Rear tyres:180 or 190? What's your preference?

[naphazoline]

was curious as to what your views/experiences are on rear tyre sizing for better handling.
i currently have a 190 rear (on an 06 blade),but have heard some guys like to down size to a 180,as they are supposed to corner better.
the blade turns in quite good,but seems to be harder to get it over past a certain lean angle.
i've only had the bike a couple of months,and i'm still getting used to it a bit,but in comparison to other bikes i've riden,it's taking a lot longer to get my full confidence,and i still find some corners to be a bit troublesome,as the bike tends to want to push me wide.

any info/stories welcome

cheers
naph'

[naphazoline]

btw,i probably should mention that i still haven't got around to having the suspension set up yet.

might this be a contributing factor?

[Cajun]

well there is a few opinions really
180/55
190/50 (stock i think)
190/55

i am guessing your bike come stock with a 190/50, people go down to the 180 due to higher profile to help with turn in, but honstly your better heading down the 190/55 route instead. if you have problems instead the 180


note i would set the suspenion first and formost and then go from there

[jrandom]

190/55s are super sweet.

But get your bike working right for you on the tyre size it came with, first, before you start fiddling with things.

Also note that not all 190/50s are created equal in terms of profile. Some will be much 'tippier' than others.

[naphazoline]

sorry.yes you are right.it's a 190/50/17.metzler roadtec z6

cheers

[jrandom]

sorry.yes you are right.it's a 190/50/17.metzler roadtec z6

Ah. Refer my comment re. different 190/50s having different profiles.

If you get some 190/50 Pilot Power 2CTs on there, you'll find that the bike goes around corners a lot better.

If you can afford to do it, I'd do it immediately, too - Z6s won't really handle what your bike does when the throttle's wide open.

[NZsarge]

190/55s are super sweet.

Agreed, Naphazoline if you get keen to try a different tyre try going to a 55 profile first and see how that goes, IMHO it's the less radical of your two options.

[Cajun]

a pic i came across while ago
bit hard to read the text, but it got a picture to show you shape of the 3 tire sizes, relative to each other

there will always be differences due to brand, style, (some brands are more round, where others are bit more triangle like)

[jrandom]

Agreed, Naphazoline if you get keen to try a different tyre try going to a 55 profile first and see how that goes

I don't know of any non-race tyres other than Pilot Power 2CTs that can be got in 190/55s? Correct me if I'm mistaken.

The difference between a 190/50 Z6 and a 190/55 Pilot Power would be... very significant. Enough to throw you off figuring out how you want the suspension, IMHO.

Personally, I'd bin the Metzelers and go to a 190/50 model of a 'proper' sportbike tyre first, and then move on to the 190/55 once I'd gone through that set.

[naphazoline]

If you get some 190/50 Pilot Power 2CTs on there, you'll find that the bike goes around corners a lot better..

i suppose i'm asking for too much,but are these a long wearing,good all round tyre?
it's just that i do a lot of commuting on the bike(wet and dry weather) as well as longer rides,and don't fancy buying a new tyre every 2 months.
cheers

[NZsarge]

I don't know of any non-race tyres other than Pilot Power 2CTs that can be got in 190/55s? Correct me if I'm mistaken.

The difference between a 190/50 Z6 and a 190/55 Pilot Power would be... very significant. Enough to throw you off figuring out how you want the suspension, IMHO.

Personally, I'd bin the Metzelers and go to a 190/50 model of a 'proper' sportbike tyre first, and then move on to the 190/55 once I'd gone through that set.

I have some 55 profile "street compound" Conti Race Attacks in the shed waiting to go on this week.

[enigma51]

180 or 190

as long as its a bridgestone you will have awesome grip!

[Tony.OK]

+1 on getting your susp set up 1st, its more likely that is whats causing you to run wide. I've had 180's on mine and they were fine for commuting, once at the track though they did run out of edge grip when riding hard.
The 55 profile definately works better on the 1000rr, but as someone has mentioned finding a street/road tyre in 55 is hard.
Tyre life really depends on how you ride, I only averaged 17-1900kms from anything I used on the road.
Being in the Naki you are very close to 2 really good susp guys, Robert Taylor and Shaun Harris, they are very helpful regarding setup.

[naphazoline]

i have a friend who races that's going to set up my suspension,but he's quite busy,and i need to get off my arse and give him a ring

[klyong82]

i suppose i'm asking for too much,but are these a long wearing,good all round tyre?
it's just that i do a lot of commuting on the bike(wet and dry weather) as well as longer rides,and don't fancy buying a new tyre every 2 months.
cheers

The Michelin Pilot Power 2CT are dual compound tyres hard in the middle and soft on the side so they do last quite a bit. I put a set on my blade 2000km's ago and they still look good. The 2CT's in my opinion turns in faster than the Z6 and even M3 tyres.

If you had the cash you can try contisport attack. They seem to turn in pretty good too and seem to last more than 10,000km on my riding style. I have not had it on the 1krr but absolutely loved it on my 929 and 900.

Get your suspension done first and see how it rides.