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I am stupid confused on finding tires...

6K views 32 replies 16 participants last post by  earlthepearl 
#1 · (Edited)
The kawi website lists the size as:
F 120/70-17
R 160/60-17

I'm looking for tires, and was hoping to get shinkos (I'm taking a 2000 mi roadtrip and want some cheap cruisers since I'll have to replace them in 2 weeks anyways), but I'm looking online and I can find barely anything in these sizes... Then on JC Whitney when I put in 2009 ER6n for it to match my "tires" to my "bike" it's giving me different variants of close sizes... so...

If I remember correctly, on some of the numbers, I can be flexible and others I can't (like the rim, right?)... I feel rediculously stupid for asking but I feel pretty desperate lol.

What size tires can I look at??

Bonus: Do you have any brand recommendations? My rides are 70% highway 15% city and 5% twistiescurvyturnies :)


[[[I did a search and couldn't find anything.. I may be new to this forum, but I'm having a hard time getting results from the search page... so dont yell at me if this has already been discussed!]]]
 
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#4 ·
motorcyclesuperstore is where I started looking but it didn't seem to give me the options I thought I should have lol maybe I'm expecting a lot more variety like I had with my Buell (hence why I went to JP) lol and reputable stores are HARD to come by where I live
 
#6 · (Edited)
what options are you looking for? what criteria? i just looked, and the few that i checked came in that size.

Continental Conti Motion Sport Touring Radial Rear Tire - Street Bike - Motorcycle Superstore



i run these. my favorite tire so far.

Pirelli Angel Sport Touring Rear Tire - Street Bike - Motorcycle Superstore


and the search page. this is for the rear.

Street Bike Rear Tires Sport Touring Tires - Motorcycle Superstore

and to make it easy, for the front.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...ke-Front-Tires-Sport-Touring-Tires-Tires.aspx
 
#12 ·
I've heard of a few guys loosing their front end mid turn on newer Shinko's - Junk.

I just purchased a set of Continental "Conti Motion" from for $149 shipped.
thanks Jude! I didn't really think about the material quality, but now that I've read that :eek:, I'll be ultra paranoid if I get them.... and thanks for the link drop, I've never used DK but their search engine's pretty useful, and their prices seem *very* competitive. Thank you!
 
#13 ·
don't avoid the shinkos, i ran them on this 12R with NO issues. this bike had a hard life too.

 

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#15 ·
For a lot of highway miles get dual compound tyres. They resist squaring off.

Get Michelin Pilot Roads CT2 or CT3.

Best if front and rear are matched, but not vital for street riding as long as they're the same general type. Don't mix sports and sports/touring, for example.

Rob

Rob
 
#18 ·
i thought they would last longer than this but my 90 mile commute on 70mph hwy 5 days a week must be whats eating them so bad :mad:
Same here

power pure/pilot michelin
BT 016/BT 023 bridgestone
Q2/sportsmax dunlops
Diablo corsa Pirelli
M5/M3 metzeler
last of your choices are the shinkos
Where does Continental Conti-Motions fit into this list? They've overall got great reviews, and I know a lot of kids with XB12s like 'em... they're more expensive than Shinkos but cheaper than Pirellis (and I really need a touring/sport touring).
Opinions?
 
#22 ·
Same here



Where does Continental Conti-Motions fit into this list? They've overall got great reviews, and I know a lot of kids with XB12s like 'em... they're more expensive than Shinkos but cheaper than Pirellis (and I really need a touring/sport touring).
Opinions?
i use conti-motions on my 14 for obvious reasons. great tire, got 12K miles, ready for new ones.
 
#17 · (Edited)
i have my tires replaced with michelin power ones... there are wide selections of tires to choose from its up to you to research them and find the ones that suits you...

other choices to choose from...

power pure/pilot michelin
BT 016/BT 023 bridgestone
Q2/sportsmax dunlops
Diablo corsa Pirelli
M5/M3 metzeler
last of your choices are the shinkos
 
#21 ·
I've had my Pilot Road 2CT's for 10k miles now..... mostly straight line, still tread in the center for about 1-2k... I ride the twisties... the few we have here quite a bit too. great tires, highly recommend them to anyone! Work great in the rain too.
I was told to avoid the Pilot Road 3 2ct tho, they apparently start cracking with their new tread pattern for rain distribution. I dunno, it's new technology thats not perfected yet. (source: wristtwisters)
 
#30 ·
Sadly, my bike had "no tire" when I bought it. The front was rode on for about 600 miles more than you should. It was to the point where I felt better in turns so I knew there was some tread/thicker rubber there...
I had them done and apparently they were wavy, meaning the tire was weak and proper pressure may have not been maintained. My front end got loose a few times, but since I was a new rider, I never pushed it hard and my mind was super focused on machine feedback.
Just don't be stupid if you need to ride on bad tires.
 
#25 ·
oh i forget to mention the continental tires.. maybe because less exposure to us here in the Philippines.. seldom you encounter riders using this tires here in our country...

i also read a review about one of the models of this brand and they call it the continental Heart-attacks.. because of the experience you can have with this tires..

but im sure any tire has its own characteristics and its up to you to decide what to use... (a suggestion if your into sport touring tires... and the OEM ones aren't that bad for you.. better try the BT 023 better tires than the stock but same tire category)

-arki-
 
#28 ·
#29 ·
I ride Shinko 011 Verge radials....they're great.
I go about 2 blocks and one medium turn and in 40 degree weather they feel good.
When it was warm, they don't slip.
I have only had one slip and it was on the white painted (think one) by the crosswalk on a "swooping" right turn. Was doing about 40MPH through it and only barley felt the slip, was also 40 degrees out and had rained in the morning lightly.

I will be buying them again unless I have some random issue of bubbling, blow out, etc.
I think they had some issues early on, but they are a rubber company out of Japan that used to make bike tires. Then Shinko company bought the tire patents and molds from Yokohama.
 
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