Best Dual Sport Tires to Replace OEM Knobby Tires

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

Nothing wrong with a 4.10 - 18. It's not a matter of traction. However since I'll be riding on the street 70% of the time, a slightly wider will be better tread contact patch. It will look better in my opinion.

Yes, riding 70% on the street, I agree with your choice of tire brand and model. All tires are a compromise.....ARH

[Musictrek]

my rim is stamped 1.85 on my Hawk. Rear tire was the 110/100/18. I think its stamped wrong lol

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by Musictrek

my rim is stamped 1.85 on my Hawk. Rear tire was the 110/100/18. I think its stamped wrong lol

Yes, the rear rim is a 2.15. That is from the inside of one rim flange to the inside of the other...ARH

[Musictrek]

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

Yes, the rear rim is a 2.15. That is from the inside of one rim flange to the inside of the other...ARH

I managed to measure the thickness of one side of the rim by deflating the tire. Then I took the outside rim width minus the thickness x2 I measured and it does give me about 1.85 inside rim width. The outside rim edge is pretty thick.
I went with a 4.10 x 18 on the back rim. Shinko 244 and 3.0 x 21 on the front. Wow they are way better than the stock rubber. I want to put on a Kenda 4.50 x 18 on the back. That's closer to 110 at 113mm wide. That 1.85 rim stamp stumped me.

[Megadan]

Yeah, mine is stamped as 1.85 as well, but my inner flanges measure out a hair over 2. I am not too shocked by this given the source of the rims. How do you make a wheel stronger using lower grade materials? make it thicker.

I honestly wouldn't go wider than a 120 (or 4.6") width tire on the stock rear rim, which is what I have. It works, but at that point it does start to alter the profile of the tire, making the center peak a bit more and slightly alters the contact patch.

[Musictrek]

Originally Posted by Megadan

Yeah, mine is stamped as 1.85 as well, but my inner flanges measure out a hair over 2. I am not too shocked by this given the source of the rims. How do you make a wheel stronger using lower grade materials? make it thicker.

I honestly wouldn't go wider than a 120 (or 4.6") width tire on the stock rear rim, which is what I have. It works, but at that point it does start to alter the profile of the tire, making the center peak a bit more and slightly alters the contact patch.

I'll just keep the 4.10 for now. It did pretty well on a desert run last Saturday. I was impressed by the traction of the Shinko 244 endure tires.

[kirbo7106]

Now which way do I go? I am planning on replacing the factory tires with Shinko 244s. The front tire is easy, 3.00-21. I WAS planning on using a 4.10-18 on the rear, but now after reading this, should I go with the 4.60-18? I have a 2016 Hawk that sees campground duties. The price of the tires are about the same, so that doesn’t factor in to the decision. Which would be the best all around rear tire?

Thanks!

[Musictrek]

Originally Posted by kirbo7106

Now which way do I go? I am planning on replacing the factory tires with Shinko 244s. The front tire is easy, 3.00-21. I WAS planning on using a 4.10-18 on the rear, but now after reading this, should I go with the 4.60-18? I have a 2016 Hawk that sees campground duties. The price of the tires are about the same, so that doesn’t factor in to the decision. Which would be the best all around rear tire?

Thanks!

I like my 4.10 as it breaks ground really nice. A little sport factor. I took my bike out last week and the 244 really did well for me. Although the looks of a wider tire is what I like. I really don't see a problem with my 4.10. I thought about going with a Kenda 5.10 as a compromise. its similar tread design like the sinko 244

[pete]

any tire with small nobbs is going to be squirrly on the road as the nob
moves around...
Shinko 700 are always my choice on the XT... bigger nobs that don't move around
and the side nobs are bridged to make them ridged...


..