Page 1 of 1
Tire Differences
Posted: 11:08 am Mar 27 2005
by karbon_dunn
My '93 KDX currently has a rear Dunlop D756 100/100x18 and a front Metzler Unicross 90/90x21. Buykawasaki.com has the factory of 100/100x18 rear and 80/100x21. In looking into getting new tires I am looking at a Michelin S12 front and M12 rear. The 100/100x18 I have not found anywhere yet so I am asking what the differences are in a definition sense of say a 130/18x18 and a 120/19x18. Is the tire descriptor the same as a car, my corvette has 275/35ZR18 front 325/30ZR19 rear and know that that relates to tread width, sidewall and rim. Also what would be a recommened generalized spec be. I guess I would ask what is the difference between a 130/18x18 and a 120/19x18 and same for front. Advantages disadvantages etc.
Thanks guys!
Posted: 11:22 am Mar 27 2005
by Indawoods
I think it goes width first and then height percentage to width. 100/80 is 100 wide and 80% as tall.
I THINK !
Michelin Conversion Chart
Michelin size 120/80x19 = 100/90x19 Conventional sizing
Michelin size 120/90x18 = 100/100x18 Conventional sizing
Michelin size 130/70x19 = 110/90x19 Conventional sizing
Michelin size 130/80x18 = 110/100x18 Conventional sizing
Michelin size 140/80x18 = 120/100x18 Conventional sizing
Michelin size 90/90x21 = 80/100x21 Conventional sizing
Discussion was here:
http://kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=335
Posted: 11:24 am Mar 27 2005
by karbon_dunn
Thanks Inda!
Posted: 09:37 am Mar 29 2005
by PhilJensen
You might want to reconsider the M-12 rear. S12 rear works better and seems to last just as long.
HTH,
Phil
Posted: 10:01 am Mar 29 2005
by Indawoods
Yeah...S12 rear... M12 front.
Posted: 12:04 pm Mar 29 2005
by fuzzy
I prolly missed something, and could research it but I'm lazy. Why the M over the S on the front?
Posted: 12:35 pm Mar 29 2005
by Indawoods
farmerj wrote:I hear most people put M12's on the front but I don't know why since you usually get 3 times the wear out of a front than a rear.
I've done a lot of searching re: "tires". What I understand is that people run the M12 NOT because it lasts longer...but because it grips better. The S12 has a "sideways knob" in its tread pattern & doesn't hang on as well as the M12 in some situations, according to reports - not my "real world" experience!
Posted: 12:56 pm Mar 29 2005
by canyncarvr
re: 'I guess I would ask what is the difference between a 130/18x18 and a 120/19x18 and same for front.'
Neither of those are valid sizes. Typos? I don't know.
The tire sizing does fit/relate to automobile tires...namely width first, ratio second, wheel size third.
Where the confusion comes in is the 'old' vs: 'new' method of sizing. At least Michelin's sizing is different. Don't know about other european outfits..like Pirelli.
I finally found another rider (local shop owner..MX racer guy)that has the same opinion as I do regarding the S12. Traction is great...brakes like it's on snot. You actually speed up when you put on the binders! But, throw a roost? Oh yeah. About 10" wide!! Sounds like a newly sharpened rip profile chain cutting the air (chain saw). The thing actually moans!
Posted: 01:24 pm Mar 29 2005
by Indawoods
re:Braking
Again... different schools of thought on this too!
85% of effective braking is front and 15% rear. This is my school of thought and found this true of street and dirt. The rears have to have some effectiveness but not nearly as much as the fronts.
Posted: 01:34 pm Mar 29 2005
by PhilJensen
I like the S12 front and rear. S12 seems better to me in the front than M12 too.
As for the breaking problems, never had a problem there, but then I like brake sliding almost as much as power sliding ;)
Phil