Back tire size

[boatdoctor]

Top Cat

I know what your saying my first back tire was conti. tour Really like it got 12k. and a little. Went back with same tire got 10k on it. then got a Michelin pilot activ got 8k on it. Now running a metzeler lasertec back tire it is worn out and I do not have 5k on it yet. Got to have new tire soon!! So as you say the mileage of tires is getting lower. boatdoctor.

[motoman]

Yep.....what was a softer off center compound used previously has been used on center portion for some 7yrs. now and off-center is even a softer compound.
This came to me from the local Honda dealer's purchasing person a few yrs. back......goes for all manufacturers.

[WMarshy]

I'm pretty sure any tire that is constructed with a dual compound tread is sold as such (I.e. In the products sale description). All of the tires available in the 17" are a single compound design. I have yet to find one that claims otherwise which is unfortunate because they wear a lot more in the center than the edges for +95% of XS owners. I don't own a durometer but I'm willing to bet the compound is the same across the entire tire on all the rubbers available.

[skids]

Years ago I had a metzler 880 on the rear of one of my standards. You want me to try and research the size? If you have one that doesn't fit it probably doesn't matter.

[motoman]

I'm pretty sure any tire that is constructed with a dual compound tread is sold as such (I.e. In the products sale description). All of the tires available in the 17" are a single compound design. I have yet to find one that claims otherwise which is unfortunate because they wear a lot more in the center than the edges for +95% of XS owners. I don't own a durometer but I'm willing to bet the compound is the same across the entire tire on all the rubbers available.

FWIW, the ContiGo's ARE a dual compound .

[WMarshy]

FWIW, the ContiGo's ARE a dual compound .

Please show me where they claim it is dual compound design.

http://www.conti-online.com/www/moto...ontigo_en.html

[motoman]

May not claim it in writing, but ALL major motorcycle tire manufacturers have been using dual compounds for approx. the past 7-8yrs. as I've just previously hinted to.....that goes for bias as well as radials(which I use on the STeed).

That info comes from someone more knowledgeable in that area than either one of us.......which I also just previously stated .

.

[WMarshy]

May not claim it in writing, but ALL major motorcycle tire manufacturers have been using dual compounds for approx. the past 7-8yrs. as I've just previously hinted to.....that goes for bias as well as radials(which I use on the STeed).

That info comes from someone more knowledgeable in that area than either one of us.......which I also just previously stated .

.

I understand, no real facts to support your claims... I'm starting to see a trend.

Just because dual compounds exist doesn't mean they use it in all tires and when they do they are bound to claim it. Reason being, it's a big deal when it comes to longevity and performance. It's also a big factor in manufacturing cost. If you have a durometer you could measure it and report out your numbers to support your claim. JAT

[motoman]

I understand, no real facts to support your claims... I'm starting to see a trend.

Just because dual compounds exist doesn't mean they use it in all tires and when they do they are bound to claim it. Reason being, it's a big deal when it comes to longevity and performance. It's also a big factor in manufacturing cost. If you have a durometer you could measure it and report out your numbers to support your claim. JAT

I just offered relavent information that came from a VERY knowageble source, not from me.
What you do with it is your choice. The adding of the irrelative rhetteric, in this caseIMO is counter productive to all......chill dude .

[WMarshy]

I just offered relavent information that came from a VERY knowageble source, not from me.
What you do with it is your choice. The adding of the irrelative rhetteric, in this caseIMO is counter productive to all......chill dude .

Irrelevant rhetteric? Look dude, I don't claim to know everything but you can sure bet I'm going to call BS on those who make claims on things with no reasonable supporting facts. You said that your info about dual compounds came from a credible source but you didn't bother saying who. Regardless, when someone posts information from the manufacture about a product and no claims about dual compound are made then you can bet it's not a dual compound tire. You can search their other products and read about their dual compound technology and how they mention it in the specs. Why would they fail to put that info on a product if it actually had it..? It's nothing personal, it's all about providing accurate information and when you don't have any don't comment, or when your called out and are wrong man up and eat you foot.

[rdmcguy]

A new direction

In an attempt to take this post in a slightly different direction,
I believe the main part of this thread was to determine if a 140 tire could be fitted ?
Has anyone determined how close the driveshaft actually is to the swingarm(tube) internally ?Could the swingarm be modified/massaged to gain acceptable clearance for a larger tire?

[WMarshy]

In an attempt to take this post in a slightly different direction,
I believe the main part of this thread was to determine if a 140 tire could be fitted ?
Has anyone determined how close the driveshaft actually is to the swingarm(tube) internally ?Could the swingarm be modified/massaged to gain acceptable clearance for a larger tire?

I recall one member modifying the drive shaft tube part I the swing arm where it's already recessed. I'd have to search for his results but cut the recess out andreplaced it with a piece of flat stock IIRC. I do t remember how much extra room he got from it or what size tire he was tring to fit but there is some extra room to be had. Big picture conclusion is 140/90-17 is most likely to rub on the drive shaft side.

[natemoen]

In an attempt to take this post in a slightly different direction,
I believe the main part of this thread was to determine if a 140 tire could be fitted ?
Has anyone determined how close the driveshaft actually is to the swingarm(tube) internally ?Could the swingarm be modified/massaged to gain acceptable clearance for a larger tire?

Yes, Crazy Steve modified his swing arm tube. Check his posts.

[crazy steve]

,,,Could the swingarm be modified/massaged to gain acceptable clearance for a larger tire?

Yes it can.... but it's not a easy mod. If you look at the link in post 5, I show 'typical' tire sizes in relation to each other. I also show a 160-80-16 tire that I'm fitting to one of my projects. One of these days I'll post the whole process of this, but not until I actually get it fitted on the bike (this bike is currently in many parts... ).

Anything wider than 5.5" is going to cause problems at the driveshaft indent. A few have ground the metal thinner here, but the tube thickness is only .100" so you can't gain much without risking grinding through. By cutting away the indent and increasing the recess around the shaft, you can fit up to a 6.15" wide tire and barely clear the driveshaft. But there's two other problem areas; beyond about 5.7" wide, you will be unable to get the tire in past the FD/swingarm and the brake anchor post/swingarm as the tire won't fit between these points. I ended up making the brake anchor post removable, and tire installation will require 'working' the tire/wheel/FD in all at the same time. Bit of a PITA, but I won't have any excuse for not lubing the FD splines at each tire change...

Here's a quick pic of the indent mod.....



I cut the indent past the driveshaft about .050" (filling the hole with .125" metal), then fabricated a thin sheetmetal 'cover' for the shaft to gain max clearance.

[motoman]

Good information there for future reference Steve

WMarshy, if you'll go back and read, you'all see I stated that info came to me from my local Honda dealership, and came from their purchasing agent whose is also a long time avid rider .