My tyres have only done a couple of thousand klm but I have just looked at the info stamped on them and they were manufactured in 2001. 

Are they still okay?

Bigsax wrote:and they were manufactured in 2001. 

  ............I think the thumb rule for the lifetime is four years....
with some variables like Storage, type of use....

Others in here might have an other opinion.

ill go with 4 years also ...

good mark there inge

just keep in mind, direct sunlight really affects them ...and we got loads of that down here

many prefer the bridgstones , metzeler.... really depends on riding style and roads that you traverse

for the twistys ..try the Pirelli ...mmmmm   ...grin

They probably aren't ok. The big killer of tyres is exposure to UV and in Oz we get far more than our share of that.
When I was drag racing we would buy several sets of slicks and wrap them in 2 layers of black plastic sheet that is used for underlay on concrete and that stopped the tyres getting hard.

The guys jere in Oz are having good success with the Perelli Sport Demon.
I put one on the rear of my wifes K75 and she said right away how much better the bike felt.
I run the Michelin Pilot Road 2s on my K1100 but have the RS wheels on the LT so I can run radials. The rear tyre lasted 21000k despite living a hard life and the front was fitted at the same time and still has at least 10000 left.
On my K100 I ran Bridgestone BT045 on the front and Michelin Macadam on rear but the Macadam is no longer available and has been replaced with (I am told) a better tyre that will give longer life but time will tell.

Thanks guys. The front is a Michelin Lasertec and the rear a Michelin Macadam.
Someone on here advised me to go plus one. 
All advice welcome

Just looking at your avatat I cant tell what wheels you have, they are 3 spoke but which ones and what size are they?

You can run radials on the stock K11LT wheels.  Either an Avon AV46 in the stock size or there's an "off-size" PR2 that'll fit the 3" 3-spoke rear. 

And, as I recently discovered, you can even run radials on the Y-spokes.

been there on the y spokes ...still prefer the crossplys
guess its just a preference thing ...and how it feels on the road

I had a pair of Dunlop Sportmax RoadSmart 2 tyres put on my RBike today. I was after a continental rear as I already have a front here but couldn't get a conti rear in 18" on the spot, so got a pair of these Dunlops. Cost $401.50 for the pair and I took the rims to them. WOW, what a difference new rubber makes, it's a completely different machine and it's been needing these for quite a while. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpsXobUGJUE

Now if I can only get the throttle bodies in sync I'll be happy.

I don't know what the wheels came off but the codes stamped on them are 
Front 36.31-2 310 187 MTH2 2.50x18E. tyre Metzeler 100/90-18
Rear 36.31-2 310 188 MTH2 3.00x17E tyre 130/19-17 Mitchelin macadam

The online specs show this :

Wheel Rims, Front      2.50 x 18 MT H 2
Wheel Rims, Rear      3.00 x 17 MT H 2
Tyres, Front                 110 / 80 VR 18
Tyres, Rear                  140 / 80 VR 17

My K1100LT has those tyre sizes fitted now. Both are BT-45 Bridgestones but the back is dated 2007 and has cracks in the rubber. I was going to fit new rubber all round once it's ready for rego but I don't think they make BT-45's anymore.

Bigsax wrote:I don't know what the wheels came off but the codes stamped on them are 
Front 36.31-2 310 187 MTH2 2.50x18E. tyre Metzeler 100/90-18
Rear 36.31-2 310 188 MTH2 3.00x17E tyre 130/19-17 Mitchelin macadam

Both are from a K75S, you will get radials to suit if you want them

RicK G wrote:

Bigsax wrote:I don't know what the wheels came off but the codes stamped on them are 
Front 36.31-2 310 187 MTH2 2.50x18E. tyre Metzeler 100/90-18
Rear 36.31-2 310 188 MTH2 3.00x17E tyre 130/19-17 Mitchelin macadam

Both are from a K75S, you will get radials to suit if you want them

I do a bit of riding in the hills here in WA, infact a favourite includes the road Peter Brock died on. Never in the rain but plenty of twists and turns. What would be a good tyre?

Hello, did anyone try Michellin Commander II? They advertise it like tire up to 40 thousand kms?

Unfortunately they dont make them to fit any rims that I have. Not from what I can find.

Rick, check this, please

http://www.mynetmoto.com/motorradreifen_details.cfm/artikelnr/mnm000007690/michelin_140/75_r17_(67v)_commander_ii.html

http://www.mynetmoto.com/motorradreifen_news_details.cfm/moto_news/721/Michelin_Commander_II_.html

G'day Bigsax , with those rims ( 2.5x18 front & 3.0x17 rear ) I'd be trying the Pirelli Demons or the Michelin Pilot Activ's , the rims are not really wide enough to get a radial to work ok ( IMHO ) , those rims are what I used to run with AVON radial's , they were the worst tyres I have had the misfortune to ride on in my 34 years ( others will and have disagreed )

JR

nino wrote:Rick, check this, please

http://www.mynetmoto.com/motorradreifen_details.cfm/artikelnr/mnm000007690/michelin_140/75_r17_(67v)_commander_ii.html

http://www.mynetmoto.com/motorradreifen_news_details.cfm/moto_news/721/Michelin_Commander_II_.html

The 140/70/17 is a front tyre and nothing else comes close.
They sound like they would be worth a try but I dont want to go putting fronts on the rear they distort in strange ways in corners because the belting is wrong and if you reverse the direction then its wrong for hard braking.

