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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 10, 2013 2:37:44 GMT -5
Tire question...
On my "new" used Kymco Grand Vista 250, both tires are new. However, at the prompting of the replies to my original post, I was cautioned to check the speed-rating of the tires. Both tires are "J" rated Kenda "Performance" tires, "load-range B" which is plenty of load, but "J" is speed-rated at only 62 mph. I plan to do some freeway trips of 40 miles or so, and need to cruise at 70 mph just to stay with the "slow lane" traffic. It seems to me, that would NOT be a good idea on these tires, ESPECIALLY at the 100-degree+ weather we have all summer.
The front tire is 120/70-12 and the rear tire is 140/70-12. The Grand Vista and Bet & Win 250's both use these somewhat unusual 12" wheel/tire combinations. I checked the web, and, a couple of performance parts sites "recommend for SAFETY and PERFORMANCE" on the Grand Vista, and Bet & Win, the exact same Kenda "performance" tires that are currently on my scoot.
Somehow, THAT does NOT pass my smell-test... LOL!
I've messaged a few Grand Vista owners, and they swear by these J-rated Kenda tires as being fine, and they supposedly are factory-original replacement. I just don't buy "touring" on J-rated tires. The front size (120/70-12) is fairly common, but the rear (140/70-12) is a little different.
Any advice is most welcome.
Thanks!
Leo in Texas
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Post by spandi on Oct 10, 2013 3:12:21 GMT -5
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Post by SylvreKat on Oct 10, 2013 5:48:49 GMT -5
Leo, have you asked your dealer about them? See if they can get highway-rated tires, and swap out for a discount since yours are basically new. Well, at least 200 miles less new than when they sold Texas Mouse to you.  You said how upright folks they are. So they should be willing to work with you here. >'Kat |
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Post by scootnwinn on Oct 10, 2013 11:26:01 GMT -5
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Post by ltdhpp on Oct 10, 2013 11:53:13 GMT -5
You could put a 130/70/12 on the rear, it would be fine.
My 150-on-250 frame has a 120/70/12 rear and it still looks pretty beefy.
It that the original size for your front?? I'd check your scooter info plate for OE tire size, most big boy scooters have a taller, skinnier front tire.
I put Avon Viper Stryke's on my 150 and on the front of the Reflex. Also lots of Reflex guys run them, an I haven't heard anything bad about them. I don't have much to compare them too, but they are worlds better than the knobby dual-sport tires that came on my 150!!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 10, 2013 12:35:53 GMT -5
Thanks one-and-all!
I'll get with the dealer. He is so accommodating, I'm certain he'll give me a deal on swapping-out. I fully agree with not running any tires above their rated speeds. I'm used to the 150 that wouldn't surpass the "J" speed rating, and since both tires on the Kymco are new, it didn't register that they wouldn't be up to the performance of the scoot. The prevailing attitude is basically "if they're the right size, it's all good..." We all know better than that.
The "J" tires would be fine for 99% of my riding, but... That 1% traveling on the freeway would be for at least 35 miles non-stop at 70 mph+ in 100-degree weather. THAT is a recipe for disaster...
Thanks for the help! The tire links you provided offer plenty of choices.
Leo in Texas
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Post by spandi on Oct 10, 2013 12:47:00 GMT -5
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 10, 2013 12:51:27 GMT -5
You could put a 130/70/12 on the rear, it would be fine. My 150-on-250 frame has a 120/70/12 rear and it still looks pretty beefy. It that the original size for your front?? I'd check your scooter info plate for OE tire size, most big boy scooters have a taller, skinnier front tire. I put Avon Viper Stryke's on my 150 and on the front of the Reflex. Also lots of Reflex guys run them, an I haven't heard anything bad about them. I don't have much to compare them too, but they are worlds better than the knobby dual-sport tires that came on my 150!! And, the front fender is SO closely fitted that you can't use a larger tire (I wish I could...). And, the top speed is only about a true 76-78 mph. The smaller tire would cut another mile-per-hour or two off that, and I need all the highway speed I can get for the few times I have to use the freeway. Local freeway drivers around here are predatory ANIMALS!
