Help with confusion over tire sizes

PitBull · April 1st, 2011, 11:56 AM

I'm trying to order new tires for my bike and I'm confused over tire sizes. I want to order the Bridgestone BT45's but it appears that there are two different tires with the same tire size. One of the tires has the following info:

BRIDGESTONE 110/70-17 M/C 54H Battlax BT45 F

NOTE: This tire has a code letter (G), which indicates that it is recommended for the specified motorcycles, and may also have been the original equipment tire. It can also be used on other motorcycles where appropriate. The compound and construction of the tire is uniquely suited to the weight, horsepower and handling characteristics of the motorcycles listed, even thought the rest of the description and specifications may match other tires with the same name.

Would this tire work with the 2009 Ninja. What would be different about this one versus the 110/70-17 without the "G" rating? So confused...

Cuongism · April 1st, 2011, 12:25 PM

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcyc.../tire-data.htm

Never heard if a G rating though (other than kiddie movies!).

PitBull · April 1st, 2011, 12:53 PM

Thanks! I think I'll wait until I can find one without the "G" rating just to be safe. Maybe a "G" rating means it's for people who ride like wussies! LOL

CZroe · April 1st, 2011, 01:02 PM

It sounds like it's just a database indicator and not a different tire. FWIW, that is a front tire.

Xoulrath · April 1st, 2011, 01:32 PM

It's for the GS500/GS500F made by Suzuki. I ran into the same problems while I was doing my tire research. I would not buy it personally. There is no reason for Bridgestone to sell the tire with the "G" notation if it were exactly the same as the other "standard" tire. The Suzuki bikes are a good bit heavier, somewhere in the 75-100 lb range, and the compounds may not heat up as well as they should for the Ninja.

I was going to get BT-45s as well, then decided I wasn't as concerned about mileage. Again, after more research I went with the BT-016. The front comes in our Ninja's size, but the smallest rear is a 150/60/17, though many people have sworn by this tire in this size on the stock rims. There are pages about this stuff in the Tech section. I ordered a front last week at a killer deal through Rocky Mountain ATV/MC for $57 shipped. It came in yesterday. I will be ordering the rear shortly.

Alex · April 1st, 2011, 02:10 PM

More discussion on this same point in this thread.

CynicalC · April 1st, 2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xoulrath

It's for the GS500/GS500F made by Suzuki. I ran into the same problems while I was doing my tire research. I would not buy it personally. There is no reason for Bridgestone to sell the tire with the "G" notation if it were exactly the same as the other "standard" tire. The Suzuki bikes are a good bit heavier, somewhere in the 75-100 lb range, and the compounds may not heat up as well as they should for the Ninja.

I was going to get BT-45s as well, then decided I wasn't as concerned about mileage. Again, after more research I went with the BT-016. The front comes in our Ninja's size, but the smallest rear is a 150/60/17, though many people have sworn by this tire in this size on the stock rims. There are pages about this stuff in the Tech section. I ordered a front last week at a killer deal through Rocky Mountain ATV/MC for $57 shipped. It came in yesterday. I will be ordering the rear shortly.

As far as I can tell they have the best deals going. You should have ordered both at once though, free shipping on orders over $100

Yasko · April 1st, 2011, 03:43 PM

Where will you get your tires mounted in the DFW area???

Monkey Wrench in Arlington, said I could have my tires ship to the shop and they would mount for $70...

Xoulrath · April 1st, 2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CynicalC

As far as I can tell they have the best deals going. You should have ordered both at once though, free shipping on orders over $100

I would have if they had the rear in the 150 size we need for our Ninja. They only had 160 and up for the rear.

PitBull · April 2nd, 2011, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yasko

Where will you get your tires mounted in the DFW area???

Monkey Wrench in Arlington, said I could have my tires ship to the shop and they would mount for $70...

I'm probably just going to go with my local dealer, Cycle Center of Denton. That sounds like a good deal at Monkey Wrench. CCoD charges about $100 but everyone else in the Lewisville/Denton area charges about the same. I am also buying my tires from Cycle Center. Believe or not, they are cheaper than anyplace I have found online. I've had incredible customer service from this dealership as well.

I've not had any luck finding the BT45s online anywhere and CCoD has searched high and low for a set.

I'm just going to go with a set of the Dunlop GT501s. Cycle Center keeps those in stock. I'm going on a trip on the bike at the end of April so I want to go ahead and get new tires before I go.

PitBull · April 2nd, 2011, 05:21 AM

Thanks for all the help everyone!

coondog · April 3rd, 2011, 09:29 AM

Great tires, real soft outsides for cornering and hard center for speed and endurance. Good luck. Changing tires is one of the first DIY's all should equip themselves to do, especially if you ride "I just put them on" tires like I do.

CThunder-blue · April 4th, 2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

More discussion on this same point in this thread.

Please read The link Alex provided. The G is nothing more than an indicator that it was installed as OEM equipment on some bikes. It does not mean that it is only meant to be used on those bikes.

As far as tire changing goes, I just purchased my BT-023's from Revzilla. I'm waiting for my tire irons, weights, and steel valve stems to arrive. I'll probably make a home made bead breaker with some 2x4's and buy the tire balancer from HF for $50. I think anyone who needs to change tires more than once a year or two should do their own tires. Youtube has a bunch of videos on how to change tires and it seems extremely easy. Scudman's videos are very informative.

PitBull · April 4th, 2011, 11:56 AM

I read the link Alex provided and would have gotten the BT45's with the "G" rating but I am kind of in a time crunch. I will be out of town next week, home for a week and then I'll be taking a trip on the bike so I needed to get my maintenance done this week. By the time I found out I could use the BT45's it was too late to get them ordered and delivered in the timeframe I needed them.

