Tire Change

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Thumpy

Member
I bought my 2003 T100 used with only 2000 Kms on the odometer. Still had the original Battlax tires on it. Ya.... nine year old tires at the time. Looked good, lots of tread and some seperation cracks showing on the sidewalls. I still got three years out of them but this summer, they really started showing their age. I had already picked up a set of Metzeler ME880 Marathons last summer because I thought I would change them then. Decided not to because the Battlax tires were still "acceptable". Go ahead, say I'm crazy for running on old boots, but I knew that I wasn't going to hit the highways and run the bike out to it's max.

Last weekend, put the bike up on blocks and pulled the rear wheel. That Battlax didn't put up much of a fight coming off the rim. The new Metzeler 140 / 80 R 17 however took a bit more persuasion levering it onto the rim. Balanced the wheel and it took 1 1/2 oz. - 42 grams in weights. The Battlax had 3 oz. - 84 grams. Took the bike on a quick test ride and it felt good.

This morning, put the bike up on blocks again and pulled off the front wheel. Again, the Battlax didn't put up a fight. The Metzeler being a 19" was easier though. Balancing the front wheel took only 1 oz. - 28 grams in weight. The original tire had 6 oz. - 168 grams in weights. Crap, that was one thing that always bugged me about that wheel. All good now.

But... when I went to install the wheel again, I realized that it was the wrong tire size. What the hell happened there. I know when I bought the tires, I specified the next size up for the rear. Factory rear is 130 / 80 R 17. I bought a 140. I didn't want to change the front and asked for a 100 / 90 R 19. What I got was a 110 / 90 H 19. Dammit! I wasn't paying attention when I picked up the tires and the guy behind the counter, he either didn't understand what I wanted or he screwed up. Either way, I didn't catch it.

The 110 is about 1" bigger in diameter than the 100. Oh it fits into the fender alright. Looks fat and there is still enough clearance to the fender. I sat on the bike and noticed a difference in how the bike sits right away. I was more concerned with how it was going to handle.

I finished greasing bits and pieces and put it all back together. Replaced the brake pads both front and rear. Time to take the bike out on a test run. Spent about an hour in city traffic getting the new tires warmed up. On our crappy roads, it doesn't take long to scrub in new tires. Headed for the highway and wound it up to over 80 mph. No problem at all, these tires run good and smooth. They feel like they are grabbing in the corners but I haven't pushed them yet. The Battlax tires would give me slips both front and rear when pushing it in the corners. Can't wait to see what these new tires are capable of.

As for the fatty tire in the front, the bike doesn't want to drop into corners and it seems like the bike wants to stand up all the time. Oh well, I will have to live with it for now. Just something I will have to get used to. Tomorrow morning I'm going to take the bike out for a long run. Only one sleep till then :)
 
Of all the dumb luck!
Ok well, you know what you've got and how it feels so you may as well wear it out and make the change to the correct size next time.
I have a 140 on the rear of my bike, but the correct size on the front.
 
I ran an oversized front tire on my Girlie, took all of one ride to get used to the new feel. I would not have used the oversized tire if I had had a choice but had a road trip coming up and had to have a new tire, couldn't wait for the stock size to come in.

Once I wore out the oversized tire and swapped back to stock, I took me an extended period of time to readjust to the stock size.
 
Went out for a long run yesterday. The Metzeler tires just help the bike corner so much better. A lot of straight runs and even then, the bike rides better. Now I wish I had changed the tires as soon as I got the bike. Going to have to watch my speed more often now.


Ok well, you know what you've got and how it feels so you may as well wear it out and make the change to the correct size next time.

Not so sure I'm going to wait. I might buy a new correct size for the front and change it. I am going to try raising the fork tubes in the triple clamp by a 1/2" first. I want to get the bike lower again and see how that affects the ride. But that still won't help me flick the bike around pot holes. I don't really need to lower the bike, it just feels strange.

Once I wore out the oversized tire and swapped back to stock, I took me an extended period of time to readjust to the stock size.

That's what I was thinking too. I don't want to have to relearn how my bike should feel. Season is winding down here and I might run the fat tire till winter sets in. Pick up a new tire and change it during the winter.Hmmm, decisions!
 

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