Best Dual Sport Tires to Replace OEM Knobby Tires

[gmcjetpilot]

UPDATE SEE POST #17 FOR REAR TIRE SIZE ON HAWK

Well just got my new Hawk 250CC and I was surprised to see the aggressive all dirt knobby tires. My main concern now is the big a$$ knobby tires on the road.... Having not rode it yet, I am sure it will be OK on dry streets...

I already Spec'ed out some Kenda K761 Dual-Sport Tire or Shinko 705 Dual-Sport Tires front and back. (ANY SUGGESTIONS WELCOMED ).

I only am going to do about 25% or less on dirt. I want to keep a set of tires under $150 for front and back.

Are these Hawk rims made for tubeless or tube tires only? If they are tube, not sure I can use the old tubes in new tires, since the size varies slightly. However that is low on my to do list. The sizes I am looking at:

Front 90/90-21 (stock is 80/100-21)
Rear 110/90-18 (stock is 110/100-18)

Comments, suggestions for some good skins for my rims...

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

Well just got my new Hawk 250CC and I was surprised to see the aggressive all dirt knobby tires. My main concern now is the big a$$ knobby tires on the road.... Having not rode it yet, I am sure it will be OK on dry streets...

I already Spec'ed out some Kenda K761 Dual-Sport Tire or Shinko 705 Dual-Sport Tires front and back. (ANY SUGGESTIONS WELCOMED ).

I only am going to do about 25% or less on dirt. I want to keep a set of tires under $150 for front and back.

Are these Hawk rims made for tubeless or tube tires only? If they are tube, not sure I can use the old tubes in new tires, since the size varies slightly. However that is low on my to do list. The sizes I am looking at:

Front 90/90-21 (stock is 80/100-21)
Rear 110/90-18 (stock is 110/100-18)

Comments, suggestions for some good skins for my rims...

Yes, unless you want to spend a young fortune, you have to use tubes. I THINK the stock tubes will work fine. Beware, the quality of those OEM tubes is not the best...ARH

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

Yes, unless you want to spend a young fortune, you have to use tubes. I THINK the stock tubes will work fine. Beware, the quality of those OEM tubes is not the best...ARH

Thanks, I hate tire problems, likely to get new tubes. I settled on Shinko 90/90-21 and 120/80-18's. I have not bought yet, will have to measure clearance in the back. The 10mm should not be big deal, about 3/16th of inch wider on each side.

[Megadan]

There are already guys running those exact tire sizes with the 705s on their hawks. You will be fine as far as clearance.

I would suggest spending the extra couple of bucks for heavy duty tubes.

[Sir kayakalot]

When you get your new tires make sure and do a follow up with some pics plz. I'm probably going the same route as you are.

[sshevie]

I'm having a awfull time finding 90/90/19 for the front of the shark the rear tire has lots of possible replacements

[Sullybiker]

I'm a big fan of the Shinko 244.

[pcspecialist]

Shinko 244

Front tire: size 3.00-21
Rear tire: size 4.60-18

[gmcjetpilot]

Based on all the confusion below, what I gather is some people's Hawk apparently came with narrow 2.15" rims. Newer Hawks (at least mine) has a wider rear rim. Mine came with 2.75" rim. So before you order tires, measure your rims.

If you have a 2.5" rim than 4.1-18 is a good size (although you can squeeze a 120/80-18 on it).

If you have like I do, a 2.75" rear rim, then 120/80-18 is a good fit.

If you have a 2.15" wide rim, apparently you can squeeze a 4.1-18 on it, but that is less than what is recommended by Shinko for the 705.

[Wancsta]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

Based on all the confusion below, what I gather is some people's Hawk apparently came with narrow 2.15" rims. Newer Hawks (at least mine) has a wider rear rim. Mine came with 2.75" rim. So before you order tires, measure your rims.

If you have a 2.5" rim than 4.1-18 is a good size (although you can squeeze a 120/80-18 on it).

If you have like I do, a 2.75" rear rim, then 120/80-18 is a good fit.

If you have a 2.15" wide rim, apparently you can squeeze a 4.1-18 on it, but that is less than what is recommended by Shinko for the 705.

