gotta replace the rear tire : Kawasaki ZX Forums: Kawasaki Ninja Forum

txbikerdude · 10-16-2009, 09:09 PM

gotta replace the rear tire... had a nail in it... ouch!!

Im gonna cheap out and have the dealer replace the tire... assuming I use the "stock" tire, how much should I expect this to set me back?

1882 · 10-16-2009, 09:16 PM

Man, I gotta tell ya, you'll spend as much or more at the dealer buying a tire from them and having them install it on the bike as you will by buying a quality tire like the Michelin Pilot Power 2CT and taking the wheel off yourself & have them install the tire on the wheel by itself. Do your 14 a favor and go with a 190/55-17, better turn in as well as a bit of speedo correction by the added height. You'll thank me, I promise!

txbikerdude · 10-16-2009, 09:21 PM

thanks for the advice. I only had 400 miles on it... it SUCKS!!

BULLDOG · 10-16-2009, 09:23 PM

Its worth slappin on a new one, personally i would not get the power pilots, i would go Road pilots, by the time you have fucked around doing the cheapest route , you'll be back and spend the same again, grab a new one.
My last power pilots did not fair to well. Road pilots are way better for everyday and touring.

MotorcycleFred · 10-16-2009, 10:12 PM

Another vote for Pilot Roads...

They stick very well and last a long time...

OldPete2112 · 10-16-2009, 10:20 PM

Well everyone has their favourite tires right? Mine at this time are Pirelli Diablo Rosso's, plenty sticky for my type of riding.

My best friend who is 75 says "never compromise on tires and brakes, get the best you can as that is the only thing holding you to the road".

Hard to argue that.

OP

phatphil · 10-16-2009, 11:23 PM

have pr2's front and rear. for me, the stock rear got pretty slippery as it neared the wear bars, especially on bad pavement. imo, better to change sooner rather than later. changed the rear first as it wore quicker and the front was back ordered anyways. just the rear made a nice improvement. when added the front, gave much more confidence, and the bike just seemed to flow into corners nicer. very happy with them in all conditions. would never go back to what was stock, even if much cheaper....the extra cost, which cant be much, really lets you enjoy what the engineers of this bike had in mind.

mad · 10-17-2009, 05:09 AM

My vote is for the BT-016 in 190/55...or any rear tire in 190/55. I got a set of BT-016s installed for $260.

I bet you don't get out the dealer's door for under $350...for just the stock rear tire.

185EZ · 10-17-2009, 05:14 AM

I also have the bt016s and they're great. No matter what you get, don't go with the stock 014s. You'll be happier with anything else.
If you have a cycle gear close to you, they're having a huge sale Oct 24 and 25. You have to bring the tire and wheel in to them but they can mount it and balance it for (i think) $20.

Mike P · 10-17-2009, 05:41 AM

The PR2's are holding up well to the abuse I inflict on them.

DEK · 10-17-2009, 10:02 PM

Just for the heck of it I went to my local dealer to check the price on a Pilot Road II for my 14 and to my surprise they had it in stock and the price was only $169.99! Hell that is cheaper than any that I found on eBay! So don't be so quick to count your dealer out on everything. And yes,that was $169.99 for a 190/50 rear tire.

Mike P · 10-18-2009, 07:09 AM

If the dealer moves enough tires to get better discounts for bulk orders they may very well be competitive on pricing. Just don't take the whole bike in for a tire swap.....that's where you definitely get burned.

Luckily I've got a friend that runs a small shop that gives me deals. I take the whole bike, get two new PR2's installed for $300 even out the door.

185EZ · 10-18-2009, 07:21 AM

I went to the dealer I bought my bike thinking I might get a fair deal on a new set of tires. $580. Actually every accessory, clothing, helmets etc were double what I could buy them elsewhere for.

ezmport · 10-18-2009, 07:30 AM

i am running the 2ct's and paid 450 out the door installed and everything.. i didn't think that was too bad. in any event tires seem pretty good, but i may check out the road pilots next go around

EagleTwoThree · 10-18-2009, 11:07 AM

I just found a nail in my rear stock tire (3000 mi on it). I'm not losing pressure, but I'm not going to chance it, because I do some agressive riding.

I'm going to replace the front and back with Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's. If they wear out too fast, I'll change to the Pilot Road 2's.