If you’ve got a classic bike or modern retro and you’re looking for a tyre that resembles something from yesteryear but without the ‘interesting’ grip levels of an old tyre, then read on. In this guide we’ve put together the best tyres you can fit to your classic bike to get it looking and handling just right.
With the resurgence of vintage and classic bikes and the strong modern retro market, tyre manufacturers are now producing more tyres in the often tricky to find 18-inch and 19-inch sizes.
Most of the modern retros run modern wheel sizes too (mainly 17-inchers), so tyres aren’t a problem at all. However some of the manufacturers still produce new bikes with 18-inch and 19-inch tyre fitments.
This is good news for the rest of us running bikes that date all the way back to the 1950s. This glut of modern retro-styled bikes has widened the range and choice of tyres available to the rest of us.
Imperial to Metric motorcycle tyre conversion chart
Imperial
Metric 90%
Metric 80%
Imperial 90%
2.25
60/90
70/80
2.50
70/90
80/80
2.50
70/90
80/80
2.75 / 3.00
80/90
90/80
3.10
3.00 / 3.25
90/90
100/80
3.60
3.50
100/90
110/80
4.10
3.75 / 4.00
110/90
120/80
4.25
4.00 / 4.25
120/90
130/80
4.60
4.50 / 5.00
130/90
140/80 or 150/80
5.10
5.00
140/90
160/80
5.00
150/90
170/80
Our Best Classic Bike Tyres
Our three choices below blend modern performance with old-school looks. You’ll have a tyre that looks every bit the part but has the performance you need to push on in safety.
Avon Roadrider Mk2
The new version of Avon’s original Roadrider, a popular tyre for commuters and riders of retro bikes. They’re available in a huge range of sizes, to fit almost any bike. Riders of classics and modern classics who want to keep the bike looking authentic but also want decent quality modern rubber underneath them, so they can ride the bike the way it was intended to be ridden.
Bridgestone BT46
Bridgestone has specially developed the BT-46 to cover for riders of classic and touring bikes. Incredible feeling and feedback and great handling. Improved tyre life over the BT45. Strong wet weather performance. We fit loads of these to modern retros and urban commuters, bikes like the Triumph Street Twin and Moto Guzzi V7 and get great feedback.
Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp
A sticky road tyre with a retro look. Quick warm up and fast turn in make this a sporty feeling tyre. Unfortunately, a budget version of this tyre comes fitted to quite a few modern classics, which leads owners to think they’re no good. This off-the-shelf-version is ideal for modern retros and cafe racers.
18″ Road-Legal Trackday Tyres
If you want the outright grippiest tyres for a trackday or you just want to go nuts on the road, these are some good options for you.
Bridgestone Classic Racing CR11
Using all the good things from Bridgestone’s fantastic R11, 2020 brought the Battlax Classic Racing CR11. Available in a 110/80 R18 front fitment and a 150/65 R18 rear fitment, these are the perfect classic racing tyre. The rear has a triple layered compound and both front and rear can be used without tyre warmers.
Continental Road Attack 3 CR
Like the original Conti Road Attack 2 CR (classic race) the new Road Attack 3 CR improves in all areas. It’s also worth noting that it is now made in a 110/80 VR18 rear fitment. The 150/65 HR18 size has a slightly different pattern to the other rear sizes, it helps improve maximum drive on corner exit. The front 110/80 ZR18 fitment can also be used as a rear fitment for wet races.
Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp RS
If you want the stickiest road-legal tyre for your modern retro or cafe racer, then the Phantom RS is the one. A sticky road tyre with a retro look. Quick warm up and fast turn in make this a grippy little number, perfect for weekend blasts.
Vintage Motorcycle Tyres
If you’re running a pre-70s bike and you want it to handle better than it did when it left the showroom, you can fit modern rubber that still have the vintage look.
Dunlop K81 TT100
Based on the original TT100 from Dunlop, the K81 TT100 offers astonishing performance for what looks like something a time machine has delivered. Design based on the original TT100 which was first ever tyre to lap the TT course at over 100mph.
Avon Safety Mileage
Period appearance but with modern technology. The Avon Safety Mileage MkII has a classic tread pattern but is made using modern rubber compounds for excellent safety, grip and tyre life. See the Avon Speedmaster for front sizes.
Continental K112 & RB2
Continental’s K112 and RB2 classic looking tyres have been on sale for a few years now. They offer modern compounds but with retro styling. The K112 5.00-16 and MT90-16 are universal fitment whilst the K112 in 3.50-16 and 4.00-18 are rear fitment. The RB2 3.25-19 is front fitment only.
Modern Retros
Modern retros motorcycles, like the Triumph Speed Twin or Kawasaki Z650RS run modern tyre sizes. You can’t get any classic-looking tyres for bikes running these sizes. The closest you’ll get is a Continental Road Attack 3 or Metzeler Z6. Or you could take a look at the Bridgestone AX41S which will give your bike that custom cafe racer look.
While you can’t get classic-looking tyres in these sizes, you can fit ultra-sticky tyres. The Speed Twin, for example, comes with Metzeler Racetec RR K3s which are the sort of tyres you’d expect to see on a Fireblade in pit lane. Serious tyres!
Bikes like the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer, Royal Enfield Interceptor and Continental GT and the big Honda CB1100EX all have at least one tyre that’s 18-inches, so you won’t be able to fit the stickiest track-spec 17″ tyres but you still have some great choices for spirited road riding.
Don’t forget your inner tubes!
We stock a wide range of inner tubes from quality brands such as Avon, Continental and Michelin.
You can check out our range of motorcycle inner tubes here.
