Tires

[Robert Luland]

I need some help picking tires lads. I have a dozen original Goodyear’s but I’m not going to go sixty miles an hour on them. I only got a certain amount of time on this planet and I surly don’t want to speed it up. What after market OEM look alike brands have you guys used and why. My plan is to have two sets of wheels for all the bikes so I can use the originals for show. Bob L

[Jerry Wieland]

First off I would never resort to a Coker. In my opinion they are very poor quality. For 16" rubber I like the Avon MkII. It kinda has an old look and last ok - they are getting expensive - list at $150 I think. I'm still looking for quality 18" however.

Jerry

[fabercycle]

I agree with Jerry, Avon SM tires, got the vintage look, and handle and wear pretty good.

[Sargehere]

I used to think Cokers were soft rubber, and fast wearing. No more. I have 4:50x18 "Diamond Treads" on both ends of my 37UL with sidecar, and they are wearing pretty well. Several thousand miles, now, and I just rotated them, front-to-rear, as the rear "pusher" wears faster.
I have also taken the sidecar off and running solo (last thousand miles), so expecting even better wear, now. No mo' complaints from me about Cokers. I think they've gotten their act together.

[48hdbob1]

I have the Coker copy of the Goodyear Super Eagle on the back of my '64 FLH and ride the piss out of it and it is a great tire all the way around-Bob

[rashd]

It's pretty interesting to hear about Coker's wearing well.
I bought a set once, 10+ years back and wore through the rear tire in a season. Later!
Avon SM MkII, front and rear, since. I still have the front sitting in the garage.
Perhaps they changed their products up, could that be the case?

[hd44knuck]

I run Avons on both the knuckle and the chief...good handling and wear.

[vph-d]

I have a set of Avon SM on my 51FL, they look good and ride well. However, on the many rain-grooved highways around the Denver metro area, the machine is almost uncontrollable.

My 57FLH has a set of Continental tires, and they handle much better on the rain grooves, but are still a little squirrely. I've noticed new machines with their modern tires seem unaffected by these miserable rain grooves. Man, do I hate rain grooves !
VPH-D

[exeric]

Could someone post the model designation and modern size data for 16" and 18" Avons. I would like to look them up on the net and see what they look like. I'm sure modern tires are great and all but from what I have seen, modern tires look out of place on an old bike. Like putting Nike running shoes on Abe Lincoln. . . . Also, I hope Avons are not made in China.

[Greg H]

Eric, Avon is a brand owned by Coopertires USA manufacture plants in US/England/China
But which tyre at what plant ?

http://www.coopertire.com/html/company/aboutus_facilities.aspx

[LouieMCman]

My Avon says "Made in England"......

[LouieMCman]

How about some reaction to the earlier tires say the button Cokers, they don't last very long and are now about $170. Anyone ever try the Universals with the rectangular tread design? They are about the same price.

[exeric]

How about some reaction to the earlier tires say the button Cokers, they don't last very long and are now about $170. Anyone ever try the Universals with the rectangular tread design? They are about the same price.

Good question Louie, I was wondering the same thing. Also, I thought I read on this forum that Michelin makes a good clincher tire that fits the 22" rim. Tubes for clincher tires are also an issue since you need to put so much air pressure to them.

[Barry Brown]

I got to chatting with a model T owner the other day and noticed his "Universal " tires that were shot after almost no mileage. He did not have anything good to say about them or Coker and said his buddies got screwed by Universal as well. These were recent purchases .

[LouieMCman]

Thanks Barry, sounds like were screwed either way......