Which tyre size?

Snorty · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Oct 2010 Karma :

My bike's a '98 SRAD fuel injection.

The manual says 190/50/17 tyre, but when I bought it, it had a 180/55/17. I've currently got a 190/50/17 and it's ok.

Should I stick with this size or go for the 180? People say the 180s have more grip, but I haven't really found the 190 to be lacking, it's not like I do track days or anything. I guess the main thing I notice is that there are no chicken strips on this 190. (probably the profile?)
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Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

iMark · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Nov 2011 Karma :

180 should be fine, maybe a bit cheaper...
Just keep the same profile or it could read wrong on the speedo...

180/50/17
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K8 GSXR 1000
"G" : you got him to have a look at a forum which seems to have established a picture of an erect penis in a cat's mouth as it's mascot and thought he might consider it ok?

Dean-J · Crazy Courier Joined: 30 Oct 2011 Karma :

a 180/50 wouldnt keep the same profile as a 190/50....

Seeing as the first number is a measurement of width and the second is the sidewall expressed as a percentage of the width.

50% of 190 = 95
50% of 180 = 90

55% of 180 = 99

So basically you cant keep the same profile, without keeping the same profile!

But as a speedo typically overreads by 6/7% anyway, increasing the rolling radius by using the 180/55 will actually make the speedo more accurate.... Thumbs Up

Id go for the 180/55 personally, but tyres are a very personal thing, some people like to go a size up, others a size down. Whatever you do it isnt going to make the bike an unrideable death machine, so play around a little by all means Smile

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Current: 99 Yamaha Thuundercat
Previous: K7 GSXR 1000 K4 GSXR 600 roadbike, CBR 600 Steelie Track bike, 2005 SV1000Sz, 2004 FZ6 Streetfighter,2003 Yamaha Thundercat, 2002 SV650, 1989 Yamaha DT125R

iMark · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Nov 2011 Karma :

Ahh yeah totally forgot about that, good point Dean Rolling Eyes

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K8 GSXR 1000
"G" : you got him to have a look at a forum which seems to have established a picture of an erect penis in a cat's mouth as it's mascot and thought he might consider it ok?