 Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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OP
Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Okay, after 13,000 km the front tire on my 03 TBA is worn out. (I bought the bike this spring with 2000 km). I'm pretty happy about this 'cause I never did like it and I want ww instead. So....
From all the threads unearthed in my searches I am led to believe that:
- the Dunlop K177 120/90-18 is about the only ww available for our bikes,
- I need to modify the fender mounting bracket to accommodate the taller tire, and
- this is a decent tire and handles pretty good.
Also, it's been explained before but I can't remember... what do those numbers such as 120/90 mean?
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
120 is the circumference in cm. 90 is the profile or "height." My 130/70 is shorter than my 120/90, but the former is "fatter."
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 Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626 |
Sorry Friar.
The 120 is the width in mm. The 90 means the sidewall height is
90% of the tread width.
108mm for a 120/90, 91mm for a 130/70.
Steelheart- '03 Speedmaster Black/Yellow
The Hayabusa Killa
16" Shorties/140 mains/Airbox drilled
Procom CDI
"There is no cure for Celibacy. But we can treat the symptoms."
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 386
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 386 |
I don't know much but I do know that the first number is the tread width in mm and the second number is the ratio of the sidewall height compared to that width. For easy math if your tire was a 100/70 it would have a 100mm wide tread and the sidewall would be 70% of that or 70mm. A 100/50 would be 20% shorter in the sidewall or 50mm. I hope this helps. 
1982 Pontiac Trans Am...K.I.T.T. in progress.
"It looks like Darth Vaders bathroom in here..."
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,227 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,227 Likes: 62 |
Quote:
Sorry Friar.
The 120 is the width in mm. The 90 means the sidewall height is
90% of the tread width.
This is actually incorrect, 120 is not the tread width but rather the width measured at the widest part of the tire then the 90 would be 90% of that. Part of what I do at my job is sell and mount tires. We are required to know these things.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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OP
Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Quote:
From all the threads unearthed in my searches I am led to believe that:
- the Dunlop K177 120/90-18 is about the only ww available for our bikes,
- I need to modify the fender mounting bracket to accommodate the taller tire, and
- this is a decent tire and handles pretty good.
Thanks everyone for explaining those numbers. Now... are the above assumptions correct?
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,099
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,099 |
It's called aspect ratio, moe will explain it.
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937 |
Quote:
Quote:
From all the threads unearthed in my searches I am led to believe that:
- the Dunlop K177 120/90-18 is about the only ww available for our bikes,
- I need to modify the fender mounting bracket to accommodate the taller tire, and
- this is a decent tire and handles pretty good.
Thanks everyone for explaining those numbers. Now... are the above assumptions correct?
Probably 50% correct, based on opinion. 
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
I'm never afraid to spread mis-information. 
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
From the Tire Rack: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=46I noticed in a recent issue of Cycle World or Motorcyclist (I get both) that the Motorcycle Superstore now has an ad similar to the Tire Rack showing costs for various bike tire brands/models and they now have a "preferred installer" to ship the tire to for mounting. The Tire Rack also has this for auto tires. Previously, not a lot of shops wanted to install mail-order tires OR they charged you extra. From their webpage: http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/819/MNGR/Preferred-Installer-Locator-a-Preferred-Installer.aspxMy zip yielded all small, independant shops (none that I was real familiar with) The "Super installer" was 45 miles away.
Last edited by ssjones; 08/23/2009 11:55 AM.
Al
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
I really yearn for the days when that was a simple 4.75-18.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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OP
Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Well it seems ww tires for our bikes are becoming quite rare. I did find a Dunlop K177 but I had to look far and wide to source one out. I tried in vain to find another make for a ww... nothing. So... I hope Dunlop keeps making them 'cause I'm kinda addicted to the notion of running www on my Cardinal Red.
Guess the next step is to modify the fender mount.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Front tire - getting it right
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 73
Member
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Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 73 |
I just put the Dunlop K177 on mine this past weekend.A little bike shop ordered it and a Avon for the back. They feel better than the Bridgstones that was on it, but I still wish Avon made a front www. You want me to find out where he got them.
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