is the AM26 Roadrider

Yes this is true. The AM26 - no more AM18 and AM20

I've read on the advrider forum about a couple of KTM 990 riders who fitted the AM26s for road use and they were very impressed - I might just stick with the Avons if I can get hold of them.

Gorman,
If you cant get Avons, you wouldnt be dissapointed with the Bridgestones BT45's, I run them on my Duc's and have had road and track work on them and they are fantastic. The japanese issue really shouldnt come into the equation, they work and are a safe tyre. Good luck whichever you choose.

I'm sure the BT45's will be perfect and so will the Avons - I've done a search for other nice tyres available in the correct sizes of 100/90x18 and 120/90x18 that's also V-rated.

Here's a few pics of each:

Avon AM26 Roadrider:


Bridgestone BT45:

Those that have these tyres - is the picture of the rear correct? I saw there were also pictures of a pair where the rear has the same thread as the front.

Michelin Macadam 50:


Pirelli Sport Demons (these look quite nice!):


Continental TKV:


Metzeler Lasertec:

I've added the Continetal TKV and the Metzeler Lasertec tyre pictures to my previous post.

Those Continentals also look very nice - I'll investigate their availability as well. In South Africa Continentals are vey popular car tyres, but you don't see a lot of them on bikes.

If I have to sort them into an order which I'd prefer them, I'd say they rank as follows (this is based purely on the way they look!!...I'm sure they all handle and grip more or less the same):
1. Avon AM26
2. Bridgestone BT45
3. Pirelli Sport Demon
4. Michelin, Continental, Metzeler

Feedback: I decided to settle on the Avons and had a pair of AM26 Roadriders fitted yesterday. The wheels are still off the bike as I want to use to opportunity to clean all the little places one cannot get to with the wheels fitted. These tyres look a 100 times better than the ones I had on and by means of the "nail test" they also feel a lot softer than the 14 year old Super Venoms I had on (no surprise, really!)

gorman wrote:Feedback: I decided to settle on the Avons and had a pair of AM26 Roadriders fitted yesterday.

(I know I'm coming in a bit late on this thread , but ...)

Don't think you'll be disappointed.

I fitted a pair to my SSD last year when Venoms went out of production. Took me thru the Pyrenees, round the Riviera and on to Rimini for WDW; then back thru the Alps, Switzerland, France and back to the UK, 3,500 miles total. Had no problems - no loss of grip in the mountains and an acceptable rate of wear on the long boring bits (which wasn't true of the old BT45s altho' I understand Bridgestone has changed the compound these days).

And I found Venoms used to start tracking badly on long sweepers when they began to wear. So definitely an improvement.

Ciao

Craig

I have been re-searching tires for my newly acquired 900 GTS, 18 x 3.50 and 18 x 4.00 now my question, are there any period looking tires "worth" recommending?
I have found the Cheng-Shin C223 ribbed, C199 Dunlop K81 copy and I have found the Shinko 230 tour masters which favor an old Pirelli design.
Any past experience on the Forum with these tires? tia

A big thanks for this forum in general!