Front Tyre Size

[TheMickster]

Hi I'm thinking of doing a track day and can get some Pirelli Supercorsa's cheap, the only thing is the front is a 120/70. Can you use this on an SV650 as the standard is a 120/60.

Will it affect the handling, clearance around the front fender etc.

Any advice would be welcomed

Cheers
Mike.

[sdusk]

With that tyre your speedo might actually be accurate! Could be trouble if you have an Extenda Fenda or equivalent.

[Last Action Pimp]

i think that my sv is more stable round corners with a 120/70 but you cant flick it about as easily (it is compared to my xjr (god that thing needs a wider tyre!))

[Flamin_Squirrel]

It'll fit fine.

As for handling, well it'll raise the front a little, technically slowing the steering. This is what most people will say, because that's what they've been told to think.

But a /70 section tyre has a sharper profile, which will speeds the steering up again. I found the net result to be slightly quicker steering and better corner gip.

Go for it 8)

[21QUEST]

It'll fit fine.

As for handling, well it'll raise the front a little, technically slowing the steering. This is what most people will say, because that's what they've been told to think.

But a /70 section tyre has a sharper profile, which will speeds the steering up again. I found the net result to be slightly quicker steering and better corner gip.

Go for it 8)

I think we have had this conversation before :) and you are wrong.
Everything being equal a 120/70 will be more stable without any changes - FACT.
On average (if we can say that) 120/70 will increase your trail by 5mm-6mm and what do you get if you increase trail :?:

Some people have swapped from a 120/60 to 120/70 and not even noticed. When a shop mistakenly stuck a 120/70 instead of a 120/60 I noticed bike did not turn as normal. I'm not talking from hearsay but from experience.


TheMickster , raise your forks through the yokes 7mm to start off with with the 120/70. In thoery a 120/70 should be 12mm taller than a 120/60. Infact you could just stick it on and ride prior to making any changes and post your before and after thoughts. The 120/70 especially in road rubber does have a bigger contact patch leaant over though the race oriented 120/60 are quite pointy anyways an do have a big contact patch leant over.

I say in theory as to be really accurate you need to measure the circumference work out the radius from that.
This can then be compared that to the radius of the particular 120/60 you are running at the moment. we are assummimg you are happy with the way the bike handles at the moment with the 120/60 so doing that just gives you a base to work from.

Ok sorry for going on a bit but even though rider feel is the most important , you cannot ignor the factual bits inbetween if you really want to learn/understand bouncy bits . Every change affects something else.

Cheers
Ben