I just bought a new 2014 TE and looking at the owners manual it is showing Motorcross tires on the US model and Enduro tires for the Euro model Front: US > 80/100-21 EU > 90/90-21 EU sidewall 10mm lower vs. US Rear: US > 110/100-18 EU > 140/80-18 EU sidewall 20mm lower vs. US I am in the US and would like to duplicate the EU tire sizes to lower seat height and have a longer wearing DOT rated tire. Does the factory set the EU model up any different (static sag, different linkage, etc...?) to accomodate the 10mm F/R spread in tire sidewall height?
No, sag has nothing to do with tire size. They just fit what's more accessible/popular for different markets.
The second figure in the tyre size isn't a specific measurement of height, but a percentage of the width of the tyre - called the aspect ratio. In your examples above, the rear tyre, 140/80, although significantly wider, is effectively the same size as the 110/100, so the ride height will be almost unaffected. In your front tyre example though, the 90/90 is around 10% larger in effective diameter than the 80/100 - so it's wider, and even though the height is 90% of the width, it's still more than 100% of the 80 width. Depending on the sort of terrain you're riding should dictate the width of tyre to use. I'm not that good of a rider to notice, so I just go for wide!! Don't forget that different size tyres will alter the gearing (on the back) and speedo accuracy (on the front) Mike
I understand the aspect ratio and had saw an ad that mentioned a different measuring method... Using aspect ratio, as per Pirelli... A 90/90-21 is (.90(90) x2)/25.4 + 21 = 27.38" diameter While a 140/80-18 is (.80(140) x2)/25.4 = 26.82" 27.38-26.82 = .56" difference in diameter, half that when applied to F/R axle to ground....approx 7.01 mm I'm aware of gearing changes thx!
