Honda GB500 Tourist Trophy

(updated September 99)

Rim Stock Size Possible Alternate Original Tyre
Front 2.15 x 18 100/90V18 90/90H-18
Rear 2.50 x 18 4.00V18

Manufacturers' Recommendations

Manufacturer Front size Rear size
Avon
(no data)
Bridgestone BT35 90/90H-18 BT35 110/90H-18
BT45 90/90H-18 BT45 110/90H-18
Dunlop
(no data)
Metzeler (U.S.A.)
(no data)
Metzeler (Germany) ME 33 Laser 90/90H-18 ME 99 A 110/90H-18
Michelin
(89,90)
100/90V18 Macadam 50 4.00V18
Pirelli (U.S.A.)
(no data)
Pirelli (Germany) MT 69 90/90H-18 MT 68 110/90H-18

Martyn's Opinion

General Comments

Hmm.

The Safe Bet

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Dunlop K591 Sport Touring 100/90V-18 $65
Rear Dunlop K591 Sport Touring 110/90V-18 $63

Hmmm.

A Tight Budget

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Dunlop K491 Elite II Touring 100/90H-18 $62
Rear Kenda K657 Sport Challenger 110/90H-18 $50

Hmm.

General Purpose, Sport-Touring

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 100/90H-18 $72
Rear Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 110/90H-18 $73

While the Avon Roadrunners make an excellent general-purpose combination for light old-fashioned bikes, these Bridgestones are a little cheaper and excellent for general riding.

Touring

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Avon Roadrunner AM20 100/90H-18 $97
Rear Avon Roadrunner AM21 4.00-H-18
110/90H-18
  - 
$114

Hmmm....

Sport-Riding

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Avon Super Venom AM20 100/90V-18 $102
Rear Avon Super Venom AM18 110/90V-18 $107

Hmmm....

Martyn's Choice

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 100/90H-18 $72
Rear Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 110/90H-18 $73

Hmmm....


The Full List

(from MAW and manufacturer web pages)

Well-sized matched pairs

This table lists pairs with an exact front and an exact or good rear
Brand Front size MAW Rear size MAW match
Avon Roadrunner AM20 100/90H-18 $97 Roadrunner AM21 4.00-H-18
110/90H-18
 - 
$114
exact
good
Super Venom AM20 100/90V-18 $102 Super Venom AM18 110/90V-18 $107 good
Bridgestone BT35 Sports Mileage 100/90H-18 $93 BT35 Sports Mileage 110/90H-18 $106 good
BT45 Sports Mileage 100/90H-18
100/90V-18
$72
$68
BT45 Sports Mileage 110/90H-18 $73 good
SE11 100/90H-18 $74 SE11 110/90H-18 $80 good
Dunlop F11 100/90H-18 $71 K627 110/90H-18 $74 good
K491 Elite II Touring 100/90H-18 $62 K491 Elite II Touring 110/90HB18 $69 good
K591 Sport Touring 100/90V-18 $65 K591 Sport Touring 110/90V-18 $63 good
IRC Durotour RS-310 100/90H-18 $48 Durotour RS-310 110/90H-18 $50 good
Road Winner RW-010 100/90HX18 $64 Road Winner RW-010 110/90HX18 $67 good
Kenda K657 Sport Challenger 100/90H-18 $45 K657 Sport Challenger 110/90H-18 $50 good
Metzeler ME-33 Laser 100/90H-18
100/90V-18
 - 
$83
ME-99A Perfect 110/90H-18
4.00-V-18
 - 
$84
good
exact
ME-77 100/90H-18 $72 ME-77 4.00-H-18 $85 exact
Michelin Macadam 50 100/90H-18
100/90V-18
$94
$101
Macadam 50 4.00-HX18
110/90H-18
$101
$100
exact
good
Pirelli Strada MT69E 100/90H-18 $74 Strada MT68E 4.00-H-18
110/90H-18
$85
$80
exact
good

Listing by Manufacturer

Avon

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
AV27 110/80HR18T $124 wide
AV27 110/80ZR18 $137 wide
Azaro AV35 110/80ZR18 $134 wide
Roadrunner AM20 100/90H-18 $97 exact Roadrunner AM21 4.00-H-18 exact
Roadrunner AM20 90/90H-18 $96 excel Roadrunner AM21 110/90H-18 $114 good
Super Venom AM18 110/90V-18 $107 wide
Super Venom AM20 100/90V-18 $102 exact Super Venom AM18 110/90V-18 $107 good

