A 180/55R 17 works just fine for me. ̶O̶o̶o̶o̶o̶p̶s̶!̶ ̶T̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶n̶d̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶s̶i̶z̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶T̶r̶a̶c̶e̶r̶.̶
180/55 R17 Tire Size?
- Thread starter Daytek
- Start date
Great choice! I have these on my FJR and currently on 11,000 miles and still going strong! Great tire for sure.
Bmacleod
Site Supporter
This is good info 'Cat, as I am gathering info for my next tire choice. I am watching the roadtec 01 with interest, but am leery only because of price. Can you share your new supplier with us. Thanks
Sure,, I had been dealing with Canada Motorcycles,, renamed Fortnine, for about 10 years until very recently. I started looking around and found Pete's Superbikes, and he quoted me a great price on the Roadtec-01. The way his website seems to work is you tell him what you are looking for,,, and he sends you a quote. I tried 2 different items, and the quotes came in minutes,, so it must be automated somehow. Shipping is fedex 1-2 days from Montreal. I ordered mine on a Tuesday morning and received the tire Wednesday afternoon. There is some kind of a draw for tires purchased by Canada day,,, I think,,,, so give him a look,,, cheers, Cat'
Canada's #1 Choice For Motorcycle Tires, Parts, Helmets & Apparel - Pete's Superbike
Order the top brands of Motorcycle Tires, Helmets, Jackets, Pants, Boots, Gloves & Accessories with the lowest prices and fast FedEX shipping in Canada! With tons of inventory ready to ship and live stock access from all the big names like Alpinestars, Scott, Michelin, Pirelli, Dunlop, Anlas...
www.petes-superbike.com
Did Ryan F-9 of youtube fame go into business? Or is this a coincidence (and I tend not to believe in those when it comes to branding).Sure,, I had been dealing with Canada Motorcycles,, renamed Fortnine, for about 10 years until very recently.
Canada's #1 Choice For Motorcycle Tires, Parts, Helmets & Apparel - Pete's Superbike
Order the top brands of Motorcycle Tires, Helmets, Jackets, Pants, Boots, Gloves & Accessories with the lowest prices and fast FedEX shipping in Canada! With tons of inventory ready to ship and live stock access from all the big names like Alpinestars, Scott, Michelin, Pirelli, Dunlop, Anlas...
I believe that they just renamed the company,,, and Ryan F-9 seems to be part of the Fortnine era. He does a great job on the videos. Sadly,,, the customer service department decided not to support me on the Z8 issue. I was not looking for an alternate tire supplier,, but they made the choice for me. Cheers,, Cat'
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Bmacleod
Site Supporter
Hey cat, what is your experience with front tire with the roadtec? Do you match tires as far as brands and models. The reason I'm asking is I just put a new Michelin on the back but I'm going to be needing a new front soon and I'm curious about mixing different brands. Do You have any experience with this? I don't want to have to buy a front and a back just to match them if I can mix them without any adverse effect
Since you are close, have you tried GPBIKES as some of their tires are cheaper than Pete’s. Just a thought
Mixing and matching brands and models works for some,, and not for others. I have not been reluctant to do both on various bikes,,, and have had good results. But it has usually been a result of making informed replacement choices, after a recommended tire under-performed. A good example was how my Angel GT front tire cupped it's way to an early death,, while the GT rear did a great job and lasted twice as long. So I replaced the GT front with the Metzeler Z8 M-spec and that front tire ran so well that I have about 1/2 worn out my 2nd one now, and have a new one on hand for a mid-summer change. That front tire has done it's job well for me,, no matter what was on the back. I know this individual performance approach is not comfortable for everyone,,, but it has worked for me,,, cheers,, Cat'
GP Bikes in Whitby occupies a special place in my memory,,, and not in a good way. When I bought my CB1000c, the po had just put new tires on at GP (the bill was in the paperwork he provided me). It turned out the tire was installed backwards. It was poorly balanced. The valve stem leaked because it was all cracked and obviously very old. The rear axle spacers were mixed up, resulting in the tire rubbing against the swingarm. Like,, were they trying to kill me !!?? No,, it was just that they give the mundane job of tire changing to the least experienced and careless shop members,, summer students,, etc. Nope,,, checking with GP never occurred to me,,,, ;-),,, Cat'
Sorry,, I don't have any experience with Michelin tires,,, and so hesitate/can't offer any opinion about what might work, or not work with them,,, cheers,,, Cat'
Uncle Phil
Site Supporter
I've run all sorts of tire combinations on my ST1100s and if you don't tell the bike, it doesn't notice (and neither do I). 
