ZX6R Rear Tyre Sizes

[MrMelon]

On my 96 zx6r I've noticed the profile of the rear tyre looks way more rounded than most other tyres. It's a 180 width tyre but all the recommended tyres on the sizing chart on the swingarm are 160 width tyres. Would I be losing out on traction on the edge of the tyre by having a 180 rear on a narrow rim, that if I had a 160 on the rear? Or does everyone run 180's on the rear of their zx6's?
Cheers

[bugjuice]

the older ZX6s ran 160 tyres, the newer ones run 180. I'd stick to what the bike is designed for (personally), but you might get away with a wider tyre. Just watch for fowling on the swing arm and chain by the extra width. It'll also make it turn in a little different than a 160. Is the front a 110 or 120? If the front is 110 and you're keeping it, then stick with a 160 cos a 180 will have a different profile to a 110, and it'll grip more in the corner cos of this, which could make the front wash out. If it's a 120 on the front, then that's what bikes with 180/190/200 use too, so you'll be ok.. But with a 160 on, you won't be loosing any grip at all. You might actually find you can push it better and get better feedback with a 160. But don't be thinking that the 160 is any less superior than a 180..

[kerryg]

Just watch for fowling on the swing arm and chain by the extra width. .

Yeah, duck when you see that fowling heading your way

[MrMelon]

the older ZX6s ran 160 tyres, the newer ones run 180. I'd stick to what the bike is designed for (personally), but you might get away with a wider tyre. Just watch for fowling on the swing arm and chain by the extra width. It'll also make it turn in a little different than a 160. Is the front a 110 or 120? If the front is 110 and you're keeping it, then stick with a 160 cos a 180 will have a different profile to a 110, and it'll grip more in the corner cos of this, which could make the front wash out. If it's a 120 on the front, then that's what bikes with 180/190/200 use too, so you'll be ok.. But with a 160 on, you won't be loosing any grip at all. You might actually find you can push it better and get better feedback with a 160. But don't be thinking that the 160 is any less superior than a 180..

I've got a 120 on the front. I've been running 180's on the rear for the last year and a bit, but since it's on a 4.5" rim it's much more curved around the edges than I see on most other bikes, so I can never really quite get to the edge of the tyre. I'm thinking that by the time I get near it, there'll be a smaller contact patch of tyre on the road than if I was running a 160, which should make the tyre flatter at the edge which would give more grip while leaned. But would there be any disadvantages replacnig the 180 with a 160 when it's due? Would the same range of tyres be available in 160 rather than 180?

[bugjuice]

should be the same range.. with a 160, it'll turn in a lot sharper than on a 180. And the tyres are designed to be run right to the edge, else they wouldn't have the edge! But the bike was set up and designed to have a 160 on it to start with, so there won't be any issues going back to a 160. It'll just feel a little strange until you get used to it. If you don't like it, just flick it off on TM as part-used and go buy another 180.. But the tyres are designed to grip fairly equally between sizes

Oh, and Kerry, bite me

[R1madness]

A 4.5 inch rim is not designed for a 180 tyre. You will get much better grip and life out af a 160. For the front is it a 3.5 or a 3.25 inch rim? If a 3.5 a 120/70 will be fine assuming it clears the front guard at speed (tyres grow taller as speed incerases so do not assume that just because there is clearance sitting on the stand there will be some at 200kph).
Good bikes the ZX6