Topic: Tire Size

[JoshuaJames]

Hi,

I have a CB550F and I am running stock rims and I need to know what size tires to get. I have no interest in speed or high performance. Just a durable tire for most road surfaces.

Stock (I need the conversion though):
F -  3.25 / 19
R - 3.75 / 18

One person advised me to get:
rear 120/90X18
front 100/90X19
 
Another advised:
rear 110/90/18
front 90/90/19

any help would be great. links are appreciated too.


thanks

[mjstone]

I put  100/90-19 on the front and 110/90-18 on the rear of my 500.  I bought Shinko 712 tires from MotorcycleSuperStore.com, with tubes and rim strips it came to $110 and change.  Shipping is free for orders over $90.

MJ

[JoshuaJames]

are you happy with the quality? i know nothing about tires......

any pictures you can post?

[TwoTired]

The inch size tires have the correct aspect ratio and are still available, if you shop, or wait for them after ordering.

I like the Metzlers.  Lasertec front 3.25x19.  and ME77 rear 4.00x18.   Lazertec are now also available with the 4.00x18.  Should work well, but I haven't tried them yet.

120x90 are really too wide for the narrow 1.85 rims.  I've had them more than once.  They will seem fine when new, but you have to increase the air pressure to stiffen the sidewall, and that forces the crown peak of the tread too high.  The wear will "square off" the rear tire and you'll soon be fighting the bars in turns to hold the line that once just tracked properly with simple lean over.

You do want a narrower tire on the front vs. rear.  If for some reason you must put a metric tire on a rim intended for inch size tires, then 90/90 front and the 110/90 rear are probably the closest compromise.

But, I wouldn't compromise when the proper fitment still exists.

Cheers,

[mjstone]

are you happy with the quality? i know nothing about tires......

any pictures you can post?

Yes, I'm very impressed with these tires on both dry and wet roads.  I'm not the kind of rider who pushes the envelope, well worth the money.  The 100/90-19 must be very close to the diameter of a 3.25-19 as my speedo reading just a hair over 70 comes to 69 on my GPS.

MJ