I will pass and let someone try them.

RicK G wrote:

nino wrote:Rick, check this, please

http://www.mynetmoto.com/motorradreifen_details.cfm/artikelnr/mnm000007690/michelin_140/75_r17_(67v)_commander_ii.html

http://www.mynetmoto.com/motorradreifen_news_details.cfm/moto_news/721/Michelin_Commander_II_.html

The 140/70/17 is a front tyre and nothing else comes close.
They sound like they would be worth a try but I dont want to go putting fronts on the rear they distort in strange ways in corners because the belting is wrong and if you reverse the direction then its wrong for hard braking.

I will pass and let someone try them.

140/75 17 is rear tyre

Maybe you need to point it out to me because I can't find anywhere that a rear tyre is available in that size but I dont read the language and am relying on Google translate.
140/75 R17 (67V) COMMANDER II

The R is a reference to speed rating and any information I can get from Michelin agrees with me.

Link to Michelin brochure http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CD0QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmotorcycle.michelin.com.au%2Fcontent%2Fdownload%2F482%2F7808%2Ffile%2FMICHELIN%2520Commander%2520II%2520brochure.pdf&ei=mCa8UqjyD5CfiAfH7oHoCw&usg=AFQjCNHOESwfg7gHrFkY5vzz5hd7CBaGnQ&bvm=bv.58187178,d.aGc

RicK G wrote:140/75 R17 (67V) COMMANDER II

The R is a reference to speed rating and any information I can get from Michelin agrees with me.

The R is the carcass code which says it's a Radial tire......
The V is the speed code....


I'm quite shure you know this, Rick....did santa bring you much strong Liquid gifts this year?

No santa only came for one reason this year.  I let him have both barrels last year because he didnt bring me a new bike. 

OK the R is for radial but can you see where it says the tyre is a rear tyre

In short description "hinterreiffen" - rear tyre

RicK G wrote:can you see where it says the tyre is a rear tyre

By judging the highlighted portion of the picture for this actual size.....
I would say it's a front tyre.

nino wrote:In short description "hinterreiffen" - rear tyre

It says that they have been getting 40000k from a rear tyre not that it is a rear tyre

This is taken directly from the Michelin brochure.
FRONT TYRES
80/90 – 21 54H
100/90 B19 57H
120/90 B17 64S
130/80 B17 65H
130/90 B16 73H
140/75 R17 67V*

REAR TYRES
130/90 B16 73H*
140/90 B15 76H
140/90 B16 77H
150/80 B16 77H
150/90 B15 74H
160/70 B17 73V
170/80 B15 77H
180/65 B16 81H
200/55 R17 78V

* Available in 2012

40,000 kilometres? At first I was sceptical, then I read that the Commander is designed for cruisers. That explains it. A bike tyre that lasts that long will be as flexible as wood or not exactly stressed. Dawdling in straight lines while checking-out shop front reflections doesn't really demand much of the tyres.

MikeP wrote:40,000 kilometres? At first I was sceptical, then I read that the Commander is designed for cruisers. That explains it. A bike tyre that lasts that long will be as flexible as wood or not exactly stressed. Dawdling in straight lines while checking-out shop front reflections doesn't really demand much of the tyres.

They probably come with white walls as extras for $250 each side and the mugs will get killed in the rush.  

OK, I will probably try with Commander on the rear end. Load index 68 is more than enough for K (300 kg) and anyhow I ride it as cruiser. What I need is durable thread for long highway run, not to square after 2000 km.  In summer I ride Dubrovnik - Zagreb - Dubrovnik on new fast highway(total 1200 km) three or for times a year, usually on 35 - 40 C. Under that conditions you can watch how tire wear

Happy New Year all

JR_K100RS wrote:G'day Bigsax , with those rims ( 2.5x18 front & 3.0x17 rear ) I'd be trying the Pirelli Demons or the Michelin Pilot Activ's , the rims are not really wide enough to get a radial to work ok ( IMHO ) , those rims are what I used to run with AVON radial's , they were the worst tyres I have had the misfortune to ride on in my 34 years ( others will and have disagreed )

JR

Thanks JR, I am on to it.

My experience now ia that a tyre over 3 years will not be good. If they are over 3 years bin them and notice the difference!!

Nothing wrong with the rear end sliding around a bit but the front should always point where you are going.