Kawasaki Zephyr 750 (ZR750) (91-92)
(updated September 99)
|
Rim |
Stock Size |
Front |
3.00x17 |
120/70H17 |
Rear |
4.00x17 |
150/70H17 |
Manufacturers' Recommendations
Manufacturer |
Front |
size |
Rear |
size |
Avon |
AV27 |
120/70ZR17 |
AV281 |
150/70R17 |
|
AV27 |
120/70ZR17 |
AV36 Azaro |
150/70ZR17 |
|
AV35 Azaro |
120/70ZR17 |
AV36 Azaro |
150/70ZR17 |
Bridgestone |
G547 |
120/70H17 |
G548 |
150/70H17 |
|
BT35 |
120/70H17 |
BT35 |
150/70H17 |
|
BT45 |
120/70H17 |
BT45 |
150/70H17 |
|
BT54 |
120/70ZR17 |
BT54 |
150/70ZR17 |
Dunlop |
K505F (OE) |
120/70H17 |
K505 (OE) |
150/70H17 |
|
K591 Elite SP |
120/70B17 |
K591 Elite SP |
140/70B17 |
Metzeler |
ME 33 Laser |
120/70V17 |
ME 55 A |
150/70VB17 |
|
ME Z1 |
120/70ZR17 |
ME Z2 |
150/70ZR17 |
|
ME Z2 |
120/70ZR17 |
ME Z2 |
150/70ZR17 |
Michelin |
Macadam 50 |
120/70H17 |
Macadam 50 |
150/70H17 |
|
Macadam XA |
120/70ZR17 |
Macadam 90X |
150/70ZR17 |
Pirelli |
MTR 03 |
120/70ZR17 |
MTR 04 |
150/70ZR17 |
Martyn's Opinion
General Comments
The Zephyr 750 is a much under-rated bike. Contemporary with the
introduction of Honda's Nighthawk, it's so much a more modern machine that
it justifies the extra cost over the Honda -- but the market goes for price,
and the Zephyr lost out in the end. Still, that's no reason to ignore
it's capabilities when choosing tyres. The Zephyr is the perfect
Q-ship, a bike that looks like a standard but is capable of so much more,
and is engineered to work with modern tyre technology.
The Safe Bet
The Safe Bet |
Brand |
Model |
Size |
MAW |
Front |
Metzeler |
ME-Z1 |
120/70ZR17 |
$101 |
Rear |
Metzeler |
ME-Z2 |
150/70ZR17 |
$112 |
The ME-Z1/ME-Z2 combination is a well-established set of tyres that
works well on almost any standard or sportbike. Although the Zephyr
originally came on bias-ply tyres, these Metzelers are so accepted by the
riding community that I have no hesitation calling them a conservative
choice. The Zephyr will benefit greatly from radials, and these are
the standard against which all others are compared.
A Tight Budget
A Tight Budget |
Brand |
Model |
Size |
MAW |
Front |
Bridgestone |
BT45 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
$84 |
Rear |
Bridgestone |
BT45 Sports Mileage |
150/70H-17 |
$93 |
The least expensive set is the Bridgestone BT45. While not giving
the benefits of radials, it is nevertheless a very good tyre indeed.
This is the replacement for the well-known BT35, and improves on that with
better traction, especially wet traction. It's a good tyre.
General Purpose, Touring, Sport-Touring, Sport-Riding
Sport-Touring |
Brand |
Model |
Size |
MAW |
Front |
Metzeler |
ME-Z4 |
120/70ZR17 |
$115 |
Rear |
Metzeler |
ME-Z4 |
150/70ZR17 |
$139 |
Metzeler has recently come out with the new ME-Z4, and it should last
just as long as the ME-Z1/ME-Z2 with better wet and dry traction, and improved
highway stability. This should be a superb tyre for this bike.
Martyn's Choice
|
Brand |
Model |
Size |
MAW |
Front |
Metzeler |
ME-Z4 |
120/70ZR17 |
$115 |
Rear |
Metzeler |
ME-Z4 |
150/70ZR17 |
$139 |
There's no doubt in my mind that this bike deserves radials, and the
Z4 is the hot ticket. Although it's relatively new and not as widespread
as the Z1/Z2, it is a definite improvement over the earlier tyres, and
I'd have no hesitation whatsoever about putting a set of the Z4's on a
Zephyr.
