tire width explained

[ian]

hey, can any of you guys point me to an article or something comparing wide tires vs. narrow tires?

[ThisEndUp]

Ian,
What specifically do you want to know?

[ian]

the advantage of each really. Pros and cons of what you get from each.

[dru86]

Well a narrower tire generally costs less, weighs less(so slightly faster acceleration) and turns quicker. A wide tire gives you that cool poser look and will handle like crap if its too wide for the rim.

[Modified96]

I am running a 180 because of an R6 swingarm conversion. For everyday street riding, it's perfectly fine. I'm not a track guy, so I can't tell you if it would handle really bad there.

180 is a conservative size. I would not recommend going over that on a FZR. No one needs a 240 tire on a sportsbike, unless it is just a show bike.

[ian]

haha I was just wondering why some people do the 160 conversion other than the fact that there is a lot more, less expensive rubber out there for that size.

[ThisEndUp]

Well a narrower tire generally costs less, weighs less(so slightly faster acceleration) and turns quicker. A wide tire gives you that cool poser look and will handle like crap if its too wide for the rim.

Or too wide for the bike in general.

Put a 180 on your bike and you'll dumb down that quick responsiveness a bit that the bike has with stock tire sizes. Track or street , your slowing the turn in.

+1 with the poser comment. But, each to his own.

[Modified96]

I guess I don't ride enough to tell if it's slow on the turn in. I'm sure it's fast enough to get a ticket

One other thing, I have ridden cruisers for more years than sportbikes. So I'm most likely used to that speed of turning anyways.

It all matters on the bike and the rider. An experienced rider on an R6 can smoke and experienced rider on an FZR600. The R6 is setup to work perfect with a 180 tire size, but the FZR isn't.

Remember, do what you want with your bike. Mod it and make it yours. Some people might think it is stupid or ugly, but you'll probably think their bike is stupid and ugly. The main thing is that you like it.

[ozzyfzr]

I removed the stock 18" rear on my 87 Genesis 1000, and replaced it with a 90ish Exup 17" with 170 on, more responsive in turn in, due to lower rotational forces involved (force * radius), and using the 170" I haven't compromised the feel of the rear end either, however I believe a 180 would compromise the already pleasing and safe feel, too much tyre, cross-sectional curvature would be compromised.

If anyone wishes to know whats involved in the change here goes:-

Standard 18" rear wheel is 250mm over the outside of caliper mounts and sprocket carrier, along with a 17mm axle diameter.

Standard 17" Exup -rear is 260mm over the above, removed 5mm off the outside of the caliper hanger, and 5mm off the hub spacer on the sprocket side, insert a 1.5mm thickness tube sleeve into the whole set-up (240mm in length) and re-use the original axle as the Exup hub/spindle diameter is 20mm. Sprocket line up for chain is perfect!! Brake line up is perfect (only by removing the 5mm from the hanger where it butts up to the swinger.

Jobs a good one. (and you know have access to some good 17" sports tyres!)

Hope it helps
Regards