Tire upgrade!??

tunaluna · October 30th, 2012, 04:13 PM

I was think about going to a 140/80/16 on my ninja because the are hell of a lot easier to get, but I have heard some weird thing about getting a bigger tire. What are the real Pros and Cons of getting a bigger rear tire?

SemperFudge · October 30th, 2012, 04:29 PM

Welcome to the boards!

This is actually relevant to me also. I got my '01 Ninja a month ago and it has OEM tires...They've been on for 12 years and I don't feel comfortable with that thought. I would love to upgrade to a wider tire.

tunaluna · October 30th, 2012, 04:41 PM

Thanks! I forgot that I am new here.

menikmati · October 30th, 2012, 09:31 PM

I wouldn't call getting a larger tire upgrading unless you get a quality compound.

Alex · October 30th, 2012, 09:37 PM

/moved to pre-gen tech

ninjamunky85 · October 31st, 2012, 05:25 AM

I don't know of any 140 width tire that will fit. 130/90-16 is the biggest you can go. Really a 120 width tire is what should be on the bike, but there are few rear tires available in that width.

There are plenty of choices for 130/80 or 130/90-16 tires out there.

tunaluna · October 31st, 2012, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjamunky85

I don't know of any 140 width tire that will fit. 130/90-16 is the biggest you can go. Really a 120 width tire is what should be on the bike, but there are few rear tires available in that width.

There are plenty of choices for 130/80 or 130/90-16 tires out there.

right now I have a 130/80/16 but there is a guy who has a 05 ninja that has a 140. I haven't seen him at school again so I can ask him...
Posted via Mobile Device

ninjamunky85 · October 31st, 2012, 10:02 AM

Welcome to the forum by the way.

You can ask the guy at school about his tire. It's possible that he's got a 17 inch wheel from the new-gen. I personally wouldn't try to squeeze a 140 tire onto a stock pre-gen rim. The rear wheel on these bikes is pretty skinny, 2.5 inches I think, and putting too wide a tire on it can negatively affect performance.

Also you aren't really gaining anything handling wise. People are going to the track with 120/80-16 Pirelli MT-75s. My last rear tire was a 130/90-16 Bridgestone BT-45. I scraped pegs on both sides and still had 1/4 inch chicken strips. Like I said 130 is actually too wide for this bike. Don't forget too that a wider tire is heavier, which hurts acceleration, braking, and suspension performance, although at such small levels it would be hard to notice.

Anyway it's your bike so do what you want, that's just my 2-cents.

rojoracing53 · October 31st, 2012, 10:41 AM

If you can find a radial tire a opposed to a bias/ply. It will fell like a different machine in the corners. I have no idea what's availible in 16's though.

ninjamunky85 · October 31st, 2012, 10:49 AM

No radial tire will fit the stock pre-gen rims.

rojoracing53 · October 31st, 2012, 10:53 AM

^ that blows

choneofakind · October 31st, 2012, 08:59 PM

Yes it does. Thankfully we have Pirelli Diablo Scooters in stock sizes!

We also have BT45's which are 130/90-16's but still stick as well.

Look at it this way, at BT45 says it's a 130. When mounted, it's actually about 137-138 (however accurate my measurement with a ruler was...). It's definitely wider than 130. It's noticeable when leaned up next to a bike with stock size tires on it. It clears the swingarm by about 1/4" on each side.

In contrast, a diablo scooter is about 130-132 when mounted (again, my measurements...). A Diablo scooter in 140 might fit, buuuuut it might not. Realistically, whats the purpose of a tire that's wider (and might pinch. and WILL make the bike less light feeling between corners, just like the BT45's do), when the same tire is sold in a 130 and is a great tire in the correct size?

You can get a sick set of Diablo Scooter tires in the stock sizes (100/80-16 F and 130/80-16 R) for about $120 shipped. That's a bargain on a great tire that is a much better tire than the oem dun-rocks.

Bottom line: stick with stock sizes unless one of the 130/90-16 models strikes your fancy (Sport Demons, BT45's, etc). You can get some good tires in the stock sizes that are going to grip well and be a massive improvement over the stock rubber.

andylawcc · November 1st, 2012, 12:03 AM

second on the Pirelli Diablo Scooters. Those and the Pirelli MT75 lasted me a while on the road and at the tracks.

and yes, there are no radials for the pre-gen.

October 30th, 2012, 04:13 PM	#1
tunaluna ninjette.org member Name: Jake Location: Houston Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): 07 ninja 250 Posts: 25	Tire upgrade!?? I was think about going to a 140/80/16 on my ninja because the are hell of a lot easier to get, but I have heard some weird thing about getting a bigger tire. What are the real Pros and Cons of getting a bigger rear tire?

