wr250X Tires

Thanks for the input! I have been using the irc on my Derbi motard for almost 2k miles in many conditions and they have worked great. They are plenty soft and seem to be pretty durable as well. Grip has been a huge step up from the stock tires that came on the bike. It's good to hear that these tires will also work well on the larger heavier, more powerful WRX as well.

BTW, I saw the other post on the duro tires and just realized I have a brand new set of those tires that were going to go on my other bike, but since my stock WRX tires are toast after doing 600 miles this past weekend they are going on the WRX this week. I will update you guys on performance, wear, etc.....

Also, did anyone notice that Continental now makes supermoto tires, in two different compounds, for 250cc and under bikes now?!! I know that the size is slightly smaller than the stock WRX, 100 front and 130 rear, but this could be a good thing performance wise for us. Everyone on here seems to think that bigger is better when it comes to tires, but to do with more what can be done with less is pure vanity. I might just order a set to try out since I have always done more with less.

I just installed the Continental Conti Force SM on my WRX on ZED's recommendation (page 1) and so far they feel great.
They ride much better (smoother) than stock and follow cracks, grooves, and ruts way less. They also seem to lean a bit quicker and want to fall over more than the stockers. The 120/70-17 and 150/60-17 tires fit great and were easy to install. The first bead went on without even needing any tools!
I can't comment on traction too much as I have been taking it easy so far but the chicken strips are almost gone after about 100kms and they feel pretty good initially. The back tire feels harder to lock up and won't skid under engine braking anymore. The one area they are worse on is painted lines on the road. They squirm a bit there.

If they last as long or longer than the stockers I will be happy!

Well I just ordered up a set of Duro's and will be getting them put on this Saturday. I will make it a point to post back and let you know how I like them. I wanted different ones but with just buying the bike this year it was not in the budget....

I mounted the duro's last week and initial reaction is "these feel a lot heavier than the stock tires" I know that I should've found a scale to weigh them in comparison to the stock but I didn't have one handy. Will definitely try to get a weight on them when I change tires next time. Initial feel is smooth on the road, after I get some miles on them and really ride them I will post observations and feel.

Update: I rode my 15 mile each way freeway commute today and the heavier Duro tires feel much more stable at speed on the freeway. The way back was wet and the extra stability really showed and gave me a safer ride home in tough conditions.

Update #2 finally got a chance to do mountain TT riding last weekend and I am not diggin the Duro's for agressive riding. Looking to replace these with some softer tires very soon.

So far
Stock:
Pros: really good dry traction
Cons: limited lifespan

Duro:
Pros: cheap, available in stock size, great for commuting
Cons: heavier than stock (adds stability), not the softest tire so not the best for canyon carving.

Thanks twinturba..... I wouldn't think they could weigh more than the ones that came on my used bike.


I ride much more on streets than dirt so I can't wait to lose the dirt tires.

Update: Tires didn't come in they are now looking at a Monday install.

Update 2: Well got them on and it looked like rain so I was going to just drive home. That was untill I started having more fun than I ever have on the bike. The tires grip great and it just "feels right" in the corners. When I go to stop fast the bike stops... I even took the long way in to work today.

I'll post back after I put some miles on them but for $198 intalled and ballanced I'm loving them so far.

I have over 400 miles on the new Duro's and so far I like them. They do take a little time to warm up but when they are they grip good for a low cost tire. I will get a softer rubber for my next set but for the price these may be hard to beat. Man the front end is so much lighter

I was gonna go with the Conti SM's on Zed's suggestion but he never called me back today and I just realized I have some spare Michelin Pilot race take-off front tires and I know the Michelin dealer at the track so I figured I could go with the Michelin Man and just have to buy a rear tire cause for me the fronts are essentially free. If they are good enough for roadracing then they should be OK for my street hooligan riding and only having to buy one tire makes the cost a lot more attractive.

FWIW I got over 8000 km on the OEM rear and the OEM front is still in reasonable condition. Yes the rear tire is completely shagged now but it did its duty so it can go to the great tire pile in the sky now.

The laugh I got at my local shop after installing "Shit-ko" tires should have been a clue...

Wow. Super heavy, fall into corners, shitty braking, worse acceleration, sh*tko traction (crappy Korean rubber), and really hard on stock gearing.

Then 26 miles, or 42km for you canucks! into my ride on the freeway, at around 78mph, knobbies start popping off like popcorn kernels!!!

Lost 7 knobbs in the middle tread pattern to be exact... Um thinking the reflector dots ripped them off... I will post a pic.

Which, at that speed felt like riding on snow next to Soccer Moms, while stayin alive on the "Daytona I-5."

I still ride them around town... Trying to get my $80 worth. Also noticed over 15mpg drop in fuel economy.

Used to get 75-100 miles per tank with Distanzias, now I'm lucky to get about 62 miles per tank.


So, IMO, if you want to live, retain your stock gearing and good gas mileage, stay away from the properly nik-named SHITKO'S!

Which Shinko's are you running? Since you said knobs I'm assuming the 244's? I managed 100x that mileage without issue... Can't be that bad if you're still riding on them...


