Rear tire sizes

[scoot71]

I was curious if a wider tire could be installed without causing any issues, I don't have a real reason to put a wider tire on, just kinda wondered what options are out there.

[Mr Jensee]

When I had my ZRX1100, I bought it used. It had a fat 180/55 17 tire on the rear. Through 3 tire changes I kept that size. I thought the bike handled very well. Then I discovered the standard size tire for the bike was a 160/55 17. I ordered one and discovered to my amazement that the bike was quicker to fall into the turns than ever before. Handling was improved to the point it wasn't so scary to ride the twisties in Arkansas any more. I used to ride white knuckled there trying to keep up with friends. In short the fat tires aren't always a good choice. It does affect handling. Ask these guys who are putting car tires on their Voyagers.

[scoot71]

I used to have an 03 Wing, some of the other riders I talked to put a wider tire on and they liked it, I believe the Wing had radial tires on it, Elite 3's are the last tires I had on mine, which I liked that tire. I probably will just go with the oem size when I do replace them, and the car tire thing I am not sold on, it may work fine but ........

[Neal]

Don't think I'll ever go back to a motorcycle tire on the back of my Voyager. Handles MUCH better in all situations.

[823JIM]

Neal, I considered going Dark Side when I put tires on mine. What tire are you using? My brother went with car tire on his Goldwing and says he will not go back to a motorcycle tire, much the same as you are saying.

[landygrundy86]

Much like Mr Jensee said, going with a wider tire doesn't necessarily improve anything, and can affect handling negatively. Although I do believe the ZRX1100 was stock with a 170 ;)... but I do hear going down to a 160 does help a lot, I will have to try that on mine.

"Most" wide tires that are run on sportbikes are there for lean angle, MotoGP bikes run a 190 rear tire, which helps Rossi touch his head to the ground when cornering lol

When working in the shop we had plenty of Goldwings and Valkyries come in with car tires. You couldn't pay me enough to ride any bike with a car tire, I find it almost terrifying personally, you're riding on a square block as opposed to a donut... they do not handle well. I've heard all the arguments for them... tire lasts longer, more stable on the freeway... etc etc.

If you like to "ride", or like the bike to feel good in corners (I like to scrap pegs) then I certainly wouldn't go with a car tire, but I would stick with the 150 as you physically don't have the lean angle to make a wider tire useful. I've scrapped the pegs quite a few times, and still have about a 1/4in of the tire that is untouched.

But something I have been wondering. Has anybody changed the front tire size? This is the first bike I've owned that has a 130 front. Wondering if going down to a 120 would help handling feel more precise/nimble?

[SgtSlag]

Years ago, I found an article discussing the use of non-standard, wider tires on bikes. The author decided to go back to the narrow tire specified by the owner's manual, to see what it was like, but he did so with much trepidation...

To his amazement, the bike handled m-u-c-h better. He realized that the engineers who designed the bike, and who also wrote the owner's manual, had already done all the work researching what tire size was optimal for handling on that particular bike. He stated that he realized it was a compromise, but he also discovered that the OEM tire sizes were the best, putting the wider tires he had been riding on, to shame, for handling. Just food for thought. Cheers!