Note: I will have to go back over the list and add any extras that would make the cut, knowing what I know now about tire sizes. I just wanted to get it out there, first.
Table of Contents
Click the manufacturer of choice to move to that post, or just scroll up & down.
Note: Kenda and Metzler are included in the same post.
List was inspired by @Daniel Teng for whose humble response, I decided to give back and compile a list of tire sizes that (mostly) fit the YZF-R3. From here, I will add on feedback somehow (which really was the aim of producing the list to begin with).
Written for 2015-2018 YZF-R3 tires (newer years have the same wheel). Refer to the tire guide here for an overview. You must ensure the year, model, and size of products meet yourmotorcycle application before ordering!
The Gist
Decide what riding conditions you'll need tires for
Use a search engine to find competitive pricing
(visit as many retailers as you need to, until you find the deal right for you)
Purchase a set for what you can afford
Buy the warranty for both tires if available
Don't believe the hype
If you're on the street, buy a DOT-approved tire
Shipping
Consider using a site like Parcl to order for shipments to be delivered to your country.
Caveat on search results
For the fact that hardly any of us choose to mix tread patterns, I decided not to list any single tires. Single tires are sizes that fit only the front or rear, but not both as a set. These single tires are excluded.
Tire Availability & Fitment Concerns
Many tires seem like they'll fit the YZF-R3 wheels; their widths (in inches) of 2.75 front & 4.00 rear. Even if a tire is 110/70-17, there's no implication that it will fit a wheel that is 2.75-inches wide (but generally, it will).
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.
A 130/70R17; this tire is a 1/2-inch smaller diameter than the 140/70R17, and may further still be smaller, depending on the tire construction. Another tire is a whopping 1.1-inches smaller diameter - the Shinko 006 Podium Radial at 140/60R17.
If you recall (I know, you don't), I wrote about the Michelin Pilot Street tire being Yamaha's stock choice on the 2015 to 2018 YZF-R3. It's a bias-ply. I really don't know why Michelin went out of their way to rename a new tire "Pilot Street Radial" - perhaps just to mess with us consumers.
Here's the perfect example of what causes the unnecessary confusion: a Pilot Street (a Bias-Ply) on Amazon.com sold by yours truly (here's a link to the Pilot Street on BikeBandit.com). The listing has a picture of a Michelin Pilot Street Radial. The Pilot Street Radial and the Pilot Street are two different tires.
Pirelli did the same thing with their Supercorsa SP... They named it "Supercorsa SP NEW" otherwise known as "Supercorsa SP V3". As if there weren't enough words out there!
Just think about all the names Android released under. The truth is that the these "remakes" are manufacturers profiting off image recognition. Brands are an image. Images make popular tires maintain profits over time. To maintain profits, they reuse names. It is nonsense and causes too much confusion.
It's not all bad - sometimes it works out; I hope they've learned their lesson and will settle with incremental numbers, like "Diablo Rosso II" and "Michelin Road 5".
Welcome to R3-Forums. Make a profile. Stay a while. Stretch out your legs on this ottoman ┬─┬ノ( ◕◡◕ ノ).
If you come across an error, please post a message here and provide a source so I can review it. I do not add information that isn't included on the Manufacturer's website or associated documentation.
Table of Contents
Click the manufacturer of choice to move to that post, or just scroll up & down.
Note: Kenda and Metzler are included in the same post.
Table of Contents
Click the manufacturer of choice to move to that post, or just scroll up & down.
Note: Kenda and Metzler are included in the same post.
Table of Contents
Click the manufacturer of choice to move to that post, or just scroll up & down.
Note: Kenda and Metzler are included in the same post.
Table of Contents
Click the manufacturer of choice to move to that post, or just scroll up & down.
Note: Kenda and Metzler are included in the same post.
Table of Contents
Click the manufacturer of choice to move to that post, or just scroll up & down.
Note: Kenda and Metzler are included in the same post.
Table of Contents
Click the manufacturer of choice to move to that post, or just scroll up & down.
Note: Kenda and Metzler are included in the same post.
Table of Contents
Click the manufacturer of choice to move to that post, or just scroll up & down.
Note: Kenda and Metzler are included in the same post.
Table of Contents
Click the manufacturer of choice to move to that post, or just scroll up & down.
Note: Kenda and Metzler are included in the same post.
I added this here, because this is the last post of the series (it's easier for you this way).
Adding other tires; brands like Avon & IRC, as well as older products.
Figure whether a tire is DOT-approved and add some stamp with a link to the source.
Again (I cannot stress it enough): Before purchasing tires, verify the manufactured date is within three years.
This gives us at least a couple years of service (tires older than five years should be recycled).
Also, have a shop (like CycleGear or a motorsports dealership service department) install the tires for you if you don't know how to do it properly.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could
be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
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