Anyone who has used these, if they are honest, will tell you they have poor handling characteristics and are particularly slippery if there is water on the road. Those tires are made like it was still 1930.

You do better with even a cheap Chinese modern tire.

Heidenau makes retro tires (they would actually look like ones that came on the bike when it was new) that while looking retro, use modern tire contruction and rubber compounds. Modern traction and safety in a retro tire.

If you are not going to ride the bike, but display it as a museum piece, then the Firestones are great for rolling the bike to one part of the floor to another.

Anyone who believes they handle well or are as good as the many other modern manufactured tires has never ridden a 350 with good tires. I am sure a couple of our members can chime in.

If safe handling and traction are important (and on a motorcycle, they are the utmost importance), then don't even bother looking at those old style tires.

 

You can buy a lot better tires for less money than that. Get a set of Bridgestone Battlax skins and save the Firestones for the posers.

 

I definitely want to keep it looking retro, I googled a picture of the Battlax and its not exactly my taste.

Mydly do you have a link to the tires you are talking about?

 

Heidenau tires-

I think I have the sizes you need in stock if interested.

 

Heidenau K36 Tires - RevZilla for Rear Tire
Heidenau K33 Vintage Motorcycle Tire 3.00-18 Front or Rear - K3330018 - MotorcycleTire.com for Front

Or cheaper and looking like the era Dunlops:

Duro HF319 Front: http://www.amazon.com/Duro-3-00-18-...OLCN6/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1446515084&sr=1-2&keywords=Duro+HF319
Duro Rear: Amazon.com: Duro HF308 Front/Rear 4 Ply 3.50-18 Motorcycle Tire: Automotive

Duro Looks like the era Dunlop: Amazon.com: DURO HF314 3.50S-18 CLS R/R TT - 25-31418-350BTT: Automotive

The Duro brand is not as good as a BattleAx or other modern tire, but it is far better than those Firestones.

The price is pretty good for them, check E-bay also....

The Heidenau brand is a modern tire, with the retro look and to me, higher quality than the Duro Brand. Having said that, the Duro brand was under consideration by me...And I still might use them.

If I need highway speeds, I use my 750 (Which has Dunlops on it). I use the 360 for in town bopping around. I am pretty rural, so there are very limited lights, mostly 2 lane country roads, so the Duro's are fine for that use and priced reasonable.

I personnaly would not even ride short distances on the Firestones. I know people do it, but people do silly things and using 1930's technology rubber and construction today is definitely silly to me.

 

Seems like the only things I've ever read about Heidenau tires were good things - regardless of the motorcycle, rider, or environment the motorcycle was ridden in.

Make sure that, whatever tires you ultimately choose, they are the proper size for your rims. You will have the best handling and safest ride that way.

Regards,

 

I bought Duro tires for my 350. I've been happy with them so far ( about 600 miles - up to 90 mph, in the rain, in the twisties). I like the period tread patterns, too.

 

Hey guys, as the title suggests I'm looking at Firestone Deluxe Champions.
I'm pretty new to the motorcycle scene so I don't know too much on specific sizing and "do's" and "don'ts".

I have a 1972 Honda CB350 Four which needs new tires.
My main question is, I have 18's on front and back, and on the stock tire theres the numbers 3.25 (front) and 3.75-4.00(back)- I'm looking at these firestones but on the site they don't have a 3.25, would a 3.50 still work?

The factory CB350/F (Four) tire sizes are:

Front: 3.00 x 18
Rear: 3.50 x 18

Also, there is another web forum that handles the 4 cylinder bikes located here:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php

Example of tire question from there:
CB350F wheel size and width

Cheers

 

Hm, I guess the previous owner didn't have stock tire sizes. On my bike the front is 3.25, and rear says 3.75-4.00.

Thanks for all the info guys!

 

You'll find the bike far more agile if you use the stock sizes. I know the Battle-Axe's may not be to your liking, but they're great tires. You could also check Dunlop K70's. I'm not a fan of Dunlops, only a personal thing, but they look cool and are a damn sight better than Firestones.

Firestone = car tires

 

I use dunlop K70's

 

If Dunlop still made the K70 in 3.50 x 18 and 3.00 x 18, I would be using them right now. Unfortunately Dunlop does not make those sizes anymore. I used them on my CB350 back in the early 70's and they were the best at the time, IMO.

 

Some of my friends call those "nostalgic" Firestone copies Flintstones...

 

What do you guys think of the Shinko Classic tires?
I've been told they are are taste but more modern.

 

What model # Shinko and what tire size? The 240 classic I see online is a 16" tire, won't fit our little twins or small 4's, at least not directly.

They also look too wide and will adversely affect handling. For the safest handling, the original size tires on stock rims will give the best result.

To go wider than stock, wider rims are necessary, and it will slow the handling down anyway. Fat tires on the these bikes are just not a smart idea. People do it, and if you notice when you are out riding, they don;t ride them too much. They handle poorly, they feel like they are 2oo lbs heavier than they are, and handle like that too.

Stick to the original sizes if you want the best turning and braking and accelerating. Bigger, heavier tires require more HP just to actually turn them.

With about 32 gross HP, the 350 four cannot spare any HP to fat tires. The Twin actually has more HP and is a little lighter. You don't want to sacrifice handling and horsepower for looks (or maybe you do).

You realize that for the price of one of those Shinko's you can get 2 Duro's?

 

Hey guys, as the title suggests I'm looking at Firestone Deluxe Champions.
I'm pretty new to the motorcycle scene so I don't know too much on specific sizing and "do's" and "don'ts".

I have a 1972 Honda CB350 Four which needs new tires.
My main question is, I have 18's on front and back, and on the stock tire theres the numbers 3.25 (front) and 3.75-4.00(back)- I'm looking at these firestones but on the site they don't have a 3.25, would a 3.50 still work?

I'll link to the tires below

https://www.cokertire.com/350-18-firestone-deluxe-champion-blackwall-tire.html

https://www.cokertire.com/400-18-firestone-deluxe-champion-blackwall-tire.html

Clown tires for lawn art...not to be ridden on

 

Yeah I looked up the Shinkos and they wouldn't fit anyway.

I planned on building this bike to be more for shows, and not frequent riding.
The duros seem to be good though, I might just snag those for best of both worlds.

 

Two thumbs up here for the Heidenaus - I like them so much, I have been changing all my bikes over to them. They're on the pricier side, but you're getting what you pay for. They look like proper period tires, and handle great.

 

I went with tires a quarter inch wider on my 66 CB160 and they fit perfect. The stock widths didnt protect the rim bead enough.

 

I use Dunlops, correct sizes and very period in my opinion.