Im an idiot - Tyre sizes.... zx6r front wheel.

[owl10]

Good evening / morning all.

Not so much the usual what tyres shall I buy thread....

I was wondering if someone could tell me what difference I would experience by having a 120 /60/ 17 front tyre as opposed to a 120 /70/ front tyre on my 2000 ZX6R J1?

The reason I ask, and the reason for the thread title, is I've taken off my tyres to get my wheels powdercoated - and now cant remember what i was running, though am sure it wasnt the standard Kawasaki size (120/65/17)

Was thinking of bridgestone bt023's BTW, if it makes any difference, due to the amount of riding I do.

Cheers!

[craigs23]

The 60 or 70 in the marks dictate the tyre profile size, i.e. the percentage height of the side wall to the tyre width.

A 60 is a slightly shallower tyre - which gives slightly quicker steering (at the deficit of stability) as there's a smaller contact patch in contact with the road when the bike's leant over.

A 70 is a slightly taller tyre - which has slightly slower steering (but increased stability when cornering) as there's a larger contact patch on the road when cornering.

A 65 is a compromise between the two.

[iooi]

If you speedo is driven from the front wheel it won't read correctly as you are changing the rolling radius of the wheel.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[CaNsA]

Craig,

On the zxr i had a 120/70/17 pirelli on the front and found it very unstable on the straights and corners, although it did turn in alot quicker.
The 120/60/17 i got a few months later i found to be alot more stable on the straights and while cornering.

Maybe that was just me though?

[chris-red]

[Kris]

[iooi]

Either way, the contact patch relates far more to cars than it does to a bike.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[owl10]

cheers all, think i'll try the 60 profile.