The links in replies show me there are numerous highway-rated 140/70-12 tires out there, so I can stick with the OEM size. I simply hadn't found them in a quick search. Thanks for the advice though, I realize some unconventional size tires are hard to find, and the next-closest size must be substituted. Ride safe! Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 10, 2013 13:00:45 GMT -5
VERY cool! I used short, straight stainless ones on the old Xingyue. Bullet-proof, but they were hard to "air-up". Those anodized angled ones would have been perfect! The rims on my Kymco have the valves at an angle, so straight ones are fine on it. The stems were replaced with the new tires, and are good quality "push-through" automotive ones (although I prefer metal ones like your link). The original Chinese stems on the low-buck scooters are truly dangerous. The originals on my old 150 had brass stubs, simply pushed into dry-rotted rubber stems. I was able to pull them out with my fingers, and break the rubber parts out of the rim with my fingers... Cheesh!Thanks for the link! When I replace the tires, I will probably use some like those. Leo
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Post by scooter12 on Oct 10, 2013 22:23:26 GMT -5
If memory serves me, a J rated tire is good at max speed of 62 mph, but that the tire was tested at 100 mph and the producers of tires rate the best speed rating for a particular tire. So on a J tire, you are advised to ride at a max speed of 62 mph but like on my Bali 250, I hit speeds of 75 mph moving down hill. It can do higher speeds than 62 mph for spurts. This also means you can sustain a speed of 62 mph for a long distance. Doing long distance travel at 70 mph on a J rated tire is not advised.
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Post by scooter12 on Oct 10, 2013 22:57:03 GMT -5
Something else, I moved from central Missouri to Quincy IL.. A 120 mile trip on my scooter. Made the trip fine.. There were 70 mph highways, 65 mph highways, 60 mph highways, and 55 mph highways. Because the speed limit is 70 mph doesn't mean you must travel 70 mph.. You can move at 60 mph and be fine. Cars will pass you, but 60 mph is still fast enough to maintain your lane. In most States, 70 mph is Interstate speed, but they have a low speed too. Missouri is 40 mph.. I would not recommending you travel 40 mph on the Interstate. I would recommend you travel 60 to 65 mph and if you get caught in a jam, well you still have a little speed to get out of it. Use your mirrors to monitor traffic behind you and just stay at a steady speed. The best highways to travel are 4 lane highways, because cars can pass safely, most are divided by guard rails for your protection of oncoming traffic, lets you concentrate on what is going on behind you. The main thing is you do not have to travel at 70 mph to ride safely on the freeway. Most 250cc scooters will not maintain a speed of 70 mph up hill.. I think my wife's Rebel 250 will barely go a tad faster than my Bali 250. Mine is quicker at take off and hers is about 5 mph more at top end.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 11, 2013 1:01:05 GMT -5
Something else, I moved from central Missouri to Quincy IL.. A 120 mile trip on my scooter. Made the trip fine.. There were 70 mph highways, 65 mph highways, 60 mph highways, and 55 mph highways. Because the speed limit is 70 mph doesn't mean you must travel 70 mph.. You can move at 60 mph and be fine. Cars will pass you, but 60 mph is still fast enough to maintain your lane. In most States, 70 mph is Interstate speed, but they have a low speed too. Missouri is 40 mph.. I would not recommending you travel 40 mph on the Interstate. I would recommend you travel 60 to 65 mph and if you get caught in a jam, well you still have a little speed to get out of it. Use your mirrors to monitor traffic behind you and just stay at a steady speed. The best highways to travel are 4 lane highways, because cars can pass safely, most are divided by guard rails for your protection of oncoming traffic, lets you concentrate on what is going on behind you. The main thing is you do not have to travel at 70 mph to ride safely on the freeway. Most 250cc scooters will not maintain a speed of 70 mph up hill.. I think my wife's Rebel 250 will barely go a tad faster than my Bali 250. Mine is quicker at take off and hers is about 5 mph more at top end. But my freeway driving around here is downright nasty. Between Dallas and Fort Worth (where I need to go to the VA center) the roads are mostly 6-lane or more, and there is indeed a max speed-limit of 70, but most is 55 and 65. Even in the 55 stretches, the slow right lane runs 70+. The left lanes average  to 100+++. You absolutely MUST run 70 or get run over. And if