wider tires

[huskyrick]

if you go to a wider tire how much does it change bikes handing ? worse or better.

 

[Colo moto]

Generally a wider tire makes a bike handle slower when pitching side to side. There are lots of things to consider when choosing a tire width, like what type of terrain you normally ride. A wide tire is good for sandy terrain since it has a larger footprint, and sinks in less than a skinny tire.

 

[Drew Smith]

Worse !!!

 

[Dirtdame]

I gotta agree that a wider rear tire makes the bike harder to pitch over in tight stuff. It is usually taller, too. Good for desert, though.

 

[rajobigguy]

Yep a wider tire usually means a heavier tire and more rotational mass means that you have to put more energy into changeing directions. If you are moving at slower speeds or you need more flotation for soft or sandy conditions they can be helpful but more often than not having the right tread pattern is more inportant than how wide the tire is.

 

[Motosportz]

Worse. Makes the bike stand up in corners. Makes your suspension not work as good (unsprung mass) and actually gets less traction on muddy / wet stuff as it will not dig in and wants to hydroplane. For blasting across dez or sand a larger tire can be a good thing though.

 

[Up-tite]

Worse,traction controlled by throttle control,body position. Fastest way to kill performance on a bike is to over gear and over tire. Later George

 

[switchback]

Never really thought about this before. I knew it affected gearing and bigger tires weigh more so it all makes sense. Thanks for bringing up the topic.

 

[ghte]

Don't forget larger foot print tyres also reguire more power so fuel economy will deteriorate.
In 250 cc's the worse thing you can do is over tyre them, their performance is noatably reduced. It also causes pre mature engine wear.
All tyre measurements are not the same however as some manufacturers measure width through the casing/side wall distance and others across the knobbs.
Rule of thumb a 250 is best with say an 100 or 110 and a 450 say 110 to 130-clearly terrain dependant. Also bear in mind tyre profile, they differ significantly from a cresent shape (harder to turn) to an inverted "C" shape, this will also determine handling characteristics

 

[NewHuskyGuy]

This is a good question. My 09 TE 510 came with a 140/80 18 and it is the biggest ballon d-bike tire ive ever seen! What size are the TE TXC riders going to from stock? Or are you keeping stock size?

Mark

 

[Dirtdame]

My TE450 came with a 140 which worked good in the desert sand, but lousy on singletrack. Then I got a 120 which worked really well on the tight trails, but was crud in the desert. Now I'm using a 130 which is sort of a happy medium.

 

[Motology]

All of the above is true, though if you position the wheel in the swingarm (forward or rear) relative to your riding conditions, then you can have the benefit of more drive with less compromise of the bikes turning capabilities. Having a second chain to allow for these changes is handy, if not then change sprocket size.
I wouldn't say a larger tire is worse, you just need to set the wheelbase to best complement having the thing on there.

 

[Gasserman]

My txc came with a 130/80, It now has a 110/100, for what we ride up here it is way better, and hooks up better with the smaller tire.

 

[ozzie]

Im putting on 120 and would like to know what a pressure every one run?

 

[Motosportz]

Im putting on 120 and would like to know what a pressure every one run?

6-12 here in the NW of the USA in tighter woods stuff.