[jimku]

What are the best tires for an Interceptor?  Best handling, best grip, best mileage, cost be damned?
If making a suggestion please provide a link to where to purchase ... if they can't be found for purchase they just don't exist.

[twocoolgliders]

unfortunately "best" is subjective.  and many of the characteristics of "best" are in conflict with each other.  Such as grip vs mileage.  Be that mileage meaning "long lasting"  or even meaning "good fuel economy."

"best" may also apply to the type of riding you typically do...high speed highway cruising...or all the time twisties...city commuting....or track.

To some, a "best" tire would be a reasonable compromise of many factors...jack of all trades, if you will.  But a track racer really cares about sticky....long lasting not an issue, as long as they last at least one race.

So typical of motorcycle forums...were gonna see guys chiming in with "I like this tire, or I like that tire", and give some reasons...and there will never be a definitive "best" .

So my favorite: Avon Road rider...these are not the "best"...they are jack of all trades.  But then again with my skill level and "old man style" of riding....any "better tire" would simply be a waste.


Cookie

What are the best tires for an Interceptor?  Best handling, best grip, best mileage, cost be damned?
If making a suggestion please provide a link to where to purchase ... if they can't be found for purchase they just don't exist.

[ceekay]

I enjoy his videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K9U7W_U9gA

[jimku]

OK, here is my choice from my own digging so far.
MICHELIN PILOT ACTIVE
https://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/michelin-pilot-activ-motorcycle-tire/p/3763?b=2676835&CRTP=psc&gclid=CjwKCAiAx_DwBRAfEiwA3vwZYkKn64mObdvQ1JJ89IZSTBGdf949HUJ-nA9isqWl1NcL68ucviGZThoCRdAQAvD_BwE
https://youtu.be/vXPmO4FZ9Bk
https://youtu.be/_d_GCdTNdC4
https://youtu.be/3kx7glfWG7Y

[Bilgemaster]

Like others who've already chimed in, I doubt there is one single "Best" tire for any model of bike. It all boils down to how you use it, style of riding, and one's comfort zone as far as fast-wearing "grippiness" vs. long-wearing economy with maybe less peg-scraping aptitude. I nurse along an old Iron Belly Bullet, so clearly testicle-retracting performance isn't as high on my list as good hard wearing rubber that I'll have to change as infrequently as possible to get me through the annual state inspections. I was happy enough running those OEM Avon Speedmaster IIs (aka. "Skidmasters") right on down to the cords, but she's now wearing a pair of those retro-looking Dunlop "Good Seal" K70s, which have been a superb fit for my rather sedate following-Grandma-to-the-doctor driving style. I've long favored those reasonably hard-wearing but tractable Dunlops on my Norton twins, and suspect that I'd be likely to shod any future Interceptor I might own in the same, once those OEM Pirellis wore out. A good deal for them can always be found through the online vendor Bike Bandit.

Speaking of those OEM Pirellis, I am led to understand from some online review I can no longer now exactly recall, that the ones shipping on the new 650s are actually specially made to slightly lesser specs for Enfield than the "real original Pirellis", which, among other aspects, are said to have a tad more tread depth and hence wear a bit longer. So, of you were happy enough with the OEM ones, you might want to give the "real" ones a try.

[mattsz]

Speaking of those OEM Pirellis, I am led to understand from some online review I can no longer now exactly recall, that the ones shipping on the new 650s are actually specially made to slightly lesser specs for Enfield than the "real original Pirellis", which, among other aspects, are said to have a tad more tread depth and hence wear a bit longer.

Sounds like the recent FortNine video...

https://youtu.be/Tv97i_-V7hA

[jimku]

she's now wearing a pair of those retro-looking Dunlop "Good Seal" K70s, which have been a superb fit for my rather sedate following-Grandma-to-the-doctor driving style.

