Proper tire size for aftermarket/alternate rims

[michael21]

Well I have decided to keep my hawk so I am starting the upgrades. I need a little help. I just bought an F2 front end and 5.5 VFR rear and need help with tire selection. I have been searching but have not gotten a definitive answer. Basically what size's should I be running. It looks like the unanimous choice for the rear is a 170/60 but the front is a different story. I have seen both the 120/60 and 120/70. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. This is just for the street, I have another bike that does track duty. Thanks for any light you guys can shed on this.

Michael

[Rydtheslyd]

Your 170/60 on the rear depends on the tire brand!

http://www.hawkgtforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2859

[brewsy]

Hmmm,
Michael I would say regardless of brand go for a 170 on the back, and if your a person worried about clearance's etc get rid of the 5.5" and get the 5" VFR wheel.
Ive fitted a (Michelin) 180 to my 5.5" and will have to scalpel the LH side of the tyre to ensure some clearance between it and the SA.

As for the front go for the 120/70.
The 60 series was made for some bikes, specifically the early R6's and has pretty much always been criticised by all the Journo's for giving a bike a crap turn in feel.

Marc

[michael21]

Thanks Marc. Since I have a 5.5 rim can I still fit a 170 on the rear. I think that I should be able to but just want to make sure.

[brewsy]

Michael,
I believe so.
If you go to the manufacturers websites and put in the various years of VFRs you will notice that the tyre size changes but over the 2 widths of wheel.

HTH,
Marc

[rons647]

I too have just gone with a used 600F2 front wheel (3.5") & a VFR rear rim (5.5").

And I was about to ask about the 120/60 front tire question.

Then I saw Brewsy's reply (thanks!), so now I know to go with a 120/70 front.

Thanks!

[slo1]

The "correct" size for the rear would typically be a 170 (as per the tire manufacturers). However, tires vary greatly in "actual" size, as was found by a guy on the rc30 list. He mounted and measured, on the same rim, the most common Super-Sport tires. The following chart may help, however a 6" rim was used in this case, so your 5.5 may cause more bulge on a 180.

tire sizes, rims = F-3.5", R-6"

BRIDGESTONE
BT-014 120/7O-ZR17 119mm 8.51 lbs
BT-014 180/55-ZR17 186mm 13.31 lbs
BT-014 190/50-ZR17 193mm 13.86 lbs

CONTINENTAL
ContiSport Attack 120/7O-ZR17 119mm 10.03 lbs
ContiSport Attack 180/55-ZR17 178mm 14.34 lbs
ContiSPort Attack 190/50-ZR17 190mm 14.54 lbs

DUNLOP
Qualifier 120/70-ZR17 119mm 9.73 lbs
Qualifier 180/55-ZR17 188mm 13.48 lbs
Qualifier 190/50-ZR17 195mm 13.76 lbs

METZELER
Sportec M-l 120/7O-ZR17 119mm 8.8 lbs
Sportec M-l 180/55-ZR17 176mm 12.46 lbs
Sportec M-l 190/50-ZR17 191mm 13.06 ls

MICHELIN
PilotPower 120/7O-ZR17 117mm 9.33 lbs
PilotPower 180/55-ZR17 183mm 12.2 lbs
PilotPower 190/50-ZR17 195mm 12.88 lbs

PIRELLI
Diablo 120/7O-ZR17 118mm 8.9 lbs
Diablo 180/55-ZR17 179mm 12.78 lbs
Diablo 190/50-ZR17 194mm 13.22 lbs

(Thanks to Larry for the work/chart)

Being that my rc30 came with a 5.5 rim, to have clearance with a 6" with a 180 I went with Conti's, even though they are heavy.

My Hawk has a 5" vfr rim, so a 160 is right for the rim, and has plenty of clearance.

dale

[slo1]

The following tire companies all say to go 180 with a 5.5 rim;

Dunlop; http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire...tire.asp?id=92

bridgestone; http://www.motorcycle-karttires.com/...159&LookupID=9

Avon; http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcyc...howspecs&id=25

dale

[hawksonfire]

There will be clearance issues(swingarm) with the 180 regardless of what the manufacturer (Tire companies) says (that recomendation is for a VFR). As Brewsy found out(seem to remember posts recommending against the 180 a ways back).

[slo1]

There will be clearance issues(swingarm) with the 180 regardless of what the manufacturer (Tire companies) says (that recomendation is for a VFR).

I was refering to the wheel width recommendation, not bike specific ones. The profile will be different when mounted on different width rims, ie pointier, flatter, etc.

If Brewsy had to "shave" one side of the tire on a Michi, then maybe a Metzler that's 7mm narrower would fit without a shave.

I was under the impression that good tires in 170 size weren't always common. However, with 170's available in PR2's, Qualifier, etc, I guess it goes back to profile, and if one likes the handling that results from the changes caused by that.

Would a wider rear tire also make my a$$ look smaller ?

dale

[surferdude]

Would a 170/60ZR17 work on a VFR 5" rim?

[taz]

Would a 170/60ZR17 work on a VFR 5" rim?

I would if it was a 5" rim or 5.5'
a 180 is just to much to push unless your motor is tweaked up.

My 2 cents

[surferdude]

Would a 170/60ZR17 work on a VFR 5" rim?

I would if it was a 5" rim or 5.5'
a 180 is just to much to push unless your motor is tweaked up.

My 2 cents

I have a 700 but I don't think a 180 Bridgestone BT014 will clear the swingarm, so I'm going to use a 170.

[juicedstang999]

I have a 700 but I don't think a 180 Bridgestone BT014 will clear the swingarm, so I'm going to use a 170.

This may answer your question

180/55-ZR17 Bridgestone BT-014 on a 5.5 rim *JUST CLEARS* (results may vary)


By juicedstang999

[surferdude]

Dude, all I see is a big, fat tire staring me in the face!!!!