Recommended Tire Alternative?

108323 Views 59 Replies 35 Participants Last post by MATTMC91, Oct 14, 2020

Maverick

Discussion Starter · May 18, 2015

So.... out for a ride last week, noticed the rear tire getting squishy... sure enough 1.5" nail.

Plugged it on the side of the road but looking at replacing both now.

Whats everyones recommendations? New to street riding so Im clueless

I feel like the Pilot Streets slip pretty easily on cornering

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Ventay

· #2 · May 18, 2015

How'd you manage to plug it up? Is that common?

Maverick

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 18, 2015 (Edited)

Ventay said:
How'd you manage to plug it up? Is that common?

Its technically a temporary fix (more so on 2 wheels)

You can buy string type radial tire plug kits from anywhere for less than 10 bucks, I recommend one with rubber sealing compound/ream tool/ razor blade (cut excess string). These are must haves on road trips along with CO2, otherwise your phoning roadside assistance. Your dealer will have them specific for motorcycles (size wise) and fancy mushroom type plug kits, if you shop around you'll save a few bucks. Any plug kit does essentially the same thing when used properly.

On my vehicles Ive put thousands of KM on plugged tires, it will affect balance to a degree and if improperly plugged it could push out/leak. On a vehicle its not as concerning as the balance wont be noticeable and you usually have a spare if the plug fails, and 3 more tires to keep you upright. On a motorcycle if the plug fails it could spell trouble fast.

But, if done properly a plug can last the life of the tire with no ill side effects. At this point its my excuse to put better rubber on the R3

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Ventay

· #4 · May 18, 2015

Im interested in what tire you end up using as well... yeah I definitely wanna pick up one of these kits.

rc racer

· #5 · May 18, 2015

Some good tires that are available in the proper sizes for this bike are Pirelli diablo rosso II's for a great sporting/track day tire or Michelin pilot road 3's for more of a high mileage sport touring tire.

mgfchapin

· #6 · May 18, 2015

Depends what you want to do with the bike. If you're sticking to the street, I would also recommend Michelin Pilot Road 3's. The rear isn't available in an OEM-size 140, but the 150 should be fine.

I'm planning on taking the bike to the track, so I'm looking at Pirelli Rosso II's or Rosso Corsa. I'd have to go with a 160 rear on the Corsa, so I'm going to try putting a 160 on this week to see if it'll fit in the swingarm.

Reactions: 4

FangShui

· #7 · May 18, 2015 (Edited)

Tire Size Comparison

I'm sure many on here already know this. For those who don't:

If you change the rear tire to a 150 from the stock 140/70-17, you will need to get a 150/65-17 in order to keep the tire the same diameter and circumference and not throw off speedometer readings and alter chassis geometry and handling.

A 140/70-17 and a 150/65-17 have the same diameter. A 150/70-17 is .6" taller with a circumference 1.7" larger than the 140/70-17. A taller tire will steepen the front end rake slightly, making the steering quicker.

If a 160 would fit you'd need a 160/60-17.

Tire comparison calculator here:

http://tire-size-conversion.com/tire-size-comparison/

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87112

· #8 · May 20, 2015

My Shinkos arrived today. 169.00 Shipped from Revzilla. Looks to be very good quality Made in Korea, I was expecting them to be made in Thailand or some poorer Asian country.
Dunlop has new tires out in 110/140. http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/dunlop-sportmax-gpr300-tires

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Ho11ywood195

· #9 · May 21, 2015

mgfchapin said:
Depends what you want to do with the bike. If you're sticking to the street, I would also recommend Michelin Pilot Road 3's. The rear isn't available in an OEM-size 140, but the 150 should be fine.

I'm planning on taking the bike to the track, so I'm looking at Pirelli Rosso II's or Rosso Corsa. I'd have to go with a 160 rear on the Corsa, so I'm going to try putting a 160 on this week to see if it'll fit in the swingarm.

A 160 will work and fit just fine! those rosso corsa tires are the best track tire for the R3 i believe. I have been running Rosso Corsa tires for many years on al my other bikes.:laugh:

Reactions: 1

mgfchapin

· #10 · May 21, 2015

3

Ho11ywood195 said:
A 160 will work and fit just fine! those rosso corsa tires are the best track tire for the R3 i believe. I have been running Rosso Corsa tires for many years on al my other bikes.:laugh:

Yep, just confirmed it last night with an old Bridgestone 160/60. Time to order some Corsas. Whether it handles or not will be another test, but at least if it doesn't work out I have another bike to use them on.

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Ho11ywood195

· #11 · May 21, 2015

mgfchapin said:
Yep, just confirmed it last night with an old Bridgestone 160/60. Time to order some Corsas. Whether it handles or not will be another test, but at least if it doesn't work out I have another bike to use them on.

It will handle alot better then the stock tires when in every area of performace trust me. Plus since this bie is rally easy on tires Im sure it will last 3 4 5 of hard track days easy.

Piperman

· #12 · May 27, 2015

With the 160/60 on the rear are you going to still run with the 110/70 in front? Just wondering your thoughts on that, looking to put Pirellis on also.

mgfchapin

· #13 · May 27, 2015

Piperman said:
With the 160/60 on the rear are you going to still run with the 110/70 in front? Just wondering your thoughts on that, looking to put Pirellis on also.

No, I'm getting a set of Rosso Corsas in 120/65 front 160/60 rear. If I don't like them, they'll go on another bike and I'll get Rosso II's in the original 110/70 and 140/70.

Piperman

· #14 · May 27, 2015

Oh ok, that's what I was thinking of also. I can't use them on my other bike though. So I am interested in what you think of the Corsa's I have the Rosso IIs on my Ducati. Good tire, but am definitely interested in the Corsas.

RKOM

· #15 · May 31, 2015

I talked to my local Pirelli vendor for racing and it seems that we may be getting the corsa in a 140 in the near future. They make them in 110 but you can only get them through a pirelli from the track.

Piperman

· #16 · May 31, 2015

That would be nice, would real nice, too bad the 110 will be difficult to get.

John

· #17 · Jun 1, 2015

Is the 160 rear any wider once it's on the stock rim, did you measure before and after?

mgfchapin

· #18 · Jun 1, 2015

John said:
Is the 160 rear any wider once it's on the stock rim, did you measure before and after?

It is wider, the clearance to the swingarm and chain guard is pretty tight. I didn't measure.

mdr3

· #19 · Jun 2, 2015

I'm getting Q3s 160/60 rear and 120/60 front. Y'all think that'll work well?

Navin

· #20 · Jun 3, 2015

I did a test with a 120/150 combo on the n300 and couldn't get near the edge of the tires. It got a bit more stable, less tip in but I went back to stock size next tire change. The stuff I run on my sumoto, 120/150, didn't work well on the 300, wheels not wide enough IMO.

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