Looking at new tires for my XF250

SirKng · 06-08-2022, 09:35 AM

Hey all. Haven't been on in a while but I need some advice. I'm looking to replace the tires on my XF250 with the 17 inch wheels with something better. I have a couple of questions though.

Has anyone fitted a 120/70-17 on the front of one of these? It looks pretty close and I don't know if it'll work or not.

I'm also wondering how much difference in tire size I can go without causing handling problems. Like for example, my bike has 110/70 front and 130/70 rear. I found one tire I like that has an exact match for the front but no exact match for the rear. The two closest sizes for the rear of this specific tire are a 130/80 and 150/60. Would I be ok going with a taller tire in the rear or should I chance it with a wider tire that is much closer in height but way wider?

China Rider 27 · 06-08-2022, 10:12 AM

Are those the stock tire size that came on the bike? The reason I ask is the add shows the tires size as front 4.6X18 and rear 5.1X17. Sure enough a Fat tire bike.

SirKng · 06-08-2022, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by China Rider 27

Are those the stock tire size that came on the bike? The reason I ask is the add shows the tires size as front 4.6X18 and rear 5.1X17. Sure enough a Fat tire bike.

They are. I have the supermoto/street version. Not the dual sport.

China Rider 27 · 06-08-2022, 10:38 AM

As far as fit on the front maybe you could measure it to see if you have room for the clearance, a 120 tire is 120 mm wide as compared to the 110mm and I would guess it will slow down the steering some. The 130/80 is a little taller could fit and would affect your final drive ratio a bit. Wider is always about clearance, i.e chain on the rear. A 150 tire is 20mm wider than 130 but and there is the question will it fit on the rim width you have. If those 17 inch rear rims are the same as the Dual sport and everything else about the bike is the same, it could take a 5.1X17 on the back that is much taller than that 130/80. Few thoughts on it.

SirKng · 06-08-2022, 10:54 AM

I haven't measured anything yet but I will do that eventually.

Another question then. Will going taller on the rear while staying the same on the front affect stability? Like running a 110/70 front and a 130/80 rear? Or what about same size front but with a wider rear and similar diameter? (110/70 front with a 140/70 or 150/60 rear)

China Rider 27 · 06-08-2022, 11:24 AM

One thing to absolutely keep in mind is that tire width is measured at the the widest point center of the side walls NOT the edges of the tread. So a 120 mm tire is wider at the tread and that likely depends some on the style and that makes it somewhat unknown. If it was me I would determine the width of the rims and make sure any tires fit on those width rims.

I'm not experienced with suspension, but I would say any deviation from the stock set up must induce some change in the suspense in this case stock the bike has a shorter front tire to rear tire ratio and adding a 130/80 instead of a 130/70 equals 13mm higher height in the rear. This slopes the suspension forward slightly but how significant to handling I could not say.

06-08-2022, 09:35 AM	#1
SirKng Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 117	Looking at new tires for my XF250 Hey all. Haven't been on in a while but I need some advice. I'm looking to replace the tires on my XF250 with the 17 inch wheels with something better. I have a couple of questions though. Has anyone fitted a 120/70-17 on the front of one of these? It looks pretty close and I don't know if it'll work or not. I'm also wondering how much difference in tire size I can go without causing handling problems. Like for example, my bike has 110/70 front and 130/70 rear. I found one tire I like that has an exact match for the front but no exact match for the rear. The two closest sizes for the rear of this specific tire are a 130/80 and 150/60. Would I be ok going with a taller tire in the rear or should I chance it with a wider tire that is much closer in height but way wider? __________________ 2018 SSR Motorsports XF250
	0

06-08-2022, 10:54 AM	#5
SirKng Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 117	I haven't measured anything yet but I will do that eventually. Another question then. Will going taller on the rear while staying the same on the front affect stability? Like running a 110/70 front and a 130/80 rear? Or what about same size front but with a wider rear and similar diameter? (110/70 front with a 140/70 or 150/60 rear) __________________ 2018 SSR Motorsports XF250
	0

06-08-2022, 10:12 AM	#2
China Rider 27 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: PNW Posts: 982	Are those the stock tire size that came on the bike? The reason I ask is the add shows the tires size as front 4.6X18 and rear 5.1X17. Sure enough a Fat tire bike.
	0

06-08-2022, 10:38 AM	#4
China Rider 27 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: PNW Posts: 982	As far as fit on the front maybe you could measure it to see if you have room for the clearance, a 120 tire is 120 mm wide as compared to the 110mm and I would guess it will slow down the steering some. The 130/80 is a little taller could fit and would affect your final drive ratio a bit. Wider is always about clearance, i.e chain on the rear. A 150 tire is 20mm wider than 130 but and there is the question will it fit on the rim width you have. If those 17 inch rear rims are the same as the Dual sport and everything else about the bike is the same, it could take a 5.1X17 on the back that is much taller than that 130/80. Few thoughts on it.
	1

06-08-2022, 11:24 AM	#6
China Rider 27 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: PNW Posts: 982	One thing to absolutely keep in mind is that tire width is measured at the the widest point center of the side walls NOT the edges of the tread. So a 120 mm tire is wider at the tread and that likely depends some on the style and that makes it somewhat unknown. If it was me I would determine the width of the rims and make sure any tires fit on those width rims. I'm not experienced with suspension, but I would say any deviation from the stock set up must induce some change in the suspense in this case stock the bike has a shorter front tire to rear tire ratio and adding a 130/80 instead of a 130/70 equals 13mm higher height in the rear. This slopes the suspension forward slightly but how significant to handling I could not say.
	1