- Posts: 113
- Thank you received: 0
Are these tires too old?
- ghunt81
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
Both tires look almost new... will I be ok to still run them?
1978 Kawasaki KZ750 Twin- Coil mod, Dyna coil, 7mm copper core wires
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- MFolks
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 6650
- Thank you received: 540
I'd spend the money for new tires as it's better to have piece of mind than worry about what might have been.
1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- ghunt81
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 113
- Thank you received: 0
Now, I have a couple more questions...does this bike have tubes? (it has spoked wheels).
Also do the factory tire sizes or 3.25-H19 4PR and 4.00-H19 4PR translate into a "metric" size? Those don't seem to be the easiest sizes to find.
And what does the 4PR stand for? 4 ply radial?
1978 Kawasaki KZ750 Twin- Coil mod, Dyna coil, 7mm copper core wires
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Tony
- Offline
- KZr Legend
- Posts: 1351
- Thank you received: 13
-any bald spots?
-does it have some kind of wear pattern around the edge of the tire tread? This is called cupping.
-are there any chords showing?
-is there any cracks in the rubber, side wall or between the tread grooves?
If your answer is yes to any of the above I would scrap the tire. If it's cupping it may or may not cause a problem. Depending on how bad it is. In the past, I've had front tires with cupping that would make the front end wobble at certain speeds. Changing the tires always fixed the problem.
For what it's worth, that's my take on tires. Hope it helps.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- MFolks
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 6650
- Thank you received: 540
Yes your tires have tubes in them as nobody has made spoked wheels not leak air.
1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- bountyhunter
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 7246
- Thank you received: 337
1979 KZ-750 Twin
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- donthekawguy
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 1913
- Thank you received: 8
Rathdrum Idaho
1971 Kawasaki g3ss
1972 Yamaha R5 350
1965 Suzuki Hillbilly
1964 Yamaha 125
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- lx460
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 26
- Thank you received: 0
Yes your tires have tubes in them as nobody has made spoked wheels not leak air.
Yes your tires almost with 99.9999% accuracy have tubes but....
www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tech/tubeless_tire_seal/index.html
2001 KZ1000P
1986 KZ1000P
1981 KZ1000LTD
1980 KZ1000
1988 KZ1000P
See a pattern?
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- wiredgeorge
- Offline
- User
While you could chance riding on your current tires, I would look very carefully for cracks which are signs of dry rot. I personally would put fresh rubber on the bike.
wiredgeorge Motorcycle Carburetors
Mico TX
www.wgcarbs.com
Too many bikes to list!
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- steell
- Offline
- User
And the rear is an 18" not 19"
Yes they are tube type wheels, my 750 twin has tubeless wheels and tires, but that's because it has the optional Morris Mag wheel kit installed.
KD9JUR
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- RonKZ650
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 3703
- Thank you received: 240
This brings a question though. A few days ago I was sitting here in the shop and hear this explosion, run to the front door, as did everyone else in the area. We are all looking for the cause and there was a semi truck attempting to make a right turn, but having a hard time making the turn because of traffic. Finally he makes the turn and I could see rubber shreading off one of his trailer tires. So I'd assume this was the explosion, a semi sitting in traffic that had a tire blow. Now was this a 10 yr old tire that just decided to blow? which I would doubt or a case of tire heat from lack of air? Which I would think, but I've never heard a tire blow like that.
Back to motorcycle tires, there is no "metric equivalent" to a 3.25-19 or 4.00-18 tire. Yes there are sizes that work for sure, but not the same. A 100/90-19 is pretty close, but wider than the 3.25. A 110/90-18 is close in the rear for width, but to low profile. A 120/90-18 is too wide and still low profile, so it makes the circumference about right at least. You can get 3.25 or 4.00 tires all day, just few stock the size. Dennis Kirk has a lot of choices in these size.
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- ghunt81
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 113
- Thank you received: 0
Anyway- Like I said, the tires look great. Good tread, no dry rot that I can see. It's my understanding the bike pretty much just sat in a garage. Feels like the tires might be a little low on air though.
1978 Kawasaki KZ750 Twin- Coil mod, Dyna coil, 7mm copper core wires
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.