1996 zl600 tire size

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Paul B

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Well it is time for a new rear tire for my 600 but tire choice are a bit limited and some what pricey. The tire size I have is 150/80-15. Could I use a 150/90-15? I would like to stick to dunlop as far as brand goes. Would this work for my bike? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dunlop-K555...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d2237182b&vxp=mtr The description says tubeless but I think it would be okay with a tube inside. let me know what you guys think.
Thanks,
Paul
 
?????
150 means the width in mm, /80 is the tire aspect ratio in percent so a 150/80 has a height of 120mm and a 150/90 of 135mm = +15mm :hello:!
 
Last edited:
I thought about changing my rear size for better fuel economy (since there's no sprockets to change) and calculated the figures. Don't know if a 160 will fit or cause handling issues but added it anyway. If you ride solo, a 140 might work best all around.

1986 ZL600 overall drive ratio = 6.054
150/80-15 - 123.5 mph @ 10500rpm, 6omph @ 5102rpm
140/90-15 - 125.9 mph @ 10500rpm, 6omph @ 5003rpm
160/80-15 - 126.7 mph @ 10500rpm, 6omph @ 4972rpm
150/90-15 - 129.5 mph @ 10500rpm, 6omph @ 4865rpm

For comparison:
1985 ZX600 overall drive ratio = 5.850
130/90-16 - 132.5 mph @ 10500rpm, 6omph @ 4756rpm

This is what I'd get:
http://www.amazon.com/Michelin-Comm...&sr=8-1&keywords=Michelin+Commander+II+150/90
 
R. J. - in case of doubt: dig deeper! Too many s.c. 'friends' telling BS and if you don't know better or checkout they make a fool of you...hard enough to find 'real deals'.:hello:
 
Sorry for the delays. Lots of info! thank you! From what I have seen looking online I think that the 150/90-15 will fit. I will let you guys know if this works out.
Thanks,
Paul
 
I have had a Chinese Cheng Shin rear tyre on my 400, fitted before I bought it. Here in the now Y-UK, 150/80 x 15 are impossible to get so a 140/90 x 15 is fitted to my bike giving a 6mm difference in height to the plus 126 mm instead of 120 mm. the bikes been ridden hard over 3 figures n' it has never let mt down in 4 years, The grips bloody good n' our roads are in the main crappy. Any myths about Chinese tyres have proved to b just that for me.

As far as gear ratio change there is a trick where you can change the small intermediate gear in between the clutch hub gear and started motor gear, GPX 600 28 teeth, GT550 26 teeth, not sure what the ZL 600 intermediary gear is, but this is a way to change the final drive ratio! See what this Dutch guy is up to https://lion-e.nl/en/motor-experiments-kawasaki-gt550/#comment-104
 
He changes the Clutch hub unit too for a GPX one which has more teeth on it , so what he wants to do is create a higher drive ratio, than the old GT550 set up, to have a lower engine speed for a higher Mph cruising speed, but without checking, I do not know whether you can improve the ZL 600 ratios in this way; like you can on the older GT550.
 
Trojan, more teeth on the clutch hub gear (or less teeth on crankshaft gear) raises the engine speed and lowers vehicle speed. More RWTQ but slower.
 
PaulB,

"The description says tubeless but I think it would be okay with a tube inside. let me know what you guys think."

I would personally run a tire that's meant to use a tube. From what little I have read on it, the tubeless tire carcass may be more heavily ribbed and cause friction and heat with the tube.

Let us know what you chose to run and how it works out.
 
:hello: I've known guys to run with tubes in tubeless tires with no problems. If you go that route buy a good quality heavy duty tube like a KENDA tuff tube or an IRC. I use both in all my off road bikes & they have never failed me. You can always call around to some Service Shops, not DEALERS.
 
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