Tyres

[Shep]

I am going to purchase new tyres and probably the only place I will be able to get the skinny bias-ply tyres are online. If I buy them locally I can ensure the tyres are a year old at most. Online how do you ensure they will ship you recently manufactured tyres?
I suspect the bias-ply 18" front (100/90 V 18) and the 17" rear (130/90 V 17) are not readily available locally.
Shep

[stevecrout]

I had excellent results from my purchases from FortNine Tires in Edmonton. The free shipping was great and quick!  I noticed quite a few different sizes so you might be ok.

They have a vintage tire section :https://fortnine.ca/en/motorcycle-tires?tire_style%5B0%5D=11779

[Theo]

My last tire purchase was also from the Fortnine depot in Edmonton. At that time (2017) they offered free shipping and an additional $10.00 off if you bought 2 tires. I see the shipping is still free for purchases over $49.00.
The tire price was the best I found at that time and the service was very good.

Theo

[Shep]

So this is what Fortnine said:
" Thank you for taking the time to reach out to the FortNine team.
We are unable to check and guarantee tire manufacture dates because we don't physically stock tires at our warehouse location. We receive tires directly from the distributors once they are ordered from us, and they are shipped directly out to the customer once we receive them. This ensures that we get the freshest tires possible, and that you receive your order as quickly as possible.
Motorcycle tires do not become stale or compromised from storage, as long as the storage space has sun coverage, and is maintained at a reasonable temperature. Our suppliers store the tires in this way.
Most tires that leave our warehouse are between 6 months to three years old, although some less popular, or discontinued tires may be older than that."

Should I care?
Shep

[oldduc]

Fortnine is the only place I have got tires in years. No issues with age. One thing to consider is finding the right tire. The auto manufacturers are having issues with getting micro chips and now they added tires to the list. I guess the supply chain on rubber is being effected by Covid

[stevecrout]

Speaking as one who has run tires in an amazing array of states including bald, checked, hard and cut - I've never had a bike tire go off on me and the whole tire age thing is (in my opinion) a bit like the 'Best By' dating on consumables - take it with a grain of salt and motor on.  I've only been putting on a few thousand klicks a year spread over more than one bike and some of my tires are 20 years old.  I'm not going to be racing them and certainly not going to be doing 150 kms per hour so I'll check them once in a while for cracks and hardness but otherwise I'm fine with them.

We've been buying the tires like this for decades and it's only lately the issue of dating has really come to the front and I set it right up there with the "must have four of exactly the sam tires " scam that's being run on your cars. Nice to know but nothing I'm going to act upon thanks.

Good luck!

[Shep]

Thank you
Shep

[Shep]

After speaking with Ron and with the other comments posted here, I moved ahead and purchased Avon Roadrider Mark II tyres through FortNine.
They are now mounted and balanced using Neil's balance machine for the front tyre and Jeff's  custom apparatus for the rear flange mounted tyre. Hopefully will be as good or better as the Metzler Tyres.
For your interest I did not shop around to get the old tyres removed and the new ones mounted but did just go to my regular tyre shop Auto Magic and they changed them for 20 dollars each plus the obligatory taxes (44.80 Cdn. Funds).
Shep

[stevecrout]

Alternate tire removal process

[Shep]

Yes, and Father's Day is soon so I can ask for one specifically with the correct rubber sanctioned blade.
Shep