Classic 175 Sport - tyre options?

[Sigean]

Hi,

I am renovating a 1959 Ducati 175S and am considering tyre options for the bike. The contemporary recomendation for the 18" wheels is a 2.50" front and a 2.75" rear.

Whilst there are such tyres available in the UK I wondered if anyone else had tried different tyre sizes on these bikes. I am thinking of upping the sizes to 2.75 and 3.00, simply because there seem to be more options available at these sizes. Has anyone any relevant experience to share?

Grateful for your thoughts...

Sigean

[blethermaskite]

Metzeler ME22 in std. Ducati recommended sizes ........you will not exceed the performance of these tyres, trust me I have tried .
Cheers, George

[Bevel bob]

Yes ME22 2.75x18 for both wheels Demon tweeks do a deal with tubes . fit with arrows to suit direction of travel . Use fitting jelly NOT washing up liquid.

[themoudie]

Use fitting jelly NOT washing up liquid.

As Bob says, do not use Fairy Liquid, I did when an impoverished student and the Borrani looked like the cratered face of the moon after 2,000 miles inside the rim! Use the correct lubricant.

I use 2.75 x 18 front and 3.00, or 90/80 x18 rear tyres on my WM2 front and WM3 rear rims, on the 450 MKIII. I have had a Metzeler front tyre "peel" the tread off the carcase on my wife's Honda Bros 400, so I don't use them. Michelin City Extra's are what I use and TwoTyres or Demon Tweeks as suppliers.

Good health, Bill

[Bevel bob]

I would also say that if you can get tyres that are spec for tubes (tl?) , you may find them easier to self fit as they dont seem to be so tight on the rim as tubeless tyres are . Also if in an accident Tubeless tyres fitted with tubes could raise an issue with an insurance claim?.

[Sigean]

Ciou Ducatisti!

Many thanks for your helpful replies. I was thinking of using the 2.75 front and the 3.00 rear on my 175S, and trying the "Kenda" tyre range, but I will check out the tyres you recommend.

As for washing-up liquid, I have used this over the past 59 years and never had a problem, but it's never too late to try something new and I will buy some of the proper stuff.

The bike came to me as an over-priced basket case (OK, not baskets, but chicken feed plastic buckets...) and is now, after a small fortune and much work, starting to reach the stage when I can actually see the bike from the pile of parts. Hope to be ready for the Spring!

BTW, I am repainting the bike. Do you know of a modern equivalent to the Rosso Scarlatto colour used on the tinware? The original colour on my bike is long gone, and given that the modern Rosso Scarlatto available under the Ducati paint code uses a three coat system (one of which being an "ink" the intensity of which has to be determined agains the original colour - which I don't have...) I am thinking of going with a metallic red which looks "right". No, I don't do "concourse". Any thoughts?

Sigean

[Sigean]

...and there's more. Checking the Metzeler site the ME22 appears not to be available in the 2.50 x 18 size recommended in my Ducati Workshop Manual for the front.

So, what is the thinking about using the 2.75 option front and rear, or 2.75/3.00 as was my original plan?

Sigean

[blethermaskite]

Yes, just go with what is available then, I have used the 2.75 front 3.00 back with no issues.
Cheers, George

[Bevel bob]

I fitted 2.75 front and rear , about 5 years ago. doing fine.

[ranton_rambler]

I have Pirelli City Demon on my 175, but would need to check the sizes…