wr250X Tires

RoadRash wrote:

Anyone used the Michelin Road 2's or Road 3's with the WR250X? Are the Road 3's worth an additional $30 for a set? I am concerned about how well the rear will fit considering they only offer them in 150/70 and 150/60. I am leaning towards the Road 2's in 150/70 but wanted to see if anyone had fitment issues before I order them.

quite a few folks run pilot powers in a 150/60 without issue. I would imagine that the roads would be pretty similar in actual width.

Just an FYI for Canadians tired of getting price gouged on tires to checkout Pete's Superbike. Just ordered a couple sets and even with shipping I saved $440 over what local dealer was charging. They are located in Canada and prices are in CAD. The website is http://www.petes-superbike.com/english/

Read all 4 pages and see that a 150 tire seems to go on fine. The question I have is if anyone has spooned a 160 Supermoto specific tire on?
Avons, Pirellis in DOT's or Dunlop or Michelin cut slicks?
I understand the taller profile less contact patch thing but don't care about looking at "chicken strips"

A 150 width tire is cutting it close as far as swingarm/chain clearance. I'm pretty sure a 160 would not fit. You'd get chain rub for sure, and even if it did not, our rims are only 4" wide. You'd be pinching a 160 considerably.

More discussion on this exact topic here.

In my experience, 150/70 is just a little too tight: chain nips at the tire.

From others here, 150/60 seems to be OK.

I was all set to get some pilot powers for this year, but I'm tempted to try the bt003rs. I see vortac had the "Z" rated. They are available in "H" rated also. Seems like the Bridgestone website says the z has the "ultraction" compound on the sides. Wondering if the h might somehow be better for a light bike like this, and for me street only use, no track.

^ This may not matter as it appears everywhere that carries them shows that they have the z, or what may actually be w rated.

anyone have more pics of the bt003rs?
i think i will pick some up for summer and save my Distanzia for the winter

My X eats tires. Tires lasted THREE TIMES as long on my old ZX6R that made almost 4x the horsepower and weighed about 60% more. The front tire is fine. But this bike chews up rear tires. Is it heat from the inner tube?

To get to the twisty stuff, I have to ride a lot of straight roads since I'm between the Ozarks and the Smokies. What local twisty roads we have are ALL patched chip seal. To connect many of the better roads you have to ride lengths of gravel. That may be chewing these tires up.

Original BT090 - 2500 miles. Front and rear pretty much done at the same time.
Distanzia SM - 2700 miles. Front still has ~ 50% of its life. I'll might buy a second SM and pair it with the old front at some point.
Shinko 244 - ~ 4000 miles. This is probably 1/4 dirt and 3/4 street (commuting on back roads). Could probably have gone farther on them, but I had a 4 state road ride planned.
Bridgestone BT016 - ~ 3000 miles. Back is at the wear marks. Front is maybe 1/2 done. Probably close to 1000 miles of this is i-state - more than I ever want to do again on this bike. VERY sensitive to tire pressure. Once I got to eastern KY and TN, I kept dropping the tire pressure by about 2 psi at a time. Lots and lots of 2 wheel slides in KY. Finally dropped pressures to ~ 22 psi on the Dragon on the way home and dragged a peg.

I've got a pair of Shinkos that I meant to install back in November to take advantage of some of the winter dirt riding around here. Been doing a lot more pedaling than throttle twisting, though. Had planned to install last weekend and now again this weekend it is looking less and less likely.

I still have not found a street tire I'm happy with. I'll look at the PR2s or 3s next time I need street tires. The WR is turning into an experiment that is not working. Locals all ride cruisers. Kart tracks around here not interested in m/cs. Local shop closed last year. And I'm at a time in my life where motorcycling is competing with a lot of other priorities. Once I get the Shinko's on, some trail riding opportunities will open and maybe my opinion will swing the other way.

1moreroad wrote:

My X eats tires. Tires lasted THREE TIMES as long on my old ZX6R that made almost 4x the horsepower and weighed about 60% more. The front tire is fine. But this bike chews up rear tires.

I find this hard to believe.

You got almost 10,000 miles on rear tire on a 600cc sportbike?

I get way more life out of my X rear than I did on my R1 rear.

RoadRash wrote:

Just an FYI for Canadians tired of getting price gouged on tires to checkout Pete's Superbike. Just ordered a couple sets and even with shipping I saved $440 over what local dealer was charging. They are located in Canada and prices are in CAD. The website is http://www.petes-superbike.com/english/

Good tip, thanks.

motokid wrote:

1moreroad wrote:

My X eats tires. Tires lasted THREE TIMES as long on my old ZX6R that made almost 4x the horsepower and weighed about 60% more. The front tire is fine. But this bike chews up rear tires.

I find this hard to believe.

You got almost 10,000 miles on rear tire on a 600cc sportbike?

