Aggressive Riding Tire Tech Thread

123698 Views 275 Replies 102 Participants Last post by Malice101, Jul 19, 2015

GenPatton

Discussion Starter · Dec 13, 2012

The wonderful thing about lightweight bikes is how easy it is to throw them around. Members such as Peanut_EOD race lightweight bikes, and with enough practice+skill, you can even compete, and beat, larger supersport bikes in the twisties.

However, because the Ninja 300 is considered a beginners bike, and is a cheap solution to getting on 2 wheels, the stock tires that come from the factory are considered very bad if to be used as an aggressive tire.

This thread is to give you all the information you need to know about what tires are the best performing tires that fit on the Ninja 300 without any modification.

If you plan on hitting mountain twisties or taking your Ninja 300 to the track, you should consider the list of tires below. Tires are one of the most essential parts of your motorcycle, and the difference between good and bad tires could mean the difference between life and death. (Or a rashed motorcycle)

*Unsure if 120's fit on the front tire, and if they would have a negative effect. Stay tuned for clarification*
Front Performance Tires
Diablo Rosso II
110/70R17 ~$99
110/70ZR17 ~$108

Battlax S20
110/70ZR17 ~$108

Battlax BT-003
110/70ZR17 ~$103

Battlax BT-016 (Being Replaced by S20's)
110/70ZR17 ~$95

Rear Performance Tires
Diablo Rosso II
140/70ZR17 ~$120
150/60ZR17 ~$130

Battlax S20
150/60ZR17 ~$131

Battlax BT-003
140/70ZR17 ~$120
150/60ZR17 ~$131

Battlax BT-016 (Being Replaced by S20's)
150/60ZR17 ~$115

Companies Which Sell Tires Listed Above
RevZilla.com **
SportbikeTrackGear.com ← Contact [email protected] for possible better pricing!
Motorcycle-Superstore.com
BikeBandit.com
MotoSport.com

** = Cheapest Prices Found

Have a pair of tires you feel fits the needs of aggressive riding on the street and at the track? Post up your claim to have it added to the list above!

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Reactions: 5

261 - 276 of 276 Posts

Team_Green

· #261 · Jul 27, 2014

Stock tires can't be that bad. I ride them pretty aggressively on the street.

Reactions: 1

twistywrist

· #262 · Jul 27, 2014

Team_Green said:
Stock tires can't be that bad. I ride them pretty aggressively on the street.

Have you tried stickier tires though? It's all relative... You might be able to ride much more aggressively on different tires. I thought I was being aggressive with lean angle until I got my Pirellis, they gave me SO MUCH more confidence to push it harder. I may have technically been able to lean just as far at the same speed with the stock tires, but I never would've had the confidence to do so, or it would've taken much longer. The stickier tires just feel so much more planted and inspire a lot more confidence. Not to mention the fact that they have a steeper profile, so the bike flicks into corners even more quickly than before. For only $200 it's a huge difference IMO.

Team_Green

· #263 · Jul 28, 2014

Very good point.

I'd get a set but it's pretty much August an Canadian riding season is over in 2 months. Next year.

jdodd

· #264 · Jul 31, 2014

Team_Green said:
Very good point.

I'd get a set but it's pretty much August an Canadian riding season is over in 2 months. Next year.

Haha, I know the feeling. I live in Maine and its been so freaking rainy/cold this year!

I want to pick up a new set of tires but keep holding back haha. Good winter project when the bigger sales hit.

accumack

· #265 · Jul 31, 2014

I have no doubt that the Pirelli Diablo Rosso II have more grip and will buy them when my IRCs need to be replaced. But I have not yet found what they won't handle. I ride with some very fast guys through the canyons when the tires get hot the IRCs have really good grip. I think most of the lack of confidence is people don't check their tire pressure and they are either under-inflated or overinflated.

twistywrist

· #266 · Jul 31, 2014

accumack said:
I have no doubt that the Pirelli Diablo Rosso II have more grip and will buy them when my IRCs need to be replaced. But I have not yet found what they won't handle. I ride with some very fast guys through the canyons when the tires get hot the IRCs have really good grip. I think most of the lack of confidence is people don't check their tire pressure and they are either under-inflated or overinflated.

I was pretty meticulous about tire pressures, I experimented with several different setups too and none if them felt as planted as the Pirellis. It could be that I just got more confident in general and the DRIIs are a placebo, but I swear they feel far better than the IRCs. I may put the IRCs back on after I wear out the DRIIs just to compare them again.

