Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet Iron Barrel => Topic started by: Rick O'Shea on January 12, 2012, 12:15:47 am

Title: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Rick O'Shea on January 12, 2012, 12:15:47 am
Anyone know if these tires fit the Bullet? If you are running them how do they rate?
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: GlennF on January 12, 2012, 12:46:17 am
Anyone know if these tires fit the Bullet? If you are running them how do they rate?


4.10 x 19  is the low profile equivalent of  3.50x19  so it should fit.  ( though there is apparently some issue about WM2 versus WM3 rims )


Here is the tire thread:

http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/forum/index.php/topic,10916.0.html
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: mustangdave on January 12, 2012, 02:22:09 am
I run the 3.5 in back....thought the 4.10 would rub....
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: ace.cafe on January 12, 2012, 10:24:40 am
I wouldn't count on it fitting.
It might, but it would be close.

If you want a good tire, try the Avon AM26 Roadriders.
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Vince on January 12, 2012, 05:22:27 pm
     I have touted the AM26 's before. That 4.10 Dunlop is too wide. In tire speak 4.10 indicates a 4 inch wide tire with a 90% aspect ratio, so the height is 90% of 4 inches = 3.6 inches. It is just a little too wide and high. The AM26 100/90-19 is 3.9 inches with a 90% aspect =3.5 inches. It doesn't sound like much of a difference, but it is enough.
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: mustangdave on January 12, 2012, 05:59:07 pm
I have the Dunlop K-70's front & rear...3.25 front...3.5 rear...IMHO (and that ain't much at times)...that plenty of tread on the tarmac. They replaced AVON Speedmasters that were OEM and looking a bit dry rotted.  Its all good
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: fxk142 on January 12, 2012, 06:23:02 pm
Bartlett runs these on his bike:
"I replaced the stock tires with bigger 4.00x19 Duro #308 Universal last summer. Not only do they look cool, but they're a lot more forgiving on uneven pavement. I ride 50 miles round trip to and from work every day it's not freezing and raining. The Enfield rides very smooth and I love the rumble of this single thumper."
This is a quote from his blog, Her Majesty's Thunder, the blog post was March 2, 2010.
http://www.hermajestysthunder.blogspot.com/2010/03/royal-enfield-on-tracks.html
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Blltrdr on January 12, 2012, 08:19:30 pm
I run the K70's also. They are a great tire. IMHO they look and perform much better than the Avons. I would recommend them to anyone wanting to keep the vintage look with some additional performance.

A skinny tire up front is recommended if you want to keep the handling characteristics of your Bullet intact. A fat tire up front might look cool but will definitely change the handling for the worse. Some see the sacrifice worth it to obtain a certain look but I personally think it is crazy to change anything that would sacrifice the handling characteristics of a Bullet when handling is one of the best attributes this underpowered machine has.
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: edthetermite on January 13, 2012, 02:53:07 am
running a K-70 4 by 19 on the rear and a 3.50 on the front. Very tight fit with the K-70. I personally have not noticed any loss of handling with the wider front tire here in the Ozarks. Once I got the kickstand legs ground down on the curves it was all good. With the 4 by 19 you get more ground clearance and the stand feet don't scrape the pavement in turns.
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Rick O'Shea on January 13, 2012, 02:57:26 am
Where did you find a 4 X 19 K70?  I've only seen the 3.25 & 3.50 X 19. Joe
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Maturin on January 13, 2012, 12:09:15 pm
Joe, there is no 4.00-19 K70. Stay with the stock sizes 3.25 and 3.50, any alteration will do no good.  Furthermore, the K70 is ridicolously cheap in the US, you may get them for about 65USD. Regards
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Rick O'Shea on January 13, 2012, 05:35:46 pm
Stationed in your wonderful country in the 70's near Wiesbaden. Finthen Army Airfield. Loved it over there. Been thinking about these 4.10X19's in the N.C. mountains. Joe
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Rick O'Shea on January 13, 2012, 05:37:24 pm
Joe, there is no 4.00-19 K70. Stay with the stock sizes 3.25 and 3.50, any alteration will do no good.  Furthermore, the K70 is ridicolously cheap in the US, you may get them for about 65USD. Regards
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: The Garbone on January 13, 2012, 05:50:34 pm
Stationed in your wonderful country in the 70's near Wiesbaden. Finthen Army Airfield.

Was born there in 72' as my dad was in the Airforce.  U could be my dady...   ;)
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Rick O'Shea on January 13, 2012, 08:07:58 pm
MEIN PAPA ! says G'bone :o
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: edthetermite on January 14, 2012, 01:47:51 am
Joe, there is no 4.00-19 K70. Stay with the stock sizes 3.25 and 3.50, any alteration will do no good.  Furthermore, the K70 is ridicolously cheap in the US, you may get them for about 65USD. Regards

Maturin,

No K-70 4 x19? ... hmmm....I'll have to call you on that one. I can send you a photo of the sidewall data on the back tire of my RE if you are still doubtful. And you won't get the 4 x 19 K-70 for just 65 bucks.  I wish.
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Rick O'Shea on January 14, 2012, 03:37:12 am
where do you find them?
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Blltrdr on January 14, 2012, 05:10:37 am
where do you find them?

