Period tires: Dunlop TT100 vs Avon Roadrunner

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I tried Maxxi a while back , they were not expensive and were very sticky , quickly wore the rear .... I ended up getting new alloy rims etc. from Madass (D.P.) and reverted back to original spec wheels , so put on a set of TT100’s , they are much more sticky and softer than what I recall from back in the day , when I still had the 18” rear wheel I tried a Metzler which I got great service life out of and very good grip .....
 
elefantrider said:
Avon Roadrider or Roadrunner are least expensive. Followed by the K81, then the ContiClassic Attacks.

I have ruled out the BT45 because they do not make a 19" rear.

The Universal looks nice and has deep thread, similiar to K81.

IMO, these bikes look best with somewhat tall tires.

Period tires: Dunlop TT100 vs Avon Roadrunner
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That’s a Super Venom you’re showing there. They were discontinued some years ago and replaced by RoadRiders.

FWIW, they are still available in race compound though...

http://www.avonmotorsport.com/historic/motorcycle/am18---super-venom
 
Roadrunner 100/90-19 would be closest to 4.10, like the original k81?

What size Roadrunner and Roadrider are best front and rear? Same size for both front and rear? Looking for some photos with these options.
 
elefantrider said:
What size Roadrunner and Roadrider are best front and rear? Same size for both front and rear? Looking for some photos with these options.
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It sure if this is a serious question or a wind up!?

This has been debated heatedly on numerous occasions. It’s second only to an oil question !

If you search you’ll find lots of input.
 
I've run all of the aforementioned tires over the years, and keep coming back to the TT100's. For me, they handle better than the others. The rubber is a modern compound, per a Dunlop rep I spoke with, and I get between 5-6K miles on the rear. Fronts last a long, long, time, so I rotate them. The new tire goes on the front, the used front goes to the rear. That way the front tire is pretty fresh, which I like because I tend to push the front pretty hard at times. Just my 2 cents.
 
K81s followed the K70s

K70s are good for mixed roads - pavement and loose gravel as that was their era

K81s are the next step - more pavement and less loose surface. You can see this in their less open block pattern of tread compared to th K70s

The later Dunlops after the K81s were more like slicks - less air between blocks and more rubber to the road

The Avon Roadriders similarly are more slickish than the old Avon GPs

If your roads are dirty go with the K81 and if clean then Avon Roadriders which when pressed hard are better as they put out more rubber down when heeled over and are less likely to overheat and turn greasy
 
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Fast Eddie said:
It sure if this is a serious question or a wind up!?

This has been debated heatedly on numerous occasions. It’s second only to an oil question !

If you search you’ll find lots of input.
Click to expand...

Not into wind ups, but if I was, I'd probably be a lot closer to 7869 posts instead of 770!!! Hahaha
 
Fast Eddie said:
It sure if this is a serious question or a wind up!?

This has been debated heatedly on numerous occasions. It’s second only to an oil question !

If you search you’ll find lots of input.
Click to expand...
I don't think it matters what period correct tyres you have so long as you have a manual valve to prevent wet-sumping!

Sorry elefantrider - you made me do it!!
 
elefantrider said:
Not into wind ups, but if I was, I'd probably be a lot closer to 7869 posts instead of 770!!! Hahaha
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Ok, was just checking!

Here’s my view, you will of course get others from others:

I run RoadRiders, a 4.00/18 (rear) on the rear and 100/90/19 (universal) on the front. This combination gives exactly the same 671mm overall diameter front and rear.

The 4.00/18 is a dedicated rear tyre with 7.5mm tread. The universal tyres have 5.6mm tread, for reference a dedicated front has 5mm tread. So this set up gives me excellent tread depth and tyre life. The dedicated rear tyre has 1/3rd more tread depth (and therefore tyre life) compared to a universal.

Avon themselves recommend the 100/90/19 with a MT2.50 rim front and rear for the Commando, as run by many on here who will vouch for the performance.

If you go to their website, unlike most other tyre sites I’ve seen, they give very detailed info on recommended rim widths for their different tyre options, this is important to note as many ‘expert’ wheel builders insist on narrower rims than Avon state: https://www.avontyres.com/en-gb/tyre-details/59/avon-roadrider-avon-tyres/?cartype=motorcycle

You wanted pictures, here’s mine with the afformatniomed set up:
Period tires: Dunlop TT100 vs Avon Roadrunner



Here’s what they look like after a canter on the track, things were touching down yet the tyres are comfortably within the tread, showing that Avon perhaps actually do know what they’re talking about with regards to rim sizes etc.
Period tires: Dunlop TT100 vs Avon Roadrunner
Period tires: Dunlop TT100 vs Avon Roadrunner
 
I've seen classic racers using Roadriders. Probably the best 19" rear available.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Ok, was just checking!

Here’s my view, you will of course get others from others:

I run RoadRiders, a 4.00/18 (rear) on the rear and 100/90/19 (universal) on the front. This combination gives exactly the same 671mm overall diameter front and rear.

The 4.00/18 is a dedicated rear tyre with 7.5mm tread. The universal tyres have 5.6mm tread, for reference a dedicated front has 5mm tread. So this set up gives me excellent tread depth and tyre life. The dedicated rear tyre has 1/3rd more tread depth (and therefore tyre life) compared to a universal.

Avon themselves recommend the 100/90/19 with a MT2.50 rim front and rear for the Commando, as run by many on here who will vouch for the performance.

If you go to their website, unlike most other tyre sites I’ve seen, they give very detailed info on recommended rim widths for their different tyre options, this is important to note as many ‘expert’ wheel builders insist on narrower rims than Avon state: https://www.avontyres.com/en-gb/tyre-details/59/avon-roadrider-avon-tyres/?cartype=motorcycle

You wanted pictures, here’s mine with the afformatniomed set up:
View attachment 8681


Here’s what they look like after a canter on the track, things were touching down yet the tyres are comfortably within the tread, showing that Avon perhaps actually do know what they’re talking about with regards to rim sizes etc.
View attachment 8682 View attachment 8683
Click to expand...

Just love it when I see a tyre thats been all the way to the edge, I am running them on my Featherbed and they been to the edge many of times.

Ashley
 
I have 19" Roadriders fitted to my Mk2a. What tyre pressures are you chaps using with tubes in the UK or similar climes?
 
Dommie Nator said:
"Back in the Day" Depending on which day I guess. Looks like Avon Roadrunners and Avon GPs were fitted on this day.
I thought GPs were rear only tyres, looks like I was wrong.
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Either Dunlop TT100s or Avon GPs were fitted in pairs from 1971. The Avon Roadrunner wasn't available before about mid-'75 so not originally fitted to Commandos as far as I know.
 
L.A.B. said:
Either Dunlop TT100s or Avon GPs were fitted in pairs from 1971. The Avon Roadrunner wasn't available before about mid-'75 so not originally fitted to Commandos as far as I know.
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This picture was from the factory in 1976. I thought they were Toadrunners but this picture is a bit clearer and I can now see the edge sipes. I'm not always right.. and I'm wrong again as they do look like TT100s as well as GPS.
Period tires: Dunlop TT100 vs Avon Roadrunner
 
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Dommie Nator said:
This picture was from the factory in 1976. I thought they were Toadrunners but this picture is a bit clearer and I can now see the edge sipes. I'm not always right.. and I'm wrong again as they do look like TT100s as well as GPS.
Click to expand...

You're right, they are Roadrunners so it seems they were fitted to some late Mk3 Commandos. I stand corrected.
 
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