you DO get run over, the authorities are NOT on your side. 2-wheelers are considered "in-season" all year long. Definitely the "Easy Rider syndrome" in full-bloom... As a test, I tried that trip in my car without exceeding 65. I managed, but I had cars passing me on the shoulder, drivers throwing beer bottles at me, etc. You can imagine the same drive on a 2-wheeler... LO not so L... I found this Kymco will run 70 (75 indicated) OK (THAT was before I checked the speed-rating on the tires...). It tops out just about a true 80 but baring a strong headwind, 70 for a cruise seems OK. But I would not push the "J" rated, 62 mph tires like that. I think the 92 mph rated tires are definitely in order. They are only a little more expensive than the "J" tires anyway, and good "life-insurance"... Those, and the licensed .45 in my belt. Like the travel ads used to say: "TEXAS... It's a WHOLE 'NUTHER COUNTRY..." Ride safe, and keep up!Leo in Texas |
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Post by spandi on Oct 11, 2013 1:37:02 GMT -5
People say the driving around the L.A. area is crazy, but it's not THAT crazy! (I think me and my scoot will stay in the "People's Republik" for the time being.)  |
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Post by JerryScript on Oct 11, 2013 2:08:02 GMT -5
It's not just in the DFW area, Austin is that way, or at least it was 30 years ago when I was learning to drive. I don't care what you drive, if you don't have it WOT or floored when getting on Loop 1 in Austin, you will run into problems, or they will run into you! And don't even get me started on the roller coaster that I-35 takes through the middle of the city, there is no need to go to 6-Flags after driving on the lower I-35! I've always joked that when you learn to drive in Austin, you don't yield the right of way, you take it!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 11, 2013 11:00:45 GMT -5
JerryScript, Spandi,
Right on the money... LOL! I've ridden in L.A. and it's similar, but I didn't see the lethal road-rage I see here. Yeah, I-35 downtown is a zoo. Largely because one out of 3 vehicles around you are stolen, and being driven by punks with no licenses. That's a figure from the Texas DPS. I would think south-central Los Angeles would now be about the same. And the street-gangs often require newbies to shoot someone as part of their "initiation" and the easiest target is a hapless driver in the right lane. You truly MUST drive "heads-up" downtown, like a fighter-pilot on a mission over enemy territory... Constantly scanning right, left and behind, one hand on the wheel and one on your weapon. I don't ride the scooter there.
The SPEED though is something else around the "Six-Flags" area. I-30 in Arlington officially has the highest level of speeding in the country. Speed limit is 65 if I recall, and the AVERAGE speed in 2009, according to the TX DPS was 94 mph. My Honda car will actually do a verified 137 mph, and, on particularly frisky days, I've opened her up to see just HOW fast some of these bozos REALLY drive. I held 135 in the inner fast lane for several miles, passing about half of the "slow" traffic, BUT being passed by at least 20% of the left lanes of traffic. Mercedes, BMW, Asian sports sedans and (ESPECIALLY) Jeep SUV's were blowing by me on both sides at 140-160 mph. DANG! Those Jeeps are FAST! No wonder the kids steal them. The police Crown Vics have NO chance to keep up, let alone CATCH them.
And forget the crotch-rocket boyz... They regularly "thread the needle" there at 200-225 mph+++ (often on the back wheel only!). It is NOT for the faint-hearted.
Needless to say, there is little law-enforcement along I-30 in Arlington.
Yup... TEXAS: It's a "WHOLE 'NUTHER COUNTRY".
Heads-up, y'all!
Leo (tryin' fer an honest 70 in the slow lane) in Texas
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mph.) Which I hope is faster than you'll ever have to take your "Texas Mouse" As I have said before, you're something of a "Character" (and I mean that in the best possible way) So for selfish reasons (the kick I get from reading your posts) I want you around for a Long, Long, Long, Long time. And so in the hope of pointing you in the right direction,..... an example of what I put on my scoot, from "fly-by-night" companies like Pirelli and Avon. 
to 100+++. You absolutely MUST run 70 or get run over. And if you DO get run over, the authorities are NOT on your side. 2-wheelers are considered "in-season" all year long. Definitely the "Easy Rider syndrome" in full-bloom... As a test, I tried that trip in my car without exceeding 65. I managed, but I had cars passing me on the shoulder, drivers throwing beer bottles at me, etc. You can imagine the same drive on a 2-wheeler... LO not so L...