ANYWAYS, mileage is 29,35x and I'm at the wear bars front and rear on my BT090's. Unknown mileage on the front, but based on the previous owner of the wheels' estimate it has around 10k on it. The rear has about 4000. Neither is completely shot, but are noticeably worse than before. Still debating on a replacement tire, I've been happy with the OE tires so far and might just order a new rear to go with the barely worn front I have sitting in the basement or a set of the Duro's. Might also get prepped for winter with a set of sorta-knobs like the Shinko 244's or 705's, don't want to lose the good street handling but the roads are gonna get dirty, salty, sandy, and gross most of the time soon so a knobs might be a better choice...

So are you guys running tubes in all these radial tires?

Being that we have spoked wheels, yes. It is required unless you've done some sort of tubeless conversion. Otherwise the air would leak out around the spokes.

pbnut wrote:

Being that we have spoked wheels, yes. It is required unless you've done some sort of tubeless conversion. Otherwise the air would leak out around the spokes.

Is there a radial tire specif tube, or do you just use a standard tube of the correct diameter and whatever ply you like?

I believe it's the latter.

Yep, so far I'm just running the stock tubes in the stock radial tires. Tubes are tubes, designed to hold air. Radials and bias tires differ in construction, both can be designed as tube-type or tubeless.

Finally got around to changing the rear tire on my bike. Picked up a nail about a month ago and she's been sitting since, just no time to wrench and no money to pay a shop to do the change. Mileage is 29,782. I got about 4000 out of the OE tire till it hit the wear bars, not too shabby all things considered.


First ride, the BT003 RS feels fantastic! It was also fairly easy to mount, even with the stiff sidewalls. I think I'm gonna like this one, hope it lasts. Only changed the rear, not the front even though its due as well due to not feeling like fighting a second hard to break bead in one day. The BT090's bead was a motherf***er to break this time, too about 20min per side using a C-clamp. Of course, the good side of this is when I had my flat the bead held as I rode it home so you win some and you lose some in this situation.

Pics from when the tires came in...

Stock width on that BT003?

skierd wrote:

Finally got around to changing the rear tire on my bike. Picked up a nail about a month ago and she's been sitting since, just no time to wrench and no money to pay a shop to do the change. Mileage is 29,782. I got about 4000 out of the OE tire till it hit the wear bars, not too shabby all things considered.


First ride, the BT003 RS feels fantastic! It was also fairly easy to mount, even with the stiff sidewalls. I think I'm gonna like this one, hope it lasts. Only changed the rear, not the front even though its due as well due to not feeling like fighting a second hard to break bead in one day. The BT090's bead was a motherf***er to break this time, too about 20min per side using a C-clamp. Of course, the good side of this is when I had my flat the bead held as I rode it home so you win some and you lose some in this situation.

Pics from when the tires came in...

I wound up going with the BT-0003s also. I like them alot so far and should get much better millage out these. Mounting was fairly easy took about an hour to do the front and rear.

motokid wrote:

Stock width on that BT003?

Yup, got the 140/70-17. Didn't want to go wider and taller/shorter when the stock size felt good to me.

Nice. Look forward to your review once you get both skinz mounted and run in a bit.

i would like to know what everyone thinks is the best 80% on road 20%off road tire? if money was not a object what would everyone have and what sizes,, also if money was a object what would be the next steps down? new to forum and have read up alot, everyones riding conditions are different,, here in NY we have mostly hard pack dirt trails unless it rans then all we have is mud trails lol.. but im looking to buy new tires and just wanted to see what people recommend??? thanks

For the R wheels I'd have an answer for you in a second, the Dunlop D606 rear and whatever dirt or street friendly front tire you prefer.

For the X, and mostly staying on road, gravel, and hard pack, any street tire with tread will likely be fine. On hard terrain compound matters as much if not more than tread pattern imo and in my (limited) experience.

I've put maybe 1000 miles on the BT003RS rear so far and I mostly like it. It has a much more rounded profile than the stock tire I guess, its a little less willing to lean over like the stock tire but once its over its very smooth and controllable. Could be somewhat affected by still running the old stock front BT090 though. Grip has been more than acceptable for the mild to medium street pace I typically ride at despite the cool to cold (below freezing) temperatures though I have had a few oh-slip moments when first starting out on cold tires. Not surprisingly its absolutely useless on a slimey wet pine duff covered trail except to make a nice wide rut along the trail.

I have no idea on how well this sucker is going to wear yet. If the weather keeps clear I hope to have it mostly worn out by April so I can spoon on a set of 17" knobs for the several early spring DS rides I like to do. Rumor has it there's gonna be a 120/70-17 TL TKC 80 coming out, which I think would be great to join up with a 140/80-17 TL TKC80 rear and sealing the spoke nipples on my wheels to make it a tubeless setup... mmm... tubeless long lasting knobbies...

motokid wrote:

AJBsays wrote:

i would like to know what everyone thinks is the best 80% on road 20%off road tire?

Avon Distanzia.

+ 1. They are a little heavy but are a great tire, esspecially in SM compound.

Well Im a long way from a review much less a ride, but Im excited



Lets hope they're worth it!

Yikes! They better be amazing for that price.

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.