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[WindRider]

Has anyone found some good replacement rubber for the 2012 DS?

The Deli Tires are wearing away quickly and although they are sufficient, I would prefer to try something different.   It looks like the Kenda K761 comes in the right size for the rear tire (although it is a front tire) but I can't find a match for the front.

Has anyone converted to a 17" rear wheel to find more rubber options and if so what is the down side there?

I wonder why Zero chose to put such an odd sized rear tire on the bike? 

[protomech]

Trikester has done the 17" rear wheel conversion. I expect he'll be along shortly : )

[trikester]

Trikester has done the 17" rear wheel conversion. I expect he'll be along shortly : )

Ah, how right you are. I'm too damn predictable! 

Yes I converted the rear wheel so I could use the Kenda K270 tires front and rear. Just like your situation, I used a rear tire on the front and it worked great. 4.6"x17 on front and 5.1"x17 rear. I used that big front tire because I wanted floatation in sand.

Changing the rear to 17" was a big job. I had to cut a curved section out of the swing arm cross tube brace (no easy job, believe me) and then weld a 1/8" aluminum plate in there to regain strength and close the opening. The 2013's have essentially that same thing formed into the cross tube brace in order to come from the factory with a 17" wheel. I also had to remove part of the shock mount and turn the bottom damper adj forward.

I originally did this on my 2010 DS. When I bought the 2012 DS I swapped swing arms in order to avoid having to go through all of that again, so the original 16" wheel is back on the 2010 with a 2012 swing arm.

I'm very happy that they finally changed on the 2013's and even went to an 18" rear and 21" front on the FX. I have K270's on the FX with a 3.25" front and 5.1" rear. I did have to change the rear rim from the 2.15" width to a 2.5" to accommodate the wide rear tire.

Trikester

[WindRider]

Thanks for that trikester... that sounds like more modification than I want to tackle.

Anyone else out there ran any other rubber than the OEM tires?   Anyone tried the Kendas?

[nicktulloh]

Avon has some that should fit. That's going to be my replacement.

[BSDThw]

Do you want "street" or "off-road" tires?

[WindRider]

I am looking for a Dual Sport tire.   I ride both dirt and pavement on most every ride.

[WindRider]

Here is the Kenda K761.   It is the only DS tire that I could find to match the rear tire size.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/29/393/15129/ITEM/Kenda-K761-Dual-Sport-Front-Tire.aspx

It is specified to be a front tire.... does anyone know why it could not run on the rear?   

I used to run these on my XT250 and liked them a lot for the type of riding that I do:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/29/393/20401/ITEM/Shinko-705-Series-Dual-Sport-Rear-Tire.aspx

They don't come in sizes to go on the Zero wheels.

[BSDThw]

I couldn’t find a Dual Sport tire at all (Germany)!

I am not sure with Dual Sport tire but most street front tiers have not such a deep tread pattern. So it will wear of faster.

[Richard230]

What I have heard is that front tires can be used on the rear wheel if their rotation is reversed (relative to the arrow imprinted on the sidewall) and they are used on a low-powered motorcycle (like the Zero).  So using a properly-sized tire designed for the front wheel on the rear wheel should be OK, if you have no other option.