Tyres

[Duccout]

Here is a thorny topic: what size tyres are everyone using? My two Spanish Ducatis were originally fitted with 3.25 and 3.50 tyres on WM2 rims, which have metric equivalents of 90/90 and 100/90, but these are not the optimum sizes recommended for these rims, they are: 2.75 and 3.00 (metric equivalent 80/90) which are the sizes Ducati fitted on their road bikes.

There is a problem with trying to find tyres as small as this today, as even lightweight bikes today have much wider rims and almost all 100/90 tyres available are for front fitment only.

So, any thoughts?

Cheers,

Colin

[blethermaskite]

Colin, metzeler ME22 tyres should still be available in the appropriate size's (or they are still widely advertised) I would use these on any Ducati single, never had the slightest issue with them......don't be fooled these are not just a budget tyre for mopeds, I first used a pair of these on my 250 Aermacchi racer (returned to road legal spec) about 16 years ago and despite trying quite hard I could not fall off these . So relatively recently having put a new pair of Bridgestone 'battle axe' BT45's on my (then) Yamaha RD350 YPVS F2 I was very impressed and decided to try a pair on my widecase 350 which I had been running on Dunlop tt100's, A world of improvement!! I can't remember my size's without checking......but I had no problem getting the correct metric size for my WM2 X 18 rims (that's about four years ago).
Cheers George

[Hiya9612]

Here is a thorny topic: what size tyres are everyone using? My two Spanish Ducatis were originally fitted with 3.25 and 3.50 tyres on WM2 rims, which have metric equivalents of 90/90 and 100/90, but these are not the optimum sizes recommended for these rims, they are: 2.75 and 3.00 (metric equivalent 80/90) which are the sizes Ducati fitted on their road bikes.

Hey Colin!

Have a look at Twotyres in London, they have a comprehensive website with lots on useful information on all aspects of motorcycle tyres. I've bought from them previously and found them to be quick and efficient.
I had a quick look at their tyre finder and they seem have a good selection in our sizes:
https://twotyres.co.uk/motorcycle-tyre- ... nds=&spec=

Have fun.
Phil

[ranton_rambler]

I use Pirelli City Demon, which are intended for small commuter bikes I think. Ian

[Duccout]

Hardly any tyres are available in my bike's standard size; there are plenty of 90/90 fronts but only Continental and Avon make a 100/90 Rear and Avons are not produced anymore, which is why I was asking if anyone used the smaller tyres recommended for the WM2 rims? Pirelli City Demons are available in 2.75 fronts and 3.00 rears, which is the size that Ducati fitted, but my Mototrans bikes are larger and heavier than the Italian bikes and maybe Mototrans fitted larger tyres for a reason. I have the Metzeler ME22s on the 250 and they are one of the few tyres that are made in 3.25 and 3.50 sizes and are universal fitment.


Cheers,

Colin

[Eldert]

Hi Coin

Heidenau has tyres in small sizes .

Eldert

[Duccout]

Thanks Eldert. Dunlop TT100s are also still available.

[Boxprod]

Morning all.
Depending on your budget, there are still a few tyres around in the UK that suit our old bikes.
Having a very late 350, with a 19 inch front and 18 inch rear, and also having a very small wallet, I found Mitas tyres. They have all the right sizes, and they have a good history as well - still being made in the Czech Republic, and proud to be the sort of tyres that all those legendary riders of the 1930s ran on.
I freely admit that at my age I don't ride on the ragged edge, but I'm very happy with my Mitas HO6 pair, and they look right for the bike, which I find more "modern" styles simply don't. Not that looks beat grip, if you ride much faster than I can...
Good luck,
Pete.

[Duccout]

Hi Pete,

What sizes are you using? I am interested what owners are running as the standard tyres on Mototrans bikes are bigger than those recommended for the WM2 rims and the Metzeler ME22s that I have are squashed up giving very little contact patch and I am sure that narrower tyres would give a better contact patch.


Cheers,

Colin

[Boxprod]

Hello, Colin.
I have a 3.00-19 on the front and a 3.50-18 on the back.
BUT I no longer have the nice Borrani rims. The front was a casualty of a US pothole (long story, I took the bike with me when working as a postgrad in Philadelphiain the late 70s), and was replaced by an Akront, which I found out wasn't entirely round when I came to do the recent restoration, so that too had to be replaced. Being short of budget I found a Radaelli NOS steel rim on eBay. At least it's still Italian, and Ducati used Radaelli rims on lots of their bikes.
The rear Borrani cracked through in about 1980, and I replaced it with a Suzuki steel rim which was all I could find at the time. That too went in the bin at restoration, and it's now another Japanese one - a NOS Takasago of the right pattern and size, again found on eBay.
0/10 for originality, but perhaps 8/10 for practicality....
Best of luck with your research.
Pete.