Tires: What are you running?

[milehighFJ]

It's time for some new tires for my '89 with stock wheels. What do you recommend? I would like to go up from a 150 in the rear, if that's available.

Thanks in advance for all the advise & feedback Gents.

[SILVERGOAT]

 Swap to YZF600 wheels and enjoy radials. You wil enjoy a 3/4"(2.75" stock vs.3.5") wider wheel up front while still using the same size tire, and out back you get a 1 1/2"(3.5" vs. 5.0") wider wheel that can run a 160/60r17, 160/70r17 or a 170/60r17. The sky is the limit as far as companys and compounds. You can do the whole job for no more than $500 not including powder coating if so desired. Handling is much improved. I found even with brand new tires, which are Metzlers mounted on my stock wheels, my FJ was just a bit twitchy going down the road. The increase in stabiliy is amazing.
  You could also go bigger like a lot of the others have, just takes time and $.
 

[andyb]

On an 89, you could keep the 17x3.0 front and do pretty well, if cost or difficulty is a concern.  The rear wheel swap shouldn't cost more than $200.

The difference is incredible.  The tires that come in the original sizes are pretty old tech compared to some of the unreal newer ones.  What's more, after the swap you can not only have a huge variety to choose from, but they're cheaper and last longer.... lots longer (at least, for me).  Better still, having actual selection means you can try different profiles and get it dialed in to what makes you happy.



As far as what tires to get in the stock sizes... there's what, 3 choices?  Try em all and stick with whatever you like best. 

[milehighFJ]

I am thinking about staying with the original wheels for now and was curious about being able to go one or two sizes up in the rear if such a size is available.

[andyb]

I have a very old 160/80 metzler on a wheel in my garage, but it's right tricky to find much that will mount to such a narrow wheel in the 16" size.  When I was looking at replacing that tire, I stumbled upon the 17x5 YZF wheel swap, and I must say...

Second only to the SS carb kit, it was the best mod I've ever done, to any bike I've owned.  Ever.

The swap paid for itself (~$150, iirc) in a whopping TWO tire changes, and that's assuming that I was only getting the same tire life.  The 17" rubber is simply so much more common nowadays that the price is hugely more palatable than paying a premium for old technology rubbers in the 16" sizes.

(Insert rude comment here... if I needed 16" rubbers, I'd be a star in the porn movies...)

[SlowOldGuy]

There is no benefit to increasing the size of the rear tire on the stock rims.  You'll just distort the profile and probably induce unwanted handling characteristics. 

DavidR.

[Travis398]

The rear wheel swap shouldn't cost more than $200.

I have been looking for a while. You make it sound too easy

it seems the rim alone (without shipping) could cost half that (but usually more) then you need a caliper, spacers, new rear tire, break pads and in some cases the disc and cush drive. Custom make a brake stay or buy one that matches the new caliper and a caliper mount. (I may have missed something)

and don't forget you have to pay shipping on each piece..... I'm sure more than a couple people have bought a part or two only to find out it didn't fit (spacers or calipers....etc)  so more shipping and spare parts...............................and wait can you reuse your brake hose? no!

could you do all that and not buy that new stainless steel brake hose $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.



$200? i don't have that kind of luck...............

[racerman_27410]

I have been looking for a while. You make it sound too easy


$200? i don't have that kind of luck...............

Its not luck .....it's patience and persistance that hooks the good deal.

dont be afraid to think outside of the box either.... when i did my FZ1 conversion i was looking (in vain) for YZF fork and wheels and just happened to stumble across a totalled FZ1 with 550 miles on it (looped wheelie)   the top of the bike was smashed but everything else was in perfect shape...... no one had ever used the FZ1 parts (it was just released in 2001) my measurements looked close....so i bought the entire thing from the insurance company... got all the parts i needed and then sold off the engine/frame/wiring harness/carbs etc etc.......in the end i actually made money on my upgrades!

So i guess what i'm trying to say is dont give up.... good things CAN and DO happen !


KOokaloo!

Frank

[Travis398]

    Actually, i did have your idea Frank. I was thinking with a whole bike i could do the front too........

