Post by skyrider on Aug 13, 2014 9:18:58 GMT -6
I am running a tire experiment on my Reflex. I thought this might be of interest to others.
When I bought the Reflex they put a Bridgestone tire on the back (the front was still useable). It lasted 'til I got back from my trip in 2013 to Arkie land. That was about 7000 total miles on the rear tire. At that point I bought a pair of Shinko tires and changed both. (Unlike the clones the Reflex runs 120/70/13 in front and 130/ 70/12 in the rear). The rear Shinko was gone in 4000 (front is still good for quite a while yet). While we were near Riverside CA I ran over to Chaparral Motor Sports and picked up a Michelin Booper, that lasted 4000. Next I bought another Shinko (different series) and at 1250 miles is was going fast, I could have probably safely run it another 500 miles or so.
Somewhere I saw a post by someone who reported that he and some friends has run a 145R12 auto tire on the rear with good results. That is the size used on the early Geo Metros (really great cars). They are hard to find but I located one on line and ordered it. Since we were in PA visiting our son and will be here longer than we are in many places I went ahead and installed that tire so if it was unsatisfactory I could get something else and change again.
I have put more than 300 miles on it and so far really like it. I was unsure how it would handle on hard corners but so far I can see no difference on that. It is about 10% more circumference so it makes that much difference and slows the engine down considerable which is great for cruising.
I have been riding through the hills of PA and eastern OH pushing it hard on corners to be sure the all weather tread pattern is going to hold when leaning hard. Dry road, wet road, and during hard rain plus 50 miles of 70 MPH interstate. I like it plus it seems to have raised my gas mileage noticeably.
As the miles mount up I will post updates here on this thread. I don't know of any other brand or model that this could be done on.
Skyrider
PS: The tires on my Jonway YY250T was about the same. 2000 on original and 4000 on subsequent rear tires.
When I bought the Reflex they put a Bridgestone tire on the back (the front was still useable). It lasted 'til I got back from my trip in 2013 to Arkie land. That was about 7000 total miles on the rear tire. At that point I bought a pair of Shinko tires and changed both. (Unlike the clones the Reflex runs 120/70/13 in front and 130/ 70/12 in the rear). The rear Shinko was gone in 4000 (front is still good for quite a while yet). While we were near Riverside CA I ran over to Chaparral Motor Sports and picked up a Michelin Booper, that lasted 4000. Next I bought another Shinko (different series) and at 1250 miles is was going fast, I could have probably safely run it another 500 miles or so.
Somewhere I saw a post by someone who reported that he and some friends has run a 145R12 auto tire on the rear with good results. That is the size used on the early Geo Metros (really great cars). They are hard to find but I located one on line and ordered it. Since we were in PA visiting our son and will be here longer than we are in many places I went ahead and installed that tire so if it was unsatisfactory I could get something else and change again.
I have put more than 300 miles on it and so far really like it. I was unsure how it would handle on hard corners but so far I can see no difference on that. It is about 10% more circumference so it makes that much difference and slows the engine down considerable which is great for cruising.
I have been riding through the hills of PA and eastern OH pushing it hard on corners to be sure the all weather tread pattern is going to hold when leaning hard. Dry road, wet road, and during hard rain plus 50 miles of 70 MPH interstate. I like it plus it seems to have raised my gas mileage noticeably.
As the miles mount up I will post updates here on this thread. I don't know of any other brand or model that this could be done on.
Skyrider
PS: The tires on my Jonway YY250T was about the same. 2000 on original and 4000 on subsequent rear tires.