Getting some Metzeler M5's for my '94 900SS CR. What size? - Ducati.ms

nick2ny · Jan 30th, 2012, 8:18 am

Howdy--I have a '94 900SS CR with the stock rear wheel.

Here are the options:

120/60 ZR 17 M/C (55W) TL
110/70 ZR 17 M/C 54W TL
120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL
190/50 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL
200/50 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL
180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL
190/55 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL
150/60 ZR 17 M/C 66W TL
160/60 ZR 17 M/C (69W) TL
170/60 ZR 17 M/C (72W) TL

I'm thinking:
120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL (for better protection from NYC's bumps than a 60-series
160/60 ZR 17 M/C (69W) TL (I think that's the stock size. Is a 170 better? Would it rub? I like the idea of a narrow 160...)

Am I looking at the right sizes?

Any advice much appreciated.

DuckMan · Jan 30th, 2012, 9:00 am

Well, not related to size but I tried them lat year for my trip to the Dragon. They don't like being cold and are like being on ice when new, they wear out extremely fast and have a slightly heavy feel to the steering. I replaced them with the sport touring Z8 and like them better in every way. Just my opinion of course.

**Chuckracer** · Jan 30th, 2012, 10:22 am

Nick, your sizes are right, and for the right reasons.

LeoLegend · Jan 30th, 2012, 12:28 pm

the 170 fits kinda weird on the 4.5, it tends to go very steep around the tire edge.

cmoore · Jan 30th, 2012, 2:21 pm

you do mention something about liking a narrow rear tire, so this might seem silly, but my vote is to get the SS/SP (or monster or later SS) rear wheels which are readily available at which point the larger tire sizes fit better.

curveman99 · Jan 30th, 2012, 4:27 pm

Size of rear tire rubbing depends on the Brand of the Tire, I have a 99 SS and 180 rear is what I went with on my bike. Michelins PP CT2 the dunlop 180 rear would not work.

Baffled · Jan 30th, 2012, 6:54 pm

The bike is designed to run the tyre sizes recomended by Ducati,
Standard sizes are the go...

Flash Harry · Jan 31st, 2012, 4:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Dwarf

The bike is designed to run the tyre sizes recomended by Ducati,
Standard sizes are the go...

Beat me to it.

There is no need whatsoever to go outside of the recommended sizes. People only put wider tyres on for looks.

John Horsey · Feb 2nd, 2012, 6:36 pm

I agree with the other advice to keep to stock sizes (120/60 and 160/60).
I tried to put a 120/70 on my CR once and had clearance issues, which is to say I got the axle in, but the wheel wouldn't turn.

tian647 · Feb 3rd, 2012, 1:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Horsey

I agree with the other advice to keep to stock sizes (120/60 and 160/60).
I tried to put a 120/70 on my CR once and had clearance issues, which is to say I got the axle in, but the wheel wouldn't turn.

I also tried out non-stock sizes and had mixed results but for slightly different reasons than those listed above.

I selected a 120/70 front for rim protection and was astonished at how badly the bike turned-in afterward, it just fell into full lean with no confidence it wasn't going to keep on falling. Went back to a 120/60 and feeling returned to normal again, both tires were Bridgestone BT-016s so should have been the same profile.

I might have been able to massage the triple clamp height to make it work better but I needed a new 120/70 front on my other bike too so it was easier just to swap it over and get the right size rather than hope I could dial it in.

Out back I run a 170/60 on a 4.5" rim and am quite happy with how that works, turns in better than a 180/55 on 5.5", in my experience.