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Hi Vespisti,

I recently purchased Shinko white wall tires for my 2016 GTS 300, but I'm now seeking opinions on them after already making the purchase. I would appreciate hearing about your experiences with these tires, whether positive or negative, and if you have any preferred models or brands. I'm open to trying something different in the future.

Thank you for your help!
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I don't have a very high opinion of Shinko tires for the GTS, whitewall or blackwall. High quality whitewall scooter tires are hard to obtain in the US. Continental makes some good quality whitewalls but it would be necessary to obtain them from a European source if you could find them. I would be tempted to paint whitewalls on a good scooter tire such as the Michelin CG2 or the Pirelli Angel if I had to have the appearance of whitewalls.
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Some people pooh-pooh Shinkos because they're typically cheaper than the Euro brands, but I've put them on my scooters and motorcycles for years without complaint.

I've used Shinko whitewalls on two different Vespas-a GTS 300 and a GT 200. I've also used Shinko blackwalls with sport patterns on my Majesties and Silver Wing. They're fine tires. Are they super grippy or super plush? No. But they look good and get the job done.

The last set of Continental Conti Scoots I bought were also made in South Korea.

Shinko alone makes over 200,000 motorcycle tires a month for distribution worldwide.
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I have a set of Shinko whitewalls mounted to my '20 GTS300, and like their appearance on my blue Vespa, but if you ride your Vespa on rain-grooved roadways, beware, they will have your scooter squirming as if it has two hinges between the wheels, VERY disconcerting to say the least, downright scary, in fact.

Their general performance is otherwise satisfactory, but the rear tire and wheel will need to be cleaned almost every time the scooter is ridden if it's to be kept looking good.

My wife has a set of Shinko whitewalls on her Triumph Speedmaster, and her rear tire stays clean and bright for many miles, and is also fine on rain grooved highways...unlike the Shinko whitewalls on my Vespa.

In most situations the Shinko whitewalls are ok, but seriously, STAY OFF of those rain-grooved roads, and be prepared to clean the rear tire very often.
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Very honest review ^ and in my opinion that's why I wouldn't bother with Shinko, and especially white wall Shinkos.

Of all the things to cheap out on a bike, tires are pretty low on the list imo. Food for thought.
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adri wrote:
Very honest review ^ and in my opinion that's why I wouldn't bother with Shinko, and especially white wall Shinkos.

Of all the things to cheap out on a bike, tires are pretty low on the list imo. Food for thought.
I'll probably replace the whitewall Shinkos on my GTS well before I wear them out, but I do wish that a premium tire brand would offer a quality whitewall for these scooters in the US.
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Don't they sell white adhesive hoops that you can apply to any tire?
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UTC quote
Maybe I will check to see if SIP sells Continentals. I wonder if the shipping from Germany will be cost prohibitive...we will see. Thanks, Dooglas!
Dooglas wrote:
I don't have a very high opinion of Shinko tires for the GTS, whitewall or blackwall. High quality whitewall scooter tires are hard to obtain in the US. Continental makes some good quality whitewalls but it would be necessary to obtain them from a European source if you could find them. I would be tempted to paint whitewalls on a good scooter tire such as the Michelin CG2 or the Pirelli Angel if I had to have the appearance of whitewalls.
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UTC quote
I'm glad to hear the Shinkos are working for you. Mine are already ordered, so I will soon experience them for myself. I tend to burn through tires quickly, so if I don't like them, I will be replacing them soon enough. Thanks for your feedback!
25BIKEZ wrote:
Some people pooh-pooh Shinkos because they're typically cheaper than the Euro brands, but I've put them on my scooters and motorcycles for years without complaint.

I've used Shinko whitewalls on two different Vespas-a GTS 300 and a GT 200. I've also used Shinko blackwalls with sport patterns on my Majesties and Silver Wing. They're fine tires. Are they super grippy or super plush? No. But they look good and get the job done.

The last set of Continental Conti Scoots I bought were also made in South Korea.

Shinko alone makes over 200,000 motorcycle tires a month for distribution worldwide.
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Thanks for the info, JBacklund. You're right, the whitewalls looks great on your GTS! I'm hoping for a similar "wow factor."

Good to know about the Shinkos performance on rainy or grooved roads. I will have to be wary of that sort of thing once I am up and running. And it sounds like I will have to up my game in keeping the tires clean!
JBacklund wrote:
I have a set of Shinko whitewalls mounted to my '20 GTS300, and like their appearance on my blue Vespa, but if you ride your Vespa on rain-grooved roadways, beware, they will have your scooter squirming as if it has two hinges between the wheels, VERY disconcerting to say the least, downright scary, in fact.

Their general performance is otherwise satisfactory, but the rear tire and wheel will need to be cleaned almost every time the scooter is ridden if it's to be kept looking good.

My wife has a set of Shinko whitewalls on her Triumph Speedmaster, and her rear tire stays clean and bright for many miles, and is also fine on rain grooved highways...unlike the Shinko whitewalls on my Vespa.

