190 tire ?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,051
From: Portland, Oregon
190 tire ?
story:
well the corsa dragons had seen better days & had to go. i wanted to mount a set of street tires for the spring ( and remount them for fall / winter ). i got a set of OEM 014's ( removed from a new bike that was setup for the track ).
i got in about 25 miles and 1 heat cycle saturday then off to the track yesterday to run the open lunch race ( 1 session ). i quickly remembered why i don't like street tires - poor feedback and flat profiles. i was so damn slow cause i couldn't feel the grip level ( and the fact i was running on the damn edge before i even had my knee down ! )
so ... i normally would run take-offs, 180's. the selection is pretty slim - it seems the guys that race the 600's like to run every bit of life out of the tires ? if i run a 190 i'd have a lot more choices. since i was at the track i measured the width of a few 190's - actual width not the profile dim. they are around 7.25". looks like it would fit ( a little tight depending on how sloppy the swingarm welds are ).
tim
well the corsa dragons had seen better days & had to go. i wanted to mount a set of street tires for the spring ( and remount them for fall / winter ). i got a set of OEM 014's ( removed from a new bike that was setup for the track ).
i got in about 25 miles and 1 heat cycle saturday then off to the track yesterday to run the open lunch race ( 1 session ). i quickly remembered why i don't like street tires - poor feedback and flat profiles. i was so damn slow cause i couldn't feel the grip level ( and the fact i was running on the damn edge before i even had my knee down ! )
so ... i normally would run take-offs, 180's. the selection is pretty slim - it seems the guys that race the 600's like to run every bit of life out of the tires ? if i run a 190 i'd have a lot more choices. since i was at the track i measured the width of a few 190's - actual width not the profile dim. they are around 7.25". looks like it would fit ( a little tight depending on how sloppy the swingarm welds are ).
tim
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World Champion
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 105,287
From: Fulton, MO
If you're running at the track (or even on the street for that matter) you won't like the 190. It'll slow down the steering significantly and the VTR really doesn't need that much rubber. It's not that powerful. The rim is also 5.5" and a 6" rim is recommended for a 190.
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Superstock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 286
From: Wisconsin
If you're running at the track (or even on the street for that matter) you won't like the 190. It'll slow down the steering significantly and the VTR really doesn't need that much rubber. It's not that powerful. The rim is also 5.5" and a 6" rim is recommended for a 190.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,051
From: Portland, Oregon
thats what i figured.
my next option is to just buy a new set of race tires and see how long they last compared to buying ****'d take-offs.
tim
btw: not that it really matters but the new pirelli DOT tread design looks cool !
my next option is to just buy a new set of race tires and see how long they last compared to buying ****'d take-offs.
tim
btw: not that it really matters but the new pirelli DOT tread design looks cool !
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SuperSport
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 963
From: Sunshine Coast, Australia
The general consensus is that it will slow down your steering, so I wouldn't reccommend one. However, having said that I have a 190 on my bike.....
I got it new at less than half price so that is why. It fits no problem, and I have changed the geometry of the bike to compensate for it a bit. I have a 6mm shock spacer, and am running the forks up through the clamps as well. I find the bike steers well in this specification, so while the 190 may not be ideal, you can make it work ok.
I got it new at less than half price so that is why. It fits no problem, and I have changed the geometry of the bike to compensate for it a bit. I have a 6mm shock spacer, and am running the forks up through the clamps as well. I find the bike steers well in this specification, so while the 190 may not be ideal, you can make it work ok.
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Back Marker
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 194
Okay, so after a recommendation from Dennis Smith at Sporttire.com (West Coast distributer for Dunlop) I tried a 190/55 on my GSX-R track bike (5.5 in. rim). Felt very good, so subsequently I decided to roll the dice and try this profile on my Superhawk. I wanted a street tire however, so I bought a set of Michelin Pilot Power 2ct's from Sportbike Track Gear for under $300 a set, delivered. I must say so far I'm very happy with them after 500 miles of twisties. It is a bit heavier than the 180/55 but steering input hasn't change too drastically. The 190/55's taller profile also raised the rear a bit in relation to the front, but I figured that wouldn't hurt in the Superhawk's case, so I left the geometry alone and just rode it. Usually I have no chicken strips whatsoever, but now with the taller tire and more rubber to lean on, I still have about 1/4" strip left unused (same thing on my Gixxer). Mid corner stability is awesome IMO. KW tells me it's wrong, but so far I like them and the compound's grip level feels pretty good. I'll keep you guys updated if I find any problems sooner or later.
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MotoGP
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,631
From: Montreal
I too am presently running a 190/50 rear (BT-014) as I hope to be able to mount my PVM rims shortly (and the rear is 6" wide). Like Shayne, I too noticed a slower turn-in and compensated by raising the rear. I also found it dropped the gearing slightly; it works out to roughly the same as adding one tooth to the rear sprocket. I am not sure if I will get another 190/50 once this one wears out as I may go back to a 180/55 or possibly try a 190/55.
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MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
Take offs did someone say take offs!?! What group do you run in, i.e. how hard do you ride? I've got a set of bt002 that have 1.5 track days on them that I'd be willing to sell cheap.
BTW I tried out the new Conti hypersport tires and would have to give them a big lots of feed back, no breaking loose and great wear at INT. pace. It was a smoking hot day on an abrassive track, did 2 days and it looks like I might be able to get 2 more out of them!
BTW I tried out the new Conti hypersport tires and would have to give them a big
lots of feed back, no breaking loose and great wear at INT. pace. It was a smoking hot day on an abrassive track, did 2 days and it looks like I might be able to get 2 more out of them!
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Back Marker
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 212
From: MA
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Back Marker
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 194
Just want to clarify that I am NOT using a 190/50 and definitely do not recommend that size for a 5.5" rim. This creates a multi-radiused tire that will have a detrimental effect on handling. The 190/55 is a newer taller profile that, when squeezed onto a 5.5 does NOT create a multi radiused tire face and seems to work fine.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
Just want to clarify that I am NOT using a 190/50 and definitely do not recommend that size for a 5.5" rim. This creates a multi-radiused tire that will have a detrimental effect on handling. The 190/55 is a newer taller profile that, when squeezed onto a 5.5 does NOT create a multi radiused tire face and seems to work fine.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 277
Just want to clarify that I am NOT using a 190/50 and definitely do not recommend that size for a 5.5" rim. This creates a multi-radiused tire that will have a detrimental effect on handling. The 190/55 is a newer taller profile that, when squeezed onto a 5.5 does NOT create a multi radiused tire face and seems to work fine.
Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 52
From: Central Illinois
kevink2 is right, the 190/50 stretches when put on a 5.5" rim and creates a VERY uncomfortable lean due to the curvature of the tire. The 190/55 is the way to go if you just have to have a 190 on a 5.5" rim. I found that it added high speed instability on my 919 due to the change in geometry, but I haven't tried one on the VTR. I'm guessing the instability would be worse, since the VTR is a good deal more prone to headshake than the 919.
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