180/55 versus 190/50?

[Zolden]

My 95 ZX7 came with two dunlop d208's - the rear being 190/50/17. A plug in the rear made me have to get a new tire - I got a michelin pilot power. I told the guys at Razee's that the size was 190/50/17 and that I need one in the same size. I confirmed with them three times that this was the size I needed both on the phone in person, it was on the computer as well.

I got home and realized they put on a 180/55/17. Is the difference between the two extreme enough to change handling? I seem to be noticing slight differences when in lean, and it seems like when going through corners that theres something amiss.

This is a hulking 480 lb. old bike. Does it need a 190 to be fully efficient? I'm considering calling razees but I highly doubt at this point theyd change it.

[OreoGaborio]

I hear so many people rave about the 190 to 180 switch. The consensus seems to be the narrower but taller profile makes for quicker handling w/ a comparable contact patch.

It's funny you posted this, i JUST responded to a thread on sportbikes.net on this very topic
Holy Crap! What a difference that made! RearRideHeight? - Sportbikes.net

I think you'll find my response sounds familiar

[TLRMan]

I hear so many people rave about the 190 to 180 switch. The consensus seems to be the narrower but taller profile makes for quicker handling w/ a comparable contact patch.

It's funny you posted this, i JUST responded to a thread on sportbikes.net on this very topic
Holy Crap! What a difference that made! RearRideHeight? - Sportbikes.net

I think you'll find my response sounds familiar

+1

[LuvDog]

My 2 cents...

I went from a 190 Dunlop to a 190 Michelin PP... and the turn in was noticeably quicker. Even with the same width.

Why?

Probably a lot of reasons...

1. Different profile from different manufacturer
2. Different profile from a different "type" of tire... I think the PP has a more aggressive profile than other tires.
3. The old tire was just worn out.

Do I think a 180 would turn in any better... not necessarily. Especially since I have a 6" rim on that bike.

If it were a 5.5" rim, then that would be a different story, since most 190s weren't made to put on a 5.5" rim.

Also... I think the 180 on a 6" rim isn't quite as effective as it would be on a 5.5" rim.

[TLRMan]

[QUOTE=LuvDog;

Also... I think the 180 on a 6" rim isn't quite as effective as it would be on a 5.5" rim.[/QUOTE]

Made a difference on my 6" rim. It's one of the classic make the TLR handle better swaps...

[Stoneman]

I'd say it totally depends on the bike. Like TLRMan sez, it's pretty much a 'must do' on a TL-R. Going from the 190 to the 180 on my TL-R was solely responsible for me keeping the bike. When I first got it with the 190 on it, I was SOOO bummed that I thought I had made a HUGE mistake. Coupla weeks later, spooned a 180 on, made a coupla suspension adjustments and it was like night and day...

I don't think your bike originally came with a 190...

[ZX-12R]

Besides the bike, your own preference will come into play as well. My 12R has a 6" rim and came from the factory with a 200. I've tried both a 180 and a 190 on it and have come to like the 190 the best. With a 180, it felt like the bike was falling into corners where the 190 rolls in smoothly and gives me better feedback from the road.

Dropping to a 190 made it feel like the bike lost 60lbs!

[Stoneman]

Besides the bike, your own preference will come into play as well. My 12R has a 6" rim and came from the factory with a 200. I've tried both a 180 and a 190 on it and have come to like the 190 the best. With a 180, it felt like the bike was falling into corners where the 190 rolls in smoothly and gives me better feedback from the road.

Good point! It was the exact opposite on the TL-R...

[keeena]

You guys w/ the TL - have you tried a 5.5" rim w/ a 180? Or all running 6" w/ 180?

[Stoneman]

You guys w/ the TL - have you tried a 5.5" rim w/ a 180? Or all running 6" w/ 180?

Whatever the stock rear wheel is, I'm running...

[keeena]

Stocker is 6"

[TLRMan]

You guys w/ the TL - have you tried a 5.5" rim w/ a 180? Or all running 6" w/ 180?

Wanna Buy me a Marchesini mag 5.5" rim for me, so I can try it out?
actually, the 180's work OK on the 6".

[stoinkythepig]

I've tried both on my 9R, a few times and with quite a few brands. I like the 190 in the tires I'm currently using (Road Attacks). That said, there's far more difference between a worn tire and a new tire of the same size/brand than there is between the 180 and 190. I also found that increasing the rear ride height with 6 mm of spacers on the shock made a much bigger/better handling difference than tire size.

[Zolden]

Well after riding near everyday on the new tire I gotta say I definitely notice a bit of a difference. I think its a shitton better to be honest. With the 190 I felt like the bike was really rigid and hard to get down in turns, this really seems to fall into place alot better when going into a turn at a higher speed. It seems like there's just a slight bit of increased agility, but maybe I'm just delusional.

Cheers and happy fourth.

[Karaya One]

Try the 190/55.

[Rye]

Your zx7 comes stock with a 180/55. 190/50/55 is not standard.

[SVRACER01]

Holy Crap! What a difference that made! RearRideHeight? - Sportbikes.net

I think you'll find my response sounds familiar

im making friends over there too. just like the NEAR list. speaking of NEAR i havent been there in awhile. maybe ill find some feathers to ruffle over there