I get way more life out of my X rear than I did on my R1 rear.

Why would I lie? Now that I have a 3 gallon tank, this is the single biggest complaint I have with this bike.

6k - 7k consistently depending on whether there was a track day on the tires or not. All on Z rated sport tires (not sport touring). Lots more interstate (commuting), too. Close to 3x compared to the OEM tires and greater than 2x for everything but the knobbies. I would have expected a little 250 to at least match a mileage compared to a more powerful, heavier bike.

EDITED TO ADD: I got almost 8000 miles out of the D207 OEM tires on my 6 which is > 3x the wear of the OEMs on the WR.

I got 3500 on my stock x tires and it looking like about 3500-4000 on my Distanzia rear. My front hardly wears at all. 235lbs and wfo on the road.

bt003rs update.

Mileage is 31k+, tire has about 2000 miles on it. Lots of commuting, but the last 700 has been nearly endless twisty fun roads rain shine dirt mud and various pavement types. Its probably just about halfway to the wear bars in the center tread. Its also useless off-road but that's expected lol.

The front I am probably replacing tomorrow with a Michelin Pilot Road 2, if the shop in the town I'm stuck in has it in stock, since its cheaper than ordering online(!) and the front BT090 is about done finally. This also means I'll be sticking with street tires for quite a while longer so... what to get for the rear? There's not a ton made in 140/70-17 thats going to last, at least not in a radial. I'm thinking I might find a pilot power rear in 150/60-17 or a battlewing in 140/80-17. Dunno. Just something that lasts a bit longer and has a bit more tread on it for when the going gets dirty.

Check that PR2 was out of stock. Ordered a set of ContiMotion sport touring tires, 110/70-17 front and a 150/60-17 rear, should go on Friday-ish at around 33k miles at that point the BT003 will be toast, the front bt0910 will probably be sitting at a gnat hair over the wear bar like it has been for the last 2000 miles.

Guys,

Like so many others, I got a 250X and was unclear of the tire choices out there. After looking high and low, and getting tired of the fragmented information, I put everything in a chart for myself. I was able to figure out what I wanted and figured I'd share. Below is the chart with all of the relevant information from the popular tire choices that FIT I found out there. Feel free to PM me additional info and/or tires and I will update this when I can.

Brand	Tire	Front / Rear	Size	Overall Diameter (mm)	Width (mm)	Will it fit?	Confirmed by	Comments
Bridgestone	BT090F Radial G	Front	110/70R17	590	111	Yes	Stock	Stock Front
Bridgestone	BT090R Radial G	Rear	140/70R17	627	146	Yes	Stock	Stock Rear
Bridgestone	BT003RS	Front	110/70R17	592	111	Yes	Many Riders	Arguably grippiest street tire
Bridgestone	BT003RS	Rear	140/70R17	Unavailable	Unavailable	Yes	Many Riders	Arguably grippiest street tire
Bridgestone	BT-92	Front	110/70R17	592	110	Yes	Stock Size	Mediocre tire, average mileage, not best for lean angle
Bridgestone	BT-92	Rear	140/70R17	632	146	Yes	Stock Size	Mediocre tire, average mileage, not best for lean angle
Bridgestone	BT-023	Front	110/70R17	592	111	Yes	Stock Size
Bridgestone	BT-023	Rear	150/70ZR17	640	156	Yes - light chain rub	deerHater	Confirmed by deerHater, inclined to get a smaller tire
Bridgestone	BT-45V	Rear	150/70ZR17	641	149	Likely	Unconfirmed	Cheap tire, likely will fit
Avon	Distanzia AM43	Front	120/70R17	603	121	Yes	Motokid	Best Street focused ADV tire - 80 street / 20 dirt
Avon	Distanzia AM44 SM	Rear	150/60R17	614	148	Yes	Motokid	Best Street focused ADV tire - 80 street / 20 dirt
Avon	Distanzia AM44	Rear	150/70R17	640	153	Yes - light chain rub	mordicai	Harder compound than 150/60R17 - More mileage/less grip
Avon	Distanzia AM44	Rear	140/80R17	652	144	Yes	mordicai	Harder compound that 150/60R17 - smaller profile
Michelin	Pilot Road 2/3	Front	110/70R17	586	110	Yes	Stock Size	Tire with lots of mileage
Michelin	Pilot Road 2/3	Rear	150/70R17	642	151	Likely	Unconfirmed	Tire with lots of mileage
Michelin	Pilot Power	Front	110/70R17	586	110	Yes	Stock Size	Contender for BT-003RS
Michelin	Pilot Power	Rear	150/60R17	612	151	Yes	Arkmage	Contender for BT-003RS
Shinko	244	Front	4.60X17	Unavailable	Unavailable	Yes	kbike	More dirt oriented, still capable onroad tire - 60/40
Shinko	244	Rear	5.10X17	Unavailable	Unavailable	Yes	kbike	More dirt oriented, still capable onroad tire - 60/40
Shinko	705	Rear	140/80R17	Unavailable	Unavailable	Yes	Stock Size	A little more dirt focused than distanzias 75/25
Continental	Conti Motion	Front	110/70R17	Unavailable	Unavailable	Yes	Stock Size	Continental tires that fit
Continental	ContiForce SM	Rear	150/60R17	Unavailable	Unavailable	Yes	Skierd	Continental tires that fit
Pirelli	Diablo Rosso II	Front	120/60R17	Unavailable	Unavailable	Yes	Marylucky	Comparable to Michelin Pilot Powers
Pirelli	Diablo Rosso II	Rear	150/60R17	Unavailable	Unavailable	Yes	Marylucky	Comparable to Michelin Pilot Powers
Pirelli	Diablo Rosso II	Front	110/70R17	Unavailable	Unavailable	Yes	Stock Size	Comparable to Michelin Pilot Powers
Pirelli	Diablo Rosso II	Rear	140/70R17	Unavailable	Unavailable	Yes	Stock Size	Comparable to Michelin Pilot Powers

