Strange front tire hmm....

[86venturejay]

I'm replacing rear tire on my 86 venture. That is going smoothly, however, I also want to replace the front tire as well and this is where I've run into a big fat... "HUH????". The front tire is a Bridgestone Spitfire touring and the only size I can see on it is listed as such: **** MR90-18 71H ***** again... HUH?????? what the heck is that? I've looked online and cant seem to find any such size. I'm Planning on going with the D404 Dunlop 140/90/16 on the rear from motorcycle superstore online as the $105 with free shipping seems to be the cheapest I can find. I'd like to put the matching Dubnlop on the front but am lost with this tire size issue.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Jay

[twigg]

If the front wheel is standard then the tire size is 130/90 R18

 

That's a standard size and you should have a good choice of tires.

 

Mine has Bridgestone Spitfire IIs, F and R.

 

They are well priced, give decent grip and are moderately hard, so wear rate is good. I have never had cause to look much beyond them.

[GaryZ]

The manual for the VR calls out for a 120/90-18-65H.

I have a Dunlop Elite III MR90-18-71H on my Beast

 

MR90-18-71H

vs

120/90-18-65H

 

MR = 120 = 4.25 - 4.50" wide

90 = aspect ratio

18" diameter

load rating = 65 is 639lbs and 71 is 761lbs

H = speed rating

 

I found these charts when looking for tires . . .

 

Motorcycle Tire Speed Ratings, Load Ratings and Motorcycle Tire Size Designations

Front Tires

Rear Tires

metric

alpha

inch

metric

alpha

inch

80/90

MH90

2.50/2.75

110/90

MP85

4.00/4.75

90/90

MJ90

2.75/3.00

120/90

MR90

4.50/4.75

100/90

MM90

3.25/3.50

130/80

5.00/5.10

120/80

4.25/4.50

140/80

5.50/6.00

120/90

MR90

4.25/4.50

140/90

MU90

5.50/6.00

130/90

MT90

5.00/5.10

150/80

MV85

6.00/6.25

150/90

MV85

6.00/6.25

 

 

 

								TIRE Speed Rating Chart
Motorcycle Tire Speed Ratings	Maximum Design/Test Speed
	J Type	62	100
	N Type	87	140
	P Type	94	150
	S Type	112	180
	H Type	130	210
	V Type	149	240
	Z Type	149+	240+
	Tires with 2.00, 2.25 & 2.50 nominal section widths are rated for 75 mph.

 

																				LOAD INDEX (LI) RATING CHART
LI	lbs.	LI	lbs.	LI	lbs.	LI	lbs.	LI	lbs.
20	176	33	254	46	375	59	536	72	783
21	182	34	260	47	386	60	551	73	805
22	187	35	267	48	397	61	567	74	827
23	193	36	276	49	408	62	584	75	853
24	198	37	282	50	419	63	600	76	882
25	204	38	291	51	430	64	617	77	908
26	209	39	300	52	441	65	639	78	937
27	215	40	309	53	454	66	661	79	963
28	220	41	320	54	467	67	677	80	992
29	227	42	331	55	481	68	694	81	1019
30	234	43	342	56	494	69	716	82	1047
31	240	44	353	57	507	70	736	83	1074
32	247	45	364	58	520	71	761	84	1102

[MiCarl]

If the front wheel is standard then the tire size is 130/90 R18

 

 

No. Standard tire is 120/90H18, which is a bias ply tire. The 130/90 R18 is oversize and radial construction.

 

As the chart shared by GaryZ shows 120/90H18 is the metric designation for the alpha MR90H18.

[twigg]

No. Standard tire is 120/90H18, which is a bias ply tire. The 130/90 R18 is oversize and radial construction.

 

Heh ... I stand corrected, I wrote it down wrong and the tyre you just specified is exactly what is on the front of my bike. I just went and looked.

[86venturejay]

Thanks for the help guys, Makes way more sense now! I'll have all new rubber for spring!!