Should I sell my bike because I can't find the rear tire for it?

It is desirable to be close, but it's not always possible. Here are two possibles. A little extra width probably won't be a problem

Bridgestone has a 150/60-18 in a BT014
Metzler has 160/60ZR18TL(70W) in a ME24 or ME26
Either would probably work
Rocksolid

I'm confused about the size numbers. I thought it was width (in millimeters - measured side to side)/thickness (millimeters - measured from rim or tire's inner diameter to outer diameter) but then some call the second number "ratio" some call it "profile" so I'm lost.
If I was right then wouldn't the number that can change is the second number? As in I can go for 140/70/18? I mean I haven't done tires in different sizes before so I have no idea, just used common sense.

YF

YamahaFan said:

Yeah weird. I asked local store, searched on Google and checked various websites, even tried Ebay. Maybe I wasn't looking at the right place. Few websites only list tires by brand but not by size. I can order OEM tire but it's $300. I mean come on, it's about the cost of my bike already!!!

By the way it's 1996 Yamaha FZR600 and the rear tire size is 140/60/18.

Any inputs?

Thanks,

YF

Click to expand...

American Moto tire has them for $78:

http://www.americanmototire.com/index.html?lang=en-us&target=d1540.html

I've bought my last two sets from them(one of which was that exact tire for my XJ600), good company.

Do you still have the OEM Dunlop radial on the front?

nope the OEM is long gone. How the hell did you search for it? I tried to duplicate that for the front tire but found none. I can probably get it somewhere else but why not get them at the same place?

YF

YamahaFan said:

nope the OEM is long gone. How the hell did you search for it? I tried to duplicate that for the front tire but found none. I can probably get it somewhere else but why not get them at the same place?

YF

Click to expand...

I actually did a Yahoo search on FZR600 Sportmax. I'd give them a call since that tire shows in stock, but isn't easy to find on the web site. They may have them but don't put them on the web site. I bought front and rear last summer when I converted the XJ to radials. If you think yours is hard to find, they made fewer of the Seca II, that's an even harder size. Fortunately the tire from the FZR will fit, which is why I converted.

Give them a call, I have found them really easy to deal with. Let me know what you find out.

Thanks Uesque. I don't care what they say about and what I said about you before, you're the best
Can't call them right now since they open at 10AM PST. I'll let you know.

Thanks again,

YF

Here is a tire size info page. Thought it might be of interest.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-tires/tire-data.htm
Rocksolid

YamahaFan said:

Thanks Uesque. I don't care what they say about and what I said about you before, you're the best
Can't call them right now since they open at 10AM PST. I'll let you know.

Thanks again,

YF

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I've been in your (18") shoes, I feel your pain. I sold the XJ earlier this year, or it would be about time for a new rear. Tire that is. Your rims are a little wider than mine were, you could probably go up a size or two if you had to. I think the FZR750 used a 160/60. 140 was as far as I could go on the Seca. Eventually, it may be cheaper to buy new rims and get a 17 for the back.

Thanks rocksolid - that explains a lot.

Uesque - that's very tempting. Which elements should I check to see which rim fits?

Thanks,

YF

YamahaFan said:

Uesque - that's very tempting. Which elements should I check to see which rim fits?

Click to expand...

I never got to that point myself, so I didn't do any research on it. I would think that the FZR would still have some aftermarket wheel choices available. Maybe something off of the later YZF's would work.

lol this sucks - I can't find the front tire that goes with that rear tire. I've heard and read in here that different types might fit too, but not sure what I should go for that wouldn't make a big difference.
I also called the place up to see if they could help but no one picked up the phone so it went to voicemail and guess what - THE FRIGGING MAILBOX IS FULL!!! Someone must be having a long vacation.
Anyway I sent them an email and right now waiting for reply.

YF

YamahaFan said:

lol this sucks - I can't find the front tire that goes with that rear tire. I've heard and read in here that different types might fit too, but not sure what I should go for that wouldn't make a big difference.
I also called the place up to see if they could help but no one picked up the phone so it went to voicemail and guess what - THE FRIGGING MAILBOX IS FULL!!! Someone must be having a long vacation.
Anyway I sent them an email and right now waiting for reply.

YF

Click to expand...

I would think that any Dunlop sport radial in that size should be OK. The front has lots of choices, it's a standard 17" size. Check out the FZR forums or archives and see what they have to say.

I read an interesting post from a man who put an auto tire on his back wheel. They call it "going over to the dark side." He claims there is a greater footprint on the road when going around a corner than there is with a regular bike tire. He said that if we didn't believe it, go through some water on the street and then make a tight turn. It will prove it. I've thought about using a car tire myself, because I can't see paying over $200 for a bike tire that lasts around 10,000 miles (if I'm lucky) when I can get one for around $100 that will last for 40,000 miles. HE claims the handling characteristics are such that one must hold the bike in the corners rather than getting the angle and relaxing. After riding a few miles on the car tire, he claims he can't tell the difference.

yeah I read that one too, and I'd say it's a cool idea. I'm just not sure how it'll be on a sport bike, especially when I like to do 45 degrees leaning.

YF

If you look at the Harley Big Dogs, their back wheel is really wide and looks like a car tire. I know they're not, but as wide as they are, they look pretty nice on those bikes. I would think a car tire would look about the same.

I'm with YamahaFan, I don't think a car tire will work real well with a sport bike. That and being he needs one 18". My Honda has an 18" rear but it's not very wide. Even so, a new tire even at $300 is cheaper than another bike.

I'd think the car tire wouldn't be a good match. When you're cornering with a sport bike, you're riding on the side of the tire. In a car, the suspension works to keep the road contact patch on the asphalt. No such thing with the sport bike, so if you came up on a sudden sharp turn, you'd have a tough time getting a solid patch on the asphalt ... probably end up riding on the edge of the tread and partially on the sidewall.

Guy, this guy claims there's more footprint (patch, as you call it) on the ground than a regular motorcycle tire. He also said in the rain and mud, it has more traction than a regular bike tire. I did think about the 18" thing, and admittedly, it would be difficult to find one to fit. Car tires are made to give in the sides to keep the patch on the ground. If not, they would skid every time you went around a corner. The rider who wrote the message said car tires actually hold better on a curve than bike tires. I haven't tried it yet, so admittedly, I don't know......

That's an interesting idea, but I wouldn't bet my bike on it