190/50 or 55?

[Pauly]

Just wanted to check. Need some new rubber and wanted to go to 190 rear. Do you recommend the 50 or the 55? Thanks,

 

[nativeXb12Rbuell]

the proper way to do it (in most Circumstances) when you go to wider tire is to drop the aspect ratio down in porportion to how much wider you went with . in order to keep the same hieght as your original OEM tire or as close as possible to keep from having the speedo from being off or putting on extra Revolutions per mile which could wear the tire more quickly and can sometimes aslo EFFECT the gear ratio and add to the rolling resistance that can effect your brakes (especially if it is much larger or heavier tire )a 185/55/17 is 25.01 inches tall & the 190/50/17 is 24.48 inches tall (almost a half inch shorter )and actual speed when speedo reads 20 mph would be 19.58 mph. and the 190/55/17 is the closed but slightly taller at 25.23 inches tall and actual speed when speedo reads 20 mph would be 20.17 mph(and when speedo reads 65 actual speed is 65.56 mph )revs per mile on the 185/55/17 is 806.34 and on the 190/55/17 is 799.42 . and the 190/50/17 is 823.85 .

i would reccomend the 190/55/17 if going to the wider 190
but remeber not every manufacturer tires are exactly to the width or aspect ratio hieght that it says it is some can be of + or - 1 to 2.5 mm check what the actual manufacturers website says actual dimensions are and compare to others.
check out this tire calulator or others

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php

 

[buelladdicted]

Also, when picking tire off a rack,as I do because mounting and balance is included where i buy,bring a tape measure and you can see what native says.The 180/55 bridgestone bto16 on the rear of my bike measures close to 190 michelin pilot power,dunlops often measure on the narrow side.bringing the tape answers a lot of questions,especially if you bring the demensions of the tire you already have.

 

[motownsniper]

also,by going with a 190 you would actually be getting a smaller contact patch on the pavement.

 

[nativeXb12Rbuell]

its like engine sizes they label it to the close even diamensions . to hard to label and sell many tires as 189/50/17 or 191/50/17 they need the interchangabilty to market and sellthe tires, and the manufacturers processes are all a bit different causeing the differences. the aspect ratio is the sidewalls height percentage of the width of the tires' widest section usually measured at the edge of the tread pattern or on the outer most widest spot of the sidewalls (sidewall to sidewall is how most motorcycle tires are measured and its the most acturate also)


side note: i'm a aircraft mechanic and used to work in a very great honest automotive shop as tech and salesman . and alot of people realy dont understand that about tires , and the some older people even think that all the tires that say a certain aspect ratio (like 60) they think they all are the same width no matter what the width says . they got to used to people say its a 60 series or 50 series type tires. some cant understand how it effect the contact patch also.

 

[nativeXb12Rbuell]

good point motwnsniper just follow buelladdicteds' way and compare the two tires side by side ( best way would be mounted on rim to proper PSI) to see how much difference in the roundness of the tires tread area and what the contact patches would be. psi would not effect the hieght to much though unless under inflated which would cause slightly bigger contact patch but cause more problems ; faster tire wear less MPG and heat up the tire faster and probably to much. and cause a greater rolling resistance also.

 

[nativeXb12Rbuell]

but i would realy stay with the OEM size if possible for my BUELL. why do want to change to the wider 190 , and what do exspect to gain from it , other than looks slighty wider, not much and probably not to noticeable. if you want a wider look try the 200 there are several on here that have do that . ask them how they like it and how it effects handling and cornering .

 

[XBwolf08]

Ok you go to a 200 but now your rim needs to be wider , if I am going for the fat look and have to get another I get a 240.

 

[flaya564]

I have a 190/55, meant to get 190/50. It's looks round instead of wider. Hasn't messed with handling but I don't think I'll ever get those chicken strips off.

 

[XBwolf08]

I was thinking about going to a 240. handling get slow , be we don't lose that much , That came from Erik Buell , then I was thinking about a 190, but going to stay with the 180. that that much of a difference from 180 to 190 in looks.

 

[krueger08xb12s]

For all of you 08+ XB owners, unless you have an XB12"S", your rear swingarm isn't deep enough to handle a 190/55. Look at your 180/55, you only have about 1/2 - 1/4" room between your tire and the swingarm (with a new tire). Don't mistake this with the SIDE of your tire - a 190 would fit here, it's the crown / top of your tire that will be an issue. Some may argue that a 190/55 fits our bikes, and it will actually when sitting still, but in motion the tire flexes and will rub a nice 1/4" out of your center treads. I looked this up and did the homework.

 

[pinball242]

i got the 195/50r17.

 

[XBwolf08]

If you ask the right people they tell you , if you going to put a 190 on you need to go with the 50

 

[Atomicpunk]

I run a 190/55 Battlax BT-016 on the rear of my 12S with absolutely no issues. [up]

 

[bttrfngrz]

i'm getting away with running a 185 55 pilot slick. and a 125 55 up front. really helps with getting some feedback from the front end and steering is much lighter. although IMO it's a bit dangerous as not having a steering dampener attached leaves you at higher risk for tank slapping.

 

[flaya564]

If you ask the right people they tell you , if you going to put a 190 on you need to go with the 50

I would have gotten the 50 but I couldn't pass up the deal, the 190/55 was the only one available... Front and back pilot powers for 200 shipped.

 

[XBwolf08]

That the funny thing one tire that a 50 can be the same as another brand theat is a 55.

 

[Route0766]

Michelin Pilot CT2 190/50r17 It looks and it is wider, and handle as 180/55r17? YES or NO !!