Front tire

[Beast]

I like the appearance of a narrower front tire. Has anyone installed a 130mm tire on the front? Or, what sizes have you installed and how did they perform?

Thanks

[vanagon40]

I have an MT90HB17 on mine, which I understand is the same size as a 130/90-17.  Several other have run this same tire and reported excellent results.

However, I have a slight problem with high speed instability.  Notably, I have a car tire on the rear.  I did not have the high speed instability with the OEM tire, only after changing to the narrower tire.  The narrow tire improved low speed handling.  I know of at least one other person who has reported identical results.

Purple Haze once explained about “trail” noting that with too little trail (or negative trail) “the bike will handle with unbelievable ease at low speeds, but will be completely out of balance at high speed. It will easily develop a fatal high-speed wobble. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!”

Purple Haze then noted: “If you use a very fat rear tire, you should keep the trail as close to 4 inches [the maximum for normal trail] as possible.”

My theory is that making the front tire more narrow, or making the rear tire wider, will cause the bike to act the same as shortening the trail.  And that said, I have now expressed a theory well beyond my expertise or knowledge, so please do not ask me to explain.

I would expect the bike to handle fine with a 130mm tire, unless your rear tire is a car tire or otherwise extremely wide.

[Ricky-D]

Width of the rim is the controlling factor in what tires will work.  Too narrow a tire on a rim can be a safety issue.  Dunlop site gives suggested rim widths for their tires.  I'm not saying a 130 tire is too small!  Just you need to look at the issue.

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