Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: The Mad King Pepe' on June 23, 2011, 03:21:28 PM

Title: tire question
Post by: The Mad King Pepe' on June 23, 2011, 03:21:28 PM
what's the best tire size for a 6" rim: 180/55 or 190/50 ??

bike is a Monster 900, rims are marchesini.
Title: Re: tire question
Post by: stopintime on June 23, 2011, 03:23:23 PM
190 - maybe a 55 profile if there's room
Title: Re: tire question
Post by: bikepilot on June 24, 2011, 05:19:47 AM
You can run either, though most of the time a 190/xx is spec'd on the 6" rims.  For a while ducati put 180/55s on 6" rims though on the superbikes IIRC.

I actually swapped my TLS's 190/6" combo out for a 180/5.5" setup and found it notably improved turn-in.
Title: Re: tire question
Post by: The Mad King Pepe' on June 24, 2011, 07:07:07 PM
I got a pretty sweet deal for these marchesini rims on eBay, that's why I have the 6" rear. Otherwise I would have gone with the 180 on 5.5 as well.

I don't know how much of a tight fit the 190/55 will be, so 190/50 it will be. Thanks!
Title: Re: tire question
Post by: Desmo Demon on June 24, 2011, 10:47:50 PM
Quote from: The Mad King Pepe' on June 23, 2011, 03:21:28 PM
what's the best tire size for a 6" rim: 180/55 or 190/50 ??
Personally, we (my wife and I) run 180's on our 6" rims because they are generally:

1) cheaper
2) lighter
3) have better turn-in
4) most of our other bikes run 180's and helps with our inventroy of spares

A few weeks ago I mounted the 16th 180 rear tire on my wife's R1 and have never had any ill effects. She actually prefers the 180 for handling purposes and we have a couple of friends who used to race R1s in WERA and they all ran 180 tires on their race bikes....I'll be running 180s on my GSXR-1100, too.