Introduction
This is a list of tires available in sizes that will fit the Ninja 250. There are no recommendations made here, as there is no one "best" tire. This list shows only tires which have been used and reviewed by members of N250RC. There are many more tires available, particularly for the rear, less so for the front. There are in particular some scooter tires out there that look promising. We can't report on them, though, because we don't know. If you wish to try one of the tires not listed here, you'll have to do your own research.
It is hoped that you will use this list as a starting point in your purchase process. There are many sources of information on tires, such as manufacturer sites, other forums, and various motorcycle sites. Google is your friend. And remember, there are probably several tires that will work for you. Please read the other FAQ tire sections for more information on choosing a tire.
Speed ratings info
About size 110/90-16 tires
About wider tires
Scooter tires
Performance Tires
Sizes: 130/90-16 rear; 100/90-16 front
One of the most popular tires for the EX 250 due to its good grip and handling. Good wet-weather performance, too. Run a search on the board for (many) opinions, and you, too, can join The Church of SportDemontology.
Sizes: 130/90-16 rear; 100/90-16 front
Always a favorite, due to its good handling and dual tread compound. The center treads are made from a harder rubber, while the sides are softer for cornering. Rain response is excellent.
Sizes: 130/90-16 rear; 110/90-16 front (have to raise front fender to fit)
A popular choice for both speedy and distance riders. Very good wet performance, too. Jim Race ran a set of these through several trackdays and a race weekend, then gave them to Duke to use in the Iron Butt Rally (10K miles in 11 days). You can't get much more "all-around" than that.
Dunlop GT501: The Racers' Choice, by Jim Race
Sizes: 130/90-16 rear; 100/90-16 front
Metzeler has consolidated all of their performance bias-ply tires into this tire. It replaces the ME 1; 99; 33/55; and 330/550. It has a classic Metzeler tread pattern. Duke compares them favorably to the GT501's for daily riding and wet performance. Daryl says they're the best rain tires you can get, and the handling is very good, too. Of course, sticky tires usually don't get great mileage. At least three club members have gotten fewer than 7000 miles from the rear tire (YMMV). The fronts seem to be doing better.
Sizes: 120/80-16 rear; 100/80-16 front
If you're looking for an inexpensive, sporty replacement for the stock tires, this is a good one. These tires have a rabid fan club on the board about the same size as the Sport Demons'. 100/80-16 and 120/80-16 are what the wheels were designed for. High speed straight-line stability will not be quite as good as with a larger 100/90 & 130/90 setup, but turn-in rate and agility will be better.
Very good reports concerning their handling & grip, wet and dry. They don't tend to last as long as some tires (YMMV), but are very inexpensive (you can get 2 sets of MT75's for what a pair of Metz Lasertecs will run.) Recommended for the inseam-challenged as a way to get a slightly lower bike.
Sizes: 130/80P-16, 120/80P-16 rear; 100/80P-16 front
These seem to have been replaced by the Diablo Scooter and are disappearing.
Designed as replacement tires for large-wheeled, high-performance scooters. "A good piece of bargain-priced rubber." This is an OE-sized tire that performs well under most conditions. It has a great tread design and a firm plant in the corners. The tread design seems to increase grip on hard corner leans and absorbs impacts well.
P-rated for sustained speeds up to 93 mph. Not to be confused with the MT66 touring tire.
Sizes: 120/80-16 rear; 100/80-16 front
This is one of the newer tires available. Our wear tester reports handling and wet performance under various conditions is excellent. Wear is good, especially considering the low price.
Speed ratings are "P" (continuous 93 mph).
Sizes: 130/80-16 rear; 120/80-16 rear; 100/80-16 front
A newer choice. As of June, 2008 there has only been one report, but it was favorable. Sticky in aggressive mountain riding. Confidence-inspiring in wet conditions. Tires track well and stay planted.
Speed ratings are "P" (continuous 93 mph).
AUSTRALIA ONLY
Sizes: 130/80-16 rear; 100/80-16 front
A better tyre choice than stock. Better wet and dry grip reported by one of our members from Oz. We don't have a lot of information from club members, so ask local riders if you're interested in this replacement.
Touring Tires
Sizes: 130/90-16 rear; no front
Important buying information
The most-recommended tire for loaded touring. Good, long-lasting tire for commuting. Reports say it's good in the wet, too.
