After decades of cage driving, tire life was the one thing that really surprised me about motorcycles. I just assumed that a bike tire would last about as long as a car tire. Of course, once you look at it closely, there's no way to put that much tread on a motorcycle tire and still have it handle properly. Here's the tire options I am aware of:
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Dunlop makes the stock rubber (K505) for the 90's Nighthawk, and I assume for the 80's too. The stock tires will probably last around 10 to 11,000 miles on the rear, and perhaps as much as 20,000 on the front ( I got 22,000 on my original front). They also make the sportier K591 series in Nighthawk sizes which are a little grippier. |
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Bridgestone makes their Battlax BT-35 in the Nighthawk sizes. Anyone tried these?? JW in Florida is running BT-17's on his 93 NH750. He's got the 110/90V18 on the front and a 140/80V17 on the rear. These are a slightly different aspect ratio than stock, but he is impressed with them, and has had no problems at all. The BT-17's also come in 130/90-16 and 100/90-19, so you 650 and 700S owners are in luck. |
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Metzeler makes a ME-MEZ2 sport tire in a 140/80ZR17 & 110/80ZR18. Anyone tried these? Metzeler makes tires to fit all years and models of Nighhtawks. Check out their web site for details. |
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Avon's AV27/ST23 comes in 140/80ZR17 & 110/80ZR18. Anyone tried these RADIAL tires on their Nighthawk yet? |
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Maxxis makes sport tires that will fit the 90's Nighthawk 750's; the V1 series, which are rated at 149 mph. They are sized at 140/80V17 and 110/90V18. They also make a 130/90V16 & 100/90V19 which fit both the 550 & 700S models. |
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Michelin has a great interactive web site -- they make the Macadam 50, Macadam 90X, and a Tarmac brand tire -- and the best part is they make tires for every year and model of Nighthawk. |
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Pirelli's got some radial Dragon GT's which are supposed to fit Nighthawks. Anyone given these a try yet? |
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