GSA1200 Wider Tyres?

[seagoose]

dear all
Just wondering if anyone has tried fitting a wider rear tyre (perhaps lower profile) on the adventure. Would it rub against the FD or anything when riding?

just thought the slightly wider tyre looked good...

rgds
seagoose

 

[Neil W]

Standard rear rim is about on the width limit for a 150 tyre, put on anything bigger ie a 160 or 170 profile and it would push the tyre out of shape and give worse handling.

As for catching, the new r1200r classic looks to have the same s/arm but runs a 1" wider rear rim and larger tyre with no problems

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

Agreed - its not so much a clearance issue as needing to keep an appropriately sized tyre / rim combination. If you want to change wheels, then an RT or R wheel will fit with a 180 section tyre.

Having said that, the standard width tyre can handle the power and a wider tyre will make the bike steer more slowly.

Mark

 

[Yonkyo]

Heres my 07 1200GS with 6" rim with 180/55/17 tyre.

 

[seagoose]

thanks guys. had my bike next to the MTS1200 earlier and observing the various differences between the two. certainly these are two very different bikes.

whilst the GSA's larger frame coupled with the panniers dwarfed the MTS quite a bit, but i couldn't help noticing the MTS' wider and sports-touring like tyres made the GSA's 'slim',,,

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

Nah, theres far more cred in using the standard tyres....


pic from advrider.com, not me but we can all dream...

http://baldy.smugmug.com/popular/#52456451_yMvGB-O-LB

 

[WindyChuffer]

Why do you need a wider tyre?

I push mine quite hard around the corners and never felt the need. But I'm no racer.

What am I missing?

 

[Sam555]

Keep to the manufacturers recommended fitment if only for safety reasons, not sure what your insurance company would say in a claim either?

 

[littleredrooster]

Why buy an Adventure and then try to stick wide road tyres on it? Doing it to a GS is bad enough...

 

[seagoose]

just approaching the topic from a purely vanity and aesthetic perspective and the curiosity of 'what if' the rear tyre was wider.

yonkyo, how does the handling feel with the 180 versus stock? did it make you want to lean over just a little more?

 

[Rasher]

did it make you want to lean over just a little more?

I doubt it, the skinny front will almost certainly wash out before the rear lets go, huge rear tyres are the answer to trying to put huge amounts of power down, the GS modest power and relatively soft delivery do not push the rear tyre so much.

Also with sports tyres they need a certain amount of heat to work, fitting sporty wide tyres is likely to give no more grip unless on a track, or really flying on a hot summers day.

If you want grip the best thing is sports touring road tyres such as Pilot Road 3's or Roadsmart 2's.

If you do this mod make sure your insurance company knows about it (get it in writing) or if you have a crash you may find they refuse to payout.

 

[ducatiparts.110mb]

Vanity is a strange thing - I am embarrassed to admit that I'm fleetingly impressed by big tyres, but as soon as I look away the size is forgotton and its all about how they work not what they look like. When the GS on standard sizes can lean over as far as it can then surely that's more impresive than huge tyres and chicken strips.

As Rasher says there are some very good road tyres out there in GS sizes and to be honest unless and or I are Rossi and Stoner, then we'll never want for more.

On the subject of the MTS then be under no illusion as to what it is. Its a 1198 superbike on long forks. Its not an adventure bike and never will be. As such it does have the sort of power delivery that can use its 190 rear tyre - and it would probably overpower a 150 rear tyre (then again 20 years ago we had 160mph bikes on 160 section tyres so maybe not).

I guess what I'm trying to say is celebrate what you've got and don't try to turn it into someting else.

Cheers, Mark

 

[craig614]

.....or sell the GS, buy the MTS and embrace the Ducati culture

You'll feel much better about yourself as you check yourself out in high street windows as you ride past them

They've an amazing amount of clothing merchandise too.......

You could look at changing the wheels - DING-DONG did this to his GS - cheap to do (see link). No idea if he ever sold his wheels - you could always contact him to see.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=284087

Personally I'd stick with the tyres recommended and fit more road orientated if that's your thing.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I fitted a 160/60 to the rear of my 1200GS. On the 150/70, I was on the edge of the tread when the stands touched down.

With the 160/60, I had some left over (chicken strips) when the stands touched down.


The ONLY down side was the tyre wore out quicker as it was a softer compound (Conti Road attack -v- Conti Trail attack). Handling was unaffected. NO clearance issues.

But I swapped back to the 150/70 purely for monetary reasons.