Evening all I have been running the standard  100/90/18 and 130/90/17 front and rear. So my question is how wide can i go front and rear and what profile can i use?

your thoughts?

Cheers  
George

On the Y spoke wheels you're limited to plus-one sizes of 110/80B18 & 140/80B17. There is zero benefit to handling in wedging anything wider or taller onto these relatively narrow wheels.

Some have used radials 110/80ZR18 front and 150/70ZR17 rear, and in this case it's cutting it a bit too fine out back.

I use a set of three spoke wheels in 4.5×18 K1100RS rear (and centrestand) with a 160/60ZR18 radial tyre, and in front a 110/80ZR18 radial.

It's helpful if your particular bike's year and model are listed at the bottom of your post so no guessing has to occur by anyone answering your questions. Go to Profile then Signature and enter the info there.

Two Wheels Better wrote:Some have used radials 110/80ZR18 front and 150/70ZR17 rear, and in this case it's cutting it a bit too fine out back.

What does "a bit too fine out back" mean?

I run 150/70-17s on my three spoke rears so I can run radials and they work just fine.

Also, although we don't "real" rain around here that much in the times that we do and there's lots of standing water on the freeway the narrower front wheel on a K1100LT doesn't hydroplane until 70MPH+ while the wider K1100RS front hydroplanes in the low to mid 60s.  (I'm talking about hydroplaning where you stay up on top of the surface of the water.)

By too fine, or too close, as it's more commonly said in North America, I mean the difference between how a 150/70 tyre spoons onto a 3x17 LT or optional three spoke as it does compared to a 2.75x17 Y spoke. The profile is stressed being asked to fit on a wheel that much more narrow than is recommended. Consider, too, he's subjected to a roadworthy in Tassie in which the tester will probably not look away from too oversize a tyre on the earlier Y wheel.

Yeah, that makes sense.  I only do the 150/70 on 3 spokes.

I really HATE the Y spokes.  I get why people might prefer them on an early K as original K wheels but they're a PITA to keep clean compared to the 3 spokes.

duck wrote:Yeah, that makes sense.  I only do the 150/70 on 3 spokes.

I really HATE the Y spokes.  I get why people might prefer them on an early K as original K wheels but they're a PITA to keep clean compared to the 3 spokes.

Which is exactly why I switched to 3 spoke on my '94 K75RT.  No matter how much time  I spent on them, the Y spoke wheels were always dirty.

Oh good - another excuse to stop cleaning mine

I once owned a car that had unsealed alloy wheels. The road grime and brake dust really got into surface and required lots of work to keep them maintained. I tried heaps of different wheel cleaners with varied results. I then tried a product from Armor All called Wheel Protectant which made cleaning the wheels a hell of a lot easier. The only down side is that it has to be applied a couple of times a year and initially it requires a few coats. The paintwork on my Brick rear wheel is about due for a repaint and although I haven't used it on bike wheels previously I think that with adequate masking I'll give it a go. WARNING do not get it on your tyres or brake discs.
Regards Martin.https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/APW200-6B-Armor-All-Wheel-Protectant-200g/123181599687?epid=1310941925&hash=item1cae320bc7:g:7-YAAOSw1u5bHGmK:rk:10
Regards Martin.