Stock IRC Tires For CBR250R

[WingNut]

I am thinking about replacing my tires on my CBR250R. I don't ride it much. After 3 years the bike only has about 12,000KM total, but the service guy at my local Honda dealer told me the rubber is getting hard and the tires should be replaced even though the treads are still fine.

Since I don't ride it much, just around the area from time to time, I thought I would just put on another set of the stock IRC tires that came with the bike. They are fine for just light riding.

The dealer said they are about a total of 3,600 Baht a pair I think, plus a bit extra for labor to install them, so just under 4,000 Baht I am thinking if I get them from him.

I was curious if there is a better place to get them with a lower price perhaps? Or, should I perhaps go for another brand if there is one of equal quality and at a lesser cost? If so, is there a place that everyone usually goes for inexpensive tire replacement in Bangkok? Or is the Honda dealer already offering a good price and is simply the best place?

Also, should I be replacing them yet just because the rubber is a bit hard? I had read somewhere that motorcycle tires should usually be replaced after about 6 years if they aren't worn down by then rather than just after 3 years.

Any insight is always appreciated as always.

Cheers...

[biker Bob]

When i had my CBR my local Honda dealer said every 2 to 3 years because as you say the rubber gets very hard.

[papa al]

An old mech once told me that somewhat old tires with good tread can be refreshed with some coarse sandpaper.

Never tried it myself.

[apetley]

3 years is more than the upper limit for the tyres which even when new aren't very good.

If you're in Bkk Sumet Cycle have Michelin Street Pilots for around 3k a pair which is an absolute bargain and a vast improvement on the originals.

[Ozgur]

Even if you dont ride much, dont avoid paying some extra to get a good set of tires.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Ozgur

[apetley]

Even if you dont ride much, dont avoid paying some extra to get a good set of tires.

The Michelins are excellent tyres and cheaper than the original IRC's.

[edwinchester]

Even if you dont ride much, dont avoid paying some extra to get a good set of tires.

The Michelins are excellent tyres and cheaper than the original IRC's.

Can confirm that for sure. The Street Pilots work really well on the CBR and have good longevity too. How they do it at that price, around 3000 bht, is amazing.

[ll2]

dont get the irc stock tires again, they are not good and i believe dangerous for sporting intentions.

Michelin and Pirelli have tires for cbr250 around 4000 thb pair. I think Michelin Pilot sport and Pirelli Sport Demon are around 4000 thb and they much more better than stock IRC tires.

but if you want quality, get a set of Pirelli rosso2 for 6 - 7 k thb. They are a lot better.

[WingNut]

Thank you everyone for the feedback. I will look into some of these other tires.

[apetley]

I just looked at Sumet Cycles receipt for the Michelins. 3800 bht for the pair. 1700 for the front and 2100 for the rear.

[WingNut]

Prices online here for the Michelin Pilot Street:

http://www.29tire.com/product-th-964770-5381084-ยางนอก+Michelin+รุ่น+Pilot+Street+ขอบ+17+ทั้งหมด.html

110/70 Front: 1,460 Baht & 140/70 Rear 1,840 Baht.

[WingNut]

I got some new tires put on today at that shop called 29 Tire. Nice guys and convenient location a bit past the end of Ekamai Road, close to the Rama 9 Road intersection. They had both the Michelin Pilot Street tires for 3,500 Baht (including installation) and the Pirelli Sport Demons for 3,900 Baht (including installation). I decided though on a local brand called "Quick" and their "Taurus" model. The guys explained that the tires are made locally in the Dunlop factory in Thailand and are of equal quality to the Michelins and Pirellis in that same price class. Price was only 2,500 Baht for the pair including installation. They told me the quality of these Quick Taurus tires is much better than the IRC tires I had on there and, since the tires are made in Thailand, they will be newer and softer than most imports that would have spent longer time in a warehouse. The set I got were made this year and feel very soft and sticky to the touch. Attaching a couple of shots of the tires after they were installed. As you can see, they also have a similar tread style to Pirelli. These should be fine for my occasional short rides around Bangkok.

[seedy]

I decided though on a local brand called "Quick" and their "Taurus" model

Let us know how they work out.

[WingNut]

Will do. Just touching them they feel heaps better than those IRC tires I had on there which the guys at the shop said, even out of the factory, the IRC tires are hard and slippery when they are new.

