Tire Size

Without having to mod, how large a tire/wheel can I put front and back on an '06 zx6RR? Im looking at the Dunlop street/track series of tires specifically but any assistance on others is appreciated.  

Your best tire choice is what the manufactuer recommends. They wouldn't put it on there if they hadn't done extensive testing on it. So if it was my bike I'd stay with the manufacturer spec.  

I've seen a picture of Tommy or Roger's Supersport bike with a 190 or 195 tire on it...  Usually, you can go one size larger.  So if your bike came with a 180, you could put a 190 on it.

Still, I'd just stick with the size that it came with.  Just put a good tire on it.  I think most if not all of the tire company's recommend a 180 on a 5.5" rim.  Not that it matters too much, but I think 190s are about $20 more than 180s....


Chris  

Other things to think about...

A larger tire will be heavier.  More weight on the wheels is not the best place.

A 190 will have a different profile than the 180.  Your bike will turn in differently, you'll lose some of the nimbleness that it has.  You want really quick turn in, go to a 170.  

If the tires have a different circumference, your gearing will change.  So if the 190 is bigger than the 180, it could make your bike accelerate slower.  You may want/need to regear the bike to compensate.

And you'll definitely need to adjust your suspension and chassis--raise the rear, drop the forks...  The chassis attitude will change.  Here is a link on changing ride height:  http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0202_geek/index.html

It is all trade offs, compromise.  You'll have a little more grip, but lose some of the advantages of having a 600.


Chris  

the main question i have is why you would want to do this?  

Wow, if your on a 600 than stick to the 180, for this size of bike it will work the best for you. I have GSXR 1000 04 and I need to stick with the 190, the 180 won't help that much with the turn in, the bigger tire will help with comming out of the turns, because of the contact patch but will be slower in the turn ins. Most race bikes go with a bigger tire for this reason, the sooner you can get the bike up right the faster you can get outa dodge.  

Other than a slightly higher sidewall what is the difference in riding with a 190/50 and a 190/55 on a liter bike?...are there any significant differences at all?  

I may be stating the obvious, but remember a different circumference rear will throw your speedo off too.  

i meant are there any differences in the way the bike leans? I  don't really care about the speedo being off...it's usually taped over anyway  

The fatter the tire, the more effort it takes to start the leaning process....generally  

cheers  

Ok not sure if you knew this but a 190/50 isn't any wider than a 190/55 maybe if i'd said 195/50...im talking about using a slightly TALLER rear tire. I can't remember but I think it's the ZX-10R that uses a 190/55 and my GSXR 1000 uses the 190/50...is there an upside to using a taller tire?