Tire Sizes KZ1000

I have an 85 KZ1000P and need to get new tires for it. I would like to get the widest tires possible for both the front and rear. I have the stock cast rims 18" front & rear with no frame mods.

Thanks for the help,
:whistle:

I'm not sure what your rims sizes are. You can dig around on Avon's motorcycle tire site. For their tires, they list recommended and min spec rim sizes that can carry the tire. As a general rule, you can usually get away with one size up or down. That is, my kz1000 specs a rear of 110/90-18, a 120/90 will fit. Changing things too much though will affect handling, usually for the worse.

Besides, with our older machines using new rubber in the original size, still provides better grip an tread life than the original, just because of advances in rubber technology.

Hope this helps...Sam

I think the P model has the widest front rim ever installed on a 1000, I think it is 2.5" wide. And I believe the rear is 3.00" wide. Take a look at the rims and the size should be cast into them, something like 18x2.50 on the front, and 18x3.00 on the rear.

Then you can go to the tire manufacturers web sites, and they usually have a list of the recommended wim widths for the various models of tires they make.

As an example, Dunlop lists the following recommended rim widths for GT501 tires in the 18" size.

100/90-18 2.50"
130/80-18 3.00"

www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tirecatalog_tire.asp?id=8

Thanks!
I have found the rim sizes;
Front 18 2.15
Rear 18 2.50

This is my first motorcycle so I'm sorry for the basic questions.
With these rim sizes what would be the largest tire without rubbing I can use?

Thanks,

Post edited by: Allshookup, at: 2005/10/12 08:48

Rubbing is not really the problem, squirrelly is the problem, and not you, the bike

If you put a wide tire on a narrow rim, the sidewalls are angled inward, and it will make riding the bike an interesting experience, one you probably will not want to repeat.
Personally, I would stay within the manufactures recommended rim widths.

I'm surprised that you don't have 2.50 and 3.00 rims, it seems like most (if not all) the Police 1000 wheels I see listed on eBay are 2.50 and 3.00. Even my 83 GPz750 has an 18x3.00 rear.

I took a look at the Bridgestone BT45 Battleaxe tires on Bridgestones site www.motorcycle-karttires.com/ and it looks like a 110/90/18 front and 130/80/18 rear should work.

Post edited by: steell, at: 2005/10/12 17:13