160/60x16 Rear tyres

[silverfox]

Ok, for a while they made them in "batches" so you could still get them as long as you waited.
For a while they were "made in Spain" instead of France and you could still get them as long as you waited.
Now, my local tyre dealer AND Michelin distributor are saying " sorry they don't make them anymore"

Question, are they still being made?

Question, Anyone tried Pirelli sport demon 150/80x16?


Must say, I'm getting tired of Michelin's attitude.

[Skins]

That Pirelli might be a tight fit in the swingarm, but could be worth a try.

I've been wondering whether it might be possible for us as a group to approach Michelin about supply.

[Desmo_Demon]

I've been wondering whether it might be possible for us as a group to approach Michelin about supply.

I'd love to see Pirelli offer a Diablo Strada tire for the Paso.....I'm a huge Pirelli tire fan, though. Been running those on the Ducatis for 7+ years.


Edit - For fun, I figured I'd email Pirelli to see what they had to say about tires for the Paso....here is their response....

I am sorry to say that the Ducati Paso tires will never be produced. The simple reason is as the very old Paso ages each year the less they are ridden.

I do believe that Michelin is still making the A/M59X sizes for the bike or you could always change the bike to use 17"wheels

[Skins]

OK. Well, it seems we need to approach Michelin France and ask them to advise us about supply. We certainly need more tyres in New Zealand.

I thought perhaps Jon Slocum, as President of the New York Ducati Owners, would be a good person to write to Michelin in France and let them know that there are probably more than one thousand Paso 750 owners around the world, based on our site membership, who either need tyres now or will do very soon.

[redpaso]

Don't forget us 906 owners as well & there are the 851 tricolor, 900ss & even some 750f1's from the same era. surely we make up enough to warrant a run of these each year or so. Perhaps we should contact like groups for these bikes & put forward a united case. The more using this tyre the more likely to remain in production & we should show Michelin that there are plenty of us out there.

Maybe we need to ride more to justify them making the rubber in our size, I will gladly do my best to use mine more often if rubber is guarranteed. Although I must admit I have NEVER had any trouble getting them in overnight from my local (Yamaha) dealer

[silverfox]

Sorry, stuffed that up - here goes......



[/quote]I have NEVER had any trouble getting them in overnight from my local (Yamaha) dealer


Redpaso, does your local dealer think they are still available?

[Desmo_Demon]

Don't forget us 906 owners as well & there are the 851 tricolor, 900ss & even some 750f1's from the same era. surely we make up enough to warrant a run of these each year or so.

I forgot to mention those in my original email to Pirelli. I'll have to respond and add those bikes. What are all the motorcycles that use this size? I'm thinking...

1) Paso 750
2) Paso 906
3) early 851
4) Sport 750
5) 750F1
6) Bimota DB1 (is this correct?)

Are there any others?

Maybe we need to ride more to justify them making the rubber in our size, I will gladly do my best to use mine more often if rubber is guarranteed.

Once I get my Paso back together and running correctly, I'll plan on using it (with my Harley) as my daily commuter. It will be guaranteed at least 4000 miles a year. I figure that will be at least one set of tires every two years?

[Finnpaso]

Remembering, that there was also some 1000cc honda from same age, what use 16" samekind tire....

[redpaso]

... What are all the motorcycles that use this size? I'm thinking...

1) Paso 750
2) Paso 906
3) early 851
4) Sport 750
5) 750F1
6) Bimota DB1 (is this correct?)

Are there any others?

That is all I can recall form our era that ran them unsure of other makes of bike (there are bikes other than Ducati???)

It may be worth checking production numbers on all of these & then halve that number to get an idea of the number of bikes that may still seek these tyres. From Memory there is an Ian Falloon book that details all this info. The stronger case we put to Michelin the more likely they are to keep some sort of production run going.

I will check with my local Yamaha dealer today & see how available they feel they are likely to remain

[redpaso]

Spoke to my local Yamaha dealer today where I have purchased my last 3 or 4 sets of Michelins for the Paso, they checked availability & can get me these tyres from teh Distributor (Wayne Gardner Enterprises) over night if I need them. They showed me the latest WGE catalogue (2 weeks old) & they are listed there ( a whole colour page with pictures & everything). They actually stated they are probably easier to get than many of the Pilot series as there is greater demand for the Pilots & they can be out of stock. This may mean theat WGE has a huge stock & it is not a problem into the forseeable future. The Bike shop said they will get in touch with WGE & seek confirmation on these rumours, as far as they can tell I am the only person around these parts with a desire for the A59/M59's & there is no problem getting hold of them.

[mike]

I received an official email from Michelin stating that the sizes for Pasos are no longer being produced.
We are high-and-dry.

[Finnpaso]

If so, then very hard times are coming to Paso owners. Luckily i have new set of 16" tires in my 750 Paso and i have it only for some sunday drives, maybe 2-3 times/summer. And i have near all 17" stuff ready for modification, if needeed to do it... Myabe have to open "17" coneversion discussion" section to here to get all that stuff to same place

[mike]

I pleaded with them but they said it simply did not make 'business sense' to produce tires that were selling around 100 sets per year.

Chalk up another reason I boycott Michelin.

[jcslocum]

You can't hate them for making a sound business decision.

I will write to them too as it seems there is always a couple of these stories floating about. If this is true, then we really need to compile a definitive "How To" in the FAQ on how to make the change to 17: wheels.

Jon

[persempre907]

If this is true, then we really need to compile a definitive "How To" in the FAQ on how to make the change to 17: wheels.

I hope that will not happen, I would like in the future have also a Paso 750/906 besides my 907.

No matter, I also guess the 16" wheels could came back. Many scooters already fit 16" wheels and the MotoGP bikes (and the Ducati Desmosedici RR too) fit 16" wheels.

I trust in the future of the 16".

Ciao