You have left out the Avon Distanzia 140/80/17, which will be my next rear tire ater my 150/70/17 has worn out. There are so many more choices for this bike then what you have listed, but it is a great start. Thank you.

I've got Pirelli Diablo Rosso 120 front and 150 rear but I think they don't make them anymore (I can't find them)
They are double compound and I use them on street and on track.
They are close to Pilot Power

Some updates to the list.

Quote :

You have left out the Avon Distanzia 140/80/17, which will be my next rear tire ater my 150/70/17 has worn out. There are so many more choices for this bike then what you have listed, but it is a great start. Thank you.

Added the size you pointed out. While I know we can put ANY tire on that matches our stock size, I want to try to keep this list to tires that people have tried and would recommend, or not recommend if they are horrible!

Quote :

I've got Pirelli Diablo Rosso 120 front and 150 rear but I think they don't make them anymore (I can't find them)
They are double compound and I use them on street and on track.
They are close to Pilot Power

It's because it is the Dialbo Rosso II now!

Yamafling, It's great to see someone put to gether this kind of list. I hope you stick with it. Some other tires that come to mind that have been reviewed here and on other sites: KENDA,SHINKO( other then the 244),DUNLOP.MITAS,HEIDENAU K60 SCOUT( I want to try this one in a 140/17) and others I sure.

mordicai wrote:

Yamafling, It's great to see someone put to gether this kind of list. I hope you stick with it. Some other tires that come to mind that have been reviewed here and on other sites: KENDA,SHINKO( other then the 244),DUNLOP.MITAS,HEIDENAU K60 SCOUT( I want to try this one in a 140/17) and others I sure.

Might be worth a separate table for the dual sport tires vs street tires.

That being said I'm currently running the Shinko 705s and have thought them to be pretty great dual purpose tires. At 6500 miles I still have about 20% left on the rear and 70% on the front. Grip and stability are more than reasonable for a 50/50 but I keep finding myself leaning over too far and running out of tire. I've had good enough luck with the shinko 705s I'm considering ordering a set of 244s for the occasional dual sport ride outside the KDXs reach.

Now that I have the KDX for dirt I'm swapping to Pilot Powers on the X. Going to get a cycle hill tire changer next month so I'll swap to other tires if I need to for occasional long distance dual sport stuff that the 2-smoke doesn't have the range for.

Big thanks to ramz for helping me with my tire change and other assorted maintenance today.

Replaced the stock bt090 front with at least 10k miles on but probably 15k with a Continental conti motion sport touring front in 110/70-17. I never was able to use all of the front before even with no strips out back, so staying stock sized made sense.





I also replaced the completely flat worn out bt030 140/70-17 rear with a Continental conti force sport touring rear in 150/60-17. The bt030 barely made it and to 5000 miles and really should have been changed at 4000 miles or sooner. It was a fun tire though that worked great on pavement and reasonably ok for a near slick off-road. Im hoping to get double the life from the conti minimum... first test ride shows these tires to be less eager to lean in, slowing the handling but the wear is more important to me right now.







Mileage is 33,602.

Made some more updates, keep the suggestions coming. Providing the info for me helps out a lot, so I dont have to hunt for it.

I may split out another table for dual sports if the list gets big.

B-stone BT016 confirmed fit. Size 110/70-17 front 150/60-17 rear. Just barely got over to the edge only in eastern NC/eastern KY with tire pressures ~ 22 - 24 psi.



OK, I don't go that far on a set of tires. I got until the wear bars. So it would make sense that I'm not getting the same mileage on tires as, say, skierd.