Triumphrat

PsychBiker · 02-17-2009, 11:53 AM

I was installing my daytona shock on my Street Triple yesterday and noticed 160/60/17 on the sidewall of the rear tire.

I got a flat 20 miles after I brought the bike home from Central California. I took it to an East Bay Area shop to change the tire. I've put about 1200 miles on it since October and just noticed the sizing.

It should be a 180/55/17 tire, not a 160/60/17

What are the benefits of the 180 rear? This is my 2nd bike and total miles of riding are under 5500 miles. I am thinking about a trackday in a month or two when the weather gets better.

I was going to go the Triumph shop later and see what they will do. Im sure they have it in the computer because I also bought the visor kit that day.

zaner30 · 02-17-2009, 01:19 PM

You should have them change it. I'm surprised that it doesn't look that unusual, but I guess a 160 over a 5.5 inch rim wouldn't look pointy since it has to reach out to the edges of the rim. Either way in this case it's just the wrong tire size for a 5.5in rim.

Sometimes people put a 180/55 or 190/55 in place of a 190/50 to quicken the steering a bit. The second # is the sidewall height, and is a percentage of the tread width (first #), so a 190/55 would have a taller profile than a 190/50. A 160 will have a very flat profile stretched over a 5.5in rim, and you won't want that on the track, or street for that matter.

Zane

BRich · 02-17-2009, 10:07 PM

I would demand that the shop who put the tire on, replace it with the correct size for FREE! That is rediculus, if they are a motorcycle shop they should know to replace the tire with the correct size.

Ken M1 · 02-17-2009, 11:13 PM

+1. Their error and they should be embarrassed about it. They should replace it FREE OF CHARGE!

MacBandit · 02-18-2009, 01:30 AM

I have to say that from the image I would be more inclined to say that the tire size is misprinted. If that were in fact a 160 than the rim would be wider than the edges of the tire and that is clearly not the case.

PsychBiker · 02-19-2009, 01:08 PM

Triumph specs say 160 on a 5" rear and 180 on a 5.5" rear

The tire turns out is also 3 years old.

I'm a semi new rider but want to trackday soon.

Should I change it or stay with it? Will handling be easier or not with a 180?

What about safety? Should I be worried about the bead popping?

zaner30 · 02-19-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacBandit

I have to say that from the image I would be more inclined to say that the tire size is misprinted. If that were in fact a 160 than the rim would be wider than the edges of the tire and that is clearly not the case.

Not necessarily, a 160 is meant for a 5in rim, with air in it it would reach the edges of a 5.5 rim, the sidewall would be flexible enough to do that. It's hard to tell from the pic, but comparing it to how a 180 looks on a 5.5, the sidewall doesn't bow out as much as they are supposed to. REPLACE the tire with a 180.

There are zero positives for keeping the wrong tire size on, only potentially serious negatives. In this case, especially as a newer rider, it's not an issue of "easier" handling or preference, the thing was designed to run with a 180/55. It might not be too noticeable at moderate street speeds, but think about this... would you want to be at full lean and have that bead moving around on the rim?

I can't, in good conscience give you any other advice. I know tires can be expensive, but if the shop won't do the right thing and replace it, do it yourself.