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Slightly smaller tire, would you do it? Slightly smaller tire, would you do it?
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 2 Feb 2007
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Slightly smaller tire, would you do it?
At the moment, I am staying with Ricardo in Quito, Ecuador. My V-Strom 650's rear tire is near its end. I need a 150/70 R 17 69H. My only options are a smaller 140/80 17 Pirelli MT60 at $103, including mounting or a OEM Bridgestone Trailwing in the correct size costing a whopping $260 with mounting.

Current plans are to head down the west coast to chile and possibly Argentina if it doesn't get to far into winter. Also would like to do a side trip into Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni and exit into Peru's Atacama to San Pedro(I think thats the town). So there will be some loose and very loose surfaces and possibly some mud.

What do you think? Should I go for the "Deathwings"? I like them for pavement but not so much for looser surfaces, for obvious reasons. If I go for the slightly smaller Pirelli, is it going to effect the performance more than making a quicker lean into a turn? Any thing else I should worry about with the Pirelli?

Any advice is greatly appreciated

Rhino
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Old 3 Feb 2007
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The slightly smaller tire will not have any problems that I know of. If you are going on loose gravel and dirt I would stay away from the death wings if possable.
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Old 3 Feb 2007
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it wont make a huge difference to put a smaller width tyre on, your only talking 10mm on the widest part and thats right on the edhes and i guess your not using it on full lean.

i have run tyres on my bike from 110s to 150s as long as the profile is not too big or small no problems.

the first number is the width in mm eg 110/80 is 110mm 150/70 is 150mm
the second number is the % of the width in profile so a 100/80 is 100mm wide and 80mm high. a 150/70 is 150mm wide and 105mm high a 140/80 is 140mm wide and 112mm high

hope this helps. remember different conditions mean different tyre sizes would be recommended anyway. for sand you want a big wide tyre to give a big foot print but for snow you would want a skinny tyre to cut through it.
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Old 3 Feb 2007
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Thanks guys. Appreciate the help.

Went to get my new Deathwing as Grant has always said that a loaded bike with a street biased rear tire gets plenty of traction. Of course they didn´t have it, like they said the day before. They only had the piece of crap, D607 Dunlops. So I went with the smaller MT60. Bike was unloaded and went for a ride. Seems that it leans in faster on turns but still felt ok Then again I have been riding her loaded for the last 4 months so I may just be use to the weight. Will take a little of time to get use to it. I will be curious to see the mileage I get out of this tire. I have heard any where between 2000 and 8000 miles.

Adios amigos, I am heading south once again.

Ryan
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Old 3 Feb 2007
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The D607's are as good as any tire in the class and will deliver very good mileage and traction. I've used them all. Who ever is giving you tire advice
is deluded. Trust me. But like the Trailwing, the D607 is not much good off road.

Having said that....

The 140 sized MT60 Pirelli is a fine tire, perfect for where your going. The problem is, it won't last long. The MT60 is really a Super Moto tire and is also used as a "Wet" tire in road racing. They stick great, perform really well but wear quickly. You should plan to replace it somewhere near 4000 miles if your lucky. Basically, you made the right choice. The MT60 will turn quicker, as you've noticed, but will be safe and secure.

Keep pressures a bit on the high side (Maybe 38 to 40 psi) for road work.
Lower both down to about 25 psi for gravel, dirt. You won't be sorry.

Patrick
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Old 14 Feb 2007
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500 mile update
After 500 miles on the MT60's, I must say that I like the performance. The fact that they lean in faster makes the bike feel 100 pounds less when standing up and weaving through dirt sections with many potholes. Wet traction is good. Loose surfaces, many times better than the Deathwings. Overall, I am quite satisfied. I am just curious on how long they will last.
-----------------------------------

Now, coming up in the next few thousand miles will be a new 19" front tire. Anybody have input on putting a more narrow tire on the front? Going from a 110 to a 100 width.

Gracias Amigos
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