Help i need new tires and inner tubes

Hi All,

My first post.
As far as the tire size and the conversions I got all that down. My dilemma now is where to get tires and what kind of tubes. I looked online and found there are different types of tubes. My bike is completely stock; it’s a 1977 KZ750 twin.
Front 3.25H - 19
Rear 4.00H - 18
What do you recommend for tires, I only drive the bike around town? No long trips at all.
Where can i get them?
What tube do I need?

You advice is appreciated!

I buy my tires from JC Whitney and mount them myself, but it is a real pain and I'm more inclined every tire change to have a shop do it and pay the man his $25-$35 dollars.

I also buy the inexpensive Cheng-Shin Hi-Max tires, but there are lots of other choices from Bridgstone, Dunlop, Avon and others.

By the way, welcome to KZ Rider! :blush:

Stay stock with the sizes. Avon Roadriders are a nice tire. I can't wait to wear out my current 120/90 rear and get back to the correct 4.00-18. Continental are a nice tire too. Go to Dennis Kirk then the shop for tires and enter the 4.00-18 and 3.25-19 and they show several brands. You can get Cheng Shins or IRC stuff for lower price but not the same quality of course. I like Dennis Kirk because they have free shipping over $100 although have a small extra charge for tires. Get matching size tubes there too. I've mounted my own tires since I was 12 or 13 yrs old and would have it no other way.

Chaparral motorsports is another place online with decent prices. For safety's sake I would buy the most expensive ones you can find , but in reality if you aren't racing and you watch your air pressure you should be fine with about anything as long as it fits, it then comes down to how long do you want it to last and what quality do you want.

I got IRC wildflares as the flame tread pattern looks cool .

OKC_Kent wrote:

I buy my tires from JC Whitney and mount them myself, but it is a real pain and I'm more inclined every tire change to have a shop do it and pay the man his $25-$35 dollars.

I also buy the inexpensive Cheng-Shin Hi-Max tires, but there are lots of other choices from Bridgstone, Dunlop, Avon and others.

By the way, welcome to KZ Rider! :blush:

I have run the Cheng Shin tires from JC Whitney for most of 30 years use. BTW, my bikes stock sizes were also 3.25-19 (front) and 4.00-18 (rear).

They also sell tubes of various sizes. BTW, you can usually reuse the old tubes, they are sealed inside the tire and the rubber doesn't deteriorate like the outside of the tire. On rear tires, they wear out about 6k-7k miles, I change the tube about every third time.

OKC_Kent wrote:

I buy my tires from JC Whitney and mount them myself, but it is a real pain and I'm more inclined every tire change to have a shop do it and pay the man his $25-$35 dollars.

If you don't want to mount the tire yourself, you probably are better off getting the tire locally. We have a shop here that charges $20 for any mount and balance, but they throw it in free if you buy a tire at their shop. They have higher prices than the net, but when you figure in shipping and mounting costs I can usually save a few bucks buying at the shop and letting them mount and balance it. Look for a deal like that around your area.

bountyhunter wrote:...We have a shop here that charges $20 for any mount and balance, but they throw it in free if you buy a tire at their shop. They have higher prices than the net, but when you figure in shipping and mounting costs I can usually save a few bucks buying at the shop and letting them mount and balance it. Look for a deal like that around your area.[/quote]

Exactly the same here. The local place I go to will actually work with my on the RonAyers.com website to help me make sure I end up paying right about the same amount to them that I would in total if I bought them online... You know, with the thrown-in mounting, etc...



...and what, no "tire war"? C'mon guys! Avon! Dunlop! Cheng Freakin' Shin!!
:woohoo:

Biquetoast wrote:

bountyhunter wrote:...We have a shop here that charges $20 for any mount and balance, but they throw it in free if you buy a tire at their shop. They have higher prices than the net, but when you figure in shipping and mounting costs I can usually save a few bucks buying at the shop and letting them mount and balance it. Look for a deal like that around your area.

Exactly the same here. The local place I go to will actually work with my on the RonAyers.com website to help me make sure I end up paying right about the same amount to them that I would in total if I bought them online... You know, with the thrown-in mounting, etc...



...and what, no "tire war"? C'mon guys! Avon! Dunlop! Cheng Freakin' Shin!!
:woohoo:[/quote]


The shops here locally don't throw it in, they want between 15-25.00 a tire to swap them. And they were more than 50.00 higher for the set of tires than Chaparral. Just so you know, if you go local, call and see what they will do for you if you want the tire installed at the shop. I paid the money for the install and I would do it again as they did it in less than 30 minutes what would have taken me a few hours and a lot of frustration (I have only installed a new bike tire once and it wasn't fun).

Find out what you have locally and then go from there is the best advice I have.

I just picked up a brand new continental off ebay for $41 and free shipping. It's a little skinny 110/90/18 but it will work for this year.

donthekawguy wrote:

I just picked up a brand new continental off ebay for $41 and free shipping. It's a little skinny 110/90/18 but it will work for this year.

I made that mistake too although 110/90-18 is "the equivalent" of a 4.00-18, the 110/90 is both narrower and lower profile than the 4.00-18 so doesn't really qualify as "equivalent". Equivalent is really only a 4.00-18, but if you want a little wider tire you can go 120/90-18 and get the same basic diameter of the original 4.00 with extra width, but really too wide for a 2.15" wheel. So them are the choices, 4.00-18 for fit, 110/90 too small, 120/90 too wide.

RonKZ650 wrote:

donthekawguy wrote:

I just picked up a brand new continental off ebay for $41 and free shipping. It's a little skinny 110/90/18 but it will work for this year.

I made that mistake too although 110/90-18 is "the equivalent" of a 4.00-18, the 110/90 is both narrower and lower profile than the 4.00-18 so doesn't really qualify as "equivalent". Equivalent is really only a 4.00-18, but if you want a little wider tire you can go 120/90-18 and get the same basic diameter of the original 4.00 with extra width, but really too wide for a 2.15" wheel. So them are the choices, 4.00-18 for fit, 110/90 too small, 120/90 too wide.

On the rear, I got better wear going the shade narrower size (110 - 90). If you go a little too large on the rear width (with the 4.00 rim), it wears the center strip faster and you get less milage.

The 110 tire is 4.33 inches so it's good enough. And it's a whole lot better than the bald one I have on there now.