Rear Tires Getting Hard To Find

[voyager55]

The options for our rear tire seems to be declining. Guess our size isn't very popular.
The Dunlop E3 rear tire isn't available at many dealers, And they don't make a E4 in our size.

[ghostler]

I bought it a year ago but finally installed it, a Duro HF296C 150/90-15 Rear Tire.

https://smile.amazon.com/Duro-HF296C-Ti ... 000GU1JYA/

Broke it in on about 800 miles of riding this past week to Chama, NM. Tires are still available and should be for a while, may be not in your preferred model, but they are out there. Pirelli MT66 Route was previous, reasonably grippy and good mileage, it's also still available.

[cranky]

... my shop didn't stock it, but ordering the stock size in Michelin Commander II was
not a problem... FWIW

[ghostler]

voyager55, when you say dealer, not sure which you mean. If the Kawasaki dealer or repair shop, they have limited storage but most will order the tire for you, depending on what's available from their distributor. It's been 14 years since the last Voyager XII was rolled out. JP Cycles has the tire available on-line:

As an option, you could purchase the tire on-line, then have the shop or dealer install it for you. I dismounted my rear wheel, took that with the old tire mounted down to a local motorcycle shop with the Duro new tire. An hour and $37.50 later, I received back the wheel with new tire mounted and balanced.

An interesting side note, the Duro only required one 1/4 oz. weight to balance. that's the first time I've had a new tire use so little weight.

[voyager55]

What model/size Duro tire are you using? Tried that route once with a car tire, but couldn't get the darn bead to seat

[cranky]

... went darkside once on my Nomad, sometimes the pressure needed to seat the
bead is real scary!!! ... some tires have even blown!

[ghostler]

What model/size Duro tire are you using? Tried that route once with a car tire, but couldn't get the darn bead to seat

Photo incorrectly shows the front tire, but I ordered this from J&P Cycles a year ago:

However, if you specify your year, make and model of bike, you can narrow down to all available makes and models of tires that fit, then choose the tire you like. So far I have had good experiences ordering from J&P Cycle. For example, see:

http://www.jpcycles.com/2001-kawasaki-v ... es/15-inch


The Dunlop E3 is listed, along with all others.

Regarding difficulty in mounting a car tire on the Voyager's wheel, I mounted a new rear Michelin Commander motorcycle tire on a friend's Yamaha V-Star 1300. That size tire, larger and wider than the Voyager's was considerably stiffer and a bugger to get off and on. Motorcycle tires on the Voyager wasn't nearly as difficult to do.

[Michael]

[quote Duro HF296C 150/90-15 Rear Tire][/quote]

Mine came yesterday. Just mounted it. STIFF sidewall, lots of lube and force to mount, tread pattern looks like it should shed water reasonably well.
Off to get it spin balanced, will ride it for a few miles tomorrow.

[cranky]

... Ride-On tire balance and "fixer", add the required and your tire will ALWAYS
be in balance, not just, hopefully, once.... JM2C

[823JIM]

Last summer I ran Kenda Kruz front and rear, pretty inexpensive tire and the wear was good in my opinion. Ran these tires 11,000 miles and still had lots of life left in them. I have since sold the Voyager but new owner is putting more miles on these tires.

Tires with 11k on them.

[ComputerGeek59]

I recently ordered the Pirelli MT66 Route due to great reviews from many on this forum. I have not put them on yet but they look like very nice tires.

Brad

[ghostler]

I recently ordered the Pirelli MT66 Route due to great reviews from many on this forum. I have not put them on yet but they look like very nice tires. Brad

Brad, they are really good handling tires and have reasonable mileage. First thing I noticed is that they were more grippy in road curves over the worn Bridgestones on my 2001 when I bought it. They ride and corner well in rain, also do not track in pavement grooves like some tires, very neutral and well mannered. I think you'll really like them.

Update, 24 June 2017. Now that I have 850 miles on the Duro HF296C Boulevard rear tire, actually like the handling of it, handled well through the curves and winding road at the Caprock on NM-469 on ride from Clovis NM to Russell's Truck Stop in Endee, NM off I-40 near Texas border (150 mi R/T). Handles as well as the Pirelli MT66 Route. In time I'll know how it handles in rain and its tread life.

[ComputerGeek59]

I recently ordered the Pirelli MT66 Route due to great reviews from many on this forum. I have not put them on yet but they look like very nice tires. Brad

Brad, they are really good handling tires and have reasonable mileage. First thing I noticed is that they were more grippy in road curves over the worn Bridgestones on my 2001 when I bought it. They ride and corner well in rain, also do not track in pavement grooves like some tires, very neutral and well mannered. I think you'll really like them.

Update, 24 June 2017. Now that I have 850 miles on the Duro HF296C Boulevard rear tire, actually like the handling of it, handled well through the curves and winding road at the Caprock on NM-469 on ride from Clovis NM to Russell's Truck Stop in Endee, NM off I-40 near Texas border (150 mi R/T). Handles as well as the Pirelli MT66 Route. In time I'll know how it handles in rain and its tread life.

I have put a couple hundred miles on the Pirelli's and they are definitly great handleing tires. I never felt comfortable with the handling before I did the tires. I also lubed and adjusted the steering bearings replaced the wheel bearings and installed new progressive springs and progressive rear shocks. I am sure all of them helped with the steering but I suspect most of it was the new tires. I am really loving the way this bike handles since doing the maintenance work and upgrades.

Brad

[Thud300]

Shinko 777 HD's are available as a matching pair, this one will get installed soon... hopefully this weekend.

[mikeray1]

Put Metzlers on my '94 XII this last riding season. My local Yamaha dealership (Yes, I have a Voyager...)had no problems finding several options for both fronts and rears. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is replacement tire age. That DOT sticker should be closely monitored when you buy your new tires. You really don't want something that's already 3+ years old and been sitting on a storage rack collecting ozone vapors. The hardened rubber compound can play havoc with your traction and tread life. I've had Bridgestones, Dunlops, Continentals, and now Metzlers in the 23 years I've owned my bike. They all performed well and their date codes were newer than 1-2 years when installed. My bike is older than when the DOT stickers were being required, but the dealership always provided fresh rubber when I needed them. All of them exceeded 12,000 miles before the TWI came into play.
Tire pressure, proper wheel balance, wheel bearings, and shock condition all play a big part in your ride's traction and tire lifespan. Another issue you can't control is road quality...some areas of the country have really rough (abrasive) surface texture and a more pronounced drainage hump (ridge). All this stuff (and the way you ride, obviously) play a big part in your like or dislike of your tires.