How to Replace the Tires on a BMW F900XR Cheaply
Win Them at Auction
I bought brand-new replacement tires on Yahoo Auctions. You can almost always grab them with a "Buy It Now," so the pricing is reassuring.
They shipped out the very next day. Stock is plentiful, which is reassuring too.
Dunlop's SPORTMAX ROADSPORT is a "premium sports tire" supported by a wide range of riders, from those who enjoy the winding roads to those whose riding is mainly around town.
The tire sizes (120/70ZR17, 180/55ZR17) are a standard combination adopted by a great many sport bikes, from middleweight big bikes up to liter-class machines.
It came to 30,200 yen including shipping.
About the Premium Sports Tire: Dunlop SPORTMAX ROADSPORT
1. Concept: Making Winding Roads "Feel Great"
Rather than a high-grip tire specialized for circuit riding, the ROADSPORT focuses on how to ride public winding roads as enjoyably and safely as possible.
Honest handling: It's easy to trace the line you have in mind, with natural, quirk-free cornering performance.
Quick warm-up: Grip comes up relatively fast even in winter or right after setting off, giving a strong sense of security on the street.
2. Key Technologies Used
It incorporates Dunlop's proprietary technologies, striking a balance between sportiness and longevity.
Two-compound construction (MT: Multi-Tread):A wear-resistant compound is placed in the center, and a grip-focused compound on the shoulders. This delivers both straight-line longevity and cornering confidence.
C.T.T. (Camber Thrust Tuning):Designed to provide the optimal contact patch and contact pressure at every lean angle, so the feedback as you lean the bike over is extremely linear.
Slim High-Bead APEX:Optimizes the tire's rigidity, making it easier to convey information from the road surface to the rider (high feedback).
3. Who and What Bikes This Tire Suits
It's ideal for those who feel "touring tires aren't quite enough, but I'm worried about the lifespan and wet-weather behavior of near-race-spec high-grip tires."
Recommended riders:
Those who want to enjoy mountain roads (winding) on weekends.
Those who occasionally ride track days and the like.
Those who prioritize "a sense of security" and "road feel" above all in a tire.
Examples of compatible bikes:
The 120/70ZR17 & 180/55ZR17 combination fits a wide variety of models, including the CBR600RR, YZF-R6, Z900, MT-07/09, CB1300SF, and ZRX1200DAEG.
4. Spec Table (the Sizes Shown)
Item / Front / Rear / Size120/70ZR17 (58W)180/55ZR17 (73W)TypeRadial / TubelessRadial / TubelessMain useSport / WindingSport / Winding
Take the Tires to a Local Shop That Handles Installation
I had the tires I'd won at auction in advance sent directly to the shop.
They welcome customer-supplied tires. By always using this shop, I'm able to get my tires changed for roughly half the price.
The replacement cost was 12,700 yen (front and rear tire change, including disposal of the old tires).
New tires 30,200 yen + installation 12,700 yen = 42,900 yen total for the tire change.
Isn't that incredibly cheap? At BMW Motorrad it would run 80,000 yen—you could buy a helmet with the difference (laughs).
The tire change was done at 16,517 km. I'll post about their lifespan going forward.
I hadn't changed the tires for five years since the bike was new. Only the front wore down quickly; the rear still had maybe a couple of millimeters left.
Care While the Work Was Being Done
While I waited, they lent me a loaner bike. I headed to a nearby shopping mall and, with no plans to, ended up spending 7,560 yen at UNIQLO. In the meantime, after about 30 minutes, I got a phone call letting me know the tire change was complete, so I headed back to the shop.
Before the Tire Change
After the Tire Change
