[okamsrazor]

Ok, so I put the manufacturs recomended tire size on my ZRX1100. It is a 170/60/17 and I am using it to replace a 180/55/17 that was on the bike. It looks good on the bike but now I am hearing that it is a "small tire" and I should stick with the 180/55 since it is fatter. I guess I never thought a 170/60 is small since it is taller than a 180/55 (although only by 3mm). Am I missing something? Is a 170 to small?

 

[Filip75]

Stay with the stock recommended size. Whenever you get a narrower and taller tire, optically it just looks MUCH narrower. One thing is for sure, that your turn-ins will become faster now.

 

[inpayne]

It will handle a lot better now.

Your fine. .

 

[PhilB]

The manufacturer probably knows more than whoever you're "hearing this" from. A fatter tire is not necessarily better. The ideal tire size is the *smallest* one that the power of the bike does not overwhelm.

PhilB

 

[binx_19]

Stay with the stock recommended size. Whenever you get a narrower and taller tire, optically it just looks MUCH narrower. One thing is for sure, that your turn-ins will become faster now.

now theoretically here, would not turn in be slower now that the rear tire is "shorter" reducing height of the rear of the bike?

 

[beowulf2k]

Being an 1100 with the weight, rake and purpose-I would personally do the 180/50 or 55. You have to remember that the manufact. isnt expecting people to be canyon carving-which you can in a ZRX.
Its not going to kill you to try the 180-so listen to whoever you want, but only YOU will know what feels right and what doesn't. So dont stick to manufacturers suggestions-they never took 5'4" or even 6'4" 180lb or 280lb people into consideration when "suggesting".

 

[PhilB]

now theoretically here, would not turn in be slower now that the rear tire is "shorter" reducing height of the rear of the bike?

They're about the same height.
60% of 170 mm = 102 mm
55% of 180 mm = 99 mm

So the 170 will turn in faster, with its narrower width and tighter curve radius.

Being an 1100 with the weight, rake and purpose-I would personally do the 180/50 or 55. You have to remember that the manufact. isnt expecting people to be canyon carving-which you can in a ZRX.
Its not going to kill you to try the 180-so listen to whoever you want, but only YOU will know what feels right and what doesn't. So dont stick to manufacturers suggestions-they never took 5'4" or even 6'4" 180lb or 280lb people into consideration when "suggesting".

Well, he said he had the 180 previously, and just replaced it with manufacturers recommended size of the 170. So he will soon have direct experience with both and be able to decide for himself. He's just having some doubts because some of the local guys think they know better than the engineers who designed it what tire it needs. (Probably the same guys who would tell him to "break it in hard, like a racebike".) I certainly think it would be silly to get rid of his new tire and put a 180 back on; it's not going to be that huge a difference. If he decides he likes the 180 more he can switch back on his next tire.

But for any canyon carving, he's better off with the 170. He would only need the 180 if he has modified it for significantly increased power, or maybe if he's dragracing.

PhilB

 

[rockscaler]

the 170 will break loose first ,
have you ever broke loose the rear on the throttle leaned over if so your style might be beyond the 170 if not then the 170 will speed up the transition making the bike sharper handling

 

[beowulf2k]

They're about the same height.
60% of 170 mm = 102 mm
55% of 180 mm = 99 mm

So the 170 will turn in faster, with its narrower width and tighter curve radius.

Well, he said he had the 180 previously, and just replaced it with manufacturers recommended size of the 170. So he will soon have direct experience with both and be able to decide for himself. He's just having some doubts because some of the local guys think they know better than the engineers who designed it what tire it needs. (Probably the same guys who would tell him to "break it in hard, like a racebike".) I certainly think it would be silly to get rid of his new tire and put a 180 back on; it's not going to be that huge a difference. If he decides he likes the 180 more he can switch back on his next tire.

But for any canyon carving, he's better off with the 170. He would only need the 180 if he has modified it for significantly increased power, or maybe if he's dragracing.

