Tire size

[dflack001]

Gonna need to replace the tires on my 08 xb9sx soon. Would like to go with the dual compound Micheline tires but was wondering what sizes you all run? Stock, wider, narrower, or taller (if there is such a thing)? I do more straight riding then I'd like but love ridding it hard in the corners. Just don't want to have to serpintine down the road all the way home from work to keep from wearing a flat spot in the center of my skins...

[GOduc]

Well, you will get a lot of different opinions on this just the way it happens

But basically

If you do more straight riding than corners its always going to wear quicker in the middle and give you the ugly flat spot. Even it out by of course riding some corners. Not really anything else to do. Ride the bike upright that's the wear pattern you will get

Wider. ...ok.....differing opinions here. But I've always been of what's physically going on....meaning. If you go to the 190 or even a 200, and put that tire on the rear wheel, the rear wheel isn't going get any wider, so you effectively "squish" it onto the wheel and make it fit. By doing this it will "tent" higher in the middle. The contact patch of hard rubber inside the tire is wider but when it tents you actually don't gain any contact patch with regards to the footprint on the ground. Also due to tenting, this tire will not last as long as a tire that's made to fit your size wheel. People will contradict all of this and say they have had the 190 or 200 and had them last just as long, etc. But its physics. The wheel is made in a certain width and comes from the factory with a 180 for a reason. Its a universal truth that the narrower the tire the quicker it "dives." if you are into taking corners i wouldnt stray from this.

People I've noticed also go to the 190 or 200 to try to look "cool" or something it seems like. Go stand behind three bikes. 180,190,200 and believe me when i say the difference to the naked eye is so minuscule i don't know why anyone would care. You want a real difference then go to the 240.

Also wider is more costly. And paying more for a tire that offers no advantage and Wont last as long anyway is beyond anything ill consider doing.

If you go taller you actually alter the geometry of bike and therefore alter the cornering ability of the bike. It will feel funny and throw you off. Yes it is a huge difference that is immediately noticed. So if you do decide to go to a 190 in order to keep it the same as the 180/55 you will need a 190/50 and not the 190/55 which will be taller and mess with the bikes cornering.

[dflack001]

Very helpful information GOduc, thank you! So basically, stick with the factory size...does it benefit me to run a dual compound tire? And about that 240, you obviously have to run a wider wheel, but can the swing arm take a wider wheel? Does it provide anything other than looks?

[CrazyTexan]

Well put GOduc +1 [up]