Tire size comparison, (split from the dano thread)

Meulen · Oct 17, 2002

bluebusa60544 said:
I had a 160 on a 5.5" rim on my '92 GSXR. It gave you more contact area when straight up and less when leaned. The cross section was almost square. It was harder to turn in because you were rolling thebike up on the corner so to speak. But I think a 190 would give you a better contact patch at any angle over a 180 because they are both designed for a 6" rim. The advantage to a 160 for drag racing comes from the fact the sidewalls are pulled out to make it fit a rim it was not designed for. If my bike should have a 190 I will use a 190. Using anything else will compromise something.

Trust me. Put a 180 and you will almost lean to the ground the first time you lean over cause it makes such a difference

I don't have to measure it. Even if it is the same diameter you can see the better contact patch at angle and feel a huge difference.

that's my story and I'm sticking to it.:cheers

HDTony · Oct 17, 2002

:- :- :- :- :- :- :- :twofinger Pass it around duuuuude

Meulen · Oct 17, 2002

GsxrTony said:
[B:- :- :twofinger Pass it around duuuuude [/B]

Your mean.

So I'm not sharen'

:laughing :laughing

ricerocket · Oct 17, 2002

GsxrTony said:
Its true Ken. 180 is much better for Drag racing. !90 or even 200 is better for curves. Thats why I was soooo Surprised to see you going with a 180. With that 180 you have probably lost about 3 or 4 mph in the top speed and decreased your lean angle a hair.

If this was true, the 200 series giving better top-end and better in the curves, than why aren't m/c roadrace tires (Michelin H2, Dunlop 208gp) designed to these dimensions? They are actually a 180/55 series.

Maybe all this is different on different bikes using different sized rear rims, but for the R1, using a 6.00" wide rear rim, putting a 180/55 series tire on the rear, you WILL notice a big difference in turn in speed and "flickability". Bigger or smaller contact patch, I'm not certain, but for most people, the 180 series on the "liter" bikes should prove to be a positive change.

Odysseys · Oct 17, 2002

yep that is true...a 180 on a 6" rim versus a 190 on a 6" rim will flick over faster cause of the HIGHER ^ profile it has. makeing the the bike act and feel more agile,flick faster from side to side, etc..( a 180/55/zr17)

as far as which tire has a greater foot print while the bike is stright up...i have to say 190 is..and i am sticking to it untill someone SHOWS me the proof.

which tire has a greater contact patch while leaned over i still say 180.

vtr996 · Oct 18, 2002

Odysseys said:
yep that is true...a 180 on a 6" rim versus a 190 on a 6" rim will flick over faster cause of the HIGHER ^ profile it has. makeing the the bike act and feel more agile,flick faster from side to side, etc..( a 180/55/zr17)

as far as which tire has a greater foot print while the bike is stright up...i have to say 190 is..and i am sticking to it untill someone SHOWS me the proof.

which tire has a greater contact patch while leaned over i still say 180.

As far as "leaned over contact patch size" I think the key factors are tire profile and air pressure(carcass flex) more so than tire size(as different brands/models of tire will have different properties between sizes). For a given rim size I would "think" a smaller tire would spread out on the rim reducing the "leaned" contact patch. However its more complicated than that due to the 180 having the the taller sidewall compared to the 190.

Race tires (slicks/208GP/Pilot Race...ect) are a different ball game. All have a much more triangular profile than ANY street tire. Its shaped more like a "V" whereas the street tire has a more round profile "U". Its a tradeoff, the V profile will have a larger contact patch at lean while the U profile will have more stability in a strait line. You can't compare street-vs-race in this regard...its apples and oranges. I know several racers who run 190 sized Dunlop slicks and there is NO problem with the turn-in speed...then you can also look at the MotoGP bikes that run fat tires on the 16.5" rims to further complicate things....

to make a long story short....try some of the different tires availible for the application you desire(street-sport/sport-touring/dragracing/roadracing). We have soooo many tire choices that you're bound to find something you love. Don't like a tire....change it. Motorcycle handling and chassis setup is a black art, a mix of feel, science, and trial and error.

Odysseys · Oct 18, 2002

:laughing finally someone hit on it...which its about time..kudos mark..ive been waiting for this reply to say this.

tires of yesteryear are the problem when it comes to peoples thoughts changing to todays tires being made.

this is where now adays..anyone who is releasing a 180 tire is really trying to replicate a race tire for the streets in which compounds and profiles have gotten stickier and sharper shaped.

and its these tires of today that the 180 has a less center patch and a larger profile for flick in faster rate and more of a side wall for grip while leaned over.

the 190 profile hasnt changed to much but for compounds being added to make it stickier.

the only real tire that still holds a FLAT 190 profile is the dunlop 207's.

so i still stand by my thoughts from what i have seen and felt to be.

:thumbsup

Tire size comparison, (split from the dano thread)

Meulen

HDTony

Meulen

ricerocket

Odysseys

vtr996

Odysseys

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