From all of my poking around, the Dunlop K70's aren't even available in sizes to fit an Interceptor.
100/90-18 FRONT
130/70-18 REAR

[jimku]

Sounds like the recent FortNine video...

https://youtu.be/Tv97i_-V7hA

Great video and oh so true.  I don't expect my OEM tires to last more than one season, and they DEFINITELY are not up to the feel/performance of the Dunlops I had on my last bike.  So far my searching hasn't found any Dunlop tires that will fit my Interceptor.

[jhark37]

OK, here is my choice from my own digging so far.
MICHELIN PILOT ACTIVE
https://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/michelin-pilot-activ-motorcycle-tire/p/3763?b=2676835&CRTP=psc&gclid=CjwKCAiAx_DwBRAfEiwA3vwZYkKn64mObdvQ1JJ89IZSTBGdf949HUJ-nA9isqWl1NcL68ucviGZThoCRdAQAvD_BwE

Based on my fairly extensive research, that looks like the best option to me, too.  Can't believe it, but I've got 4600 miles on my INT650 and will
be needing a new rear before too long.

john

[Bilgemaster]

That's a real shame if the Dunlops can't fit the  Interceptors, 'cause they'd really look the part.

[olhogrider]

There's a guy running those old Firestone replicas on his GT. If they are anything like the original tires they will last the rest of your life. Of course if they grip like the old ones, the rest of your life won't be very long😉

Every now and then someone will chime in about car tires. I bought a GoldWing that had them. The dumbest idea ever! Generally speaking, grip and mileage are mutually exclusive.

[gizzo]

There's a guy running those old Firestone replicas on his GT. If they are anything like the original tires they will last the rest of your life. Of course if they grip like the old ones, the rest of your life won't be very long😉

Ha ha Clown Shoes!! 

Personally, I think almost any of the tyres that fit a INT650 will be good enough for it. The one I rode last week was still on stock Phantoms and they were good enough to ride to the edges. IDK if the tyres are the cause of the weave I felt but still felt safe enough.

Tyres I use on my bikes that come in Enfield size:

Metzeler Lasertec: Looks period on my classic Ducati. Ride really nicely. But wear out fast

Pirelli Sport Demon: On my GT. I've used them, Bridgestone BT45 and Dunlop 601 on the GT. I'm back on the Sport Demons now. Sweet handling and look good. Last about 8000km, front and back. By the time the rear's squared off, the sides of the front are gone. The Sport Demon front didn't seem to play nicely with the BT45 rear for some reason

Bridgestone BT45: used them on a bunch of bikes over the years, have them on my street Motard now. They're like a "go to" tyre. They just work. Rear lasted 12,000km on my CGT.

Pirelli City Demon: On my honda c90. Good enough to drag pegs in the wet.




IMO, FWIW, YMMV etc.

[jimku]

That's a real shame if the Dunlops can't fit the  Interceptors, 'cause they'd really look the part.

Yes, they so look good.  And they are good tires.  I had Dunlops on my 850 Yamaha triple in Phoenix and put around 20,000 miles on them.

[jimku]

Personally, I think almost any of the tyres that fit a INT650 will be good enough for it.

I ride a lot of twisty, kinky mountain roads here in Ideeho, and almost every ride at least one corner "sneaks up" on me and makes my butt pucker.  So I definitely want tires that will corner well and brake well.  And by corner well I mean "Oooooooh Shiiiiiiiiiit" corners.  You know ... the ones usually followed by Bang Ding Ow.  And on the roads I ride, if I lose it, it's often a hundred foot drop straight down into a shallow river lined with boulders ... or into a vertical cliff face of solid rock.

[twocoolgliders]

Go with "grip"

Cookie

I ride a lot of twisty, kinky mountain roads here in Ideeho, and almost every ride at least one corner "sneaks up" on me and makes my butt pucker.  So I definitely want tires that will corner well and brake well.  And by corner well I mean "Oooooooh Shiiiiiiiiiit" corners.  You know ... the ones usually followed by Bang Ding Ow.  And on the roads I ride, if I lose it, it's often a hundred foot drop straight down into a shallow river lined with boulders.