Topic: widest rear tire for a CB550

[hyde7278]

Hi all

Was wondering if anyone know the widest rear tire that will fit on a CB550 with a stock swing arm with minimal modification(chain gaurd). I know Jimmy has a 130 rear tire on his bike but he has a Dresda swing arm. Id like to run a 130 with a wider rim of course but want to make sure it can be done before I start buying a rim and tire. Thanks in advance for any info you guys can give.

Sean

[turboguzzi]

swingarm width is not necessarily what poses the limit on tire size on a 550, you are more likely to have clearance problems to the drive chain, with a 130 it gets pretty close

I assume you want this for looks mainly, as handling wise, 130 is all the width you need really. some very fast guys in my class race with 120 actually as it gives quicker steering without sacrificing grip. I am about to race this season a 100 hp 810cc vintage racer on 130 rear and tire width is the least of my concerns.

TG

[luap]

i heard most tires shops wont put a 130 on the stock honda 550 wheel its to wide or visversa the wheel is to narrow

[Kong]

i heard most tires shops wont put a 130 on the stock honda 550 wheel its to wide or visversa the wheel is to narrow

The rim is too narrow by about 3/4".

[turboguzzi]

i heard most tires shops wont put a 130 on the stock honda 550 wheel its to wide or visversa the wheel is to narrow

my working assumption is of course that nobody in his right mind will put a wide tire on too narrow a rim. Hyde sounded like a reasonable guy, so let's give him the credit that he thought about it...

That said, Avon's AM23 130/650 "cantilever" can work even with a 2.15" rim. Racing only application though. I run that tire on a 3" rear rim

http://avonracing.com/club_page.aspx

[hyde7278]

Definitely going to use a wider rim either a 3" or 3.5" depending on what I can find and tire mfg's recommendation. I would go with a 120 if I have to. Im also planning to change the front over to a 2.15x18. I know CB750 rear rims are 2.15x18 could I use one of these rims with the CB550 front hub?

Sean

[psycherhexic]

trying to dig this up.. what is the stock width of the rims on the cb550 Four of 1977?

can a 130 seriously not be used?

[TwoTired]

Stock rim sizes for all the Cb500s and Cb550 is 1.85 inches front and rear.  That's the inner bead seating width.

[BobbyR]

One of the problems you run into with a very wide tire on a narrow rim is an odd wear pattern. The middle of the tread, it becomes flat. You develop a step between the middle and side treads so as you turn you have to go over that step and you feel it on every twisty. I went back to being one size over stock, bike is more responsive and no weird tread wear.   

[nsargeant]

realistically a 120/90 is the max on a cb550.   Thats what I run and i like it

nathan

[TwoTired]

I've run 120 on the Cb550 and they exhibit the exact wear pattern that Bobby described.  They work fine when new and about half the tread life, then the "squaring" of the tread starts mucking with the handling.  You have to fight the bars during a turn, instead of it tracking normally with lean angle.  Since it happens gradually the rider just adapts.  And, when a new tire finally gets put on, you think the new tires are SOOO much more wonderful than the old worn ones were.

[psycherhexic]

so the guys using 130's are putting them on different rims?

[wardenerd]

what is the advantage of a lager rear tire?

[Really?]

so the guys using 130's are putting them on different rims?

Satin's 130 is on a 16x3 rim.

[scw1984]

Sorry, not trying to steal the thread or anything but my 75 750ss has a 130 on the rear from the PO, is this ok or should I go with a 120 when I need a new rear tire?

[Hannibal Smith]

My CB550 rear rim is now a 2.5" Excel, and I am going to run a 130 as maximum, not because that is max for the rim, but that gets me as wide as I want without potential clearance issues (namely the chain).
This is of course just in theory after doing some math/measuring.
As to cosmetics, really wide tires look lame on these sprite little things...IMO. I feel the 130 still looks correct (ish) but wider dominates the look, and would definitely be detrimental to handling IMO.

[Gordon]

what is the advantage of a lager rear tire?

It helps to alleviate feelings of inadequacy.

[TwoTired]

what is the advantage of a lager rear tire?

It helps to alleviate feelings of inadequacy.

Ain't that the truth!

I speculate it is a carry over from auto hot rodders.  Increases to engine horsepower get you more wheel spin instead of traction.  So wider tires are used to couple that power to the road.

Observers see wider tires and then assume the thing is souped up.    So, the cafe/bobber/custom "look" demands wider tires.  Even if the engine is still as stock as the day it was first sold.

It all about how you want to "market" your bike.  How many cafe racers are actually raced, rather than gawked at?

But, Gordon is right right.  It all boils down to a "mine's-bigger-than-yours" display.  IMO

Cheers, 

[psycherhexic]

I'm confused by the fact that you don't seem to acknowledge other peoples opinions about looks.. 

I mean.. I'm clearly trying to ask questions so that I don't do something dangerous. I simply love the way these bikes look with bobbed tail and big tires.. I don't race and I don't know a thing or like hot rods.

If its unsafe let me know! If you don't like it then why try to figure out the "one" reason why others do?

  this is simply one of my favorite bikes I've ever seen.. is there something wrong with wanting to have it?

http://benjiescaferacer.com/bikes/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/andrewj_1.jpg

[gschuld]

Nothing wrong with wanting one of Benji's bikes.

Just for reference, I have a cb500K1 that has a 16x3 drop center Harley rim laced up to the factory hub. 
I am running a Kenda Challenger 130/90/16 tire.  It is 5 5/16" wide and 25" tall.  I have just over 3/4"
from max tire width to either swingarm inside edge.  I have an aftermarket chainguard that has less
interference and the chain is 3/8" from the tire.  The brake arm has a mild bend to it for extra clearance. 
I have nearly 10,000 miles on this combination(with a 100 series challenger front tire on the factory front
rim) and have had no issues at all.  I am not, however, a good source of potential handling issues as I have
never pushed the bike very hard in the cornering department. 

FWIW, it appear that the swingarm can handle a 150 series tire or more spacewise, but the chain will
require an offset for reasonable clearance.  I can't imagine a 130 series tire on a 2.5-3" inner bead width
18" rim would cause any challenging issues clearance wise.  Obviously a 130 series tire on the factory 1.85"
rim would be inadvisable.

George 

[the technological J]

what is the advantage of a lager rear tire?

its a little heavier than an ale has to be brewed at a colder temp..... but to be honest this is the first time ive heard of beer tires.. beer goggles def... you might be on to something...... lager tires
 if you meant larger tires though the more contact surface you have with the road the more potential you have to transfer torque on to the road..... but for the most part here its all about the looks

[scottly]

I've run 120 on the Cb550 and they exhibit the exact wear pattern that Bobby described.  They work fine when new and about half the tread life, then the "squaring" of the tread starts mucking with the handling.  You have to fight the bars during a turn, instead of it tracking normally with lean angle.  Since it happens gradually the rider just adapts.  And, when a new tire finally gets put on, you think the new tires are SOOO much more wonderful than the old worn ones were.

Of course new tires are more wonderful than old worn tires, regardless of size.

 As far as looks go, my current 120/90-18 LOOKS bigger than my old 130/90-18 tire. (on a 750 with 2.15 rims)