Hi Guys,

I'm new, just bought an 09 KLX 250SF and loving it so far. it needed a little TLC so i am bringing it back to life and i need new tires. I have searched these forums ALOT and not found exactly what i need.

Here's where i am at, i have decided on the Avon Disteniza's and i know i need the 120/70/70 front but the rear is the question. Stock size is 130/70/17 and the Distenzias are not available in that size. They are available as:

130/80/17
140/80/17
150/70/17
150/60/17

I am not sure which size i need to go with, can someone with experience please help? i have seen people on here go with the 150/60 and the 130/80 but not sure. I would like a bit of a wider rear but not sure if the 140/80 would be too tall, but is the 150/60 too short? should i go 150/70 as that is the correct stock profile?

I appreciate in advance any help you can provide. Thanks!

 

I would recommend you look at your rim width and this chart for the Distanzia to make sure you don't get too wide a tire for your rim width.

Look at tire width to see where you are at per what is on the bike right now. A 130 isn't always a 130 and a 140 isn't always a 140, there is a general tolerance range manufacturers will work within. Look at diameter to see just how much taller the tire may be.

One reason to be careful with rim width is radials tend to pinch in the middle of the tread, putting less rubber on the road, where a bias ply will have more flex in the sidewall allowing more pinching in without losing too much rubber on the ground.

One more thing to consider - are you going for appearance (looks cool) or performance? Wider is not always better.

Looks calls for fat tires. With the 250 there is no benefit beyond appearance for the widest tires. Just make sure the tire widths are suited for your wheel widths to avoid wonky handling or bad wear. If you find a wider tire that fits the rim hits the chain you can put the bike on a stand, then carefully spin the tire with the engine, while holding a sanding block on the edge to gain clearance. Of course avoiding that is another reason why to run stock size.

Performance calls for lightest weight, least friction, and just enough tire to stick. A 250 doesn't require much, so from a performance standpoint the ideal would be a 110/70 or 110/80 front and a 130/80 rear. The lighter weight eats less power to spin and there is plenty of traction for the task. I can tell you that from experience running dual sport tires in a 90/90 and 130/80 on my 650 running with my supermoto buddies. When I finally lace up a set of 17s for the 650 I will run a 110/70 and a 140/70 on the 650, I know that is adequate and will look fine.

Other pluses for a slightly narrower tire are lower cost and they will work better on dirt/gravel if you go there. The narrower tire can get down through loose stuff easier than fatter tires - the reason for 90/90-21s.

Hope that provides more information to make an educated decision, regardless of which way you go.

 

Thanks for the reply and there is a lot of great information there, very helpful. My issue comes from a very limited set of tires that are somewhat dirt worthy but mostly streetable (80/20 or 90/10) as i do not want knobbies nor do i want street only as i will ride some gravel and dirt roads at times.

The tire selection is virtually limited to the Avon's based on my research if i want a matched set front to rear. That means i need to go with the sizes they have. I believe the SF rear rim width is 4.0 which is larger than the recommended size for the 140/80 and within range for the 150/60 or 70. i was hoping someone on here has made the swap to these tires and can tell me exactly what size they chose and why.

I am looking to buy the tires ASAP and cant place the order until i know for sure i am picking the correct sizes.

Thanks

 

If you do have an MT4.00-17 on the back it appears the 140/80 or the 150/60 are the ones to consider, width is suitable as possible with rim size considered. About 3/4" wider than the 130. Question will be what is the true width of the OEM tire versus the Distanzia. From there, how close does that put the tire to the chain. But like I said you could easily block sand about 1/4" off the left edge without any damage or decrease in performance. My friend had the 150 hit by the chain on his bike in spite of apparent clearance on the chain - the chain has some side to side movement when running. No real problem, just markings on the tire.

Both my friend with his 400 and my brother when he had his Ulysses use the Distanzias. A good choice for pavement with some dirt/gravel and groomed trails. The DRz does fine with them everywhere we've gone with it.

 

Bump it up, anyone that has these tires care to comment?

Thanks

 

Have you tried checking out JP Cycles. I usually purchase my tires there.

 

Thanks, it's not a problem of finding the tires, it is more a question of the right size. I was hoping someone with these tires can comment for me since i am worried going to the 80 profile would feel a bit too tall in the rear.

 

The wider tires will slow the handling a bit. If you want to get it back a bit, slide the forks up in the triple clamps lowering the front a bit, pulling in the rake and shortening the trail.

I don't think any company is making any tire quite like the Distanzia. Kind of a shame.

The thing is there is a 130/80R17 available to go with the 120/70R17. Be sure they are both R - radial, there is a bias 130 that you don't want. Go to the Avon site and see what is there You may need to go through a dealer or independent shop to get them since they may not sell well enough for the discount houses to sell them. You could do the 130 with the 120 and do fine.

Ask for a price break or tell them what you'd be willing to pay, most dealers are willing to compete with the discount houses if possible. I've bought all my tires at a dealership, getting similar pricing without any shipping without asking. I have gotten price matching on helmets by telling them what I was willing to pay. Here's a link where you will find the set for around $310.00. I'm betting you can do that well or better at a dealer if you ask.

 

I am thinking of getting the AD 140/80-17 rear and 120/70-17 front for my SF when my new rear tire is worn out, expecting the front to need it around the same time. 140-120 rear-front seems to be the good set up from opinions I have been reading. $281 at motorcycle superstore.

 

hey Snappster!

I have the SF also and I have been running avon distanzias in 120/70/17 front and 150/60/17 rear in SM compound on the stock rims for 4 years without any fitment issue. I get about 4500mi out of a rear and 6000mi from a front.

Just to warn you... in the rain the rear breaks loose easy but the front sticks great. I think its the larger/wider blocks on the rear, not sure.

Hope that helps!