what alternate size radial tire for k1100lt

[racinrich]

what is the alternate size for k1100lt rear 150 70 17,160 60 17????
what are the favorite radials used by brickers.
I usually ride march to december rain or shine . ALL comments welcome ,I can't stand lazertec bias ply,rides horrible ,tried marathon me 880 vb.ride was ok dry but uncomfortible in the rain

[Scott_]

Why not just get a radial in the original size. I personally buy the Avon AV46 in a 140-80/17.
I did try the 150-70/17 size but I had troubles getting the tire mounted/dismounted and issues getting the bike up on the center stand.

Your choices for a matched set from the same mfgr will be limited in the stock LT sizes, but it doesn't bother me to ride on 2 different brands of tires. I run a PR2 on the front.

[racinrich]

were you able to get the tire on eventually,was there clearance to the paralever
what was the problem mounting,actual mounting or getting bead to seat

[Grim]

On Ducks recommendation I ordered up a Avon AV46 in a 140-80/17 for the Back and a Bridgestone Battlax BT-023 Sport Touring Front Tire 110/80ZR-18. Having them mounted in the morning. Weather is suppose to be crap all weekend so it will be a few days before I can give a ride report if the thunderstorms roll in before I get a chance to go out. 

Reviews on both are overall on the positive side. I got what a felt was a really good deal on them at http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/ free shipping on orders over $100. They have a couple coupons as well.  Ordered them Tuesday night at 10pm they arrived today (Friday) Cant complain about a set of tires under $270 to your door and I think the current coupon may make it cheaper then I paid.  Beat all my local places by a good bit.

[Scott_]

were you able to get the tire on eventually,was there clearance to the paralever
what was the problem mounting,actual mounting or getting bead to seat

I mount my own tires now, my trouble was getting the bead to seat with my compressor/hose setup at the time. I took it to a local indy bike shop and they seated it right up.

I have since removed the core depressor from my fill chuck for more air flow and I haven't had any difficulties with any other tires since.

Paralever clearance wasn't an issue I could see daylight between the tire and the paralever. I can't say what the clearance was when riding with a heated up tire, but I never noticed any marks on the sidewall of the tire from rubbing. I know others have run the 150-17 and have not had any troubles.

[frankenduck]

On Ducks recommendation I ordered up a Avon AV46 in a 140-80/17 for the Back and a Bridgestone Battlax BT-023 Sport Touring Front Tire 110/80ZR-18. Having them mounted in the morning.

I think you'll be very happy with that.  I've been a big fan of PR2s the last several years and maybe it only applies to the 11/80-18 front and, not that the PR2 is a bad tire, but the BT023 seems a lot less prone to wandering and much more dialed in.  My next front on my K11LT will most definitely be a BT-023. (Rear too but that's on a 4.5 inch RS rear.)  I'm just glad that Avon still makes the AV46, a very good radial tire, that will fit the 3" rear wheel.

[Grim]

On Ducks recommendation I ordered up a Avon AV46 in a 140-80/17 for the Back and a Bridgestone Battlax BT-023 Sport Touring Front Tire 110/80ZR-18. Having them mounted in the morning.

I think you'll be very happy with that.  I've been a big fan of PR2s the last several years and maybe it only applies to the 11/80-18 front and, not that the PR2 is a bad tire, but the BT023 seems a lot less prone to wandering and much more dialed in.  My next front on my K11LT will most definitely be a BT-023. (Rear too but that's on a 4.5 inch RS rear.)  I'm just glad that Avon still makes the AV46, a very good radial tire, that will fit the 3" rear wheel.

If it gets rid of this odd little wobble/shimmy I get at times I'll be happy. The current front (491 elite front and rear) is well worn and cupped and I think that's where its coming from.  Fact is I'm a bit of a novice rider (been 25 years) so I have not got much to compare too. 

First impression is they are great looking tires. I was going to give mounting them myself a try (done plenty of truck tires) but man is the beads stiff!  Going to let the tire store that mounted my reverse mount mags on my hot Rod Pontiac LeMans do these. They said no problem with their bead clamp set up to do motorcycle wheels. $10 a wheel cant be beat. These folks specialize in custom wheels so I feel comfortable with them. They wont be able to balance though but with what I'm saving over the local motorcycle dealers is plenty to go buy the Harbor Freight ballancer and do it myself. 

[Grim]

Mounted up and a 40 mile test ride this afternoon. Liking them a whole lot! Bike feels a lot more fluid in its transition into and out of curves. Did not feel the shimmy so it was tires. The bias felt muddy compared to these. These feel much more confident.
Now I was replacing 13 yr old 491's, your mileage may vary.

Wife wondered why the tread looked the way it did when i came home and I had to explain "chicken strips" to her. Mine were still rather wide.  :dunno. Have to work on that.

[Scott_]

Now I was replacing 13 yr old 491's, your mileage may vary.

I sure hope you weren't riding on them 13yr old tires very long. It's a wonder they still held air or had any grip for being that old.

[racinrich]

I was leaning towards the pr2 but I don't have a rs rear rim yet,avon ultra same problem,anyone got a rs rear rim they want to give me? lol rs rim would make life simpler but won't lower profile give a harder ride?
I will go with the avons ultra front azaro rear,used avons in past no complaints.
thanks for the input

[Scott_]

Something else I'll add, with the 150-70 size and my Remus exhaust I had to remove the can to get the tire on/off the bike. As opposed the the 140-80 that would slip in/out without removing the Remus can.

[mnb]

Bumping an old thread.   

 It's getting hard to find radials in stock sizes.

So far, the only brand/model I've found in 2025 that supports front/rear sizes for the K1100LT is the Battlax Adventure A41.  Despite the name, it's a 90/10 ADV tire at best. 
I've found quite a few with the front tire size, but finding a rear is tricky.  The Metzeler Tourance Next 2 fits the rear, but not the front.

[frankenduck]

Bridgestone T32 in 150/70-17 is an excellent sport touring radial. I run that on my K11LT and K75s.