4.00 K70 is made for 18" only.

3.25X19
3.50X19
2 tubes & shipping $138 @ bikebandit
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Rick O'Shea on January 14, 2012, 01:49:26 pm
4.00 K70 is made for 18" only.

3.25X19
3.50X19
2 tubes & shipping $138 @ bikebandit
Thats what I thought
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: edthetermite on January 14, 2012, 03:06:32 pm
You guys sure are hardheaded or from Missouri, maybe a little of both.
Go to this website's Photo Gallery under Modifications and view the two photos of a

 K-70  Dunlop Gold Seal 4 BY NINETEEN inch tire.

They are a tight fit but work. I have thousands of miles on mine.
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Rick O'Shea on January 14, 2012, 03:25:38 pm
Aye God, Ed's right :o, I see them right there on this screen. Sorry Ed for doubting you but I have never seen or heard of a 4X19 K70 until this picture. WHERE DO YOU GET THEM?  Live and learn says Joe. (P.S. Sorry,we can be a little hardheaded down here in South Carolina too)
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: TWinOKC on January 14, 2012, 03:57:20 pm
You guys sure are hardheaded or from Missouri, maybe a little of both.

Now that's funny!

 :)
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: edthetermite on January 14, 2012, 05:55:08 pm
The Dunlop 4 by 19 I have was purchased from a guy in Delaware who is selling off an inventory of new old stock tires from an old Triumph dealership.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-British-Made-Dunlop-K70-Gold-Seal-4-00-x-19-Rear-Tire-Triumph-BSA-Honda-118-/330669172107?hash=item4cfd6b258b&item=330669172107&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr#ht_3110wt_886

They usually go for around a hundred bucks. Not cheap.
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: barenekd on January 14, 2012, 06:08:01 pm
Quote
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-British-Made-Dunlop-K70-Gold-Seal-4-00-x-19-Rear-Tire-Triumph-BSA-Honda-118-/330669172107?hash=item4cfd6b258b&item=330669172107&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr#ht_3110wt_886

That one is a "used NOS". How you can have a NOS (New Old Stock) since it's not new? When did they stop building Dunlops in England? How old is this thing? I would be very leary of it.

Bare
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: Blltrdr on January 14, 2012, 07:41:46 pm
My post states what is available new from Dunlop today. If your contemplating buying a NOS tire then depending on the age of that tire it could be worn out already. Tires harden and lose their traction just from sitting in a warehouse especially if not stored in a place where they are not exposed to sunlight. The consensus is to replace if the age of the tire is 6-7 years old. For those reasons I personally would not buy a NOS tire. Ed I would read the date code on the tire to see how old it is. Also the new version of the K70 made in Japan is constructed using superior materials v.s. the originals made in England.
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: edthetermite on January 15, 2012, 04:02:48 pm
Ed I would read the date code on the tire to see how old it is. Also the new version of the K70 made in Japan is constructed using superior materials v.s. the originals made in England.

Bill,

I don't have a clue how old these NOS tires are. I inspect them for checking/cracking in the sidewalls. I have used many new old stock tires with no problems. A tire warehoused and kept from direct sunlight will hold up for years. Some say the rubber hardens and you can actually get a little more mileage out of them. I have not found that to be the case IMO. I recently put a Russian Uralshina tire on my Ural that I have had for over five years. No problems. I am more concerned with my rear tire selection on the Ural because of the large amounts of sidewall flexing that a sidecar bike subjects a pusher tire to. The RE is ALOT lighter and doesn't strain the tires nearly as much.
The thing I like about the 4 by 19 is the increased ground clearance. I can throttle through these Ozark twisties w/o grinding the centerstand feet.
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: edthetermite on January 15, 2012, 04:07:45 pm
That one is a "used NOS". How you can have a NOS (New Old Stock) since it's not new? When did they stop building Dunlops in England? How old is this thing? I would be very leary of it.

Bare

It's new only in the sense that it hasn't been mounted and ridden before. With the one I got from him a person would be hard pressed to determine it wasn't recently manufactured. I don't know how many more he has. He has set the reserve over a hundred bucks now so I am switching over to the Duro brand, made in Korea.
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: RavenTooth on October 04, 2013, 10:08:28 pm
4.00 K70 is made for 18" only.

3.25X19
3.50X19
2 tubes & shipping $138 @ bikebandit

Would it be weird to but a 3.5x19 both front and weird? Would this mess up handling? Main reason I'm interested in changing my tires is 1) better high speed stability and 2) I do like the look of a thicker tire but don't want to screw things up over it
Title: Re: Dunlop K81 4.10X19
Post by: D the D on October 05, 2013, 03:59:30 am
If there is no date code it is too old, period.  If it is 10 years old it is too old, period.  If it is 5 - 6 years old, start watching it.
My life and skin are worth more than cool or cheap.
The NHTSA will send you to safercar.gov
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/Tires/Tires+Rating/Tire+Aging (http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/Tires/Tires+Rating/Tire+Aging)

"The effects of aging may not be visibly detectable.  Since there is no standard test to assess the serviceability of a tire, even an inspection performed by an expert may not always reveal the extent of tire deterioration."