Tire question?

I need two new tires for my kz650. I came across a new tire today, it's new but I think it was in stock for some time. I could have bought it for $20 bucks.The size is 350x18. The tire on her now is400x18. Is this tire too small for the bike? I need it for a rear tire.

Hi Larry,

Yes! don't mess with a smaller tire.

KZCSI

i put a "slightly" larger than stock tire on my kz900
and it looks puny! this bikes were made for a fatter, meaner tire.

Hi Arbosum,

Sorry Dude but I disagree!

These bikes were made for stock tires. You can of course put any number of size tires on them if you have enough time, money and inclination. I'll tell you that unless you have a real reason to do so your handling will suffer.

You can always choose style over substance but I'll tell you that I've never ridden a 900 that needed more rubber to keep traction.

My Opinion.

KZCSI
Lowly Member

u will lose clearance but more importantly u will lose mileage. u will b constantly going uphill

I think fatter tires look cool. Haa. In the past, I have taken the stock sizes and gone up one size just to get a little more width. I am going to throw a 130 on the rear here at the next tire change though.

Just do whatever makes you happy.

I put a 130 on the rear mag of my 650 Custom last year and it is the perfect match. The 130 is the size that Kawasaki should have put on originally instead of the little skinny 110 tire. If I am not mistaken they put this meatier size 130 on the 650 SR model with the siamese exhaust.

Cheers-Colin Firth-Ontario Canada

650 SR had a 130 tire on a 3.00x16 rim.

IMHO, staying within the tire manufacturer's recommended rim width for the size tire is a really good idea, and a 2.15 rim is entirely to narrow for a 130 tire (that calls for a 3" rim).
A 3.50 tire would make a good front tire for your bike, but not a rear one.

Just my $0.00000002

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