Bridgestone

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
BT17 Sports Mileage 100/90V-18 $90 exact BT17 Sports Mileage 120/90V-18 wide
BT35 Sports Mileage 100/90H-18 $93 exact BT35 Sports Mileage 110/90H-18 $106 good
BT35 Sports Mileage 90/90H-18 excel
BT45 Sports Mileage 100/90H-18 $72 exact BT45 Sports Mileage 110/90H-18 $73 good
BT45 Sports Mileage 100/90V-18 $68 exact
BT45 Sports Mileage 90/90H-18 $70 excel
BT53 Sports Touring 100/90VR18 exact
BT54 Sports Touring 110/80ZR18 $91 wide
SE11 100/90H-18 $74 exact SE11 110/90H-18 $80 good

Continental

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Blitz TKH-23 110/90H-18 $49 wide Blitz TKH-24 4.00-H-18 $55 exact
Tour TK-17 120/90H-18 $80 wide
Twin K112 4.00-H-18 $115 exact

Dunlop

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
D205 Sport/Touring 110/80ZR18 $90 wide
F11 100/90H-18 $71 exact K627 110/90H-18 $74 good
K491 Elite II Touring 100/90H-18 $62 exact K491 Elite II Touring 110/90HB18 $69 good
K505 110/80H-18 $81 wide
K591 Sport Touring 100/90V-18 $65 exact K591 Sport Touring 110/90V-18 $63 good

IRC

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Durotour RS-310 100/90H-18 $48 exact Durotour RS-310 110/90H-18 $50 good
Durotour RS-310 90/90H-18 $49 excel
Road Winner RW-010 100/90HX18 $64 exact Road Winner RW-010 110/90HX18 $67 good
Road Winner RW-010 90/90HX18 $61 excel

Kenda

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
K657 Sport Challenger 100/90H-18 $45 exact K657 Sport Challenger 110/90H-18 $50 good

Metzeler

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
ME-33 Laser 100/90H-18 exact ME-99A Perfect  110/90H-18 good
ME-33 Laser 100/90V-18 $83 exact ME-99A Perfect 4.00-V-18 $84 exact
ME-33 Laser 90/90H-18 $75 excel ME-55A Metronic 120/90V-18 $119 wide
ME-77 100/90H-18 $72 exact ME-77 4.00-H-18 $85 exact
ME-88 Marathon 100/90H-18 $78 exact ME-88 Marathon 120/90HB18 $98 wide
ME-Z1 110/80ZR18 $98 wide
ME-Z2 110/80ZR18 $92 wide
ME-Z4 110/80ZR18 $112 wide

Michelin

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Macadam 50 100/90H-18 $94 exact Macadam 50 4.00-HX18 $101 exact
Macadam 50 100/90V-18 $101 exact Macadam 50 110/90H-18 $100 good
Macadam 50 90/90H-18 $92 excel
Macadam 90X 110/80ZR18 $86 wide
Tarmac 100/90H-18 exact
Tarmac (old) 100/90H-18 $96 exact

Pirelli

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Dragon GT MTR03 110/80ZR18 $100 wide
Dragon GTS MTR23 110/80ZR18 $105 wide
MT75 90/90H-18 excel MT75 110/80H-18 short
Match MT09 100/90V-18 $94 exact Match MT08 120/90V-18 $116 wide
Phantom MT29 100/90V-18 exact Phantom MT28 120/90V-18 wide
Strada MT69E 100/90H-18 $74 exact Strada MT68E 4.00-H-18 $85 exact
Strada MT69E 90/90H-18 $76 excel Strada MT68E 110/90H-18 $80 good

Key:

Exact Precisely matches original spec
Excellent Precisely matches a recommended alternate
Good An exact or alternate in a different sizing system
Short Exact or excellent width, lower profile.  Consider these both ends to lower the bike
Soft Similar diameter by using a taller profile and narrower width; used on the rear only
Tall Taller profile, stock width; similar in effect to "soft", but for the front only
Wide Same profile, wider tyre.  This MAY NOT FIT your rim.  BE CAREFUL!!!