[milehighFJ]

Thanks for all of your responses. For a guy who is not super handy, and has to pay a local shop for repairs, buying a 21 year old motorcycle was a bit questionable for me. I have no regrets and really enjoy the bike. You guys and all of your knowledge really helps in my situation. Thanks again. I think I am going to run with the Metzeler Lasertec's with stock sizes on my original wheels.

[lawson]

I don't know if i would recommend "Lazertecs".  What road conditions are in your part of town?  I ,like yourself, just bought 1989 fj and it has brand new Michelin Macadams on it - still with rubber tits all the way around, but they are date coded 2001 - I'm taking them off.  I am in San Francisco Bay Area - Alot of twisty backroads and ALOT of fresh "Rain Speed Groves" on main highways.  The Lazertecs track groves like a mother.  I too am leaving stock rim profiles for now and will most likely go with "Bridgestone Battlax BT-45".  I had these on older fzr that i had and they stick- Dual compound- very soft shoulder tread.  Have Avon Super Venoms on my Z1R and they feel like they want to wash out on extreme lean - Have Pirelli Sport Demons on gpz550 not bad.  My Daytona 675 has Pirelli Dragon Supercorsa - which if I do the fzr rim update may go with these.  The soft compound of the Battlax-45 will build convidence that the bike when in tight lean - won't wash out.   Wet weather traction doesn't matter to me - I don't take out any of my bikes in rain - Don't like dirty bikes.   

[andyb]

Just to clarify:

it seems the rim alone (without shipping) could cost half that (but usually more) then you need a caliper, spacers, new rear tire, break pads and in some cases the disc and cush drive. Custom make a brake stay or buy one that matches the new caliper and a caliper mount. (I may have missed something)

You don't require a new rear caliper (at least on the 88-90 models, but I thought it was the same throughout) for the YZF600 wheel swap.  The problem is that if you let the brake pads get really worn down, there is a concern that they could overextend and lock solidly on.  Easy solution:  Check the pads when you adjust your chain or tire pressures, and replace them just a bit early.  You are checking the brake pads for wear when you check the chain tension and clean it anyhow, right?

I think the wheel cost me $95 shipped, including all of the spacers, cush drive, and brake disc.  The caliper perch was another $60 (and I was really unhappy when I realized that I couldn't use the stocker, I tell ya!).  Found a machinist who put things on a lathe for me for a couple beers.  Also spent about $3 on a couple extra nuts to jam together to remove the studs.  Needed some basic hand tools, a bunch of patience, and a torch (to get the studs out of the carrier for machining).  

An Avon AV46 Azaro-ST (in the 17" size, mind you) lasted me under 3000 miles on the FJ, and cost $115 or so.  Spun when cold, took forever to warm up, and didn't stick all that well when leaned over.  I understand more sane riders get better mileage from them, but this is just my experience.  For comparison, I just got 6000 miles out of a Bridgestone BT021 on the other bike, and it wasn't down to the wear bars yet (but the front was squaring off at the same mileage, so I replaced both).. that's a $130 tire on the 17" wheel.  Nevermind that it got to temp quickly and inspired confidence while upright or leaned over.

It's up to you if you want to do the conversion or not.  I totally understand if you really like the way the smaller wheels look (taller sidewalls means lotsa meat from a side view!), or if you really prefer to keep the bike as it came from the factory for other reasons... but there's very, very little that you can do to an FJ to make it work better than putting modern rubber under it.  My two cents.

[Ride]

and will most likely go with "Bridgestone Battlax BT-45".  I had these on older fzr that i had and they stick- Dual compound- very soft shoulder tread.

I ran these on my K100 and was very pleased.

- i am very interested in this FZR600 wheel swap though, please tell me more. All FRZ600 wheels fit? My bike is a 86 FJ1200. Caliper still work? Wheel spacers? Basically whats entailed int he swap?

thanks.

Just picked it up with 4700 miles!!!!!

[andyb]

YZF != FZR

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1567.0

[Ride]

YZF != FZR

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1567.0

Awesome, thanks for that.