Honda Magna (VF750C/CD, 94-)

(updated September 99)

Rim Stock Size Original Tyre
Front 3.00 x 17 120/80-17 Dunlop K555F
Rear 3.50 x 15 150/80-15 Dunlop K555

Manufacturers' Recommendations

Manufacturer Front size Rear size
Avon
(no data)
Bridgestone
(no data)
Dunlop K555F (OE) 120/80-17 K555 (OE) 150/80-15
K555F (OE) 120/80-17 K491 Elite II MV85HB15
Metzeler Marathon ML2 120/80H17 Marathon ML2 Plus 140/80HB15
Michelin
(no data)
Pirelli
No Fitment

Martyn's Opinion

General Comments

This used to be one of the hardest bikes to find a satisfactory tyre combination.  The choice of 80-series tyres with 17" and 15" rims makes it almost impossible to find an aftermarket combination in the correct sizes.  This is rather strange, since the Magna is a modern bike that sells well, but so it goes.  Some playing about with sizes and mixing manufacturers does, however, has in the past enabled some quite decent combinations.

The Best Selection

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Metzeler ME-880 Marathon 120/80H-17 $114
Rear Metzeler ME-880 Marathon 150/80HB15 $136

Fortunately, now Metzeler has just come out with the ME-880 Marathons, and moreover made them available in the right size.  This tyre might just be as big an advance over the ME-88's as the ME-Z4's are over the ME-Z1/Z2 combination.  Anyway, there's no doubt that this is the right selection for this bike.  It should last well, perform well, and it has the typical Metzeler neutral profile that inspires confidence.

A Tight Budget

Brand Model Size MAW
Front IRC Wildflare WF-920 120/80H-17 $73
Rear IRC Wildflare WF-920 150/80H-15 $88

There's no question that the Kenda rear is the way to save money and have a decent set of tyres.   The trick then is to find an inexpensive tyre for the front, and that's a difficult matter because of availability.  Now you'll probably be able to slide the rear around, but the Kenda is fun and predictable in those circumstances, and it's excellent value for money.  Combine that with a better front, like the inexpensive IRC Wildflare, and you have a really cheap set of rubber.

Still, that's not the selection I've put here.  Admittedly, fitting the Wildflares front and rear costs an extra $30 over putting the Kenda on the back, but I think it's worth it if you can afford it.  The benefits of a stock-sized tyre at both ends to me would outweigh the extra dollars -- although $30 is a lot.

The Wildflare WF-920 is a new tyre.  Originally designed just for the Suzuki Marauder, the line has been expanded to include other modern power cruisers, like the Magna.  IRC produces pretty decent tyres, good value for the money, and this pair looks very promising for the Magna.

Martyn's Choice

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Metzeler ME-880 Marathon 120/80H-17 $114
Rear Metzeler ME-880 Marathon 150/80HB15 $136

This one's a no-brainer.  Metzeler's new ME-880 Marathon is just the right tyre for this bike.


The Full List

(from MAW and manufacturer web pages)

Exact matched pairs

Brand Front size MAW Rear size MAW
IRC Wildflare WF-920 120/80H-17 $73 Wildflare WF-920 150/80H-15 $88
Metzeler ME-880 Marathon 120/80H-17 $114 ME-880 Marathon 150/80HB15 $136

Other Tolerable pairs

So having exhausted the two stock combinations, we can look further afield.  That basically means looking at short fronts, or a soft or tall rear, or other odd matches.  A 70-series on the front will quicken the steering and reduce ground clearance slightly, but the Magna has a lazy enough geometry not to become twitchy, and for a cruiser has surprisingly large ground clearance anyway.
 
