Best Tires For Kawasaki Ninja H2

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Not all tires are created equal. You need the best tires for your Kawasaki Ninja H2 if you don't want to end up getting stranded somewhere.

Your search for the best tires for Kawasaki Ninja H2 leads you to a lot of conflicting information and opinions. Everyone has an opinion on what's best, but it's hard to find a source of information that is truly unbiased.

The best tires will provide you with maximum grip while maintaining a reasonable wear life. They also need to be suitable for track racing or spirited street riding. The Metzeler Sportec M9 RR, Bridgestone Battlax S22, and the Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV are the best Ninja H2 tires available today.

If you are the proud owner of a Kawasaki Ninja H2, then you know that this bike is something special. With its sleek design and powerful engine, it is no wonder that this bike has become so popular. But like any other piece of machinery, your Ninja H2 requires regular maintenance and occasional upgrades in order to run at its best. One upgrade that you may be considering is new tires. In this article, we will discuss the best tires for Kawasaki Ninja H2 and provide some recommendations based on our findings.

We put countless hours of research into this article to save you time. What did we look into? We researched dozens of tire models available for the Kawasaki Ninja H2 to determine which tires were closest in design and intended use, then tested them on the track to determine which tire had the best performance.

In this article...

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1. Metzeler Sportec M9RR

Metzeler's Sportec M9RR was designed with powerful sport bikes in mind, so expect nothing less than top-notch performance when accelerating or braking hard with your Kawasaki Ninja H2R.

The Sportec M9 RR provides you with all the feedback and grip you need to push your motorcycle to its limits on the race track. The tires provide excellent stability at any speed, making them perfect choices for novice and expert level riders who like pushing their motorcycles to the limit.

Design and Features

Metzeler Sportec M9RR is an extremely lightweight tire designed for serious sportbike riders who are looking for maximum feedback. The tread pattern on Metzeler Sportec M9RR works equally well in wet and dry conditions while providing excellent grip over any surface.

The Metzeler engineers have worked hard to develop a product that will perform flawlessly with your Kawasaki Ninja H2R - even when you're operating near the limit. One of the main features of this product is its 3D grooves system, which enhances wet weather performance by channeling water off the tire's contact areas effectively.

Another interesting thing about this motorcycle tire is its new profile design with strategically placed sipes, making it all the way better when it comes to cornering grip. The new profile design with strategically placed sipe-blocks enables awesome street performance. The tread pattern on Metzeler Sportec M9RR is designed for maximum durability while providing awesome stability at extreme lean angles.

Another great feature that will benefit both the rider and the bike's owner is that Metzeler Sportec M9RR has a very long service life with excellent stability across the entire tire footprint - which is exactly what you need for the Kawasaki Ninja H2R.

The Sportec M9 RR is the first Metzeler sports tire to feature a 100% silica compound. The silica-enhanced compound helps provide better grip and handling across all temperatures and conditions, making it a great choice for both experienced riders and those looking to push their motorcycle to the limit.

Metzeler also claims that the M9 RR provides 10% more mileage than the previous M7 RR models. What's more significant is that it's almost 3% more than the industry average, which is quite impressive for a tire designed especially for sportbike riders.

The Sportec M9 RR is street legal and W-rated for speeds up to 168 mph so that it can be used as a tire for both street and track applications.

The internal construction features a three-ply polyester casing with high-strength steel belts and a tread compound that can maintain a consistent contact patch and provide great grip during extreme acceleration and braking.

Performance Analysis

We tested these claims during our first test session on a short circuit. As soon as we entered the track, we could feel how stable and confident those tires made us feel, even when pushing hard through corners at high speeds

Another noticeable and appreciated thing about Metzeler's Sportec M9RR was its stability at extreme lean angles - which is exactly what you need if you're putting monstrous power on your Kawasaki Ninja H2.

I've never seen any tire that would deliver consistently good performance across so many different surfaces. I can see how much potential this tire has to offer both for racing and street applications because the grip level is the same whether you're riding through wet or dry surfaces.

What's also important is that these tires were built to protect the motorcycle from tire-to-road contact, ensuring increased safety when riding on the track. Professional riders will love these tires because they provide top performance in both wet and dry conditions. And I feel like anyone who spends a significant amount of time pushing their motorcycle hard enough will benefit greatly from Metzeler Sportec M9 RR.

