DRZ 400S Tires

I am brand new to dual sports and 2 wheels in general. Just bought my first dual sport / motocycle - a used '07 DRZ 400S that has the factory Bridgestone Trail Wing 41 & 42 tires on it. Right now while I am learning the basics of riding these tires seem fine for the street. But, I plan to ride from Puyallup to the Mt. Adams area in the spring and summer to ride the forest roads and go camping. Will these tires be ok for the FS roads?

Thanks,
Dann

My DR650 uses the same tires. They work fine on forrest roads, as far as I am concerned. I am now using Kenda 270s but I don't care for them as much. A little more traction in the soft stuff, but squirrely on hard pack and pavement.

The Old One

Thanks Ken. I'll ride with these for a while and see how they work out.

Dann

Well, as a rule, my opinions dont seem to set well with some, but being your new in the sport heres my two cents. Try to stay clear of chinese crap, especially, tires and tubes, your bikes feel and handling as well as your safty and confidence depends a lot on tire selection and "tire pressure". I myself like Dunlop 606, Perelli mt21 or Michelin AC10, dont ride a bike without rimlocks (some dualsport bikes dont come with em) Wrong!! but youll want to use some balance weights . Welcome to dualsportin!!! Save money some place else, not on tires, its money well spent...

Thanks Dunkan. I am open to all advice from experienced riders.

The tires do have balance weights. After doing a quick web search to learn what rim locks are, these wheels don't have them.

I have a drz 400 also. The trail wings are nicknamed death wings by most. You will probaly only dislike them in the mud. They last a long time. My preferred way of running tires is using a pirelli mt21 in the late fall to early spring. Then I switch to the kenda 270. Not the best tire in the mud, but a good tire for everything else. Plus they are inexpensive and wear well. I run the kenda 270 on the front all the time, but have found that I like the larger size as it seems to track better.

Thought id get back, looks like you didnt get any help with the rim lock, and PSI. Anyway when your startin out sigle trackin, you realy dont want to run much over 10 psi, 12 max.If your running 10 psi without a rim lock, lets say your riden along say 20-25mph and you have to slam on your brakes (witch will happen trust me} your tire can slip on the wheel. This will put a lot a pressure on your valvstem, and in notime youll have a flat, maybe two. This so called torn valvstem is the worst. If you dont have a valvestem repair kit or a new tube or two, your done. Why run 10 psi you say, thats about the best pressure for trail riding unless its real rocky or your riding realy fast. Any way thats my two cents on rimlocks....

Hi Dann, I run with Dunlop 302 on the front. It's more of a 75% off road tread. Rear is a Bridgestone TW 302, 60% off road, but it wears longer on the road, from the Dunlop that i had on. The Dunlop choice was a better off road option, i feel, but wears faster on the road. It's been already said about the stock Bridgestone TW 42, verry slippery off road.

I have a DR Z400 also, and running the Dunlop 606's. Best tires I have had on it for all around use. Excellent on pavement and very good off. Had some pirreli scorpions that were awful on the pavement but ok in the dirt. Also, consider getting the Bridgestone Ultra heavy duty tubes, just about the toughest there is!

Relaytech wrote:

I have a DR Z400 also, and running the Dunlop 606's. Best tires I have had on it for all around use. Excellent on pavement and very good off.

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