[macknife]

Up to you as they say, but I would have never taken that risk on tyres. To buy copies just to save 1000b from a pair of Michelins, I don't think so.

[WingNut]

Thanks. The decision wasn't based on price though. The tires were newer, felt stickier, and had a nicer tread design than the Michelins. The lower price was just a bonus. But for someone like me who mainly uses the bike to drive to the grocery store from time to time, and doesn't ride the bike very hard anyway, I probably won't notice much difference between one tire or another. But at least I got tires now which aren't hard and slippery like the old ones that were on the bike.

Edited February 11, 2015 by WingNut

[papa al]

grrrr

Edited February 11, 2015 by papa al

[WingNut]

I forgot to mention that you can send a text message to the guys at 29 Tire to check prices and availability on tires if you are interested. They seem to carry every brand and model at competitive prices. Their LINE ID is 29TIRE and they speak English so no problem. They can also text you back a Google map pin to show you their location. Once you have the pin it is very easy to find them.

Edited February 11, 2015 by WingNut

[yankee99]

I forgot to mention that you can send a text message to the guys at 29 Tire to check prices and availability on tires if you are interested. They seem to carry every brand and model at competitive prices. Their LINE ID is 29TIRE and they speak English so no problem. They can also text you back a Google map pin to show you their location. Once you have the pin it is very easy to find them.

If your in the area 29 tire can be a bargain but when shipping not always. 29tire 90/80-17 Street pilot 1050 baht plus 60 baht shipping. Maxxis tire in pattaya 1300 installed balance and new valve. So really no savings. good luck with the new brand tire

[WingNut]

Yes, if I were in Pattaya I think I would just get tires down there to make it easier. Even if it costs a few extra Baht. 29 Tire charged me 100 Baht for the installation for the 2 tires, but was included in the 2,500 Baht total price I paid for the 2 tires. They balanced and added new weights, but not sure if same valve or new valve. Wasn't paying close attention on that. Thanks.

[WingNut]

Just took the bike out for a little night ride. New tires feel good. Grippy. Did a couple of hard brakes. No skids.

[biker Bob]

Wingnut, do they have tires for all bikes, big and small??

Jan

[WingNut]

Hi Jan - Yes, they carry tires for all bikes, big and small. And they can order anything you want from any manufacturer I think if they don't have it in stock. Best just to send them a message and ask them about the tire and size you want. They should be able to send you back a price and tell you if they have it in stock or when they can get it. If they don't have it in stock I think they can often get it the same day or the next. The shop is run by two brothers. Khun Tut is the name of one of the brothers. They also have an air-conditioned sitting room with drinking water where you can sit and wait while they change your tires. They work fast. Took about an hour to change my tires.

[biker Bob]

Thanks Wingnut. Went to Showpow (Pirelli) on On Nut a couple of weeks ago and got some brilliant but expensive tires. It is always good to have more than option.

[WingNut]

Your welcome Jan. What type of bike and/or what sized tires did you get?

Their web site is good too. Most of the prices are online there: http://29tire.com/?lang=en

You can cross check their price on Pirelli on their site if you want.

Edited February 13, 2015 by WingNut

[WingNut]

You can drop these coordinates into Google Maps and it will show their location: 13°44'44.4"N 100°35'32.1"E

[biker Bob]

Your welcome Jan. What type of bike and/or what sized tires did you get?

Their web site is good too. Most of the prices are online there: http://29tire.com/?lang=en

You can cross check their price on Pirelli on their site if you want.

I got 120/70 and 160/60 for my ER6N. ( Rosso 2 ) Great tire, very soft and sticky.

[WingNut]

Sounds nice. Maybe when my stock tires wear out on my CBR650F I will put on some nicer sport touring tires too.

[biker Bob]

I bought my bike second hand and it still had the stock tires on. They were very hard, so decided to change. All this about tires and how important it is to get a good set of tires is all new to me. I have had cruisers all my life and since you don't do much cornering on a cruiser i never paid much attention to it before.

Jan

[WingNut]

I wonder if tires dry out and get hard in Thailand quicker than other countries in general because of the heat here.

Meanwhile, the guy at 29Tire told me that Dunlop in Thailand seems to get hard the quickest out of the top brands and sometimes they are really only good for 2 years. So I'm expecting I'll have to change the tires on my CBR650F in 2 years even though I'm sure I won't have much mileage on the bike by then at all.