Hijinks

· #267 · Jul 31, 2014

I haven't noticed a 'stickier' feeling using dr2s. The only thing I notice is the steeper profile. I kind of wish I had just run my stock tires until they were totally dead. Oh well!

Malice101

· #268 · Aug 10, 2014 (Edited)

Metzeler Sportec M5 rear tire is shot...about 5500 miles on it. Yes it is worn flat because I commute almost daily, 92 miles round trip. I replaced my chain and rear sprocket about 2 weeks ago and it had no signs that it exhibits now so it goes quick when it goes :biggrin: I have recently found a better route to and from work that almost cuts my straight line freeway ride in half and makes for a good time so I'll make better use of the side walls on my next one...

Regardless of the somewhat short tire life I still enjoy these tires immensely. You do have to go one up from stock as they don't make a 140 for the rear. I'll swap out the rear and replace both next time around and may try something different but for now I'm sticking with the M5...

EDIT: Okay...anybody have a link to an online retailer that carries a good selection of tires? I can't find the M5 in 150/60/17 anywhere! Rev Z, Motorcycle Super Store (where I bought these originally)...nowhere!

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bish

· #269 · Aug 10, 2014

Malice101 said:
Metzeler Sportec M5 rear tire is shot...

Okay...anybody have a link to an online retailer that carries a good selection of tires? I can't find the M5 in 150/60/17 anywhere...

Malice, BikeBandit is a good place to grab them. Pretty sure they will price match (not that their prices are at all bad, mind you) if need be, and shipping is free.

http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/metzeler-sportec-m5-interact-motorcycle-tire

~bish

Malice101

· #270 · Aug 10, 2014

bish said:
Malice, BikeBandit is a good place to grab them. Pretty sure they will price match (not that their prices are at all bad, mind you) if need be, and shipping is free.

http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/metzeler-sportec-m5-interact-motorcycle-tire

~bish

No stock brother/sister on the 150/60/17...already looked there. Everybody has them listed as back order or out of stock. M5 is the only tire I've found in a Metzeler in 150/60/17 and I just had to be different/try something other than Pirelli DRII

Truly a great tire but I had not anticipated not being able to find a replacement. And now I find myself in that exact predicament!

I may just throw a DRII on the rear to finish off my front M5 then go for a matched set next round.

twistywrist

· #271 · Aug 10, 2014

Hijinks said:
I haven't noticed a 'stickier' feeling using dr2s. The only thing I notice is the steeper profile. I kind of wish I had just run my stock tires until they were totally dead. Oh well!

What pressures doyou have them set at? Maybe you need to lower them a bit?

ionized

· #272 · Aug 15, 2014

Hijinks said:
I haven't noticed a 'stickier' feeling using dr2s. The only thing I notice is the steeper profile. I kind of wish I had just run my stock tires until they were totally dead. Oh well!

I'm at ~8,700 miles on the stock and definitely biting into the wear marks on the rear. Going to finally change them soon lol

Monochrome

· #273 · Dec 20, 2014

Guess we can add Bridgestone S20 Evo in stock sizing 110F/140R to the list? More choices yay!

rpaulo

· #274 · Dec 20, 2014

How do you know which tires are better? Where are the benchmarks?

Rugged

· #275 · Jul 4, 2015

Just ordered Diablo Rosso II's
120/60zr17 Front
150/60zr17 Rear

Excited to see what it will be like to lean with confidence on this bike..

Malice101

· #276 · Jul 19, 2015

Just want to update regarding Metzeler and why I couldn't find another M5. They are no longer and have gone to M7. Between then and now I did go with PDR II's. Honestly, I didn't get a chance to push the Pirelli's (not like I'm a bad ass knee dragger).

My company moved and with it came a new 150 mile commute. And in that commute it's basically all freeway/long sweepers even through my desert portion. At the end of the day with all the miles I had no desire to go canyon carving on the weekends. The rear Pirelli wore out real fast so once again
I needed new tires.

This time around I was going to go with stock size but wasn't inspired by my choices. Enter Metzeler with the M7 going one up over factory. And once again, I love these new tires. Tire pressure at Kawasaki spec'd 28F/32R is nice on the freeway and damned grippy in the canyon. It's amazing what a good set of tires does for a bike...

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