Even though we didn't test them specifically for that purpose, I can confidently say that Metzeler Sportec M9RR provides maximum grip and would be the perfect choice for road racing. The profile design with strategically placed sipe blocks delivers enhanced cornering control without sacrificing durability - exactly what you need if you're into this type of motorcycle riding.

We've also tested the M9 RR on a couple of different street bikes, both with ABS and non-ABS-equipped brakes. Like its predecessor, the Sportec M9 RR proved to be an exceptional tire when it came to braking performance - offering excellent stopping power in wet or dry conditions even without the ABS.

With Metzeler Sportec M9 RR tires, you can rest assured that your ride is safe even when sudden rain hits during your ride, thanks to their high level of grip in wet weather conditions. All our test riders were impressed by how well these tires performed even before breaking in.

We also want to mention that this tire was built using an asymmetric tread pattern that delivers great looks and helps reduce cupping, maximizing the tire life.

Price and Size Availability

The Sportec M9 RR is available in multiple size options, making it easy to find the perfect fit for your motorcycle.

Price-wise, Metzeler Sportec M9 RR is a bit expensive, which is understandable considering the level of performance this tire delivers. You can expect to pay around $151 for 120/70ZR17 (front) and $234 for 200/55ZR17 (rear).

Customer Opinions and Reviews

For those riders who like to push their motorcycles hard and need more than just street-legal tires, the Metzeler Sportec M9 RR is definitely a tire worth checking out.

Most of our test riders had nothing but praise about the M9 RR tires. Everyone agreed that this is one of the best performing tires they've tested in a while, regardless of what type of motorcycle they rode with them on.

Customers noted that this tire helped them improve their lap times and could provide more traction than what they got with other tires.

Our Two Cents

I am really happy with what Metzeler did with their Sportec M9 RR tires. They are a truly worthy successor of the original M7RR model. They offer more grip on dry and wet surfaces while being even more stable at high speeds.

Generally speaking, we highly recommend these tires for anyone who wants to take their riding one step further and explore the full potential of their Ninja H2 capabilities.

Order your set of Metzeler Sportec M9 RR tires today on Revzilla.

Pros

  • Great traction in both wet and dry conditions
  • Durable tread pattern with asymmetric design
  • Plush ride quality
  • Very versatile tire

Cons

  • Expensive price tag

2. Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22

What's worth mentioning about this particular tire choice right off the bat is how awesome they look on the Kawasaki Ninja H2. The S22s definitely offer high levels of grip without any sacrifice in ride quality (a frequent complaint of many ultra-high-performance sport rubber) and provide stability when the bike is put to the test in corners.

Design and Features

The Bridgestone S22 is a high-performance tire, so it has the typical dual-compound design with DOT-approved performance that promises to both grip and last, just like race rubber. However, this is where the standard dual-compound tire design stops, and Bridgestone's development continues.

What makes the S22s stand out in terms of visual appeal is the fact that they are extremely thin without sacrificing grip. Proper cornering clearance has always been an issue on sportbikes, leading riders to compromise traction for lean angle. But it seems like Bridgestone worked that out here. Best of all, this extremely thin construction doesn't detract from durability either.

The compound itself is designed to have similar characteristics to track day tires. The result of this bridging technology is that the S22s feel stable and offer a cornering grip even when it's wet out or cold, two situations where standard road-going sport rubber often underperforms.

The front tire features a Dual Compound (3LC) design, which means that the tire sports two different rubber compounds to provide better grip. Bridgestone is not the first, as other high-end tires have utilized similar design concepts. However, what sets this tire apart from others in Bridgestone's lineup is that it also has 3LC at the rear of the tire to maximize cornering performance.

The rounded profile of these meats makes them look less aggressive than their predecessors. However, keep in mind that they can increase your lean angle well beyond where it would be possible on stock rubber. The S22s do feel like they sit up higher than normal sport tires, too - probably due to having more grip - which actually makes them feel more planted when leaned over.

The internal construction of the S22 consists of a Belted Layer to provide stability and a Steel Belt for support. Combine that with the Three-stage Variable Radius Groove Design, and you have a tire that's ready to hold up at high speeds, even after thousands of miles.

Furthermore, the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 is tubeless-ready, so you can run it without inner tubes for extra protection. The sidewalls are also reinforced to prevent easy punctures and tears.

Performance Analysis

I've had this set of rubber installed on my Ninja H2 for about 2 months now, so I had ample time to experience them during different riding conditions. These tires perform better than stock sportbike rubber when it's hot out or just warm because they offer grip without sacrificing stability.