In most situations the Shinko whitewalls are ok, but seriously, STAY OFF of those rain-grooved roads, and be prepared to clean the rear tire very often.
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You're exactly right, the safety factor has me wondering about this purchase. I plan to give it a go this one time. We will see about the future.
adri wrote:
Very honest review ^ and in my opinion that's why I wouldn't bother with Shinko, and especially white wall Shinkos.

Of all the things to cheap out on a bike, tires are pretty low on the list imo. Food for thought.
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I'm intrigued. I will keep my eyes peeled for something like this.
DiBiasio wrote:
Don't they sell white adhesive hoops that you can apply to any tire?
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Try riding on a wet surface on white wall tyres and then get back to me.

They are all terrible. Beyond terrible. Dangerous even.
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andyheckathorne wrote:
Maybe I will check to see if SIP sells Continentals. I wonder if the shipping from Germany will be cost prohibitive...we will see. Thanks, Dooglas!
Unfortunately, I think you will find that S.I.P. does not carry whitewall tires which will fit the GTS.
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Bill Dog wrote:
Try riding on a wet surface on white wall tyres and then get back to me.

They are all terrible. Beyond terrible. Dangerous even.
This may be the case, but I'm a bit of a weather pussy on the Vespa and won't willingly ride it anywhere in the rain, or immediately after a rain, so it's wet weather performance isn't a factor in my case.

Others who do ride in wet weather should probably heed your advice and err on the side of caution.

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I know a man on MV with an LML who put whitewall tyres on his 125 and almost hit the back of a truck because there was no traction. In the dry that is.

I witnessed it and then rode the bike myself soon after and it was vile.

Seriously, for your own safety don't do it.

Sava or Shinko. Both are as bad as each other.
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Bill Dog wrote:
Sava or Shinko. Both are as bad as each other.
My experience on Sava tyres is 'definitely never again'

They seem to be solid plastic not rubber?
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Thanks, Bill Dog. Any theories on why white wall tires are so bad? I assumed they'd be relatively similar with the exception of the color.
Bill Dog wrote:
Try riding on a wet surface on white wall tyres and then get back to me.

They are all terrible. Beyond terrible. Dangerous even.
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Yikes. I don't like the sounds of that.
Nomad68 wrote:
My experience on Sava tyres is 'definitely never again'

They seem to be solid plastic not rubber?
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It's a bit like Pop Tarts, What's behind the bright colours doesn't matter. It's all about what they look like, not what they are supposed to do.

I'd argue that the kind of manufacturers that would market this kind of crap aren't the kind that concentrate on the ability of the compound to grip the road.

Sava make some reasonable racing tyres but their scooter road tyres are just awful.

I honestly don't know why but the tread patterns on white wall tyres are radically different from standard ones but they are.
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That's unfortunate. It seems like I'll have to take it slow and steady for the next 3,000 miles.
Bill Dog wrote:
It's a bit like Pop Tarts, What's behind the bright colours doesn't matter. It's all about what they look like, not what they are supposed to do.

I'd argue that the kind of manufacturers that would market this kind of crap aren't the kind that concentrate on the ability of the compound to grip the road.

Sava make some reasonable racing tyres but their scooter road tyres are just awful.

I honestly don't know why but the tread patterns on white wall tyres are radically different from standard ones but they are.
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Would you wear a tinted visor at night just to look cool ?
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Probably! Laughing emoticon It's a character flaw that I'm not proud of.
Bill Dog wrote:
Would you wear a tinted visor at night just to look cool ?
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Bill Dog wrote:
Would you wear a tinted visor at night just to look cool ?
I'd do it cause I'm too lazy to swap it out.

But, I don't ride at night much.
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Bill Dog wrote:
I honestly don't know why but the tread patterns on white wall tyres are radically different from standard ones but they are.
I agree here...the tread patterns on my Vespa's Shinko whitewalls are....um...rather unusual, and surprisingly 'blocky' for a pure street tire.

I'm not as totally negative about these tires as Bill Dog is, but for my own reasons and personal experience with them on my GTS300, I won't recommend them to anyone else.
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⚠️ Last edited by JBacklund on UTC; edited 1 time
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JBacklund wrote:
This may be the case, but I'm a bit of a weather pussy on the Vespa and won't willingly ride it anywhere in the rain, or immediately after a rain, so it's wet weather performance isn't a factor in my case.

Others who do ride in wet weather should probably heed your advice and err on the side of caution.


Couldn't get away with that here. Here in the summer it seems like more days than not it rains, even if only for 5 minutes.

If I didn't ride when it might rain, or immediately after rain, I would probably ride a small fraction of what I typically do. That would kill all the fun, and fun is why I ride, so, it just wouldn't make any sense to do that.
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adri wrote:
Couldn't get away with that here. Here in the summer it seems like more days than not it rains, even if only for 5 minutes.

If I didn't ride when it might rain, or immediately after rain, I would probably ride a small fraction of what I typically do. That would kill all the fun, and fun is why I ride, so, it just wouldn't make any sense to do that.
These days, my riding is exclusively for pleasure, and even though I usually ride at least one of our bikes every day, it's never out of necessity (though there was a time when it was), and although we've had more rain this summer than is normal for us, it seems that the only time I've been caught in it was with our Miata roadster, and usually just after washing it.

