My '05 Boulevard S40 is going to need some new rubber soon. I am thinking of putting some vintage tread pattern tires on it. Folks who have searched might feel that there aren't as many options in 15" tires for the rear as we might want.
I have a new Mettzler Block C in 3.25-19" sitting around that will work nice in the front:
The Block C is a Front or Rear type tire, rated 54P, it's 106mm wide and 677 mm in diameter, and fits rims from 1.85 to 2.50. I don't expect the 1.5% larger diameter and the 4.5mm per side extra width, vs the factory tire, to cause any issues.
I'd like to find something for the rear that will be similarly vintage. I found a few candidates and I'll post info for future reference
The factory tires are:
Front: IRC GS-18 110/90-19, 57H, 97 mm wide x 667mm dia.
Rear: IRC GS-18 140/80-15, 67H, 128mm wide x 612 mm dia. on a 2.75 wide rim
https://ircmoto.com/products/grand-high-speed-gs-18I call this pattern "sorta vintage" looking, but kinda unusual and eccentric. They seem relatively inexpensive, if you can find them.
Dunlop D404 is another "sorta vintage" tread pattern, IMO.
This comes in 130/90-15, 66H, 131mm wide x 608 dia, which wants a 3.0 wide rim, and
140/90-15, 70H, 148 wide x 628 dia which is supposed to go on a 3.50 wide rim.
It also comes in 150/90-15, and 170/80-15, but these are recommended fitment on a 4.00 wide rim, which seems like too many sizes larger than the factory 2.75 even if they physically fit.
https://www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com/tire-line/d404/The Pirelli MT66 Route is another tire design that has a "sorta vintage", they call it "old school", tread design. This comes in
130/90-15, 66S, 147 mm x 631mm, for 2.50 to 3.50 rims
& 140/90-15, 70H, 159 mm x 651 mm, for 2.75 to 3.75 rims
https://www.pirelli.com/tires/en-us/motorcycle/catalog/product/mt-66-route/r1... Mettzler previously made the ME 77 in 130/90-15, but it seems to be discontinued now.
Bridgestone makes the G508 in
130/90-15, 66P
& 150/90-15, but, although these have vintage looking tread, they appear to be either OEM only, or discontinued. I'm having a hard time finding technical data on the model.
I think the winner in any "old school appearance" contest, is the
Duro DM-1261 in 5.00-15, 69S
https://www.duro.com.tw/en/product/motorcycle/66695aea0a6a78281b9ad5f7/The old school inch system tires had 100% profiles, just at tall as they were wide. According to my calculations, this tire should be 127mm wide x 634mm in diameter or thereabouts. I think it should fit fine on the 2.75 wide rim.
Finding one for sale is challenging, but I think perhaps Duro makes them in private label form for resellers, and those seem just a bit easier to find.
I think that is what we are seeing here:
https://www.twinside-cycles.com/product/olskool-vintage-sawtooth-tire/and here:
https://japan.webike.net/products/23834236.htmlHowever, it looks like it might be a real challenge finding one of these here in the USA, and shipping from overseas will be expensive.
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