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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 3, 2018 22:18:06 GMT -5
Common safety sense tells me it's about time to replace my aging Michelin rear tire with painted-on whitewall, and at long last (5 years waiting!) Shinko FINALLY makes a P-rated WHITEWALL in the proper 140/70-12 size to compliment my 120/70-12 front tire.    Thank you SHINKO!
So... after FIVE seasons, I can say farewell to my painted rear whitewall... which was never really practical or attractive... And any of the other three or four riders out there who have been wishing for real high-speed whitewalls for their Kymco Grandvista or Bet & Win 250's can have their wish! I dunno, does ANY other scooter use a 140/70-12 tire?
These are good, road-speed rated tires. I've been running one on my front wheel now for five seasons (replaced last year when dry-rot began to show) and have been very pleased with its performance on all surfaces, wet or dry, up to 80-mph+.
These swell tires are available in many sizes, but until recently, NOT in 140/70-12.So, goodbye painted whitewall, and hello to a real old-school "Vespa-style" street-tread classic! I'll be having my B&M dealer replace the old Michelin as soon as possible, and look forward to finally having FACTORY whitewalls at BOTH ends of "Minnie Mouse"! Again, if you're one of the VERY few guyz or galz (yeah, not many of us... LOL!) out there who have a "Jones" for 1950's style real whitewalls, check out what Shinko has to offer! These are good, affordable tires, and even if mounted on scoots that cannot take advantage of their high-speed rating (like ME; the Mouse tops out about 80) or those riding 125/150's, the higher quality P-rated tires offer markedly improved handling at ANY speed, even around town... And, cost only a little more than the cheaper J-rated Chinese tires. Ride safe!Leo (ridin' old school) in Texas PS: For those who like modern black tires, my old Michelin Power Pure provided a full five seasons of great handling and still exhibits no dry-rot or cracking and only modest wear. A good tire for all around riding! |
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Post by floridagull on Apr 4, 2018 9:08:14 GMT -5
Congratulations! I know this makes you happy...  |
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Post by wheelbender6 on Apr 4, 2018 17:46:44 GMT -5
Shinko "Gets it"!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 4, 2018 23:33:45 GMT -5
Congratulations! I know this makes you happy...
Yeah, but probably not quite as happy as your new 300 makes you... LOL!  I guess I've been pro-whitewalls ever since the 1950's. They just make a whole lot of difference in the general "look" of any ride. Ride safe! Don't bend that sweet new iron! Summer's a comin'! |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 4, 2018 23:49:32 GMT -5
Personally, I totally agree!
However, just how many scoots actually do use that 140/70-12 size? The 12" wheels have mostly been replaced by 13" or larger. I think some of the other Kymco rides use 12" and maybe some other older scoots... Lots of 10" whitewalls on Genuine Buddy and some other lesser seen models... 10" and 11" are more common than 12". Found on some Vespa and other classic scoots. 12" is just a "forgotten" somewhat "oddball" size! 
for whatever reason Shinko finally offered this one, I'm VERY grateful!Wheel and tire appearance is a small thing (though not to Buddy...) but one that probably makes more difference in cosmetics than anything short of paint... Just a simple way to personalize a ride, especially for us old geezers! I didn't get to ride much last year due to health issues, so I'm looking forward to spring and summer... Ride safe!Leo
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Post by flyangler on Apr 5, 2018 8:32:37 GMT -5
Leo, I believe it can fit a Vespa 250/300 GTS.
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Post by cyborg55 on Apr 5, 2018 18:24:33 GMT -5
Shinko has come a long way from the nickname STINKO they acquired early on,,,they make a good solid long lasting tire at a great price too,,kenda also has come along long way but getting back to shinko I run a side brand of theirs (Full Bore) at 7000+ miles no wear on the front and rear little bit less than 1/2 on the rear,,and no weights to balance,,,and I told the shop to spin em to 100,,,no weights necessary ,,,a good solid tire,,and got both delivered with tubes for a tick over a hundred bux,,,not too shabby
as a side note I believe almost all of Vespas lines run 12's now if I'm not mistaken
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 6, 2018 2:19:14 GMT -5
Shinko has come a long way from the nickname STINKO they acquired early on,,,they make a good solid long lasting tire at a great price too,,kenda also has come along long way but getting back to shinko I run a side brand of theirs (Full Bore) at 7000+ miles no wear on the front and rear little bit less than 1/2 on the rear,,and no weights to balance,,,and I told the shop to spin em to 100,,,no weights necessary ,,,a good solid tire,,and got both delivered with tubes for a tick over a hundred bux,,,not too shabby as a side note I believe almost all of Vespas lines run 12's now if I'm not mistaken I do believe Shinko tires are very good values for the money. And one of the very few makers who offer any selection of factory whitewalls.
I've had very good results with my Shinko front (120/70-12. The second one. The original front (nobody noticed including me... Duh...) was NOS but around 10 years old. It was great for two seasons, but then began to dry-rot and split badly. No complaints, just an OLD dried-out tire. the replacement has been on now for the fourth season and is like new. Holds air like crazy too!I went today to my dealer and he ordered the tire. He's getting "big time" now and is also a VESPA dealer in addition to Buddy, Stella SYM and Kymco... Those new Vespas are PRICEY!He's in a high-income neighborhood, which worked against him for a while. Now, he's amazed at the upper-income crowd who pay up gladly for the Vespas! He's selling two $6K Vespas for every $3K Kymco!
