I am planning to purchase a rear tire for my 86 xt 600. I will be mail ordering it. I want the fattest tire I can fit on the rear, for maximum street grip and cornering . can anyone tell me what size I should get. in a 18" thanks in advance for any help. Robert

Fattest doesn't equal most grippy. The difference in contact patch size (the bit in contact with the road) will be minimal. The wrong size tyre can cock up your handling, making you slower than on a sweet handling bike.

I had a 350 YPVS many moons ago which had oversize tyres on, as the smallest Hi-sports (stickiest of stickies, at the time) were bigger than standard, and I had to back off on fast sweepers, as it weaved so much. I was quicker on standard "unsticky" tyres.

Yamaha worked with the original equipment tyre manufacturer to ensure the tyres suit the bike, and as the bike handles well on standard tyre sizes, I'd look at getting the stickiest tyre in the standard size.

You'll be limited by what you can get on the 21" front, as you want to having matching tyres front and back if you can. (They suit each other). The front tyre should be the stickiest of the two aswell, as that's the one you want to start sliding last.

Something like the Michelin Annakee should let you get the pegs down.

MMMMM...... 350YPVS - Been there done that!!!!

Different bike and different riding style.....

I loved Metzelers as a youth - they worked (I'm an adult)

Don't know how valve tyre will work on an XT....
I'm all for Avon Road Demons at the moment.

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Tom
I'm a country member...

Hey thanks for the advise. all my riding has been in the dirt very little on the street. have been riding my xt to work about a 20 mile round trip small strech of highway then 45mph town roads. it has dot approved dirt knobbys on it now, and they don't feel safe in mild corners and it takes the fun out of street riding. I have a 90\90 -21 duro brand, that a friend gave me that is almost new he got it from his father who didnt want it on his bike, for reasons unknown, was planning to put that on the front. I have little money to spend but will spend whatever it takes to keep it safe. any help and advise would be helpfull.

Hey tom are those road demons exspensive?

Please don't take this the wrong way but I think you need to re-assess your plan to fit the fatest tyre! My advice is to keep the tyre standard OEM. It is quite likely you will completely mess the bikes handling up by fitting a non-standard tyre size.

If you seek maximum grip on tarmac then go for a specialist ROAD tyre. But be warned your bike will look very odd indeed to anyone with a trained eye!

If you're like the rest of us then you will want to fit an all round tyre which can be used on tarmac but also for the odd dirt track too. Don't forget the bike you have is an allrounder and although it performs very well in city traffic it's primarily designed to be ridden on all surfaces.

I have recently fitted MICHELIN SIRAC's to my XT6E. Michelin's website states that 130/90 17's can be fitted but I opted for the STANDARD 120/90 17's and I'm very impressed with them indeed. I understand that the METZ TOURANCE is the most widely used tyre for XT's in Europe right now though. I imagine these can easily be sourced in the States but perhaps someone nearer home will be able to give you better guidance?

Most of us fit tyres that are 70% Tarmac 30% Offroad and the above tyres would come into this category.

If you want to fit specialist road/tarmac tyres then perhaps you should look at getting another road orientated bike?

Good Luck and above all stay SAFE!

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

Hey kent, 70/30 is cool with me. Iam just trying to keep it safe. as far as buying another type of bike, Ill pass for now. I realy like my xt. I live in a small town in texas where kids ride bullet bikes all day long. I love to sport the xt down the city streets because people almost always do a double take when they see me,some times I swear I can read their lips saying I dont think he should have that dirt bike on the street. Ha Ha.......

AMEN to that.....

The XT6 is quite simply legendary throughout the world! It's as good round town as anything else on the road. Many riders in the UK use it in town because its so good in traffic - high up for visability and handles well on corners. You can throw it round corners easily at speed (not too fast though). The tyres and brakes are the most important parts of a bike (from a safety point of view) so don't take risks, fit the best you can afford.

Look at Metzeler TOURANCE's or Michelin SIRAC's and keep it standard OEM. Don't be tempted to change tyre sizes.

STAY SAFE

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

I don't think they are much different to most of the competition - Even if they do cost more what price can you put on safety?

I don't think price comes into the equation. Like mentioned before buy the best you can afford!!!

It's like helmets - If you have a ten Dollar head buy a ten dollar helmet.

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Tom
I'm a country member...

Hell low and brummmm brummmm brummm,

We've got some very nice fatties on our XT6E's

Black one has got;

Rear - Dunlop 150/60 ZR D207 E Sport Radial (Sport Max II)
Front - Dunlop 120/60 ZR 17 D204 F

Bleue one has got even fatter back one;
Rear - Michelin 160/60 ZR 17
Front - Metzeler 120/60 ZR 17

All in all slidy slippy but lots of sticky when hotted, just got to keep an eye on the manhole covers and thick white lines.

to me (I can be egotistical, can't I )

Jamski,

Sig to follow, when I can catch up to myself

I fitted avon distanzia 600km ago, standard size, I think they are sticky so far.
I had Siac's previously they didn't like painted Lines and I got a few slides when real pushing it in corners but never came off thanfully.

Robert....I've had great luck with these tires from IRC.....


GP-1 in a 5.10x18 size......excellent grip in all weather (including snow)
Very affordable & they last! I've been through 3 sets of 'em with my XT550.
Replaced the rear about once a year....but I ride EVERYDAY year-round.

Michelin Anakees are the best street tyres I have used on an enduro bike set up !!

SH*T in the dirt but great on the road.... Wet or dry.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I had a pair of these on my SZR 660 and whilst sticky, they wore like buggery and I got about 2000KM out of them - i suspect they may have been track tyres really...

If buying off the internet, beware of an operation in saltaire near Bradford -they sell a lot of cheap tyres and their customer care (and stock knowedge) is not of the best.....

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1979 LeMansII
1981 LeMansII
1981 Monza
1987 XT600 1VJ
1997 SZR660
1995 NTV650

"Why do it? Because we can, and we want to." Guiseppe Benelli

There seems to be a problem getting Anakees at the moment - when I changed mine last month, I couldn't track any down anywhere. I went for Distanzias instead, and they seem good so far. Nice and grippy on tarmac, no problems. Not tried them in the dirt though.

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2006 XT660R daily ride, 1994 XT600E about to be reborn, Blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/