new tires

[oompa]

so i was told tht i needed new tires. im a newbie to riding in general so what type of tires should i get? (brand, type, threading etc)i ride a 2009 kawi ninja 250r. i am on a budget so not looking for top of the line, professional tires.

i typically ride on scenic drives. so ill get the occasional gravel or man hole cover. i do NOT do any track or off road riding

[csmith12]

Round these parts, we don't blindly recommend tires. I know you said your new to riding but what kind of riding are you looking to do? Do you want mileage or performance? Depending on your answers, there should be a few relevant and helpful threads.

[csmith12]

Ah, hmmm....

Have a look at this, http://www.ninjette.org/wiki/New_gen_tire_options

Also, there are some nice links in the "Similar Threads" section at the bottom of this page.

Happy shopping!

[oompa]

idk wht radial tires are. also whats new-gen vs pre gen?

i ride about 60-70 miles at a time through winding roads and scenic roads. so i would like a tire tht will last me. but at the same time i also dont want to give up performance and hav the tires sliding out from me even on dry roads

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by oompa

idk wht radial tires are. also whats new-gen vs pre gen?

i ride about 60-70 miles at a time through winding roads and scenic roads. so i would like a tire tht will last me. but at the same time i also dont want to give up performance and hav the tires sliding out from me even on dry roads

http://cocomponents.com/dealer/power...ial-explained/
radial vs bias ply. Long story short radial is better and don't mix them unless you know what you're doing some combinations are questionable.

newgen vs pregen
pregen = the original 250r bodystyle 1987-2007
newgen = the 2008-2012 bodystyle (this is you)
a good sport touring tire would be the bridgestone bt-45 tires, these will last quite a while and are what I may be purchasing this spring. This would be the ideal tire if you decide you want to commute a bit as well. They should last beyond 10k miles.
a sportier option would be the pirelli diablo rosso II tires. These tires have loads of grip but wear a good deal quicker (estimated at half the life of the bridgestones around 5-6k miles)
Neither tire will give you any trouble with grip but they have different strengths so it is a tough decision.

[csmith12]

It's all good Nick, lets get you pointed in the right direction.

pregen = a ninja 250 that is 2007 and older
newgen = a ninja 250 that is 2008 and newer

Since yours is an 09, you have a newgen .

For our 250's you basically need to select from a bias ply or a radial tire. The bias ply tires normally last longer but are less grippy. A radial tire offers better grip but do not last as long. Don't get me wrong though, a bias-ply tire can offer great performance as well. And either type of tire can suck in the wet.

@Sirref beat me to it The bt-45's are nice but there are even cheaper alternatives that other riders may have experience with.

Another thing... tires are like oil. Some riders have strong preferences to which is best.

[ForceofWill]

You have that description reversed Chris? Generally bias ply last less and have better grip.

[Sirref]

No, radials have better grip and don't last as long.

[csmith12]

Hey Ben, there is a legit factor to Tom's comment. What do you have on your car? Bias ply or radials. My guess is you have radials. If bias ply was so long lasting why aren't we using them on every car? From my research, I am finding many sources that state that radials have a longer tread life.

A bit of light reading... http://www.autotraderclassics.com/ca...3F-71273.xhtml

[begin educated guess]
The thing is... I don't think that transferred into the world of motorcycling. The rubber compounds used on a radial tires for motorcycles are so soft, the lifespan is compromised for greater grip (because we need different levels of grip between center and the edges). My educated guess is further reinforced by reading about dual compound tires. There is a ton of science that goes into making tires. Much of it seems to be a closely guarded secret or stuff I don't understand.
[end educated guess]

[ninjamunky85]

Radial tires run cooler than bias ply tires, which means the manufacturers can use softer rubber on radials. Also radial tires have stiffer sidewalls, which means better cornering, and also makes the low profile tires popular today possible.

In some cases bias ply tires can provide better grip. Bias ply tires are common in drag racing, even the DOT legal ones can be pretty scary in the turns though.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by oompa

.............but at the same time i also dont want to give up performance and have the tires sliding out from me even on dry roads

None of the tires you can buy will slide out on dry roads, unless you roll over sand or gravel, in which case, the most expensive tire will slide too.

Don't worry much, you will not need a expensive gripping tire during your first months of riding.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_tire

Proper inflation, moderate speeds and proper riding techniques will do a lot for keeping the rubber down and planted.

[ForceofWill]

I guess I was thinking in terms of extremes of the types and for what you use in drag racing.

When I think of bias ply, I think of slick thus really soft and hardly any life to it. I would say the rubber compound has more of an affect to grip than if the tire has belts in it.

Why you don't necessarily want a drag radial on a manual strip car doesn't apply to bikes. Although I haven't experienced any stability problems with my bias ply Sport Demons, I think I'd still go to a sticky radial when I change. We didn't have that option when I got these tires.

It's nice that we have a lot of options now.