Tire Size?

[bigpup]

Anyone know the widest tire you can fit on a '79 xs650 16'' rear wheel?

 

[inxs]

- thats going to depend on the brand of tyre and type of rear end you have, generally a 140/90 x 16 on a stock swingarm either wont go or is very tight-depending on the manufacturer, also tyre width is going to be determined by what you want, wider tyres tend to reduce handling responsiveness
- i tend to build for handling, prefer 18in rims and use a 120/90 x 18 tyre

 

[bluebikerblan]

130/90S-16 is about it.... with any room at all for alignment adjustments. That's the biggest (and it's not very big) that I can get in my 78 & 79 SE & SF. Limiting factor is: tire hitting the drive chain. Agree with INXS above, I've not found a 140/90that I could fit satisfactorily. Blue

 

[jay760]

I've got a 140 Avon Venom on the back of mine, they seem to be a bit narrower than some makes, though I have only got a few mm clearance both sides

 

[bigpup]

thanks fellas, I'll be running a David Bird hardtail. just curious what the max width is to fit on a stock 16'' rim

 

[inxs]

- 3.00 x 16...rim, here is an indication of what tyre size is recommended for relevant rim sizes

...tyre..............rim​

130/90-16...2.50 - 3.50​

140/90-16...2.75 - 3.75​

150/80-16...3.00 - 4.00​

 

[bigpup]

thanks inxs!

 

[gentlemanjim]

I run a Continental 130/90-16 and its a bit wider than most tires of this size and leaves me about 1/4" clearance on the swingarm. Wider tire requires wider swingarm and wider wheel.

I'm surprised I haven't read here of anyone modifying (widening) the swing. Seems someone with jigging and welding skills should try it. How about you Twojugs, INXS. Mule?

 

[inxs]

- when we were younger we chopped up all sorts of triumphs, nortons bsa's, ajs's, a couple of vincents etc, ran all sorts of rear wheels and tyres...these days i prefer snappy handling with a little extra power, dont feel the need for offset sprockets, jack shafts etc...more than happy to leave that to the young bloods

 

[pckopp]

- when we were younger we chopped up all sorts of triumphs, nortons bsa's, ajs's, a couple of vincents etc, ran all sorts of rear wheels and tyres...these days i prefer snappy handling with a little extra power, dont feel the need for offset sprockets, jack shafts etc...more than happy to leave that to the young bloods

Can I hear an "Amen"?

 

[inxs]

- and heaven on earth brother

 

[gordonscott]

Kenda Kruz 130 goes on smooth (fits rim nice) and looks kind of fat P.S. Same bike, finished picture....

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[bigpup]

thansk scott for the pics.

 

[kent_in_kc]

I run a 5" Kenda on the stock Yamaha alloy 16" rim. It clears by about 1/4" on each side. Note that you can gain a little clearance with the wheel adjusted farther back in the swing arm. That, of course, depends on your chain length. I also made my own chain guard which helps some.

In other words, you can run a wider 16" than an 18" because of the way the swing arm narrows toward the front.

 

[Tech7]

Runnin a 140/90 Metzler ME99 with no problems.

 

[gordonscott]

thansk scott for the pics.

No problem but I gave you wrong info, that is a 140 on there NOT a 130 as I said in earlier post, my bad

 

[racemonkey]

I've got a 140 Avon Venom on the back of mine, they seem to be a bit narrower than some makes, though I have only got a few mm clearance both sides

I was reading the old threads on tire size and came across your post. What height sidewall is your 140 tire? I'm having a little trouble tracking one down in a 16.

 

[XSLeo]

On any bike the major limiting factor is not the swing arm, it the drive chain. A 140 wide tire can and will rub on the chain but still have room to the swing arm.
A 150 will definitely rub the chain. Even with spacers on the sprockets to move the chain away from the tire a 150 is the max I would run on the stock wheel.
Leo