Tires for DRZ400SM

[marksster]

I am looking at changing the OEM tires for something new with better grip.

I only ride the bike on the road, no track and no off-road (got a KTM 250 for that).

I have heard about the Michelin Pilot Power, Pirelli Sport Demons and the Conti Force SM. Recommendations are welcome. Thanks:banghead:

[Johnson79]

Avon Distanzia tires are the way to go

http://www.motostrano.com/avdisuti.html

[pinball wizard1]

I'm currently using Pirelli Dragon Supercorsa Pro Race.

[halflife]

Avon Distanzia tires are the way to go

http://www.motostrano.com/avdisuti.html

2nd vote for Distanzia's, been very impressed and look the dogs as well

[smrookie]

Michelin Pilot Powers. They hook-up well on the pavement, it's not too shabby on the dirt.?

[dackler]

I just picked up a set of Pilot Powers for $167 shipped.

If I could have gotten distanzas that cheap then I'd have gone for those...

[Julle74]

Put on a Dunlop sportmax Alpha-10 150/60 on the rear today. Have only heard god on them. Will see how i like it.

[eviltwinskippy]

My street-only SM just went from the Conti Force SM's to Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's - big improvement!

[xr6riderx]

Thats encouraging, after two sets of conti SM's I'm running some pilot powers next and hope to like em even better. I hear people get get good life out of the conti's but I never got more than 2k out of a set and they were bald on the sides and almost in the center.

[marksster]

Thanks for the replies.

I have heard that they are stopping to manufacture Distanzias.

Does anyone know about that?

What about the Michelin Power pure?

[eviltwinskippy]

The Pilot Power Pure is a relatively-soft competition tire. They're rock star tires - great performance - short life.

[roblu]

What size Distanzias did you put on your DRZ400SM, as they do not have the proper size stock for the rear tire? Thank you.

[Goebz]

Pilot Power road 2ct. All the best of the Pilot Powers, a touch less grip (you will only notice it riding balls out on a track day) and wear a LOT longer esp the rear with the harder compound in the center.

Just mounted my new 150 up and putting it on this week. Had the original Pilot Power road and got 3500mi out of it.

PS I'm a bit over spec at 6'4" 350.

[Akiva1080]

as an undereducated rider, how well do the michelins work with tubes? are they not meant to be tubeless? i have them on my ninja, it'd be great to use the same size on my drz

[bumtarder]

you now have conventional wire-spoked rims on your SM instead of the one-piece cast aluminum wheels you have on the ninja.you have to run a tube regardless of whether the tire is marked tubeless.just because a tire is marked tubeless doesn't mean you can't mount up a tube.the stock dunlop D208SM sportmax tires are all equiped with a tube.

now if you want to go truly tubeless you can upgrade your wheel set to the marchesini cast magnesium wheels.then you don't have to run tubes.

[hobbyman2007]

Maxxis supermoto rain tire in street compound ,I love them ,they don't wear as fast as the distanzias either. Great

traction everywhere.

[Akiva1080]

just because a tire is marked tubeless doesn't mean you can't mount up a tube.

The possibility of doing it I get, but I was wondering if the tire is affected differently being filled w/ pressurized air only vs a filled tube?

[akaDan]

I've never understood the love for Distanzias. Unless you're using your SM on the dirt too, there are a lot better tyres for tarmac grip. Go for the PP2CTs, bud.

[Akiva1080]

nm, found lots of info on tubes in tubeless tires... who'd have thunk?!

[aeronaut]

I've never understood the love for Distanzias. Unless you're using your SM on the dirt too, there are a lot better tyres for tarmac grip. Go for the PP2CTs, bud.

+1, if road only, get road tires.