Team-BHP - Karizma rear tyre upgrade. Need suggestions!

I wish to change the rear tyre of the ZMA to someting more grippier and slightly wider. I would like to go for a 110/9 18 or 120/80 18 tyre. The stock size is 100/90 18.

I have shortlisted MRF Zapper Q, Michelin M45 and Ceat Vertigo Rage because i have only these three options here in Trivandrum.

MRF Zapper Q can be had in 110 section and is known to be a good tyre but strictly for tarmac.

Michelin M45 is available in 4x18 section and this also is for tarmac.

Ceat Vertigo Rage is available in 120/80 and is said to be good for tarmac and not so good surfaces. But i don't know how good the Vertigo is or what kind of compund the tyre has whether it will be grippy, wet traction etc etc.

Any input regarding these tyres is most welcome. ANd er.. i didn't know whther to post this in Motorbikes section or Tyres & Alloy Wheel section. i hope i posted this in the right section :)

Michelin sirac would be over kill for the bike, they weigh too much than the normal tyres, and i was able to feel the performance lag in my bike, thats the only reason i removed it from my bike. its running on an Rd now. if at all you require sirac let me know there is a used one 300kms for 2k. chain case should be cut from inside for about an inch to get the sirac fitted.

I shifted back to stock sizes 2.75*18, 100/90*18 IRC tyres, i just called up the IRC dealer to ask him the cost breakups which you had asked me for. pics will be posted by post noon.

110/90*18 - 1850/- ( with tube)
2.75*18 - 900/- (without tube)
Shipping charges through VRL - 250/-

I have done 56K on my zma
and its running on its 4th front and 5th rear tyre.
I have tried all sorts of tyres
from Stock MRF zapper to Pirelli SD 110/90(tubeless),to SM-RACING 120/90/18(Dual Purpose Tubeless),to Duro HF-918(110/90/18)

As for Front apart from stock I have used Duro HF 329(90/90/18-tubeless)
Duro HF-918(90/90/18-Tubeless).

If you gonna use your bike mostly on roads
get this combo Duro HF 918 tubeless
90/90 for front and 110/90 for rear,great grip in wet conditions as well.

If you need Dual purpose stuff,go for Duro HF-329 90/90/18 for front and
Ceat Vertigo 120/80/18 for rear

PS: You can Purchase Duro Tyres Online from KRP delhi

Pradeep, thanks for the updates man. I'm waiting for the pics of the IRC. Can you post a pic of the Sirac too? Yep i agree with you, M45 is a bit small for the ZMA.

Edit: I saw the pics now :) Thanks pal!

Akshay, i will be using the bike mostly on tarmac, but tarmac in this part of the world means broken and bad at many places with occasional hazards like sand and debris on it. Can you give me a link to the KRP website? I wish to check out those tyres. Does fitting Ceat Rage warrant cutting/removal of chain guard?

I got M45 2.75 in front and 4.00 in rear, specifically got it for Ladak and they perform brilliantly in on/off condition.. There is a slight drop in performance with the bigger tire. Front I'll recommend u to go for tubeless Zappers 2.75 and rear again 100/90 tubeless zappers. Karizma will perform best with stock size tires.. If ur looking at M45 then 3.50 is the correct equivalent size for 100/90 don't go for bigger size.. My M45 does scrape the chain cover/ rear break linkage if not set properly..

Quote:

Originally Posted by praJEEP (Post 948857)

Michelin Sirac which i had on my bike.

EDIT : if you are changing the tyres in the front please stick to stock sizes 2.75 only, just a suggestion.

Is the Sirac too heavy for the Karizma? And which front tyre will compliment the Sirac at the rear, i mean something with matching tread pattern but at the same time meant to be used on the front wheel.

I have one doubt regarding the IRC you're having on the rear, is it by any chance a front tyre that you're using on the rear. Because i see a central rib which is usually present on the front tyres. How good is the traction?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technocrat (Post 948598)

While the M45 is a very good tire for zma as its light in weight but I swear by Pirelli's (Sports Demon)performance as its simply awesome :) never faced a flat tire in over 1 year of riding with it
Yes its heavy & has slight impact on performance but would still be my recommendation next best as per me is M45 though haven't tried myself.

Techno, is the 4" x 18 M45 wider than the stock Karizma tyre? I would like to have one that is slightly more wider than stock. What size Pirelli were you using, and. was it 80 profile? I don't want to increase the rear height.

Quote:

Originally Posted by solly (Post 948880)

So you mean to say that 4" M45 is wider than the stock Karizma tyre? How does the M45 perform on the front wheel? Does it provide good traction in the wet?

Btw this is the Ceat Vertigo Rage i was talking about. It looks squarish rather than roundish, and is it a soft compund or hard compund?. What say guys, good or bad?

Karizma rear tyre upgrade. Need suggestions!-ceatrage.jpg

Sankar my Replies are in bold :)

Quote:

Is the Sirac too heavy for the Karizma? And which front tyre will compliment the Sirac at the rear, i mean something with matching tread pattern but at the same time meant to be used on the front wheel.

Dunlop geo cruiser which used to be in the old CBZ.

I have one doubt regarding the IRC you're having on the rear, is it by any chance a front tyre that you're using on the rear. Because i see a central rib which is usually present on the front tyres. How good is the traction?

Traction is really good, all irc tyres for rear has this rib pattern, i am impressed with its performance till date.

So you mean to say that 4" M45 is wider than the stock Karizma tyre? How does the M45 perform on the front wheel? Does it provide good traction in the wet?

No doubt M45 is very good in grip, M45 4.25 is equalent to 110/90 so 4.00 is equalent to 100/90. once again i like to say stick to 2.75 *18 for the front don't upsize the front tyres.