Wider Rear Tires?

[dlearl476]

I've seen it discussed a lot.  For those of you contemplating it, there's a good techno-blurb in the back of this month's Cycle World explaining the consequences ramifications.  It's specifically discusses ultra-wide tires, but the results are the same as I experienced by mistakenly mounting a 190/50VR17 on my Triumph rather than the factory recommended 180/55.

It's on page 112 of the July 2008 issue.

[LA]

The last time I needed a new rear a 190 was all the shop had. I have noticed that where the 180 would roll all the way to the very edge, the 190 has about 1/8" that's not being used. The 190 just doesn't spread wide enough on the 5.5" rim. You're paying for tire you don't use.

LA

[dlearl476]

You're paying for tire you don't use.

LA

If that's all it was with the Triumph, it wouldn't have been a so big a deal. The problem was it handled like shit, really resisited turning in and it got worse as the tire wore.  Luckily I spooned a new 180 Pilot Power 2CT on today and I'll do the front tonight after work.

[hydra]

yeah. nothing good about going wider. doesn't turn like it's supposed to. for touring bike's they're fine where most of the riding is on highways and some slow riding in the canyons. but sport bikes handle better with narrower tires cause of their faster nature.

[wbeck257]

I wouldn't say that there is nothing good w/ wider tires.

My buddy got an R1 and didn't like the turn in on it. Way too fast. Also had a problem with wheel spin out of corners. This was on a 180 tire.
We mounted a 190 tire on it and it slowed down the turn-in, but it doesn't want to light up when you punch it out of corners.

For my monster, I don't think I'd even slap a 190 on it. 180 is enough. But for a big tire eating beast that an R1 is -- 190 is a good choice for some riders.

[hydra]

I wouldn't say that there is nothing good w/ wider tires.

My buddy got an R1 and didn't like the turn in on it. Way too fast. Also had a problem with wheel spin out of corners. This was on a 180 tire.
We mounted a 190 tire on it and it slowed down the turn-in, but it doesn't want to light up when you punch it out of corners.

For my monster, I don't think I'd even slap a 190 on it. 180 is enough. But for a big tire eating beast that an R1 is -- 190 is a good choice for some riders.

that's an interesting way to go. on a 5.5" rim you would have too little contact patch. did you guys put a 5.75 rim on?

big tires on little rims ... REDUCE your contact patch. More weight, more expense, less traction.
an oversized tire gets pulled into the wrong shape on a narrow rim - this makes the contact patch smaller even though the tire's bigger.

[wbeck257]

that's an interesting way to go. on a 5.5" rim you would have too little contact patch. did you guys put a 5.75 rim on?

It is a stock 6x17 rim.

[hydra]

It is a stock 6x17 rim.

my bad wbeck, that would be about right on a 6" rim

i'm surprised there was a 180 on there to begin with...