CThunder-blue · April 4th, 2011, 12:17 PM

I was seriously considering the BT-45's but went with the BT-23's instead. The BT-023's are radial tires and from what I read on the net, radials > bias ply (which are what the BT-045's are). On Bridgestone's website, both the 23 and 45 are sport/touring tires. The bolded touring means the tires emphasize touring over sport. I've read a few different sites about radial vs. bias ply and it seems that for grip and tread life, radials are better.

April 1st, 2011, 11:56 AM	#1
PitBull ninjette.org member Name: Lisa Location: DFW Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250 Posts: 184	Help with confusion over tire sizes I'm trying to order new tires for my bike and I'm confused over tire sizes. I want to order the Bridgestone BT45's but it appears that there are two different tires with the same tire size. One of the tires has the following info: BRIDGESTONE 110/70-17 M/C 54H Battlax BT45 F NOTE: This tire has a code letter (G), which indicates that it is recommended for the specified motorcycles, and may also have been the original equipment tire. It can also be used on other motorcycles where appropriate. The compound and construction of the tire is uniquely suited to the weight, horsepower and handling characteristics of the motorcycles listed, even thought the rest of the description and specifications may match other tires with the same name. Would this tire work with the 2009 Ninja. What would be different about this one versus the 110/70-17 without the "G" rating? So confused...

April 1st, 2011, 02:10 PM	#6
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	More discussion on this same point in this thread. __________________________________________________ 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)

April 4th, 2011, 12:17 PM	#15
CThunder-blue ModMy250.com Name: Tri Location: St, Louis Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R, 2005 R6 Posts: A lot.	I was seriously considering the BT-45's but went with the BT-23's instead. The BT-023's are radial tires and from what I read on the net, radials > bias ply (which are what the BT-045's are). On Bridgestone's website, both the 23 and 45 are sport/touring tires. The bolded touring means the tires emphasize touring over sport. I've read a few different sites about radial vs. bias ply and it seems that for grip and tread life, radials are better. __________________________________________________ The www.ModMy250.com guy

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Tire sizes/tire brand???	Tadydrift	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	10	January 5th, 2015 05:24 AM
Mismatched Tire sizes...	DmbShn41	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	3	May 11th, 2014 12:28 PM
Tire Sizes	Kokosun	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	7	June 8th, 2013 08:47 AM
Tire sizes	fredhsu	General Motorcycling Discussion	12	August 9th, 2012 07:37 PM
Question about tire sizes!	claymaker	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	4	July 14th, 2012 01:26 PM

April 1st, 2011, 12:25 PM	#2
Cuongism ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Cuong Location: San Diego Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r, 2007 Daytona 675 Posts: A lot.	http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcyc.../tire-data.htm Never heard if a G rating though (other than kiddie movies!).

April 1st, 2011, 12:53 PM	#3
PitBull ninjette.org member Name: Lisa Location: DFW Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250 Posts: 184	Thanks! I think I'll wait until I can find one without the "G" rating just to be safe. Maybe a "G" rating means it's for people who ride like wussies! LOL

April 1st, 2011, 01:02 PM	#4
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	It sounds like it's just a database indicator and not a different tire. FWIW, that is a front tire.

April 1st, 2011, 01:32 PM	#5
Xoulrath ninjette.org sage Name: T Location: U.S. Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): Current: '11 ZX-6R; Previous: '09 Ninjette; '08 ZX-6R (Ex-Wife '09 TU250X) Posts: 981	It's for the GS500/GS500F made by Suzuki. I ran into the same problems while I was doing my tire research. I would not buy it personally. There is no reason for Bridgestone to sell the tire with the "G" notation if it were exactly the same as the other "standard" tire. The Suzuki bikes are a good bit heavier, somewhere in the 75-100 lb range, and the compounds may not heat up as well as they should for the Ninja. I was going to get BT-45s as well, then decided I wasn't as concerned about mileage. Again, after more research I went with the BT-016. The front comes in our Ninja's size, but the smallest rear is a 150/60/17, though many people have sworn by this tire in this size on the stock rims. There are pages about this stuff in the Tech section. I ordered a front last week at a killer deal through Rocky Mountain ATV/MC for $57 shipped. It came in yesterday. I will be ordering the rear shortly.

April 1st, 2011, 03:43 PM	#8
Yasko Texas Newbie Name: John Location: D/FW Texas Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 07 Ninja EX250, 07 FZ6 Posts: A lot.	Where will you get your tires mounted in the DFW area??? Monkey Wrench in Arlington, said I could have my tires ship to the shop and they would mount for $70...

April 2nd, 2011, 05:21 AM	#11
PitBull ninjette.org member Name: Lisa Location: DFW Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250 Posts: 184	Thanks for all the help everyone!

April 3rd, 2011, 09:29 AM	#12
coondog ninjette.org sage Name: john Location: Palm Beach County, Fl Sligo County, Eire Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 ninja 250 street fighter, 2008 street fighter ninja 500, 2001 nsr 125 Posts: 812	Great tires, real soft outsides for cornering and hard center for speed and endurance. Good luck. Changing tires is one of the first DIY's all should equip themselves to do, especially if you ride "I just put them on" tires like I do.

April 4th, 2011, 11:56 AM	#14
PitBull ninjette.org member Name: Lisa Location: DFW Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250 Posts: 184	I read the link Alex provided and would have gotten the BT45's with the "G" rating but I am kind of in a time crunch. I will be out of town next week, home for a week and then I'll be taking a trip on the bike so I needed to get my maintenance done this week. By the time I found out I could use the BT45's it was too late to get them ordered and delivered in the timeframe I needed them.