The Full List
(from MAW and manufacturer
web pages)
Exact matched pairs
Brand |
Front |
size |
MAW |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
Avon |
AV27 |
120/70ZR17 |
$131 |
AV281 |
150/70-R17 |
|
|
AV27 |
120/70ZR17 |
$128 |
Azaro AV36 |
150/70-R17 |
$148 |
|
Azaro AV35 |
120/70ZR17 |
$107 |
Azaro AV36 |
150/70-R17 |
$148 |
Bridgestone |
BT35 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
|
BT35 Sports Mileage |
150/70H-17 |
|
|
BT45 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
$84 |
BT45 Sports Mileage |
150/70H-17 |
$93 |
|
BT54 Sports Touring |
120/70ZR17 |
$102 |
BT54 Sports Touring |
150/70ZR17 |
$109 |
Dunlop |
D205 Sport/Touring |
120/70ZR17 |
$93 |
D205 Sport/Touring |
150/70ZR17 |
$138 |
Metzeler |
ME-33 Laser |
120/70V-17 |
$90 |
ME-55A Metronic |
150/70VB17 |
$138 |
|
ME-Z1 |
120/70ZR17 |
$101 |
ME-Z2 |
150/70ZR17 |
$112 |
|
ME-Z2 |
120/70ZR17 |
$115 |
ME-Z2 |
150/70ZR17 |
$112 |
|
ME-Z4 |
120/70ZR17 |
$115 |
ME-Z4 |
150/70ZR17 |
$139 |
Michelin |
Macadam 50 |
120/70V-17 |
$106 |
Macadam 50 |
150/70V-17 |
$127 |
|
Macadam 90X |
120/70ZR17 |
$88 |
Macadam 90X |
150/70ZR17 |
$107 |
Pirelli |
Dragon GT MTR03 |
120/70ZR17 |
$101 |
Dragon GT MTR04 |
150/70ZR17 |
$127 |
|
Dragon GTS MTR23 |
120/70ZR17 |
$138 |
Dragon GTS MTR24 |
150/70ZR17 |
$142 |
|
Match MT09 |
120/70VB17 |
$96 |
Match MT08 |
150/70VB17 |
$127 |
Listing by Manufacturer
Avon
Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
AV27 |
120/70ZR17 |
$131 |
exact |
AV281 |
150/70-R17 |
|
exact |
Azaro AV35 |
120/70ZR17 |
$107 |
exact |
Azaro AV36 |
150/70ZR17 |
$148 |
exact |
|
|
|
|
ST23 |
160/70ZR17 |
$137 |
wide |
Bridgestone
Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
BT35 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
|
exact |
BT35 Sports Mileage |
150/70H-17 |
|
exact |
BT45 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
$84 |
exact |
BT45 Sports Mileage |
150/70H-17 |
$93 |
exact |
BT50 Sports Perform. |
120/70ZR17 |
$89 |
exact |
|
|
|
|
BT54 Sports Touring |
120/70ZR17 |
$102 |
exact |
BT54 Sports Touring |
150/70ZR17 |
$109 |
exact |
BT56 Ultra Sports Perf |
120/70ZR17 |
|
exact |
BT56 Ultra Sports Perf |
160/60ZR17 |
|
wide |
BT56SS Extreme Sp/Perf |
120/70ZR17 |
$94 |
exact |
BT56SS Extreme Sp/Perf |
160/60ZR17 |
$116 |
wide |
BT57 Sports Perform. |
120/70ZR17 |
$113 |
exact |
BT57 Sports Perform |
160/60ZR17 |
$137 |
wide |
BT92 Sports Mileage |
120/70HR17 |
$65 |
exact |
BT92 Sports Mileage |
160/60HR17 |
$103 |
wide |
|
|
|
|
BT92 Sports Mileage |
150/60HR17 |
|
short |
Continental
Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
Sport 2000 |
120/70V-17 |
$76 |
exact |
|
|
|
|
Sport 2000 Radial |
120/70ZR17 |
|
exact |
Sport 2000 Radial |
160/60ZR17 |
$156 |
wide |
Dunlop
Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
D204 Sportmax II ZR |
120/70ZR17 |
|
