1998 Suzuki tu250x tyres!

[gearhead]

18" front rim (no fender) and 17" rear rim

HELP ME OUT

tires on there right now are 3.00/18 on the front and 120/80/17 on the rear

I want to put 100/90/18 tires on the front and 130/90/17 in the rear. WILL THIS FIT? If so, what are the negative points of putting these tires on? if you have a tu250x, list the sizes that you have. THANK YOU

[xwhatsit]

Let me ask, for a change, what are the reasons you want to put massive balloon tyres on your bike? What do you think it will improve?

[gearhead]

i just want to go a little bigger because of the load index

[Sully60]

i just want to go a little bigger because of the load index

Why, do you carry depleted uranium in your topbox?

[Hitcher]

Why, do you carry depleted uranium in your topbox?

I was going to postulate a 400kg pillion, but your suggestion is much more imaginative.

[gearhead]

well the front tire which calls for a 90/90/18 load capacity is 429lbs.

the bike weighs 286 lbs. and i am around 200lbs.

286+200=486 :/

[Hitcher]

well the front tire which calls for a 90/90/18 load capacity is 429lbs.

the bike weighs 286 lbs. and i am around 200lbs.

286+200=486 :/

Sigh. Get your bathroom scales out. They're accurate enough for the purposes of this exercise. Put the front wheel on. Record the reading. Put the back wheel on. Record the reading. Add the two together, and that's the weight of your bike.

Getting a friend to help you, repeat the exercise with you sitting on the bike with your feet on the pegs.

A Volty isn't a unicycle. You should find that the weight split ratio for a riderless bike between the front and rear is about 40:60 or 45:55. Even with your sylphlike self onboard, the front wheel weight loading is unlikely to exceed 250lb.

Trust me when I say that Mr Suzuki has also figured this out and that there is more then enough safety margin in the standard tyres.

[gearhead]

ohh ok i thought it meant for the whole weight of the bike and rider on it. sorry

so 100/90/18 is way too big for the front right?

[Hitcher]

Yes. Stick with the tyre sizes that it current has on. Voltys seem pretty happy with tyres like the Pirelli City Demon.

[Badjelly]

Ah, this brings back fond memories of myself and the girlfriend (later wife, now ex-wife) touring round East Cape on the CB175, ca. 1974. Let's see 130 kg bike + 160 kg of people + a shitload of gear in a couple of wooden pannier boxes I made up, all on a 2.75x18 front and a 3.00x18 rear. No tyre problems, though the chain did break.

[gearhead]

well there is a 3.00 - 18 tire on the front right now. what is that in metric? 90/90/18?

[xwhatsit]

I have a front tyre specced 3.00-18, and I run a 90/90-18. I think they're pretty damned close.

Narrow tyres are good. Better handling, less rolling resistance.

The 120/80 on the back, dunno what manufacturer specifies, but that's big -- maybe a 110/90 or even a 100/90 would be more normal.

[gearhead]

oh really? wow the 120/80/17 tire was on there when i bought it...

[xwhatsit]

oh really? wow the 120/80/17 tire was on there when i bought it...

I'm just guessing of course (the GN250 which the TU250 is based on runs a fat wee 16" rear, but it's for the `Custom' look) but it does seem wide for a 250 single.

In fact, flag that, just looked up specs, it says 90/90-18 front and 120/80-17 back. So you're all right there... I reckon if you put a 100/90-17 on it'd sharpen up the handling markedly though!

[gearhead]

100/90/17 on the rear will make handling better? but hwy riding not so good right? where did you find the specs for the bike? ive been lookin all day. what website?