KZR's Bikes of the Month for 2024

ribbed tires

More
19 Feb 2006 10:42 #24878 by CTSZ1
ribbed tires was created by CTSZ1
At the risk of being redundant:) I wanted to get everyone's opinion on ribbed versus non-ribbed tires.
wiredgeorge gave his valuable opinion that the necessity of ribbed tires is past with today's tires. But some folks (Dave Marsden in particular)advocate still using them. I searched the archives and found nothing. So what gives? Is this a non-issue or is one style better than the other? I need to buy tires!

Thanks for the indulgence.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • RetroRiceRocketRider
  • Offline
  • User
  • ...bring in the machine that goes PING!
More
19 Feb 2006 10:50 #24881 by RetroRiceRocketRider
Replied by RetroRiceRocketRider on topic ribbed tires
I would say that it depends on not just weather conditions (ribbed tires disipate water better), but also on road surface conditions.
I'm not sure about other states, but here in So Calif freeways and some city roads have what are called "rain groves" cut into them, which helps keep water from pooling up and causing vehicles to hydro-plane.
Ribbed tires catch those groves, and give a motorcycle rider the sense that the bike is wandering/swerving (the front tire "tracks" in the groves, while the rear tire does not = wandering/swerving).

I hope the explanation from my point of view helps. :)

Covina, So Calif!
78 KZ650-B2 = SOLD
84 ZN700 LTD = SOLD
84 ZX750 GPz = SOLD
89 GSX1100F Katana = SLEEPING :-/
20 VN1700 Vulcan Vaquero (the Blue Cowboy)
Looking for my next project KZ

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
19 Feb 2006 11:04 #24887 by fixer5000
Replied by fixer5000 on topic ribbed tires
CTSZ1 wrote:

At the risk of being redundant:) I wanted to get everyone's opinion on ribbed versus non-ribbed tires.
wiredgeorge gave his valuable opinion that the necessity of ribbed tires is past with today's tires. But some folks (Dave Marsden in particular)advocate still using them. I searched the archives and found nothing. So what gives? Is this a non-issue or is one style better than the other? I need to buy tires!

Thanks for the indulgence.


after trying both id say yes the ribs do catch road surface grooves more so than a non ribbed tire. ive used ribs up until late last yr and switched to dunlops without the ribs. so far i like them no issues yet...steve

1978 kz650b pretty much stock
\\\\\\\" get there fast but arrive alive \\\\\\\"
massachusetts

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
19 Feb 2006 21:14 #25051 by apeman
Replied by apeman on topic ribbed tires
When I got my first KZ it had a ribbed front tire. It did the same 'catching' over the rain grooves in the concrete road surface. If they scored the rain groves to perfectly follow the road direction it wouldn't seem so bad, but they don't. The grooves themselves tend to wander all over the lane. Besides, I would rather control my direction, rather than have the road grooves control the steering. I have since replaced the tires with Bridgestone Spitfires, and the bike behaves much better (not a ribbed tire design).

Post edited by: apeman, at: 2006/02/20 00:16

Petaluma and Truckee, CA -- member since Jan. 23, 2003;
PREVIOUS KZs: 1980 KZ750H with 108,000 miles; 1980 KZ750E with 28,000 miles; and KZ750H street/cafe project, all sold a few years back.

This is what I do for fun, not for work. It is art, with a little engineering thrown in.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Powered by Kunena Forum

If you like KZR Please consider making a donation. Thank you.

KZRider is free, but not without cost.

Please consider chipping in a few bucks to help cover the cost of running the KZR servers.