Tyres: x-ply v radial

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by Paul Carmichael, Aug 22, 2007.

  1. A bloke here has a Pan and says it's got a Bridgestone Excedra on the
    front which he thinks is a x-ply. He wants a new rear but is concerned
    about putting a radial on. Are our modern tyres all radials now? And can
    he safely mix a radial rear with a x-ply front?
    --

    Paul.
    CBR1100XX SuperBlackbird (Buen mueble de patio)
    And a pushbike of some sort.
    BOTAFOT #4
    BOTAFOF #30
    MRO #24
    OMF #15
    UKRMMA #30
     
    Paul Carmichael, Aug 22, 2007
    #1
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  2. Paul Carmichael

    TOG Guest


    If by 'modern' you mean 'big tyres for modern superbikes', then I
    think they're all radial, yes. There are still loads of crossplies for
    bikes that don't need low-profile wide tyres (like my BMW).

    And it's illegal to mix radial and crossply, although I can't see what
    the problem is on a bike.
     
    TOG, Aug 22, 2007
    #2
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  3. Paul Carmichael

    wessie Guest

    This backs up my understanding. I can still remember the governmebt TV
    adverts featuring, IIRC an Austin 1100 just like my dad's that and that ex
    Met Chief Constable. He also featured in the Goodyear adverts of the same
    era, c1970.
     
    wessie, Aug 22, 2007
    #3
  4. Paul Carmichael

    Catman Guest

    Go like that on a public highway, you deserve to be called a raving
    maniac. 25 years I've been in the police force, and I have *never*.......

    --
    Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
    Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
    116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 156 TS 166 V6 2.5 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156
    V6 2.5 S2
    Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
    www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk
     
    Catman, Aug 22, 2007
    #4
  5. Only on the same axle, which is only a problem on a trike.

    Fwiw, I've had radials on my SOBs with a x-ply front (bike fronts aren't
    true x-plies, afaik) and the roadholding has improved measurably. So any
    bike might benefit from it.

    Radials still exhibit a tendency to catch out the unwary, but this has
    been known about for 40+ years. If you're used to the gradual breakaway
    characteristics of a x-ply the tenacious grip of a radial then
    relatively sudden breakaway might be a problem if you're not fully
    attuned to the car/bike with them on.
    --
    Dave
    GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

    Teach a man to fish and he and his pikey mates will have the
    river cleaned out in a day.
     
    Grimly Curmudgeon, Aug 22, 2007
    #5
  6. I wasn't asking about legalities though (I live in a different country
    to you lot), rather safety/integrity ie; should he do it?

    --

    Paul.
    CBR1100XX SuperBlackbird (Buen mueble de patio)
    And a pushbike of some sort.
    BOTAFOT #4
    BOTAFOF #30
    MRO #24
    OMF #15
    UKRMMA #30
     
    Paul Carmichael, Aug 22, 2007
    #6
  7. Paul Carmichael

    TOG Guest

    In most cases, I think that's crap advice. If there's a radial
    fitment, use it. I remember a radial tyre launch some 20 years ago
    (Michelin), and we were all offered pairs of identical bikes: one
    fitted with x-plies, and one with radials, so you could hop straight
    off one and onto the other. You could really notice the difference.

    Obviously, for really old bikes, you won't be able to get radials
    anyway.
     
    TOG, Aug 22, 2007
    #7
  8. Paul Carmichael

    TOG Guest

    Nope. See elsewhere in the thread. I remember I bought a brand new
    cheap tyre for my Ducati at an autojumble, and then the fitter
    wouldn't fit it (or something - it was a few years ago) because it was
    an x-ply and the other tyre was a radial.
     
    TOG, Aug 22, 2007
    #8
  9. Wouldn't fit it to where? The rear? If so, then fine. You cannot have a
    radial front and x-ply rear on anything.
    --
    Dave
    GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

    Teach a man to fish and he and his pikey mates will have the
    river cleaned out in a day.
     
    Grimly Curmudgeon, Aug 22, 2007
    #9
  10. Michelin, YTC, and it is, indeed, bollocks.
     
    The Older Gentleman, Aug 22, 2007
    #10
  11. Indeed.
     
    The Older Gentleman, Aug 22, 2007
    #11
  12. Paul Carmichael

    Eiron Guest


    It turns out that I also knew nothing.
    Does my Italian classic have crossply tyres? How do I tell?
    So a web search revealed that the dash in 100/90-18 means it is a crossply
    and the R in 100/90HR18 would mean it is a radial.

    Does anyone know if radial tyres are available in such narrow, high profile
    sizes as 100/90 and 110/90?
     
    Eiron, Aug 23, 2007
    #12
  13. A clearer example of foot/both barrels interface you would be hard
    pressed to find..

    Phil.
     
    Phil Launchbury, Aug 23, 2007
    #13
  14. Paul Carmichael

    TOG Guest

    Gawd knows. I doubt it. That said, Pirelli did make early radials for
    the original K series BMWs (rather bigger tyres, but still fairly
    narrow). I think just about all SOB tyres are crossplies.
     
    TOG, Aug 23, 2007
    #14
  15. Paul Carmichael

    wessie Guest

    That's the badger. Thinking about it, it was early 80s as I put a set of
    those Goodyears on my first car. Probably doubled the value of the car!
     
    wessie, Aug 23, 2007
    #15
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