Author Topic: What size tire and type help for cb550F?  (Read 943 times)

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Offline Pirateonjerseyshore

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What size tire and type help for cb550F?
« on: June 14, 2009, 02:46:58 PM »
I have a 1977 cb550F. What's the widest tire i can fit on the rear and any suggestions for what brand. Thanks
My name is Joe and i have been riding motorcycles since i was 18. Two years ago i had some engine trouble with my 79' Malibu and my friend VwDan (yes, the same from this forum) loaned me his cb450 for a week. I fell in love with the bike and picked up a sweet 77' cb550. The end. Ride safe!

Offline OldSkool

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Re: What size tire and type help for cb550F?
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2009, 09:30:03 PM »
I have a 1977 cb550F. What's the widest tire i can fit on the rear and any suggestions for what brand. Thanks

I think opinions will vary but I would be hesitant to put a tire that's too wide on the rear of the 550. I'm currently running a 110-90-18 on the rear and have been extremely happy with the handling characteristics. The factory rims on the 550 are pretty narrow and squeezing a really wide tire onto a narrow rim will produce somewhat of an odd tire profile I would imagine. I do know that this top has been discussed over and over on these forums, maybe the search function could possibly yield the information you're looking for. As for brand, that's another touchy subject. Tire brand opinions are so subjective that there really is no "best" tire brand, it all depends on rider preference. I know I have Bridgestone Spitfires on my bike and like them but others have not had a great experience. I know many will swear by Avon tires and while I have no experience with their motorcycle tires, their passenger vehicle tires are first rate products in my opinion.

Nice bike by the way, I saw it in the 550 owner registry. I grew up on the Jersey shore, used to surf the inlet in Manasquan among other places. Just so you know, the search bar is specific to the forum you're in meaning that if you're browsing the "parts wanted" forum and type in "550 tires" in the search bar, I believe it will only search the "parts wanted" for that query. If you want to search all the forums I would go to the "Home" page and use the search function there.

Welcome and good luck with your search for tires.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: What size tire and type help for cb550F?
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2009, 10:04:56 PM »
You can physically put far wider tires on the bike than will fit properly onto the rims.  I've done it and paid the price with poor handling as the tires wear off the top of the crown (fairly quickly).  There really isn't any need for wider tires, as it turns out.  Good, proper size tires will still let you drag the pegs in canyons.  What's the real need for wider tires?  The extra weight sure doesn't help. 
Though most shops don't stock them in house, the standard sizes are available and can be ordered.  They would rather sell what they have and will do their best to talk you into "modern" tires.  I recommend you resist.  Few sales men have any riding experience with the Cb550.  The bike suspension and geometry was tuned for original size tires, not the modern ones with lower profiles and different tread shapes.  The right tires and you can steer the bike by subtle leaning instead of wrestling with the bars to make it go where you want.

I use the Metzler tires; 3.25 19 front and 4.00 18 rear.  They are the right profile, shape, and stay properly crowned with wear, assuming you do lean it over occasionally.  The old inch sizes still have modern rubber compounds on them.  An, I think that is more than enough improvement fro this bike.

Cheers,

Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Gorms

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Re: What size tire and type help for cb550F?
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2009, 06:49:39 AM »
I'm building a cafe bike out of a 550 and the look of the tires is also important for the bike.  Still, I ended up ordering 3.25-19 and 4.00-18 Avon Roadriders.  I hope I am happy with the size.  I'll post some pictures when they arive and I get them mounted.

Offline Pirateonjerseyshore

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Re: What size tire and type help for cb550F?
« Reply #4 on: June 15, 2009, 05:09:25 PM »
Thanks for the response. Very helpful 
My name is Joe and i have been riding motorcycles since i was 18. Two years ago i had some engine trouble with my 79' Malibu and my friend VwDan (yes, the same from this forum) loaned me his cb450 for a week. I fell in love with the bike and picked up a sweet 77' cb550. The end. Ride safe!