Classic tyres - at SIP Scootershop
These all-season tyres make the look of a classic car perfect! The classic honeycomb tread not only has a nostalgic look, but definitely also a good grip. These profiles usually have a long history or are based on it. The stars here are the MICHELIN S83, the CONTINENTAL Classic, the PIRELLI SC30 and the SIP Classic, which is unique in the segment with its approval for speeds up to 150 km/h.
What size Classic tyres do I need?
The tyre size required for the vehicle is entered in the vehicle documents. There you will find information on tyre width, rim diameter and speed index. Of course, you can also read the tyre mounted on the scooter from its sidewall.
Special features in the world of scooter tyres
Complete wheelsThe tyre change becomes plug & play. The SIP complete wheels are pre-mounted tyres on rims. They are available with SIP steel or SIP tubeless rims for Vespa or Lambretta scooters. The tyres are ready to ride and are also perfect as spare wheels.
Tyre fitting service: Some customers want to combine other tyres and rims beyond our complete wheels. We are happy to do this work, provided the combinations fit together.
What does the tyre labelling on Klassik tyres mean?
Example: 3 .50-10 59J (by inch designation)
3.50 Tyre width in inches (1 inch = 25.4mm)
10 Rim diameter in inches
59 Load index
J Speed index
Example: 90'90-10 59J (according to current designation)
90 Tyre width in mm
90 Percentage ratio of tyre width to cross-section
10Rim diameter in inches
59 Load index
J Speed index
What do the additional indications on the sidewalls of the classic tyres mean?
Dot number: The last 4 digits indicate the production date. So, for example, 4503 means 45KWin2003
TL: Tubeless indicates use without a tube. However, this type of tyre can be used with an inner tube without any problems.
TT: This specifically indicates the use of an inner tube!
R, rf, XL or extra load: Reinforced refers to tyres with reinforced carcasses and thus increased load capacity.
What does the load and speed index mean?
The load index (also load index, load index or LI value) indicates the maximum load a tyre may be subjected to. The speed index (also speed index, speed category, speed class, SI value or GSY) indicates the maximum permissible speed of a tyre. The load index and speed index can be found on the side of the tyre.
Speed index | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S |
V (km/h) | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 | 130 | 140 | 150 | 160 | 170 | 180 |
Table part 1
Load index | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 |
Load per tyre (kg) | 136 | 140 | 145 | 150 | 155 | 160 | 165 | 170 | 175 | 180 |
Table Part 2
Load Index | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 |
Load per tyre (kg) | 185 | 190 | 195 | 200 | 206 | 112 | 218 | 224 | 230 |
Example: A tyre marked 120/70-12 51L has a load capacity of 195 kg at a maximum speed of 120 km/h. If the speed increases to 150 km/h, the load capacity of the tyre is reduced by 75 %, i.e. 146 kg.
If the speed is increased to 150 km/h, the load capacity of the tyre is reduced to 75 %, in our case to 146 kg.
What manufacturers are there for classic tyres?
From the abundance of manufacturers and brands, we have built up a range which, in our opinion, combines the best manufacturers, the most sizes and the widest range of use. The manufacturers are deliberately not the cheapest noname brands, but all companies whose decades of scooter and motorbike experience come into play in the development of scooter tyres:
SIP: Our house tyres are manufactured for us by well-known tyre manufacturers. The SIP Performance tyres as classic tyres are approved for speeds of up to 150 km/h. A must for tuners and unique among classic tyres.
CONTINENTALThe German traditional manufacturer provides a price-performance ratio for scooter tyres of all models and sizes that is hard to beat. Its classic tyres (also available as whitewall tyres), the K62 are among the most popular models.
HEIDENAUMade in Germany is the name of the game at Reifenwerke HEIDENAU! They have the highest standards of production and quality. Due to the wide range of sizes and classes, Heidenau tyres are probably the most widely represented in the scooter sector.
MICHELINMICHELIN has a long history in scooter tyres. The S83 is the classic tyre par excellence.
MITASThe Slovenian tyre manufacturer MITAS is one of the leading manufacturers of motorbike and scooter tyres in Europe and has been selling tyres worldwide with great success for almost 100 years. Even whitewall tyres come off the production line there.
PIRELLIAs early as 1872, Battista Pirelli founded the PIRELLI brand, which is still one of the leading tyre brands worldwide. With the SC30 scooter tyre as original equipment on various Vespa models, PIRELLI established itself in the scooter sector. PIRELLI is one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world.
KENDAKENDA was founded in 1962 as a bicycle tyre manufacturer. As a leading original equipment manufacturer for scooter manufacturers such as Peugeot and Kymco, KENDA tyres are produced under very high quality standards.
DUNLOP: One of the largest tyre manufacturers for over 120 years. Through constant research and new technologies, DUNLOP is one of the most successful manufacturers in the two-wheeler sector. The TT series has been convincing on the racetrack for many years and can also be used sportily on the road.
VEE RUBBER: Since 1977, the Thai tyre company VEE RUBBER has been producing tyres for scooters, bicycles and motorbikes. Especially for 8" sc ooters, VEE RUBBER has some nice tyres in its range.
Safety first: what is the minimum tread depth for classic tyres?
According to the law, the tyre tread depth must be at least 1.6 mm, otherwise the tyre must be replaced. However, a tread depth of at least 1 mm is sufficient for bicycles with auxiliary motors, mopeds and light motorbikes. To make this easier to see, some tread grooves have small protrusions, the so-called TWIs = tread wear indicators. These indicate the remaining tread depth, which can vary depending on the manufacturer. A scooter rider who rides with less than 1.6 mm tread depth has fallen below the legal limit (StVZO §36: Tyres and treads, Article 2) and must expect a fine and points in the central traffic register.
If the tread depth is low, the tyre's grip decreases significantly in wet conditions. The tyres can no longer displace the water film. They lose contact with the road, and the vehicle can no longer be steered and braked. Therefore, do not wear tyres down to the legal minimum tread depth. Depending on the width of the tyres, replace them at the latest at 2 to 2.5 mm, winter tyres already at about 4 mm remaining tread depth.
More information about tyres can be found in our Tyre Technology Blog.