October 30th, 2012, 04:29 PM	#2
SemperFudge ninjette.org member Name: Paul Location: Orange County/Inland Empire - CA Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250R Posts: 126	Welcome to the boards! This is actually relevant to me also. I got my '01 Ninja a month ago and it has OEM tires...They've been on for 12 years and I don't feel comfortable with that thought. I would love to upgrade to a wider tire. __________________________________________________ View my log here. you can tell a lot about how it was treated by how the previous owner looks - Joshorilla

October 30th, 2012, 09:37 PM	#5
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	/moved to pre-gen tech __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 31st, 2012, 05:25 AM	#6
ninjamunky85 Que Buenos Son!!! Name: Ryan Location: Grovetucky, OH Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia Shiver 750, Husaberg FE 450, Ninja 300 (sold), xr100 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Nov '14	I don't know of any 140 width tire that will fit. 130/90-16 is the biggest you can go. Really a 120 width tire is what should be on the bike, but there are few rear tires available in that width. There are plenty of choices for 130/80 or 130/90-16 tires out there. __________________________________________________ Don't do something because it's easy,.. Do it because it's not! If you aren't going forward, then you're falling behind. "Drive it like you stole it"!!!

October 31st, 2012, 10:02 AM	#8
ninjamunky85 Que Buenos Son!!! Name: Ryan Location: Grovetucky, OH Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia Shiver 750, Husaberg FE 450, Ninja 300 (sold), xr100 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Nov '14	Welcome to the forum by the way. You can ask the guy at school about his tire. It's possible that he's got a 17 inch wheel from the new-gen. I personally wouldn't try to squeeze a 140 tire onto a stock pre-gen rim. The rear wheel on these bikes is pretty skinny, 2.5 inches I think, and putting too wide a tire on it can negatively affect performance. Also you aren't really gaining anything handling wise. People are going to the track with 120/80-16 Pirelli MT-75s. My last rear tire was a 130/90-16 Bridgestone BT-45. I scraped pegs on both sides and still had 1/4 inch chicken strips. Like I said 130 is actually too wide for this bike. Don't forget too that a wider tire is heavier, which hurts acceleration, braking, and suspension performance, although at such small levels it would be hard to notice. Anyway it's your bike so do what you want, that's just my 2-cents. __________________________________________________ Don't do something because it's easy,.. Do it because it's not! If you aren't going forward, then you're falling behind. "Drive it like you stole it"!!!

October 30th, 2012, 04:41 PM	#3
tunaluna ninjette.org member Name: Jake Location: Houston Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): 07 ninja 250 Posts: 25	Thanks! I forgot that I am new here.

October 30th, 2012, 09:31 PM	#4
menikmati crash 250, get supersport Name: Richard Location: San Diego, CA Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250R SE (Sold 6/9/14), 2009 ZX-6R (Sold 6/25/14), Subaru BRZ Posts: A lot.	I wouldn't call getting a larger tire upgrading unless you get a quality compound.

October 31st, 2012, 10:41 AM	#9
rojoracing53 Fast-Guy wannabe Name: Jason Location: Brentwood, Ca Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja250, 2011 RM-Z250, 2004 NSR50, Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jan '13	If you can find a radial tire a opposed to a bias/ply. It will fell like a different machine in the corners. I have no idea what's availible in 16's though.

October 31st, 2012, 10:49 AM	#10
ninjamunky85 Que Buenos Son!!! Name: Ryan Location: Grovetucky, OH Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia Shiver 750, Husaberg FE 450, Ninja 300 (sold), xr100 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Nov '14	No radial tire will fit the stock pre-gen rims. __________________________________________________ Don't do something because it's easy,.. Do it because it's not! If you aren't going forward, then you're falling behind. "Drive it like you stole it"!!!

October 31st, 2012, 10:53 AM	#11
rojoracing53 Fast-Guy wannabe Name: Jason Location: Brentwood, Ca Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja250, 2011 RM-Z250, 2004 NSR50, Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jan '13	^ that blows

October 31st, 2012, 08:59 PM	#12
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	Yes it does. Thankfully we have Pirelli Diablo Scooters in stock sizes! We also have BT45's which are 130/90-16's but still stick as well. Look at it this way, at BT45 says it's a 130. When mounted, it's actually about 137-138 (however accurate my measurement with a ruler was...). It's definitely wider than 130. It's noticeable when leaned up next to a bike with stock size tires on it. It clears the swingarm by about 1/4" on each side. In contrast, a diablo scooter is about 130-132 when mounted (again, my measurements...). A Diablo scooter in 140 might fit, buuuuut it might not. Realistically, whats the purpose of a tire that's wider (and might pinch. and WILL make the bike less light feeling between corners, just like the BT45's do), when the same tire is sold in a 130 and is a great tire in the correct size? You can get a sick set of Diablo Scooter tires in the stock sizes (100/80-16 F and 130/80-16 R) for about $120 shipped. That's a bargain on a great tire that is a much better tire than the oem dun-rocks. Bottom line: stick with stock sizes unless one of the 130/90-16 models strikes your fancy (Sport Demons, BT45's, etc). You can get some good tires in the stock sizes that are going to grip well and be a massive improvement over the stock rubber.

November 1st, 2012, 12:03 AM	#13
andylawcc ninjette.org guru Name: andy Location: san gabriel Join Date: Jan 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 faster red Posts: 397	second on the Pirelli Diablo Scooters. Those and the Pirelli MT75 lasted me a while on the road and at the tracks. and yes, there are no radials for the pre-gen.

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