IRC...... Wtf?

So having picked up a slow puncture I spoke to my local bike tyre shop.... Prices are good and I always prefer to support the 'one man band'.

He said it made sense to check what tyres were on it, then consider matching the new rear tyre to the brand fitted to the front.

So just pulled bike out and struggled to find a marked name! Then I spotted three little initials "IRC". Tyre man said he won't fit those as they're cheap and nasty.

What baffles me is, although the bike was a few years old when I bought it, it wasn't even run in at 400 miles, so should have been on original tyres. 

I did buy it from a dealer, but he's no longer around. So either mr suzuki fitted IRCs, or mr dodgy dealer did a bit of switching around. 

I'm sure the bikes legit, as I took it to a main suzuki agent for its first service and they called it up on their "register"...  

Hmmmm.... Odd. 

IRC's are standard tyre's Mal and yes they're crap lol last a long time though.

well you live and learn! Thanks for that sim. 

Must agree with Simbo IRC are crap. Suzuki really saved a few quid there on that deal. Irc aint that cheap really but when your buying for hundreds of thousands of bikes the price must drop by a ridiculous amount. Not sure what they are like on other bikes but the cruiser tyre is shit shit shit, ok if you dont lean into bends or want to brake hard for that matter 

I got 4k miles out of the IRC and then 4k miles from the Pirelli Route rears. Then I went on to Avons but they seemed to wear at the same rate. Couldn't say I noticed a big difference between tyres on the Intruder as regards dry handling on 3 rears in 10k miles. The Avon probably gripped a bit better in the wet. Wouldn't sop me buying another C800 even with the IRC's - the big soft comfy ride of the bike is still an endearing memory. 

India Rubber Co.

Yeah I must admit the grip isn't astonishing. When I'd only put about 2000 miles on the bike I was riding in the rain, took it gingerly round one of those joke tiny roundabouts, gently put the power on as I exited, and really lost the back end. Stayed upright, but shat myself! 

And that has put me off riding in the rain from now on.....

Anyway the local bike geezer recommended an Avon too, so that's being fitted Thursday. 

Her Mal,
At least the tyres weren't from LRC !

Or ELC!!!

Lowey wrote:

India Rubber Co.

A common joke Jeff and I use the term myself on many occasions   IRC is actually INOUE RUBBER COMPANY in Japan, but don't give them any credit for the crap they turn out 
http://www.irc-tire.com/en/mc/products/cruiser/gs-23/

bigmal wrote:

Anyway the local bike geezer recommended an Avon too, so that's being fitted Thursday. 

 Good tyre! and one I'd recommend  , I'm on Metzeler's but only because of the White Wall option, otherwise I'd go Avon Venom, Better tyre IMO.

I have Avon Venoms on the F6C & rate them highly !

simbo wrote:

 IRC is actually INOUE RUBBER COMPANY in Japan,

I stand corrected.

I have venoms on mine too really good!

I got rid of the IRC's on my wheels when I swapped to alloys & have Conti Go's fitted at the moments.
They certainly don't 'track' like the IRC's did & I have confidence in them to do the job where as the others give nothing at all in the way of feel etc...

I cant see wht the problem is, IRC's are good tyres. If you dont want yours then my mate will have them off you, he needs some tyres to put on the side of his canal boat as buffers   He said he would have some for his bike for sliding around bends with but will just wait for Januaries weather to do that  

IRC  tyres .... Indecisive Round Corners ?

OR

Impact Resisting Canal tyres ?

IRC tyres are crap, I have nothing more to say other. :7348:

I'm on Avon Venoms ... Much better grip, in both wet & dry conditions. My OEM fitment IRC' lasted 12,000 miles rear and 15,000 miles front. Hard compounds obviously but that's why the grip is shite on 'em  
I'll be going white walls the next time I change so maybe Metzelers like Sim's unless I can find some Avon WWs or similar

If any members are still on the original IRC tyres, don't panic. I ran them for 4000 miles and found them ok. There are better ones to upgrade to when they finally wear but those of you  on stock bikes still ride a good package. I always worried more about the drum brake than the tyres!

Bluesman wrote:

If any members are still on the original IRC tyres, don't panic. I ran them for 4000 miles and found them ok.

 Don't panic Mr Mainwaring! I got 8k out of my rear without falling off too many times   I only changed the front because it had a pretty pattern that matched my new rear 

Agreed, I've just hit 12000 and swapped mine because of a slow puncture... Not sure I would have wanted to do too many more miles on it though

Wow 12000/8000 to my 4000! I must be going wrong somewhere! I don't think I've ever got more than 4,500 on any tyre on any bike. Mind you I do like to practice engine braking big time - never wear out pads mind  

Surely engine braking causes more clutch wear. I can change brake pads myself but renewing the clutch is a BIG job and not cheap.

oldtom wrote:

Surely engine braking causes more clutch wear. 

Probably but I like the sound the engine makes. I think you'd probably have to load the engine for quite a few miles for this to happen. I suppose it's one down side of buying a used bike - the previous owner might have been someone like me 

I know what you mean about the 'sound'. It's a large part of the pleasure of biking.