What's the best tire application for a rear tire on a 1996 CBR F3. My bike has only 2700 miles on it and tire deserves to be replaced.

 

Look on the tire you have on it now and get the numbers on it. Should like a 160/70R-17 or something like that. Or get on the internet and look it up on Honda's website.

 

The tire is a 160/60-17. I would suggest a Metzeler Sportec M1 tire. But then again, it's the only tire I've got experience with.

 

Damn! I was close.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 99YZF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Damn! I was close. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Hahaha. I think it IS possible to squeeze a 170/60-17 or a 160/70-17, but it might rub the rear fender. The idiot of a previous-owner of my bike put on a 160/70 and it ate right through the rear fender.

 

My cousin is running a 180/55/17 on his 97 F3. The edge of the tire is about 1/4 away from the chain. It handles WAAAAAAY better than with a skinny tire. He didnt have to make any adjustments. But you might have to remove the chain guard possibly. His bike can carve canyons like no other. He's faster than gixxers out here in SD and he weighs 230+ lbs.
By the way, he runs dunlop 208's. Not the GP's

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .xcalibur. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My cousin is running a 180/55/17 on his 97 F3. ... It handles WAAAAAAY better than with a skinny tire. He didnt have to make any adjustments. But you might have to remove the chain guard possibly. His bike can carve canyons like no other. He's faster than gixxers out here in SD and he weighs 230+ lbs.
By the way, he runs dunlop 208's. Not the GP's</TD></TR></TABLE>

That should be more attributable to tire choice and rider ability. The larger width your cousin uses makes the bike less "flickable."

 

The bike feels way more friendly compared to his 160 series tire. But yeah mose people say not to go bigger in size cause it throws off the whole geometry of the bike, but from our experience its better.

 

Less flickable indeed, but on the flipside it will drop into a corner a little quicker because the tire isn't round anymore. Standing it back up exiting a corner will be slower too.

Not to mention you will never get to the edge of the wider tire, and you've added a few extra pounds in the process. Not worth it IMHO.

Cheers,
Sean