Seems Vespas are "the bomb" for 30-something business gals to attend hen-parties in local multi-million dollar homes... And their men (husbands?) to ride to the gourmet wine shops for upscale "beer-runs"...I just haven't lived until seeing one of those new "Red" $10.5K Vespas with full-quill ostrich seat... and $800 plastic trunk... Cheesh! I knew SOMETHING had changed when his parking lot was full of new Beemers and Mercedes cars... One local "enclave" of homes has a welcome sign boasting "custom-homes and properties from $1-Million, to $100-million AND UP"... And lucky me... living in a $3K trailer house just a scant 3 miles away... Ain't this country grand? 
He's getting away from scoots over 300cc. Says they just don't sell well. He's also trending away from the slick little SYM 250 clutch-n'-gears motorcycles. They are neat, but just don't sell. He sells the bejeebers out of the Genuine Buddy 125-175's and the Kymco line from the 300cc on down... And, all sizes of Vespa. They are nice, but c'mon... Some are OVER $10-grand!
Oh well, to each his/her own...  He'd make me a killer deal to trade "Minnie Mouse" on a NOS Kymco 400... Just too big and cumbersome for me nowadays, and still more than I can spend on Social Security... LOL! Besides, the old Grandvista seems "tailor-made" for this old geezer's needs. I'm happy as long as the Mouse remains trouble-free!
Guess I'll hang the venerable old Michelin with its many coats of white paint on the living-room wall for posterity... Ah, maybe not... the missus may veto THAT idea... LOL!  Ride safe!Leo |
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Post by pistonguy on Apr 6, 2018 5:16:13 GMT -5
Gotta Love Colleyville TX, that whole Southlake, Keller, Westlake, Roanoke, Trophy club area is like the new California only without the price tag.
Looks like we sold out to soon in 09, the place is in the Southwest corner of Milton and Savoy off Tennyson Pkwy and thats on the left going south on 26.. if ya wanna check it out, didn't even bring $500,000.
I miss it but the traffic. holly schmolly, 114, Southlake blvd and 377 were all two lane roads when I moved out there. Now there some kinda toll road on 114, kinda confusing..
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 6, 2018 21:14:10 GMT -5
Gotta Love Colleyville TX, that whole Southlake, Keller, Westlake, Roanoke, Trophy club area is like the new California only without the price tag. Looks like we sold out to soon in 09, the place is in the Southwest corner of Milton and Savoy off Tennyson Pkwy and thats on the left going south on 26.. if ya wanna check it out, didn't even bring $500,000. I miss it but the traffic. holly schmolly, 114, Southlake blvd and 377 were all two lane roads when I moved out there. Now there some kinda toll road on 114, kinda confusing.. It IS confusing. In the last few years, most of the main highways have been torn up, re-routed and I don't even recognize where I am in the Metroplex... and the signage SUCKS! Directs you all around numerous exits and access roads, like a mouse in a maze. The funniest thing is all these modern electronic gurus with their positioning systems are getting directed into the river... parking lots, dead-end streets... the technology doesn't keep up with the monthly changes in the roads... LOL!
And, yeah, the DOT is putting toll roads in the middle of existing highways (requiring the original roads to be torn up and completely re-done...). Cheesh! It really IS a nice area... But I'm afraid the prices ARE getting into the California "rarified atmosphere". Affordable areas don't stay affordable all that long these days... The majority of 2 and 4-lane surface streets around here have been "improved" with limited-access entrances and exits all over. Speeds are ridiculous, with little enforcement... That is the main reason I traded the old 150 on a 250. Still not enough speed for really safe highway cruising, but if careful, I can still sneak onto the freeway and live in the slow lane. And at least I can keep up with the 65-70-mph traffic on the 40-45 limit streets...Even local hwy. 26 "Colleyville Blvd." where my dealer, Moxie Scooters resides WAS a sleepy 4-lane 35-mph surface street last year. Now, I find it's all being torn up and many lanes added, cement divider so no left turns into businesses (oh, yeah, they LOVE that...). The sleepy little roads I used to enjoy cruising on even with the old 150 are now like Boston, or LA... WAY too many cars, too many lead-footed drivers continually texting... Not so much fun anymore. I suppose it's "progress" but I suspect it's more about kickbacks and laundering a boat-load of drug money. OK, I'm finally old enough to look where something's GOING, not where it appears to BE... Ride safe!Leo |
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Post by pistonguy on Apr 7, 2018 22:11:15 GMT -5
Yup I didn't have a Scooter when I lived there but always a full size bike, my rides were head north country roads up to Denton/Decator area or even better west out around Eagle Mountain lake. nice asphalt with some twisties. Do brunch over at the marina on the lake.
Good thing I stayed home from working the Cup race and visiting friends at the Speedway this weekend, 31 degrees there today. screw that even with the accommodations I have..
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