Front Tire Compatibility With A Michelin Race H2

New member here!
After 20+ years without a bike I picked up a 1997 Speed Triple that hit a curb and flew into a chain link fence.
The bikes got 8600 miles on the clock and is in amazingly good condition with minimal damage.

Picked up a front rim and need a tire.
The rear tire is a Michelin Pilot Race H2. It's date coded to 2003 and has little wear. Is this old a tire still safe to ride?

Michelin is no longer making the Race H2 so what is a compatible front tire?

Thanks

 

Hi Bad Billy
Those look like good tires!
Being my money is being eaten left and right at the moment I'll be buying one tire at a time. Just want to get the bike on the road and fix any issues I may find. Won't be Racing around!

The H2 is a radial but I cannot find that the Diablo is too. This brings up the question of how a bike behaves with mixed design tires? Like I said I won't be racing around (until all the bugs are worked out) I just want to be aware of any possible strange handling behaviors.

 

Well you're right, but it's such a pretty 15 year old tire!

 

Yes, All I need is a few low speed runs to insure the mechanicals are good and then she'll get new tires front and rear.

 

I'm an old hand at driving on old tyres! The rear tire has a thick carcass and is still pliable. I'm pretty confident I can make a few short low speed runs on it.

This bike is an unknown quantity. The previous owner had removed the body panels, airbox, spark plug coils and valve cover cap bolts, telling me he had the intention of putting a bigger cam in it, then had to abandon the project for more pressing financial needs.

He says it ran fine and for $500 I was willing to take a chance on it. With that in mind I'm not going to spend unnecessary money until I confirm it runs and drives properly!

 

Thanks Wishbone, it's looking promising. The bike is clean, it turns over, the trans clicks into gear nicely, etc. It's low miles and the guy "seemed" to be honest.

What motivated my question about a compatible tire to the rear is I thought perhaps the new rubber formulations would last much longer than previous technology. The rear certainly looks good, and the rubber feels pliable, but I know better now!

Here's a pic of what I'm working on. For $500 there's not much a of a down-side!

 

That's what I'm talkin bout!
This was a can't lose buy. On the other hand I've been buying the parts and things necessary to get her going, then there's the title transfer - and if she runs I'll need a motorcycle license endorsement, the mandatory "school" to get it, and I've found the front brakes will need (undetermined as yet) work.

I might be in this thing another $500 before my first beer run!

 

Good info - THANKS!