Am I wearing the right size rubber

[dst1]

Thought I had better check with you rubber experts out there to find out If I have the correct size.
My recent new Chariot (916) is wearing Bridgestone BT 020 on a 180 section rear tyre.
I thought they should be 190 section, the handling seems fine, are there any long term problems ?
If I have to change them what should I put on.

[JPM]

190 is the standard size on the 916, but a common mod is to use a 180 section as this makes the bike more flickable, I don't know of any downsides to doing this

[spinoli1]

The 916 has a 5.5 inch rear rim which suits a 180 rear much better than a 190 rear. For a 190 rear you really need a 6 inch rim. I recently changed from a 190 to a 180 and am very impressed with the improvement.

Spinoli

[NBs996]

There's nowt wrong with using a 180, although I've not tried one.

It should make the bike turn a bit quicker but the 190 will have a slightly bigger contact patch so gives a bit more grip. Don't think grip should be a problem with a 180 and a big twin though, it'd be more of a concern on an IL4.

[Fordie]

Having ridden 40,000 miles on a 180 Ive just put on a 190 and to be honest I can't tell the differance . 4D

[rockhopper]

I'm reality the only tyre that will work correctly is the one that the wheel is designed for. Putting a bigger or smaller tyre on will distort the profile of the tyre and mess up the handling. I have heard that some Ducati's were fitted with a variety of different width wheels depending on what the factory had in stock at the time so it might be worth double checking.

[Carbon749]

The wheel width on a 748 and 996 are the same. The 748 has a 180 back tyre as standard and the 996 has a 190 as standard.

I was once told that Ducati only fitted the 190 tyre on the 996 as a "marketing thing" as the 190 was then the biggest baddest tyre around at the time.

From everything I've heard, and been told, the 996 handles better on a 180 back tyre.

[Crunchy]

I changed from a 190 to a 180 and thought it better. You should also think of changing to the bridgestone 010 or the new 014, sticky as ****. The 020 is more for touring bikes, it does last a little longer though

[HW]

I had an ST4S which I ran on both BT010 and BT020, and also for a while BT020 on rear with BT010 on front (Bridgestone recommended, put the stickier tyre on the front). I also had a 180 rear instead of the 190 it came with. It handled very well, and seemed to turn in quicker, but I was not very experienced at the time so might be imagining it.

I reckon the Bridgestone "dual rubber" tyres are really good, and I got good mieage out of the BT020 - about 5k miles. Running on Pirelli now on the 749S, and get about 2k miles out of a rear. Go figure. :)

[Edited on 31-8-2005 by HW]

[rockhopper]

But you have done about six trackdays on them Henry!

[HW]

Originally posted by rockhopper
But you have done about six trackdays on them Henry!

Not last year I wasn't! On my 3rd rear tyre this year now. THAT'S due to the trackdays.

Actually, it's 6 trackdays (didn't realise you were keeping count mate!) and an evening. I just love Cadders. Got booked in with No Limits on 19th Sept, anyone fancy it? It'd be £89 for DSC members.

Sorry ... didn't mean to nick this thread :o

[ziggi]

http://www.ducatisportingclub.com/xmb/viewthread.php?tid=2776#pid21489

before shazaam! posts it :)

[Dizmo]

I've just done a trackday on a 190rear(208rr). Felt great, loads of grip etc.. but even though the front is scrubbed right to the edges, the back has 8-10mm chicken strips. Thought it was to do with the bikes geometry, or just not getting it over enough until I read Shazaams notes.
So it's a 180 for me next time.

[pcn1]

When they make a 2 inch durex you'll have the right size rubber !

[dst1]

trust you to lower the tone

[desmojen]

Generally I think it's best to stick to whatever the manufacturer fits in the first place.
Rim size is not everything either, modern supersports racers are now almost all using 190's on 5.5 inch rims. My race bike had a 160 wet fitted to a 5.5 inch rim, so all is not as simple as you may at first think.
As for BT020's, Gods own tyre that. It's so easy to get carried away into thinking you really need the latest, stickiest race rubber to go fast but you patently do not. (Ably demonstrated by our happy desmoduers I think) As a standard road tyre on a road bike the 020 is hard to beat, and phenominal in the wet. A great combination with the 010 on the front for a sports bike.
I would suggest that turn in speed is more of an issue between different makes of tyre than the difference in size between 180 and 190, an interesting point with the 208RR which is very pointy, and the 014 which is not.
At the end of the day, the point of the 190 tyre is side grip, that's why they are used instead of the 180, and thats why most all the superbikes are now on 200 section tyres.
For road riding it makes bog all difference unless you are a nutcase anyway!

[pcn1]

....and I put your fairwell note on the ST chat page.
No gratatude some people !:lol:

[dst1]

Not when they are being a plonker