Kawasaki ZX-4RR Tyre Size
The ZX-4RR runs a 120/70/17 front tyre and a 160/60/17 rear tyre.
Although it has a relatively small 399cc engine, the ZX-4RR is a genuine high-revving sports bike. The right replacement tyre depends on whether you use it for commuting, fast road riding, occasional trackdays or predominantly on track.
Its standard sizes are widely available, so there is no need to alter the front or rear tyre size to access excellent road and track-focused options.
Most ZX-4RR owners use their bike for commuting and weekend thrills but they are also becoming more and more common on trackdays. Whereever you’re riding your ZX-4RR, it makes sense to fit a quality tyre that’ll warm up quickly, offer plenty of edge grip and return good mileage. A budget tyre won’t cut it on this model.
ZX-4RR History
If you are old enough to remember the ZXR400, the idea behind the ZX-4RR will feel wonderfully familiar.
The ZXR400 looked like a scaled-down ZXR750, complete with upside-down forks, a committed riding position and, most importantly, those Hoover tubes. We would happily buy another new motorcycle purely because it had Hoover tubes.
Small-capacity sports bikes eventually moved towards simpler parallel-twin engines, but the ZX-4RR brings back the screaming inline-four. It is a proper sports bike rather than merely a commuter wearing fairings, and it is increasingly popular with riders who want a usable road bike that can also be enjoyed on track.
That breadth of use makes tyre choice important. A track-focused tyre is not automatically the best option for a ZX-4RR used through a British winter, while a long-life touring tyre may not deliver the feel wanted by a rider who mainly uses the bike for fast road riding and trackdays.
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Kawasaki ZX-4RR Stock Tyres
The 4RR model comes with Dunlop GPR300 tyres as standard. We don’t rate these tyres – see below for why.
Kawasaki ZX-4RR Best Tyres
The stock Dunlops are budget tyres and in our opinion hold the ZX-4RR back. You can fit so much better and transform your bike. If you’ve forked out for a new ZX-4RR you really owe it to yourself (and the bike!) to ditch the rock-hard GPR300s.
Fast Road Riding
If you’re a weekend thrill-seeker and you want a tyre that’s perfectly suited to the UK’s road and weather conditions, these are some great choices. We’ve chosen a mix of top-tier and older generation, so you can save a few quid if you don’t want the absolute latest tech.
Bridgestone S23 – A sharp, sporty road tyre with strong dry grip and good stability. A natural choice for riders who want the ZX-4RR to feel agile without moving to a more specialised track tyre.
Michelin Power 2CT – A still decent ‘budget’ Sports tyre that offers more than enough grip for road riding.
Pirelli Rosso IV – A road-focused sports tyre with responsive steering and strong cornering performance. Well suited to riders who value handling and feedback.
Trackdays
If you’re riding to trackdays or just vanning the bike there, these tyres will give you all the edge grip you need to stay at the sharp-end whatever group you’re in.
Commuting / Touring
If you want the ultimate in fast warm-up, wet weather ability and mileage then check out these sports-touring tyres. If you’re riding in all weathers or planning that European trip, they’re worth considering.
Bridgestone T31Â – Good budget option
Kawasaki ZX-4RR Tyre Pressures
Kawasaki recommends cold road pressures of:
- Front: 32 psi
- Rear: 36 psi
Check the pressures before riding, when the tyres are cold. Do not release air from a hot tyre simply to return it to the cold setting.
These are road pressures. Trackday pressures can be considerably different and should be based on the particular tyre model, whether tyre warmers are being used and whether the pressure is measured cold or hot.
You should always check your tyre pressures when the tyres are cold. Check out our range of motorcycle tyre pressure gauges here.
ZX-4RR FAQs
What pressures should I use on track?
There is no single ZX-4RR trackday pressure that suits every tyre.
Use the tyre manufacturer’s recommendation for the specific model and establish whether it is a cold setting, a hot-off-track target or a pressure measured after using warmers.
Do not simply use another rider’s pressures or reduce the road pressures by an arbitrary amount. A sports-touring tyre, road sports tyre and race tyre can require very different settings.
What tyre sizes does the Kawasaki ZX-4RR use?
The ZX-4RR uses a 120/70 ZR17 front and 160/60 ZR17 rear.
What are the best ZX-4RR tyres for road riding?
Modern sports tyres such as the Bridgestone S23, Michelin Power 6, Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV and Metzeler Sportec M9 RR are all strong candidates. The best choice depends on weather, mileage and whether the bike is also used on track.
Should I fit a 180 rear tyre?
No. Retain the standard 160/60 ZR17 unless a specialist has a properly engineered reason to change it. A 180 tyre is not appropriate for the standard 4.50-inch rim.
About Two Tyres
Our mission is to ensure we listen to every customer’s needs and ensure they’re riding on the right tyre. Out of the showroom, your motorbike is a compromise, designed to suit a huge range of riders and riding conditions. To get the best out of your bike in terms of handling, performance and safety, tyres make all the difference. In fact we think it’s the most cost-effective performance enhancement you can make!
We are based in London where we supply and fit motorcycle tyres and consumables in our workshop. We also mail order motorcycle tyres around the UK, across Europe and even to places as far-flung as the USA, Canada and Japan.
Need help choosing the best tyres?
Choosing tyres can be tricky. We’re here to help. We hold direct accounts with every motorcycle tyre manufacturer, so we’re well placed to give comprehensive and honest advice to help you choose the best tyres. If you can’t quite make your mind up, give us a call on 0207 205 2205 and we’ll help you narrow down your choices.
We are motorcycle and scooter tyre specialists, with over 25 years in the trade. Between us we fit 10 pairs of tyres a day in our workshop, so we have good real-world experience of what works and what doesn’t.
We ride to work, we ride for fun, we race and ride off-road. If it’s got two wheels, we’re into it.
Give us a call or drop into our London motorcycle workshop and we’ll do our best to help you.
We built a pressure gauge we wanted to use ourselves
After years of using tyre pressure gauges that were inaccurate, poorly made or awkward to fit without losing pressure, we decided enough was enough.
We worked with a manufacturer to produce a motorcycle tyre pressure gauge that met our own workshop standards. The result is a gauge that’s accurate. It’s even been featured in RiDE magazine.
We’re so confident in its quality that every gauge comes with a 3-year, no-nonsense money-back guarantee.
Whether you prefer the instant accuracy of a digital tyre pressure gauge or the simplicity of a traditional analogue gauge, we’ve got the perfect tool for the job.
Correct tyre pressures are the cheapest performance upgrade you can make. They improve grip, handling, tyre life and fuel economy—and they take less than a minute to check.
Here at Two Tyres, we stock more than just tyres. Take a look at some of our essentials for any biker.
Motorcycle puncture repair kit – Our top-rated kit includes everything you need to carry out a roadside repair and get back up and running.
Motorcycle tyre pressure gauge – Our tyre pressure gauge has been rated in RiDE magazine and features a clever design to make it easy to get accurate readings.
Motorcycle first aid kit – a DIN-rated first aid kit that’s compact and also includes extras that are handy for any biker. A must-carry in some EU countries.
HyperCharge battery charger – The HyperCharge is a smart charger that can charge lead-acid and lithium batteries and it’ll charge bike and car batteries too.
Cordless tyre pump – Small enough to fit in your luggage, this tyre pump doubles as a powerbank, so you’ll never have a flat tyre or phone battery again!
All of these products have been well tested and are top-rated by our customers.
