Front tire

Hi Everyone ,
Came over from the "other" Swing site.Saw were the front tire is being replaced at various miles.I went out this mornin and I have 27,524 miles on my original front tire! It still has tread left but I was thinking of changing both ( rear has 11,500 ) with k66 tires.Anyone heard of them?
Elklander.

Hello and welcome!
I think this site is a bit more 'cosy' - lots of information and help, too.

Welcome Elklander.

As a Brit I have to say I haven't heard of the brand over here.

Just looked them up; HEIDENAU, made in Germany.

My read of the review on the web site is the tyre is a good wet weather tyre, my first thoughts when i looked at the tread. Hard wearing indicates less grip!!!

I have to add, just my interpretation of their write up on the makers web site.

Hello Elklander,

Welcome aboard.

Gunnars (of one of the Baltic states, I can't remember which one) on the other forum swore by them. The tread is considerably more coarse than any of the "civilized" tires available. I would use them if my Swing was still a two wheeler.

Jon

If you have 27,000 miles on your tire than that is the one I would replace it with. I change mine every 10,000 miles and could probably only get an additional 2,000 miles if I went as far as I could.

Elklander wrote:

Came over from the "other" Swing site.

Welcome to the friendliest Silverwing forum.

Elklander wrote:

t I was thinking of changing both ( rear has 11,500 ) with k66 tires.Anyone heard of them?

joncallihan wrote:

Gunnars (of one of the Baltic states, I can't remember which one) on the other forum swore by them.

Gunnars (from Riga, Latvia) is the only one that has posted reviews about either Heidenau or K66.

Thanks everyone for the warm Swing welcome. JeffR , I have been watching your entries on your different variators and Dr.Pulley trials.So much so I went with the 28 gr.Sliders.Here is the reason I'm getting tires ,brakes new belt ect... My nephew and a friend are going to take atrip to Homer,Ak. And I need good gravel,frost heave and poor tarmac tires.
Thanks Again Elklander

Elklander wrote:

My nephew and a friend are going to take atrip to Homer,Ak. And I need good gravel,frost heave and poor tarmac tires.
Thanks Again Elklander

Oh, you're taking the good roads in Ak.

I just thought I should point out that AK is Alaska and AR is Arkansas

I just replaced my rear tire (because of an errant rock) with a Dunlop tire at 6250 miles. The front tire still has almost as much tread as the new rear one does, so I'm gonna hang on to it for a while. The tires I had were the original ones that came on the bike. I do a lot of 2up riding so I would say that adds wear and tear on the rear. Should I adjust the rear shocks to account for the passenger?

Many of the posters on the ModernVespa site rave about the Heidenau tires, the K66 in particular.

I believe Heidenau highly rated in Germany---wet. Plus they have great winter tires....just for info I believe winter tires are going to be required for two wheelers in Germany just as they are for cars.

They are worth a try-----check on sizes and their recommendation/approval for SilverWing.

John Grinsel

I picked up the wheels today with the new K66! Man do look like Nokians or Blizzacks.The Dealer said that there one of the best 4 season bike tires out there.Can't wait to put them on.Now just waiting for Hyperpro springs.

Elklander wrote:

I picked up the wheels today with the new K66! Man do look like Nokians or Blizzacks.

What are Nokians and Blizzacks? Are they deep tread tires like a dirt bike has? I remember when riding a mountain bicycle that switching from dirt tires to smooth ones made a world of difference in the pedaling resistance. So then would thicker tread tires effect gas economy?

As an aside, on every maxi-scooter I have ever owned, there were Bridgestone Hoops. If I had to replace only one tire, I would buy another to match both, but I really can't wait for the day this bike's two tires come due for new ones together, so's I can finally try another brand for a change.

Having lived in Alaska for a bit over 35 years and been up and down the Alcan too many times I can tell you any good tire will fill the bill. Between WA and AK the road is paved and in pretty decent condition, there will be spots were work is being done but overall no problem. The days of the miles long dust plumes are long gone now, good riddence!

LVScooterBill wrote:

What are Nokians and Blizzacks? Are they deep tread tires like a dirt bike has?

You obviously don't live in a climate that has any kind of winter. Nokian is a tire manufacturer famous for winter snow and ice tires. Their Hakkapeliitta tire is world famous (if you need snow tires).
Bridgestone manufactures the Blizzak, another highly rated winter tire.
Now you know.

Letting everyone know I got the K66 tires on and installed Hyperpros (thanks everyone on how to,turned out easy job).Took a short ride due to pouring down rain and new tires need about 100mi. before they get sticky.Noticed new springs right off the bat due to my driveway is steep and I usely bottom out when I get to the street.Not with Hyperpros very smooth transition to level road.

bigbird wrote:

LVScooterBill wrote:

What are Nokians and Blizzacks? Are they deep tread tires like a dirt bike has?

You obviously don't live in a climate that has any kind of winter. Nokian is a tire manufacturer famous for winter snow and ice tires. Their Hakkapeliitta tire is world famous (if you need snow tires).
Bridgestone manufactures the Blizzak, another highly rated winter tire.
Now you know.

My bold.

Hakkapeliitta!!! Not world famous in my backwood. Never heard of them.

(There again - what's snow.)

Wasn't that where Mary Jo Kopechne met her end?

That was Chappaquiddick.

Thanks - I'm afraid my sense of humour is rather warped.

No offence to Mary Jo, of course - death is never funny.