Those who ride in all-weather conditions, either by choice or economic necessity will/should have stricter requirements as to their scooter tire choices than I do for my needs.

It's not that I'm such a cheapskate either, my Triumph Rocket 3 is due for new tires, and the rear tire alone will cost me a bit over $400, (IF I remove the wheel myself and bring it in to the service department) and that's after the dealer I will be ordering it through discounts it from it's $530 retail price. Those 240/50/16 inch Avon Cobra Chrome's aren't cheap, but they're damn good tires for the Rocket 3, so I'm not going to compromise and put lesser tires on it.
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UTC quote
Get quality tires and just stick the whitewall merkins on there.
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DiBiasio wrote:
Don't they sell white adhesive hoops that you can apply to any tire?
They used to be more common, but I believe that is because they are/were primarily held on by the rim of the wheel. That meant that they could only be used on tubed tires, otherwise they would interfere with the bead sealing. My Ural used them, but the spoked Ural wheels used tubed tires of course. (see photo of white rubber rings in place)
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Dooglas wrote:
They used to be more common, but I believe that is because they are/were primarily held on by the rim of the wheel. That meant that they could only be used on tubed tires, otherwise they would interfere with the bead sealing. My Ural used them, but the spoked Ural wheels used tubed tires of course. (see photo of white rubber rings in place)
Those look great on your bike!
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Dooglas wrote:
I don't have a very high opinion of Shinko tires for the GTS, whitewall or blackwall. High quality whitewall scooter tires are hard to obtain in the US. Continental makes some good quality whitewalls but it would be necessary to obtain them from a European source if you could find them. I would be tempted to paint whitewalls on a good scooter tire such as the Michelin CG2 or the Pirelli Angel if I had to have the appearance of whitewalls.
I had Conti white-walls and have bad experience with them, both with the ride on wet and longevity. tires were 1 year old and were showing the cracks in rubber. I almost did not pass the TÜV, DOT marking on the tire save my sorry a*s because it was obvious that the tire was not old (<2 years since produced). I got the really new.
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Bill Dog wrote:
Try riding on a wet surface on white wall tyres and then get back to me.

They are all terrible. Beyond terrible. Dangerous even.
no matter how much I love the WW tires, I must agree with Bill Dog. Have tried several different OEMs and always the same result

as soon my tires from MY2023 Tina are worn, will swap back to the one and the only Heidenau K66 LT (please keep in mind to get the Silica version). they never stopped impressing me
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It's not just the tread pattern it's also the compound of the tyres.

Savas and Shinkos may last forever but that's because their compounds are hard and they don't warm up.

They are also inflexible so there's no feedback from the road surface.

If Peacocking is more important than performance then I'm happy for you.
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Bill Dog wrote:
Peacocking
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Bill Dog wrote:
If Peacocking is more important than performance then I'm happy for you.
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Well there it is. The white walls are the least ugly thing on that ugly thing.
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I agree with Bill, I had a set of Continental White wall tyres. They were and still are the worst set of tyres I have ever experienced on a bike/scooter. Positively dangerous, every time I rode, wet or dry this song popped into my head

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Molto Verboso
2020 GTS300 HPE/2022 Triumph Rocket 3R/1981 Honda CB900C/2019 Triumph Speedmaster
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1890
Location: Black Hills South Dakota USA
 
Molto Verboso
@jbacklund avatar
2020 GTS300 HPE/2022 Triumph Rocket 3R/1981 Honda CB900C/2019 Triumph Speedmaster
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1890
Location: Black Hills South Dakota USA
UTC quote
znomit wrote:
Well there it is. The white walls are the least ugly thing on that ugly thing.
ROFL emoticon
⬆️    About 6 months elapsed    ⬇️
OP
@andyheckathorne avatar
UTC

Hooked
2016 Vespa GTS 300 Settantesimo
Joined: UTC
Posts: 104
Location: Bellefonte, Pennsylvania USA
 
Hooked
@andyheckathorne avatar
2016 Vespa GTS 300 Settantesimo
Joined: UTC
Posts: 104
Location: Bellefonte, Pennsylvania USA
UTC quote
I wanted to let you know that I appreciate all the responses I received back in August. I have now used up my first set of white wall tires and overall, I had a good experience. I am grateful that I did not encounter any terrible situations.

Upon using the Shinko white walls, I immediately noticed that they felt very different compared to the City Grips I was used to. The ride was bumpier, and they seemed more knobby than the typical scooter tire I was accustomed to. TBH, it felt like I was riding a two-wheeled Jeep. I wasn't a big fan of this.

Regarding traction, I do feel that the Shinkos do not grip the road surface as well as other tires. I ride in the rain and snow and was extra cautious on turns, but I had no issues.

The brand-new white walls looked amazing on the GTS, but admittedly it was a PITA trying to keep them clean, and I didn't do the best job with it. Since my original purchase was almost entirely about aesthetics, I realize now that the way I ride is just not conducive to ordering another set.

Back I go to the City Grips!
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