PhilB

Aint that the truth. I did better with a 190 on my ZX9 than 180 and vice versa on the ZX10. He should just stock up on tires. ZRX1100 increased power..lol

There is a difference between the 50 and 55 series.

 

[okamsrazor]

They're about the same height.
60% of 170 mm = 102 mm
55% of 180 mm = 99 mm

So the 170 will turn in faster, with its narrower width and tighter curve radius.

That is what I was thinking. I understand I lose 10mm of width and gain 3 in heigth but I never thought that made the tire too "small" and having ridden a cruiser the last 7 years I did not want to find myself limiting my performance on a sportbike.

Well, he said he had the 180 previously, and just replaced it with manufacturers recommended size of the 170. So he will soon have direct experience with both and be able to decide for himself.

Correct. I had the 180/55 on it (a Michelin Pilot) and needed to replace the front tire. I put on some Pirelli Diablo Stradas. A 120/70/17 in front and a 170/60/17 in back. The Michelin tire is actually pretty new too, so if I do not care for the 170 I can go back to 180.

He's just having some doubts because some of the local guys think they know better than the engineers who designed it what tire it needs. (Probably the same guys who would tell him to "break it in hard, like a racebike".)

On of them actually said that, word for word. He was riding an R6 with a fat 190.

But for any canyon carving, he's better off with the 170. He would only need the 180 if he has modified it for significantly increased power, or maybe if he's dragracing.

The bike has increased HP, it has ZX11 cams and is Dyno Jetted. I have no intentions of using it on the track, dragracing, or stunting. I just want to use it for some sport touring and some fun on the backroads.

 

[Nightfall]

My bike uses a 150 rear, people always talk about "dude your back tire is little as hell" well compared to your huge ass rear tire on your CBR1000 well yeah, but otherwise no, not really ...

Suzuki thought it should be 150mm for a reason and I'm not one to really question their choice because I'm sure their engineers are smarter than me lol

it's a street bike with street oriented tires.

 

[binx_19]

i dont think i will ever understand tire size.

 

[PhilB]

... On of them actually said that, word for word. He was riding an R6 with a fat 190.

:lao OK, that guy -- never listen to anything he says.

... The bike has increased HP, it has ZX11 cams and is Dyno Jetted. I have no intentions of using it on the track, dragracing, or stunting. I just want to use it for some sport touring and some fun on the backroads.

I'd bet you'll like the 170, then. One of the flaws of my bike is that the designer put on the widest rear tire he could (at the time). It runs a 180/55, and has no need for it. The 750 version has an inch narrower rim and a 160/60, and it handles noticeably better. I've considered modifying my bike to take the narrower rim. If I ever have to replace the rear rim, I probably will do that.

PhilB

 

[PhilB]

i dont think i will ever understand tire size.

First number is width, in millimeters.
Second number is height, as a percentage of width, so a 180/50 has a height of 50% of 180 mm = 90 mm.
Third number is rim size, in inches.

There are 25.4 mm in an inch, to convert the width and calculated height to inches.

Yeah, it's fucking screwy, but not impossible to get.

PhilB

 

[binx_19]

First number is width, in millimeters.
Second number is height, as a percentage of width, so a 180/50 has a height of 50% of 180 mm = 90 mm.
Third number is rim size, in inches.

There are 25.4 mm in an inch, to convert the width and calculated height to inches.

Yeah, it's fucking screwy, but not impossible to get.

PhilB

when does rim width come into play? or all the rims the same size?

 

[PhilB]

when does rim width come into play? or all the rims the same size?

Rim width definitely comes into play. Any given rim is designed for a certain tire width, as recommended by the manufacturer. Tire width is typically 30-40 mm wider than the rim width itself. Normally, you can go up or down by 10mm on tire width from the rim's design without much trouble; more than that is a risk of it not fitting properly.

PhilB