From Leon: I've had Metzeler tires on the rear of my Ninja 250s since 1997 (6 tires total.) The longest a rear tire lasted is 30,000 miles for an ME88. The current 130/90-16 ME880s usually last about 20,000 miles. The Metzeler tires grip well in the rain and last a long time, but they are expensive. If you ride more than 10,000 miles per year, the ME880 is a good choice.
Sizes: MT90-16 rear (130/90-16 with higher load rating); 100/90-16 front
These new tires are being marketed as a General Purpose tire. One club member says that he was satisfied with their performance on Deal's Gap, and that, while they will probably be a better mileage tire than a performance one, they do have a good grip. Another N250RC rider rode across the country and back (8000 miles) and wore off only 2/32" of tread. Says they are fantastic tires; slower turning than stock, but lots of rubber. They also lasted him a long time when in pure touring mode.
Sizes: 130/90-16 rear; 100/90-16 front
A value-priced, six-ply tire (heavier, stiffer). They don't match the quality of Metzeler touring tires, but are cost effective with good tread wear. "Over 4300 miles on them (mostly highway); they still look almost new (YMMV) and they handle rain and heavy loads very well." A Seattle-area freeway commuter, who rides nearly every day, says that they are very good in the rain, especially considering the price. Also reported to have no grip issues on wet, twisty roads. "They are a huge improvement over the Dunlops at 1/2 the price." "Good all around tire. Great value for the price, but not a sport tire." This tire has been recommended as a good value for commuters and tourers by several club members.
Sizes: 130/90-16 rear; 120/90-16 rear; no front
Its name says sport, but it's a heavy 6-ply like the K671. It advertises a stiff casing and high-speed stability, so it's generally more suited to commuting or touring than aggressive riding. More confidence-inspiring when cornering, stopping and quickly accelerating than the stock K630, even in heavy rain. Compared to the MT75 it won't corner quite as aggressively, but should last longer. Mileage reports have been pretty good. It also soaks up bumps a little better, comfort-wise.
Since this tire doesn't come in a front size to fit our bike, you'd have to mount a tire from another manufacturer on the front.
Cheap Tires
Dunlop K630
Sizes: 130/80-16 rear; 100/80-16 front
Loudboys: I don't know what kind of situation the OE tires are designed for, but it sure isn't regular street riding. They don't handle predictably, they don't stick very well, and they don't last very long. The stock tires are fairly unforgiving compared to most of the good replacement options. Once they're unstuck they tend to stay that way.
Ian: Dunlop K630's are pieces of crap, and you're doing yourself a huge dis-service by riding on them.
Dunlop K330
Sizes: 120/80-16 rear; 100/80-16 front
We've had one member try these tires. He says they don't have the typical sportbike tread pattern, but are soft, sticky tires. K330's are original equipment for the Buell Blast, and guys on the Buell forums are generally changing them out for MT75's and Viper Strykes.
Sizes: 130/90-16 rear; no front
This is basically a Harley tire. The tire life is good, but the tire has almost no wet traction, so it would be a poor choice for touring (even though it's labeled as a touring tire). It's made for long, straight, dry stretches of interstate. The cornering on dry roads is no better than the stock rear. Crawling to a stop at a light in the rain is annoying as well.
Cheng Shin tires
Cheng Shin tires are what you might call a 'value' line of tires. The thing is, they're not that much cheaper than a good set of MT75's or ST66's (not cheap enough to justify their lack of grip, anyway). Don't skimp and get one of these; spend a little more and get a good tire.
Maxxis tires
After establishing their reputation as just another Taiwanese manufacturer of cheap junk, Cheng Shin decided to go upscale with a different brand: Maxxis. They have yet to make a big splash on the board. Very few members have had them. For the price, you can probably find an established brand that will do the job as well. If you see them, and the price seems good, you may want to give them a try. There is very little information to go on yet.
A couple member reviews of Maxxis tires:
M 6103: 130/90-16 rear only; Good in dry weather, but never felt comfortable in the rain.
V1 M6002: 130/90-16 rear; 100/90-16 front; Their high-end sport tire. If you spend a lot of time riding on the freeway where there is grooved pavement, stay away from this tire. The straight line center groove is hell to ride with.
GBC Street Shark
Sizes: 130/90-16 rear; 100/90-16 front
For 25 bucks, how good could they be?
Shinko tires
Only get Shinko tires if you're broken down in the middle of nowhere and it's the only thing the dealer has. They'll get you home. Papaflynny managed to hit the wear bars on his Tourmaster after only 2000 miles of admittedly twisty riding.
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