Since the S22s are track day-oriented tires, they feel more stable and grippy than their standard counterparts. However, what surprised me about these tires was how well they worked in the rain and looked at speed on the highway.

They felt like they increased stability at high speeds on the highway, and they never lost grip, even in hard cornering. It's like everything you do with them feels extra secure without sacrificing anything.

The Battlax Hypersport S22s deliver more feedback than stock tires (and some other sport rubber), but not to an annoying degree that would make you feel out of control. Although they provide substantially more grip than usual, I always felt in control when pushing hard around corners.

There is a short break-in period of about 100 miles or so. After this point, the tire felt great for any kind of riding style. It was incredibly easy to lean over until the point of grip became a bit scary. I was a little cautious at first but soon realized that the S22s were more than capable of holding up to my aggressive riding style.

And then it got really fun since they also feel great even when just cruising around town on your daily commute. Since they're tubeless, highway comfort is quite good. It's not like you get these tires and immediately want to go do big miles on the interstate or take them on extended road trips. Still, surprisingly enough - they work well at speed too.

Braking performance was top-notch - much better than what we expected. No matter how hard we tried, we couldn't make them lock up. They always felt composed and easy to modulate. The same thing goes for the throttle as well - no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't break traction or slide around unexpectedly.

What makes these tires so special is that they work well during all stages of riding - racing or commuting. They also look great on the street and will give your bike a more aggressive appearance than usual.

These tires are better than average in wet conditions, especially for summer sport rubber. They feel safe and planted at speed even when the roads are slippery. I guess that's due to their reinforced sidewall design and unique tread pattern, designed specifically to channel water away from your contact patch while still providing a ton of grip.

The compound is designed to last 15% - 20% longer than regular street rubber, so the life expectancy is extended by 5%-10%. It's still too early for me to say anything about treadwear since I've only had these tires for 2 months, but up until now, they seem great.

All in all, we were incredibly impressed by how good these tires are for any kind of day-to-day use. They are confident-inspiring tires that are highly recommended for sportbikes, especially if you have a more aggressive riding style.

Price and Size Availability

If you want a set of these tires, the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 is available in multiple sizes, including 120/70ZR17 front and 200/55ZR17 rear for the Kawasaki Ninja H2.

The Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 is competitively priced and costs around $150-$220, depending on the tire size. There are cheaper options out there, but these offer top-notch performance and grip without breaking the bank.

Customer Opinions and Reviews

The Bridgestone Hypersport S22 tires have a 4.4/5-star rating on Revzilla.com, which is a testament to their popularity among sportbike riders.

Most customers agree that these tires are amazing - offering superior grip, stability, and comfort during everyday riding.

Since these are high-performance tires, there are some negative reviews about excessive wear on the shoulders (from regular street use), but this is understandable.

Our Two Cents

The Bridgestone Hypersport S22 is one of the best sport motorcycle tires on the market today. It's not surprising why it has become so popular with sportbike riders.

These are seriously good high-performance street tires that do well in any kind of riding situation, from casual commuting to track days.

If you're looking for a sports tire that can handle everything, then this is your best bet. Just be ready to shell out some extra cash for replacement tires when necessary.

Order your set of Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 tires today on Revzilla.

Pros

  • Excellent grip on most surfaces
  • Stable at high speeds
  • W-rated for up to 168 mph
  • Great value for money
  • Comfortable on the street as well as track

Cons

  • Short tire life than sport-touring rubber.

3. Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV

The Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV is a popular upgrade for the Kawasaki Ninja H2. It offers superior grip and handling, partly due to its asymmetric design. The tire has excellent feedback, allowing riders to know exactly how hard they're pushing their bike through corners. This allows them to drive harder and faster, resulting in better lap times.

Design and Features

A unique new asymmetric tread pattern was developed for this tire series by Pirelli's engineers in Milan, who partnered with the World SuperBike Championship to create a new breed of street tires that perform on the track as well as they do on the road. The Rosso IV is a versatile racing tire that doesn't sacrifice its street-riding qualities.

The Diablo Rosso IV is similar in design to its predecessor. However, it has a unique tire core that improves stability and handling by dispersing heat more evenly across the tire's surface. The Rosso also has a newly optimized carcass construction that increases grip under acceleration, braking, and cornering.

The Diablo Rosso IV features high-performance silica-enriched compounds on both shoulders and center of the tire. This provides optimal grip at all lean angles and improved warm-up performance. Additionally, its tread design offers excellent steering precision under high load at both straight-line riding and cornering.