But then I ride like an old man so I'm not pushing it to the edge.
I often run 170/60 on the rear instead of 160/70 and have no trouble with getting my ST1100s on the centerstand or with the sidestand 'lean' angle.
With a 160/60 there were issues in both departments.
Going to the 170/60 gives me a lot more radial options for the rear.
I have changed the front rim on my ST1100 stand to the ABSII rim just for grins and 'swapabilty'.
At the end of the day, if they fit and don't rub and you are not doing track days, few riders will notice much difference.
But then I ride like an old man so I'm not pushing it to the edge.
I often run 170/60 on the rear instead of 160/70 and have no trouble with getting my ST1100s on the centerstand or with the sidestand 'lean' angle.
With a 160/60 there were issues in both departments.
Going to the 170/60 gives me a lot more radial options for the rear.
I have changed the front rim on my ST1100 stand to the ABSII rim just for grins and 'swapabilty'.
At the end of the day, if they fit and don't rub and you are not doing track days, few riders will notice much difference.
I've run all sorts of tire combinations on my ST1100s and if you don't tell the bike, it doesn't notice (and neither do I).
Pointless discussion; in spite of what is said, some try things outside the box and it works well for them or it doesn't.
I’ve mixed brands, bias and radial, and tried different sizes (width and profile), some I liked, some I didn’t. I never felt it was unsafe or even disliked handling enough to dismount ANY tire once I mounted it. Any new tire experiment always felt better in the handling department than the worn tire I had just removed.
Only makes sense that a pointless tire thread would go round and round.
Tom
Bought first ST13 from gpbikes and lots of other stuff. They ship tires for free. Never used their service.
Better than that is my dealer matches Pete’s prices (with shipping) If they install them.
Bmacleod
Site Supporter
Thanks for the info, all. I will check with GPBikes, as they're just around the corner. I have bought my tires in the past from Pete's and I can't complain so far. I have been giving thought to running the roadtecs and if I do decide to go that route I will try the front and hopefully it will get along fine with the Michelin rear until it's time to replace that.
Uncle Phil
Site Supporter
Round and round is better than flat and square … when it comes to tiresOnly makes sense that a pointless tire thread would go round and round.
Tom
Metz does not make a Roadtec-01 front tire size for the ST13. That is why I use the Z8 M-spec front tire. That combination has worked very well for me,,, and I have a spare set in the basement for installation later this summer,,, cheers,, Cat'
Bmacleod
Site Supporter
Yes, I noticed that after I posted last. I am going to order a z8 this week. Thanks
No problem switching brands, have done it for over 50 years.
The Z8 is a very good tire.
Let us know how it all works out.
The Z8 is a very good tire.
Let us know how it all works out.
Is your dealer, GP ?? The same GP that mounted my tire backwards, did a lousy balance, missed the old cracked valve stem,, and put the wheel spacers back wrong with the tire obviously rubbing against the swingarm ?? If so,,, I would watch them like a hawk while they installed your next tire. There is only one guy at my dealership (he is the owner and chief mechanic) that I trust to install and balance my tires on the rims (then I put the wheels back on the bike). And at that,,, I watch them being done to my satisfaction. I completely understand why some owners install and balance their own tires. But I use my dealer because of his experience and top of the line equipment,,, cheers,, CAt'