Looking to get a new rear tyre for my 899 and just wanted to ask if anyone has ran 180/55 ZR17 instead of the usual 180/60 ZR17? Ive recently put on the Bridgestone Battlax s22 and lets just say it hasn't lasted long at all on the road (motorway miles). I want to try the Michelin road 6 but they only do the 180/55 ZR17. Unsure if the difference in side wall will have a huge effect on the bike. Thanks
55 is a rounder profile so you might feel the rear turns in slightly slower, sort of less tippy but no other reason not to. A few bikes were launched with a 60 profile and later went to a 55 profile. Andy
Unless you’re a test rider you’ll probably feel fuck all. I’ve chopped and changed with my underpants and never notice a difference. Or maybe I just compensate without thinking about it. I am prone to not thinking
Reason I ask is that I'm new to bikes, the 899 is my first bike so I don't have the experience of trying different things. I spoke to a "tyre guy" who had a 899 in the past and said the handling was ruined when he tried the 55. In my opinion it shouldn't have a huge impact but I don't have the experience. Just didnt want to waste nearly £200 on a tyre and finding out it was a bad idea
I doubt a different profile rear will 'ruin' the handling. Racers and test riders would feel a difference but that's a whole different ball game. And as a new rider, you will likely not notice anyway.
If your mainly banging up and down the motorway on it then I doubt you will notice the difference. The 60 Is a taller (more domed) profile than the 55 which is flatter. 60 profile is better for getting the bike on its ear on track.
“Ruin it” probably relates to the diameter of the 60 section oe tyre is about 9mm higher (18mm diameter) than the 55 section tyre. The bike would steer slower with the 55 section on it as a result. Would you notice it? Almost certainly not and even less likely if it’s road rather than track use.
Another potential issue is the ABS/Traction control could get "confused". There's no tyre learning facility on 899 so the 55 profile, with a smaller rolling diameter, will make the bike think the rear is spinning faster than the front. From experience, stick with the 60 profile.
Ok I throw this one out there, tri option race series, I am pretty sure the don’t make a 180/60 wet tyre, they run a 55 or 190, so my theory is these guys racing in the wet are probably faster than you in the dry, so a 55 will be fine. Assume they have no tc issues.
It's a fact that a 55 profile does upset the traction control on track both on corner entry and exit on the smaller radius of the tyre, however I used a 55 profile on the road for a few hundred miles without any issues at all. Given the choice I would always go for a 60 profile, but needs must.
Due to a puncture while touring Scotland, I had to fit a 190/55, didn’t notice a jot of difference I used a tyre calculator comparison thing and this size is within 10 MM iirc? Of the original 180/60 circumference, no issues with abs or traction control, Michelin road 5, you’ll get 4-5 k miles out of one