Brand Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Bridgestone BT35 Sports Mileage 120/70H-17 short SE11 140/90H-15 $105 soft
BT45 Sports Mileage 120/70H-17 $84 short SE11 140/90H-15 $104 soft
BT35 Sports Mileage 120/70H-17 short SE27 MV85H-15 tall
BT45 Sports Mileage 120/70H-17 $106 short SE27 MV85H-15 tall
Continental Sport 2000 120/70V-17 $76 short TKH-24 140/90H-15 $61 soft
Dunlop K177 Touring 120/80HB17 exact K627 140/90H-15 $91 soft
K177 Touring 120/80HB17 exact K491 Elite II Touring 140/90HB15 
MV85HB15
$81 
$102
soft 
tall
Metzeler ME-33 Laser 120/70V-17 $90 short ME-88 Marathon 150/80VB15 $121 exact
ME-33 Laser 120/70V-17 $90 short ME-77 140/90H-15 $98 soft
ML2 120/80H-17 $97 exact ME-88 Marathon 150/80VB15 $121 exact
Michelin Macadam 50 120/70V-17 $106 short Tarmac (old) 140/90H-15 $85 soft
Pirelli Match MT09 120/70VB17 $96 short Route 66 MT66 140/90H-15 $102 soft

Listing by Manufacturer

Avon

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
AV27 120/70ZR17 $131 short
Azaro AV35 120/70ZR17 $107 short
Roadrunner AM21 140/90H-15 $130 soft

Bridgestone

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
BT35 Sports Mileage 120/70H-17 short
BT45 Sports Mileage 120/70H-17 $84 short
BT50 Sports Perform. 120/70ZR17 $89 short
BT54 Sports Touring 120/70ZR17 $102 short
BT56 Ultra Sports Perf 120/70ZR17 short
BT56SS Extreme Sp/Perf 120/70ZR17 $94 short
BT57 Sports Perform. 120/70ZR17 $113 short
BT92 Sports Mileage 120/70HR17 $65 short
SE11 140/90H-15 $104 soft
SE27 MV85H-15 tall

Continental

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Blitz TKH-24 140/90H-15 $61 soft
Milestone CM2 140/90H-15 $92 soft
Sport 2000 120/70V-17 $76 short
Sport 2000 radial 120/70ZR17 short

Dunlop

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Cruisemax 140/90--15 $101 soft
D204 Sportmax II ZR 120/70ZR17 short
D205 Sport/Touring 120/70ZR17 $93 short
D207 Sportmax 120/70ZR17 $111 short
K177 Touring 120/80HB17 exact K627 140/90H-15 $91 soft
K455 Radial 120/70VR17 short
K491 Elite II Touring 140/90HB15 $81 soft
K491 Elite II Touring MV85HB15 $102 tall
K510 120/70VR17 $98 short

IRC

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Durotour RS-310 140/90H-15 $59 soft
Road Winner RW-010 140/90HX15 soft
Wildflare WF-920 120/80H-17 $73 exact Wildflare WF-920 150/80H-15 $88 exact

Kenda

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
K657 Sport Challenger 140/90H-15 $59 soft

Metzeler

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
ME-33 Laser 120/70V-17 $90 short ME-88 Marathon 150/80VB15 $121 exact
ME-77 140/90H-15 $98 soft
ME-77 140/90S-15T soft
ME-880 Marathon 120/80H-17 $114 exact ME-880 Marathon 150/80HB15 $136 exact
ME-Z2 130/80-R17 wide
ME-Z3 120/70ZR17 $118 short
ME-Z4 120/70ZR17 $115 short
ML2 120/80H-17 $97 exact
ML2 120/80V-17 exact

Michelin

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Hi-Sport TX15 120/70ZR17 $150 short
Macadam 50 120/70V-17 $106 short
Macadam 90X 120/70ZR17 $88 short
Tarmac (old) 140/90H-15 $85 soft

Pirelli

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Dragon GT MTR03 120/70ZR17 $101 short
Dragon GTS MTR23 120/70ZR17 $106 short
Dragon HR MTR01 120/70ZR17 short
Dragon MTR01 120/70ZR17 $112 short
Match MT09 120/70VB17 $96 short
Route 66 MT66 140/90H-15 $102 soft

Key:

Exact Precisely matches original spec
Excellent Precisely matches a recommended alternate
Good An exact or alternate in a different sizing system
Short Exact or excellent width, lower profile.  Consider these both ends to lower the bike
Soft Similar diameter by using a taller profile and narrower width; used on the rear only
Tall Taller profile, stock width; similar in effect to "soft", but for the front only
Wide Same profile, wider tyre.  This MAY NOT FIT your rim.  BE CAREFUL!!!