Tire Size????

I have been looking all over this site on information about tire size, but I have had no luck. I’m getting ready to change out the tires on my 2000 750 monster, I would like to go with a larger profile tire if at all possible.. I currently have the stock 170/60 r17 in the rear. That tire just seems really thin and I would like to put a more aggressive looking tire in the back, something wider.. Has anyone experiences with a larger tire? I don’t mind losing the rear tire hugger (fender), but I want it to be safe and fit on the rim.. any advice would be greatly appreciated..

Now to the second part of my question.. what tire would everyone recommend. I primarily ride very conservative, but would like a tire with some good control and a tire I can take on the twistys on the weekends..
Thanks for your help..

Norm would be the guy to talk to on rims and tyres, he has done swaps and changes.

Ping him and IM or e and I am sure he will help.

Your tire is already larger than stock. The M750 has a 4.5 inch rear rim and came stock with a 160/60 tire. The 170 is a better fit on the 5.5 inch rim that came on the 900's.

I had a 180/55 on my M900Sie, and just switched to a 170/60. Couldn't be happier. It fits the 5.5" rim better, it's lighter, cheaper, and it accelerates/handles a little better - IMHO. I put a 180/55 on my 996 for the same reason - it works better than the stock 190/50 for me.

The wider tire is for looks only. If you are dead set on this upgrade, go to ebay and pick up a 5.5" rim from an M900 and go with a 180/55. A 190/50 does not fit.

Also, Rumor has it that Dunlops are wider than other brands for the same size tire.

Thanks for the help.. i think i will stick with the 170/60 ... I might go with M1's also .. but not sure..

Yep, me too. I took the 180 off my 96 900 SS SP and put on a 4.5 with a 170. I'm never going back. The rumours I had heard were true. The 170 handles quicker and is as much lighter (rim switch too) as buying $2000 mag wheels. I think the 180 is for bikes with over 100 hp that are racing at over 100mph. When the big boys won with the big tires it became a fad to have the race profile tires though they were a handling downgrade for street/canyon riding.

And I feel that when I lean the bike to the edges of its tires, I feel the 180 on a 5.5" wheel is the most stable.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Desmo-guy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for the help.. i think i will stick with the 170/60 ... I might go with M1's also .. but not sure..
</TD></TR></TABLE>

It is for sure the best.
Wide tyres are for people that wants to show off (to compensate for small bodyparts?)

Jocke..........

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vij &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It is for sure the best.
Wide tyres are for people that wants to show off (to compensate for small bodyparts?)
Jocke..........</TD></TR></TABLE>

Whatever. Skinny tires are for people that only lean over a little...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chris_k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Whatever. Skinny tires are for people that only lean over a little...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Could be but we can lean over just a little very quick

Jocke.......

Hahahaha, I'll accept that!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chris_k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And I feel that when I lean the bike to the edges of its tires, I feel the 180 on a 5.5" wheel is the most stable.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Juat a question. How do you do with the fotpegs, brake lever, gearlever and the exhaust? On my S4 I just can not get to the edges. It does not matter if it is 170 or 180. First the pegs goes, then the gear is jumping out if I turn left when lever hits the ground (did not happen again after re-adjustment of lever) and then it is getting realy scary when the exhaust hits the ground. I tell you. It is not fun when you feel the tail is lifting if you know what i mean.
Did you change exhaust, pegs and everything? Any recomendations for modifications?

Jocke................

I can get to (or very close to) the edges on carby SS, carby Monster, MH900, and 916. Haven't ridden an S4 that hard yet. Zina, too, gets close to the edge with her m900ie. We run Michelins, which have Bib and an arrow along the edges, and both of us wear these off. I did jack up the ride height of my monster.

You point out the true defeciency of the Monster and SS family: ground clearance. I normally ride my monster with my butt mostly in the seat until my feet drag. And then I start hanging off if I want to continue my pace at that level of "hot". I consider touching parts down unacceptable and will alter my riding style to accomodate.

As far as ground clearance issues go, my 1997 M900 is all stock save for the 900SS sidestand. Stock header, stock footrests, stock shock, stock forks. I do have Scorpion slip ons, but do not consider the cans to be a ground clearance item.

I'm not a knee dragger, at least not yet...Anyways I have a 170 on the back but luckily I have the 5.5" wheel. I really think I'm gonna go with a 180 next time for the looks. Don't know if my riding style would ever reveal the lost benefits of giving up the 170. Anyone know just how different it would be since I already have the wide wheel?? Here's a question...can you swap to a wider wheel on the stock swingarm? I would love to have a 6" and 190. Just curious.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by galaxy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm not a knee dragger, at least not yet...Anyways I have a 170 on the back but luckily I have the 5.5" wheel. I really think I'm gonna go with a 180 next time for the looks. Don't know if my riding style would ever reveal the lost benefits of giving up the 170. Anyone know just how different it would be since I already have the wide wheel?? Here's a question...can you swap to a wider wheel on the stock swingarm? I would love to have a 6" and 190. Just curious.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a friend with a 6.0 marchesini wheel on his 900ss. We normally put 180s on it though.

on my tuono i have a six inch rim out back and i ride with a 190/50 tire. on the street i can't use the whole width of the tire but on the track there is no problems.

while a 5.5" will work with a 180, isn't a 5.75" rim a better/correct size for a 180 (though I too like the stability of a 5.5 with 180, I wonder if there's more stability with a 5.75)?

Hey Edward, checked out your sweet ride on your site. Great pics/info. How do you like your gps? Was it a hard install? what king of power does it take? I'm thinking of doing some travelling on my S4 and was thinking about getting one. Do you know what the weight is?

The Garmin GPSmap 276C is great. Fast computer, Large color screen, many functions. I use it mainly to record my rides and if I find some new roads, I'll know how to get back to them

Worked well to track my long distance rides as well and to find that gas station in the middle of nowhere.

You can hard wire the GPS to the bike (12V) but I use the lithium ion battery which gives me about 8 hours with the screen on full brightness. 2 batteries (with the screen on medium brightness) and I can do 24 hours.

You can get all the info & specs at garmin.com

Thx Bro. I'll check it out. I get lost all the time