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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hiway?
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Message started by Dave Sisk on 10/29/12 at 19:38:54

Title: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hiway?
Post by Dave Sisk on 10/29/12 at 19:38:54

Hey guys...I've seen it stated a couple of times that a big diameter skinny front tire (like on the S40 and S50) isn't a good choice for highway travel and/or highway speeds. Why not? (Sincere question...I have no idea what the dynamics are here.)

Cheers,
Dave

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/29/12 at 22:20:53

Well,, I am really dumbfounded,, Ive been on this site for more than a week,, probably more than a month,, maybe closer to 5 years,, I honestly cant remember that being the case,, I cant say that thats true, look at HDs, thats a pretty tall skinny front on most of them,

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by Serowbot on 10/29/12 at 22:56:37

Skinny tires tend to follow grooves and ridges more than fatties...
They also have less centrifugal force keeping you upright...
A fattie front,.. tracks like a train... :-?...

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/29/12 at 23:04:48

I WAS dumbfounded,, I have now been founded,,Please, lets dont talk about the part that didnt get fixed..

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by Cavi Mike on 10/30/12 at 00:28:06

Something tells me that more has to do with people raking out their bikes and putting on a tall skinny then mistaking their poor handling as the rim when it's their newly screwed up suspension geometry that's the real problem.

If people will argue that a hard-rubber square car tire handles better than a proper motorbike tire, I'm sure they don't have any clue as to what's really causing their bike to handle like crap.

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by Drifter on 10/30/12 at 04:39:57

Bigger tire more contact area with the road, it gives a more secure feeling and less wind buffeting, absorbs bumps and holes better, also provides better breaking due to larger contact area.

The disadvantage is lower fuel mileage. The tread design makes a difference also. I have had both, several other bikes and the bigger tire for me is better.

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by Africord on 10/30/12 at 07:00:16

Part of the problem with comparing different tire sizes is that they often come on different bikes with different suspensions, weights, weight distribution, and fork rake. Generally speaking, a wider tire is more useful to going straight, a narrower tire is more useful to speed up corner entry and exit. A bigger wheel and tire combination has a longer contact patch, which helps with going straight, and hurts handling. Since the Savage/S40s are light bikes, they are fairly nimble, but bounce around a bit on the highway. They are never going to track the slab like a heavy cruiser regardless of the tire mounted. Unless you are riding into a 40 mile an hour gale, I can't imagine this bike being difficult to manage on the highway. I would be more concerned with the soft, flexible front forks, and the overly hard rear shock/spring package than the tire size. My bike is stock, but if I was going to invest in improved handling, a fork brace would be first on my list.

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by Oldfeller on 10/30/12 at 08:48:37

1735223D193D3F31540 wrote:

Something tells me that more has to do with people raking out their bikes and putting on a tall skinny then mistaking their poor handling as the rim when it's their newly screwed up suspension geometry that's the real problem.

If people will argue that a hard-rubber square car tire handles better than a proper motorbike tire, I'm sure they don't have any clue as to what's really causing their bike to handle like crap.

;)

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by verslagen1 on 10/30/12 at 11:37:39

4D6F78674367656B0E0 wrote:

I see nothing from the OP to suggest anything but a stock S40 or S50.

You really need to keep to the subject.

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by ToesNose on 10/30/12 at 11:43:58

7761766B73666B70040 wrote:

Skinny tires tend to follow grooves and ridges more than fatties...

+1 on that, it's just usually broght up in regards to highway driving because that's when reaction to those conditions are amplified by speed and most noticable.

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by Cavi Mike on 10/30/12 at 11:56:14

2A392E2F303D3B39326D5C0 wrote:

I see nothing from the OP to suggest anything but a stock S40 or S50.

He never said what he heard was about the S40 or S50, he only said that the S40 and S50 have narrow tires which fall into the category of the rumours he has heard.

*edit* and I think it was a great analogy that I made - it should give him some insight to take what he hears with a grain of salt - because even experienced riders may not have a clue.

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by verslagen1 on 10/30/12 at 12:43:52

7C5E49567256545A3F0 wrote:

He never said what he heard was about the S40 or S50, he only said that the S40 and S50 have narrow tires which fall into the category of the rumours he has heard.

Quote:

has to do with people raking out their bikes and putting on a tall skinny then mistaking their poor handling as the rim when it's their newly screwed up suspension geometry that's the real problem.

Raking out a bike and putting on a skinny is a far cry from a s40 or s50 which already are raked and have a skinny as stock.

If you ride choppers, you know what you're getting. If you hear a complaint, it's from a poser who shouldn't be on one.

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by WD on 10/31/12 at 16:26:53

It depends on the bike.

I have had (back to back) a 99 Kawasaki VN800A, which ships with an 80/90/21 front 140/?/16 rear AND a 2005 Kawasaki VN800B, which shipped with 130/16F and 140/16 rear tires.

The A could take 30 mph on ramps at 60 mph, the B barely clunked through at 20mph. The A was rock solid with the speedometer needle twisted as far to the right as it could go (to the point I broke the speedometer cable once, the hub drive the second time). The B couldn't clear 80 mph down hill with a tail wind wide open throttle. Not a good thing on freeways in Washington state..

Identical base engines and transmissions, identical rear wheels, tires and brakes from the factory. The A had been seriously hot rodded (more hp at the rear wheel than the B had at the crank per the owner's manual and a dyno run)... and it was still a better bike all around than it's 6 year newer, short fat front tire sibling. I found the 21" hooked LESS pavement irregularities than the 16".

That 05 800B was the last bike I'll ever ride with a front wheel the same size as the back wheel. 19 or 21 in the front, and if it came only with a 16 it is getting converted. Including a 1500 Drifter or Classic if I play my cards right... you can get a 21" wheel under the stock front fender, very common conversion for Road Kings and other Geezer Glides that get ridden more than just house to bar to house.

Skinny front tire not good for the highway? Can't prove it by me.

Title: Re: Why is a skinny front tire not good for the hi
Post by Dj12midnit on 10/31/12 at 16:36:38

I think the whole thing is hog wash. I have no problem do 75 down the highway with my hands rested on my lap.