exact |
D204 Sportmax II ZR |
160/60ZR17 |
$117 |
wide |
|
|
|
|
D204 Sportmax II ZR |
150/60ZR17 |
$114 |
short |
D205 Sport/Touring |
120/70ZR17 |
$93 |
exact |
D205 Sport/Touring |
150/70ZR17 |
$138 |
exact |
D207 Sportmax |
120/70ZR17 |
$111 |
exact |
|
|
|
|
K177 Touring |
120/80HB17 |
|
tall |
|
|
|
|
K455 Radial |
120/70VR17 |
|
exact |
|
|
|
|
K510 |
120/70VR17 |
$98 |
exact |
K510 |
160/60VR17 |
|
wide |
|
|
|
|
K591 Sport Touring |
160/70VB17 |
$99 |
wide |
IRC
Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
|
|
|
|
Carapace RS-320 |
150/70H-17 |
$89 |
exact |
Wildflare WF-920 |
120/80H-17 |
$73 |
tall |
|
|
|
|
Metzeler
Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
ME-33 Laser |
120/70V-17 |
$90 |
exact |
ME-55A Metronic |
150/70H-17 |
|
exact |
|
|
|
|
ME-55A Metronic |
150/70HB17 |
|
exact |
|
|
|
|
ME-55A Metronic |
150/70V-17 |
|
exact |
|
|
|
|
ME-55A Metronic |
150/70VB17 |
$138 |
exact |
ME-880 Marathon |
120/70VR17 |
$103 |
exact |
ME-880 Marathon |
160/70VR17 |
$132 |
wide |
ME-Z1 |
120/70ZR17 |
$101 |
exact |
ME-Z1 |
150/60ZR17 |
|
short |
ME-Z2 |
120/70ZR17 |
$115 |
exact |
ME-Z2 |
150/70ZR17 |
$112 |
exact |
ME-Z3 |
120/70ZR17 |
$118 |
exact |
ME-Z3 |
150/60ZR17 |
$145 |
short |
|
|
|
|
ME-Z3 |
160/60ZR17 |
$148 |
wide |
ME-Z4 |
120/70ZR17 |
$115 |
exact |
ME-Z4 |
150/70ZR17 |
$139 |
exact |
ML2 |
120/80H-17 |
$97 |
tall |
|
|
|
|
ML2 |
120/80V-17 |
|
tall |
|
|
|
|
Michelin
Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
Hi-Sport TX15 |
120/70ZR17 |
$150 |
exact |
Hi-Sport TX25 |
160/60ZR17 |
$181 |
wide |
|
|
|
|
Hi-Sport TX25 |
150/60ZR17 |
$174 |
short |
Macadam 50 |
120/70V-17 |
$106 |
exact |
Macadam 50 |
150/70V-17 |
$127 |
exact |
|
|
|
|
Macadam 50 |
150/70H-17 |
$118 |
exact |
Macadam 90X |
120/70ZR17 |
$88 |
exact |
Macadam 90X |
150/70ZR17 |
$107 |
exact |
Pirelli
Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
Dragon GT MTR03 |
120/70ZR17 |
$101 |
exact |
Dragon GT MTR04 |
150/70ZR17 |
$127 |
exact |
Dragon GTS MTR23 |
120/70ZR17 |
$106 |
exact |
Dragon GTS MTR24 |
150/70ZR17 |
$131 |
exact |
Dragon MTR01 |
120/70ZR17 |
$112 |
exact |
Dragon MTR02 |
150/60ZR17 |
$137 |
short |
|
|
|
|
Dragon MTR02 |
160/60ZR17 |
$140 |
wide |
Match MT09 |
120/70VB17 |
$96 |
exact |
Match MT08 |
150/70VB17 |
$127 |
exact |
|
|
|
|
MT75 |
150/70H-17 |
|
exact |
Key:
Exact |
Precisely matches original spec |
Excellent |
Precisely matches a recommended alternate |
Good |
An exact or alternate in a different sizing system |
Short |
Exact or excellent width, lower profile. Consider these both
ends to lower the bike |
Soft |
Similar diameter by using a taller profile and narrower width; used
on the rear only |
Tall |
Taller profile, stock width; similar in effect to "soft", but for
the front only |
Wide |
Same profile, wider tyre. This MAY NOT FIT your rim.
BE CAREFUL!!! |