Pirelli uses extra materials on the outside edge of the tire so it can handle turns at high speeds without sliding off course. The racing-inspired tread pattern also enhances stability when quickly accelerating out of sharp turns.

It also features a larger contact patch in the center of the tire. This allows for a quick warm-up without sacrificing wet weather handling or high-speed stability. Pirelli states that the Rosso IV provides up to 10% better grip in wet weather conditions than its predecessor, with less rolling resistance and fuel consumption.

Performance Analysis

When you're riding in a straight line and going to lean your bike, the tire will feel like it's gripping more than usual. It takes slightly longer to warm up the tire, but once it does, it's instantaneous.

The first time you try this on public roads is an unforgettable experience because the grip feels incredibly secure under sharp turns. The Rosso IV grips like no other tire I've experienced before. There were times when I thought I was already about to lose control of sharp turns. Some people might think that's too much feedback, but that made racing through corners even more fun for me.

The Rosso's comfort level was also pretty impressive during our time with it. They look rather aggressive, but they're surprisingly smooth on city streets. When I'm not racing or doing track days, these tires save me from feeling fatigued every day after commuting to work because of how smooth they are.

The only downside to these tires is their noise. They're not as quiet as you'd expect from a street-legal tire. But if you have straight pipes installed on your motorcycle, the noise shouldn't be too much of an issue at all. I'm sure most of us who have straight pipes sometimes complain about how loud our engines are anyway, so this shouldn't even matter to us riders at all.

These are very similar to stock tires, so there's no need to adjust your riding style for these new tires. You can still enjoy sharp braking without locking up or losing control because of abrupt tire deceleration under high pressure.

The Rosso IV also offers great feedback even when riding at high speeds for an extended time (over 2 hours). I wasn't fatigued after my drive with them because they're comfortable.

As for wet weather performance, the Rosso IV is undoubtedly one of the best stock tires I've ever experienced. It grips as hard as it does in dry conditions and offers fantastic feedback. Compared to the Rosso III, they grip better when leaned over in wet conditions. I felt the Rosso III struggle during hard acceleration in heavy rain, but the IV grips harder.

The Rosso IV also changes how you feel about braking in wet conditions. There were times when I would've either braked too late or too abruptly with my previous tires, which resulted in crashes. But these new tires managed to let me brake harder without any issues after getting used to them.

It's also worth noting that they don't lock up like most ultra-performance tires do, even on wet surfaces at high speeds. Overall, the Rosso IV is a tire that truly puts you in the front seat of your motorcycle to better experience its raw power.

One thing I'd like to recommend is that you should take your time when installing these tires because their sidewall stiffness requires a bit more attention when mounting them onto the rims. Over-tightening or over-torquing the bolts will cause the front tire to lean in an awkward position, so watch out for that to avoid any accidents on the road.

Price and Size Availability

The Diablo Rosso IV is available in 120/70ZR17 front and 200/55ZR17 (75W) rear sizes for the Kawasaki Ninja H2

For $140-$240, you get street-racing capabilities out of these tires without needing to spend double the price for your next track day session.

Customer Opinions and Reviews

People who rode with the Rosso IV like them because they provide a smooth and safe ride, even without choosing the lowest air pressure. They work best for taller riders, although shorter riders can use them as well if they're ok with feeling the road surface more than usual.

One important factor that customers agreed on was the difference in stability between these tires and stock ones. These tires improved handling dramatically, making it almost impossible to lose control of your bike, unlike before.

The only complaint about them would be their noise level. But since they're well-designed for racing use, you might as well consider that as part of the experience. These are both street and track day ready, which is perfect if you don't intend to tune your Ninja H2.

Our Two Cents

I think that Pirelli's latest tire is definitely a huge improvement from their previous iterations. It doesn't take too long to heat up, but its transition from grip to slide mode is as smooth as it can get. I'm sure all of us would love riding on these tires, whether we're doing track days or racing around the city streets.

They may be a bit pricey, but they live up to their price tag by providing the best performance for your H2 without sacrificing comfort and safety out on the road. They might not last as long as other brands because of how thin they are, but who needs durability when you have more control over your bike?

Order your set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires today on Revzilla.

Pros

  • Superb grip and handling
  • Great straight-line stability
  • Ideal for track days
  • DOT approved

Cons

  • A tad expensive
  • Noisy