Rear Tire Size
- Thread starter TimW
- Start date
It just escapes me why ANYONE would want to put smaller tires on a bike. As far as I'm concerned, you should ALWAYS put on the largest tire (width) that you can fit (or afford). Ok, if it's a matter of money....I can understand. But, if you have a modern dirtbike.....you are probably making very good power and have trouble keeping the rear end hooked up. So, why would anyone want a SMALLER tire that has less rubber to meet the dirt than a wider one??
Me personally....I'm limited only by the AVAILABILITY of 19" tires. Seems like hardly anyone makes a 130 or larger. It's hard enough to find 120's and some manufactures dont make ANYTHING larger than a 110 in a 19" rimsize. With 500 cc's of rip snorting power, I want the biggest piece of meat on the rear of my bike as possible to put the power to the ground.
Me personally....I'm limited only by the AVAILABILITY of 19" tires. Seems like hardly anyone makes a 130 or larger. It's hard enough to find 120's and some manufactures dont make ANYTHING larger than a 110 in a 19" rimsize. With 500 cc's of rip snorting power, I want the biggest piece of meat on the rear of my bike as possible to put the power to the ground.
According to www.buykawasaki.com 1994 kdx 200's came with a 100/100-18 (dunlop k695) I just assumed that this info was correct. I have found a lot of falsehoods on this site before, though.
David Trustrum
~SPONSOR~
- Jan 25, 2001
- 1,396
- 0
Hogwylde
Opinion is mixed, a thinner tyre may be able to cut into softer ground deeper than a wider one trading off against a perceivably wider footprint. But the rim is still the same size (unless you lace on a wider one) so the tire can tend to balloon out.
All this said if you want to come over & try to bead my 120 on my aftermarket Excel rim (& I’ve had a bit of practise) I’d be only too happy ‘cause I’ve given up & I see a 110 in its future.
Opinion is mixed, a thinner tyre may be able to cut into softer ground deeper than a wider one trading off against a perceivably wider footprint. But the rim is still the same size (unless you lace on a wider one) so the tire can tend to balloon out.
All this said if you want to come over & try to bead my 120 on my aftermarket Excel rim (& I’ve had a bit of practise) I’d be only too happy ‘cause I’ve given up & I see a 110 in its future.
Wide tire or not to wide tire that is the question
I just replace my rear tire. It came with a 100/100/18 so I figured keep it. I put my new one on,(a chen shing) I use those cuz I ride agreat deal on the slag piles in NEPA and it can rip a tire up BIG time. I usually have to do it @ one a month. Any hoot, the new tire says 100/100/18 but is 1/4" narrower. I did a hare scramble in Dallas Pa. that weekend, (loamy soi, damp, perfect) it hooked up like no tomorrow, yestyerday I did one in Pine Grove Pa. and they had a flat section that looked like a parking lot, it spun to beat the band, I never shifted so much, felt like I was riding a 125 again.
Moral of the story, pick a size for you riding area finally for your pocket book, look @and see what everyelse is running. If I had the bucks I keep dunlaps on it, but I abuse them so badly I gotta go cheaper.
Joe
2001 KDX 200
200 KTM
1997 ktm 125
2001Yami 125 TTR (boy "A"s)
1996 XR 80 (Boy "B"s)
I just replace my rear tire. It came with a 100/100/18 so I figured keep it. I put my new one on,(a chen shing) I use those cuz I ride agreat deal on the slag piles in NEPA and it can rip a tire up BIG time. I usually have to do it @ one a month. Any hoot, the new tire says 100/100/18 but is 1/4" narrower. I did a hare scramble in Dallas Pa. that weekend, (loamy soi, damp, perfect) it hooked up like no tomorrow, yestyerday I did one in Pine Grove Pa. and they had a flat section that looked like a parking lot, it spun to beat the band, I never shifted so much, felt like I was riding a 125 again.
Moral of the story, pick a size for you riding area finally for your pocket book, look @and see what everyelse is running. If I had the bucks I keep dunlaps on it, but I abuse them so badly I gotta go cheaper.
Joe
2001 KDX 200
200 KTM
1997 ktm 125
2001Yami 125 TTR (boy "A"s)
1996 XR 80 (Boy "B"s)
Pathfinder4
Member
- Sep 4, 2001
- 26
- 0
I put a 120/100 Pirelli on my 220 and it was so much larger in diameter that
it changed steering characteristics. It pushes badly with -dare I say it - too much traction. There are time when I want the rear to breal loose. I have a new s12 coming.:)
it changed steering characteristics. It pushes badly with -dare I say it - too much traction. There are time when I want the rear to breal loose. I have a new s12 coming.:)
MICH S-12
I just mounted a S-12 and rode it this wekend. Great rear tire! I have the smallest one they make the 120/90-18 on my 220. I am not in agreement that you should have the biggest tire on there you can fit. There is a thing as too much traction in situations such as hill climbing or cornering where some spinning is a good thing.
I just mounted a S-12 and rode it this wekend. Great rear tire! I have the smallest one they make the 120/90-18 on my 220. I am not in agreement that you should have the biggest tire on there you can fit. There is a thing as too much traction in situations such as hill climbing or cornering where some spinning is a good thing.
Pathfinder4
Member
- Sep 4, 2001
- 26
- 0
Im glad to see Im not the only one who thinks you can have too mucy tire.
Bigger is not always better, as many of us have said for years! Oh yes this can apply to tires as well.
:D
Bigger is not always better, as many of us have said for years! Oh yes this can apply to tires as well.
:D