Triumphrat

AcidKat · 07-13-2007

I have to reshoe my bonnie black. Since I'm low on fundage I was looking at the C6000 BARRACUDA V tires.
Has anyone used these tires? Any opinions?
Anyone know of cheapo tires?

alfacliff · 07-13-2007

my xs650 had a baracuda on the front when I bought it, wore out way faster than the rear. the next baracuda lasted only 2 years on the front. held the road well though.
cliff

PAAS · 07-13-2007

Don't have any experience of Cheng Shin tyres, but even if you're short of cash, I wouldn't be tempted to cut corners on tyres (or brakes). It could end up costing more in the long run. Try and get a good pair of tyres (Metzeler Lasertecs, Pirelli Sport Demons or Dunlop GT501s) for a cheap price, rather than a cheap pair of tyres.

mecscc · 07-13-2007

Doesn't Cheng shin make Maxxis tires? I am told by a indy mech that sells tires that since they have the rep of being a cheap tire (translate: no good) they added the Maxxis line, same tires, and charge more and now sell more Maxxis in the US than Cheng Shin branded tires. It figures. In the US we always assume if we pay more for something it is better and that anything priced reasonably is not. Sometimes that is the case, but often it is not.

Example: is a $15 cotton dress shirt, single needle stitching, made in Honduras really worse than a $45 cotton dress shirt, single needle stitching, made by the same company in Honduras in the same factory, on the same line, but with a fancy NY brand label sewn it? I doubt it.

The only way to know if the Cheng Shin tires are any good is to try them. Cliff says his wore out quicker than he would have liked, so that is helpful info.

Monte

markbvt · 07-13-2007

I've seen Cheng Shins on some old Hondas and whatnot whose owners didn't want to spend money. In every case, the tires struck me as low-quality for reasons that I can't really back up -- just gut feeling. Tread patterns were outdated, rubber seemed harder than it should be, etc.

By contrast, I put a set of Maxxis ProMaxx tires on the '71 Honda I'm rebuilding, and they're way different from the Cheng Shins. Modern tread pattern, sticky rubber, etc. And they're actually cheaper than the Cheng Shins you're looking at.

--mark

[ This message was edited by: markbvt on 2007-07-13 12:57 ]

mecscc · 07-13-2007

Mark: did you get any paper work on the tire to indicate if they are made by Cheng Shin: or is my source just blowing smoke?

Monte

Scrambler900 · 07-13-2007

If these tires are made iin Taiwan, then they are probably OK. But it they are made in mainland China, I would steer clear of them. You know there is currently a massive worldwide recall of (mainland) Chinese produced auto tires going on at this moment.

[ This message was edited by: Scrambler900 on 2007-07-13 14:29 ]

Brooksie · 07-13-2007

Agreed with PAAS. Put your money on tires you know about. The Bridgestones, Metzlers, Avons, Pirellis and Dunlops may be made all over the plantet as well as Cheng Shin, but have more positive feedback. Pirellis for me on the Bonnie and Avons on the Daytona.

EDC64 · 07-13-2007

I just replaced a set of the Cheng Shin Barracudas with a set of Avon Roadriders. The Barracudas were on for 2 years, I had no problems with them. Nothing really good or bad about them. I was buying for price at the time. I buy a new set of tires every two years. Maybe a bit extreme, but that's all between me and the road. I think the Chinese tires have a bad rep from years ago. Yokohama tires are made in China and I believe Toyo tires are a division of Cheng Shin. Maxxis being a performance arm of C.S. is correct. I don't look for pure performance when I buy. More of a sport-touring tire. The Avon's were only a few $'s more. Getting good reviews. If I had to get Barracudas again, I wouldn't mind. My 2 cents.

markbvt · 07-16-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecscc

Mark: did you get any paper work on the tire to indicate if they are made by Cheng Shin: or is my source just blowing smoke?

I've heard the same thing, but can't back it up with any hard evidence. I'm sure a bit of online research would turn up answers, but I don't really feel like spending the time.

At any rate, the Maxxis tires strike me as much higher-quality than the Cheng Shins I've seen in the past. Basically, Cheng Shins strike me as newly-manufactured '60s tires, while the Maxxis ones strike me as moderately-priced modern tires.

I've actually heard pretty good things about Duro tires as well, FWIW. Prices are similar to Cheng Shin/etc, but apparently that's because Duro primarily manufactures tires for better-known companies and puts out its own line of tires at excellent prices on the side. I'm going to try a set of their enduro tires on my Honda XR650 when it's due for new rubber -- saw a set on another bike and they look like excellent quality for the money.

--mark