Rusty McNeil
Well-Known Member
Re: Widest tire on stock rear wheel
My 99 took a 170/80-15 ME880 Metzler just fine without doing the washer swap. Others I know did have to move it tho'.
I had a 180/70-15 on there at one time but that tire is way too short; Big mistake, couldn't burn it off fast enough.
If you're staying stock I think most of the Vmax community will vouch for the ME880 tire, it sticks well, wears well, and can be trusted to lean deeper than most of us will ever lean a Max.
I second what 4gassem said, I did the same, an 18" wheel and a 180/55-18 Venom-R (radial) on the back.
With the 18" wheel you can get a radial that is as tall as the stock 150/90-15.
The 17" wheel will leave you a little shorter than stock as far as I've seen.
The one shortfall of the 18" wheel is that there are no true hardcore "sportbike" type tires made for it that I've been able to find. There are some very good sport tourer tires for that wheel in some of the narrower (150, 160) widths.
If I had have known how much difference radials were going to make it might have been the first mod I did instead of one of the last. Like you said tho' money was an issue at the time for me as well; one of the disadvantages of being married.
As for the handling, ask around but for the money Frame braces, a fork brace, maybe solid engine mounts, and for sure better springs and shocks will cure most of these issues if the steering head bearing is set up properly which can be kind'of a subjective process at best.
Good luck
Rusty
My 99 took a 170/80-15 ME880 Metzler just fine without doing the washer swap. Others I know did have to move it tho'.
I had a 180/70-15 on there at one time but that tire is way too short; Big mistake, couldn't burn it off fast enough.
If you're staying stock I think most of the Vmax community will vouch for the ME880 tire, it sticks well, wears well, and can be trusted to lean deeper than most of us will ever lean a Max.
I second what 4gassem said, I did the same, an 18" wheel and a 180/55-18 Venom-R (radial) on the back.
With the 18" wheel you can get a radial that is as tall as the stock 150/90-15.
The 17" wheel will leave you a little shorter than stock as far as I've seen.
The one shortfall of the 18" wheel is that there are no true hardcore "sportbike" type tires made for it that I've been able to find. There are some very good sport tourer tires for that wheel in some of the narrower (150, 160) widths.
If I had have known how much difference radials were going to make it might have been the first mod I did instead of one of the last. Like you said tho' money was an issue at the time for me as well; one of the disadvantages of being married.
As for the handling, ask around but for the money Frame braces, a fork brace, maybe solid engine mounts, and for sure better springs and shocks will cure most of these issues if the steering head bearing is set up properly which can be kind'of a subjective process at best.
Good luck
Rusty
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