Ok so there's even more confusion than I thought lol... Rim width is not taken from the outside that is irrelevant and not what the manufacturers base their numbers on. It's the inner width where the bead actually lays that is measured. You can also usually find it printed or stamped on the rim itself.

https://itstillruns.com/measure-moto...m-7516164.html


http://m.gemplers.com/tech/tires-measure.htm

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by Wancsta

Ok so there's even more confusion than I thought lol... Rim width is not taken from the outside that is irrelevant and not what the manufacturers base their numbers on. It's the inner width where the bead actually lays that is measured. You can also usually find it printed or stamped on the rim itself.

https://itstillruns.com/measure-moto...m-7516164.html


http://m.gemplers.com/tech/tires-measure.htm

I don't understand the over-thinking going on with this subject. Every rim is stamped with the rim size. It is not a code. It is in inch measurements. The measurement is the inside width at the rim flanges and the inside diameter of the flats that the tire sits on when inflated. Simple, yes?...ARH

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

I don't understand the over-thinking going on with this subject. Every rim is stamped with the rim size. It is not a code. It is in inch measurements. The measurement is the inside width at the rim flanges and the inside diameter of the flats that the tire sits on when inflated. Simple, yes?...ARH

You are confused between overthinking and verification. You are saying. China follows the "every rim is stamped" rule you state? Ha ha. Point taken, but not the thread topic. The thread is proper tire size (which is coded but also simple, except there are different 'codes').

We agree tire size is based on rim size. As you say it is stamped on rim, if not you can measure it. The revelation to me was some Hawks came with mighty narrow rear rims. The new one I just got has a 2.75" wide rim. Here is a list I found that is pretty good:
http://dropbears.com/motorcycles/utilities/tyrerim.htm



18" Tyres Permitted Rim
(bold is rim width, underline common size tires for rear tire on Hawk)
250*18 1.40/1.60
275*18 1.40/1.60/1.85
300*18 1.60/1.85/2.15
360*18 1.85/2.15
80/100*18
325*18 1.85/2.15/2.50
350*18
375*18
410*18
90/90*18
100/80*18
100/90*18
100/100*18
460*18 2.15/2.50/2.75
110/100*18
120/80*18
400*18 2.15/2.50/2.75/3.00
450*18
110/80*18
110/90*18
120/90*18
120/100*18
510*18 2.50/2.75/3.00
130/80*18 2.50/2.75/3.00/3.50
130/90*18
140/80*18
130/60*18 3.00/3.50/4.00
130/70*18
140/60*18 3.50/4.00/4.50
140/70*18
150/60*18
150/70*18 160/60*18 4.00/4.50/5.00

NOTE: PRICE OF LABOR TO INSTALL TIRE
Anyway feeling lazy and having misplaced my tire tools in a move (and not having changed a motorcycle tire in a decade), I called around to see what they charge.... FREAKING $50 per tire, off the bike delivered to them.... not including tax. That is more than I paid for my Shinko 705's. Well I will be getting familiar with my new tire tires I ordered soon...

[gmcjetpilot]

Well her is the new bike.... finished putting it together (almost) today.

I think I am going with Shinko 705's 90/90-21 and 120/80-18....

I tried to host pictures on Photobucket, but they will not allow "3rd party hosting" for some reason. I have to update my account? I think that means it is no longer free. Same think happened with Photoshack...

It just happened and screwed millions of people who used the image links in Amazon and eBay....

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-40492668

https://petapixel.com/2017/07/01/pho...-embedded-web/

[old kid]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

Well her is the new bike.... finished putting it together (almost) today.

I think I am going with Shinko 705's 90/90-21 and 120/80-18....

I tried to host pictures on Photobucket, but they will not allow "3rd party hosting" for some reason. I have to update my account? I think that means it is no longer free. Same think happened with Photoshack...

It just happened and screwed millions of people who used the image links in Amazon and eBay....

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-40492668

https://petapixel.com/2017/07/01/pho...-embedded-web/

tinypic and imageshack are still free,, this just came up the other day in another thread

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=19450

[Wancsta]

Just got my shinko 705' on the other day wife loves them. Excellent on the street but definitely an 80/20 tire. The sizes I went with are the 4.10-18 on the rear and the 90/90-21. You could fit the 120/80 on the rear but that is beyond the rims width safety margin. And of course photo attached