Wondering if I should change the rear tire? I bought the bike new, but it was a 2009 left-over, so maybe it sat in the crate too long, as far as the stock rear tire is concerned. I currently have 2K miles on the bike.
Wow,they must put better wearing tyres on em these days.I didn't get to the first sevice on my 06 610sm(about 800 miles)The OE tyres were Dunlops,didn't work at all when cold,and when they warmed up they was hotter than any tyre i've come across.I put Dunlop Mutants on next,had a few of these on,great in wet or dry conditions,but only last 1000 miles on the rear.I'm looking for something that will last a bit longer...any suggestions? Yeah,i'd say that tyre looks like its had it Dualie.
My 2008 610SM got about 1200 miles from the stock rear Dunlop and this despite the very gingerly break in period. I would say 2000 miles is pretty good. I got 5000 miles out of the next rear tire, mostly commuting, Bridgestone BT021.
Thanks for the headz up. Been looking around at tires online. So far, looks like I'm going to go with a set of Continental Conti Force Sport Touring Radial Tires, as pictured. However, I want to change the width of the rear from 150 to 160. I'm also thinking about changing the sidewall height of the front tire from 70 to 60. So that would be a 160/60 at rear and a 120/60 at front. I think the bike would look better with a lower front and a wider rear tire. Also, perhaps I'd get better traction in the turns. MY work commute is mostly freeway, so that's part, if not most of my motivation as well. I'm guessing a 160/60 and 120/60 configuration would be better than the stock 150/60 and 120/70 on the highway and on the backroads in the turns. What do you guys think?
I'm at about 1200 miles on the stock set of Pirelli Diablos on my 630 sms, they are grippy all around and they still look almost new. Definitely no flat spot, i didn't buy this bike for the freeway
The Bridgestone BT021 I had was a 160/60, and it cleared okay. I believe that most front tires (sportbike) are 120/70. You might be a bit off the reservation with a 120/60.
Dualie; the transition from stocks to the Conti's in the right size will already give you extra grip and feel You can fit a 160 in the rear but unless you change your ream to a 5" it will not work properly, because the profile on the OEM 4.whatever is going to be pinched and oval instead of round shaped I've got the Conti's (150/60) and I like them way better then the OEM's on the road
I'm running the Conti SM tires on my SM610 in the stock size and have no problem with traction. If the picture you posted of your rear tire actually has that wide of chicken strips - going a size wider is not going to help. Go with the stock size Conti's and you will rock.
Thanks for the feedback everyone. You guys are great. So, "Muddy Waters", you say that the stock 4.25 inch wide rear rim will not "properly" seat a 160 tire? Man, didn't know that. Thought a 160 would work [properly], as some have suggested? With that in mind, I guess I'm forced to reconsider a 150 for the rear tire? There's more of a consensus on the front tire, so as all have indicated, I'll go with a 120/70. Also "Muddy", did you get the conti motions or the conti force? Any pics of them on your bike? Hey, or anyone else for that matter, as I'd like to see what Continentals [motions or force] look like new and with some miles on them. So if anyone has pics, please post.
I can't speak from personal experience as I'm not done converting my 610 to an SM, but in discussing the conversion with other SM owners, rapid wear of the rear tire is typical and it's not specific to 610s - happens on DRZs and other SMs, too.
Only if you ride like a bat, use the rear brake too much, don't shift smoothly, accelerate early on corner exits, etc. Sure it's fun and that's why you bought this kinda bike, but the point is that you CAN make the tires last a lot longer... Also, they will flat spot fairly quickly on the freeway, due to the softer compounds and narrower profile as compared to larger bikes.
My Triumph Street Triple came with Dunlop Qualifiers 120/70/17 on the front & 180/55/17 on the rear. I got over 8,000 miles on the back tire but changed both tires just the same, even though the front tire had some life left in it. I put the Dunlops Q2's on again. I don't do burn-outs or wheelies and not too much freeway riding. Mainly country and mountain twisties.
