[Invictus]

So i call up the dealership to get some new rubber. I ask if they have the 160 qualifiers in stock. The lady says yes so i proceed to head to the dealership. Upon arriving i am told that they dont have qualifiers in 160's in stock. But the technician tells me a 180 will fit and cause no negative handling effects. To which im a little skeptical as its a wide tire for the rim. But they offer me a nice discount for all my troubles so i take the offer and have 120/70's installed upfront and 180/55 in the rear.

So upon getting home i do some searching and i find that indeed people say it causes a pinching problem with the tire and rim and causes some odd handling characteristics . So i take the bike out and lean it as far over as i can without dragging hard parts and i noticed even at full lean, the tire has maybe a half inch of tire left which translates into chicken strips. Also i notice the front of the bike feels like it turns noticeably faster then the rear. Example, i counter steer into a turn it feels like the rear is trailing and lining up a little later then it did with the 160's if that makes sense.

My question is, is there anything other then the odd handling i need to worry about. Or is that the only trade off im going to encounter till these wear. I do alot of two up riding with my girl and i just want to make sure she is indeed safe. I can handle hurting myself, but not someone else.

 

[Nexus242]

First mistake was going to the dealership. Next mistake was believing what they told you about the 180 fitting with no negative effects.

The 180/55 Dunlop fits rims with these widths 5.50-6.00. The SV rear rim isn't even close to that size.
==> http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tirecatalog_tire.asp?id=92

MAKE them order you a rear 160/60-17 Qualifier and have them change out that 180 at no cost too. Pure negligence on their part that could get you killed and you make sure you tell them that in those words.

 

[Spierings]

First mistake was going to the dealership. Next mistake was believing what they told you about the 180 fitting with no negative effects.

The 180/55 Dunlop fits rims with these widths 5.50-6.00. The SV rear rim isn't even close to that size.
==> http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tirecatalog_tire.asp?id=92

MAKE them order you a rear 160/60-17 Qualifier and have them change out that 180 at no cost too. Pure negligence on their part that could get you killed and you make sure you tell them that in those words.

+1 The sv650 rim is much to small to fit a 180, go back and get the 160 mounted.

The sv rear rim is 4.5" and the recommended rim size for this tyre is 5.5"/6"

 

[tlc4diving]

+1 to the above posts.

I can't believe they actually mounted that tire. The liability is pretty big for them to do such a thing. Go back and make them replace it on their dime.

The 120/70 is a viable option in the front but the 180 in the rear isn't on a stock rim.

 

[donniej]

A 180 on a stock rim is pinched and deformed. You can see what I mean by just looking at it.

 

[Jawn]

I run a 180/55 on the rear and have never had any problems.

 

[Guest]

Go back to the dealership wearing a neck brace, your arm in a sling, crutches, and wearing an eye patch. Tell them you're really p!ssed about their mistake and you want a whole new bike, or a million dollars.

 

[TCs03SV]

I would have it changed.

I had a shop mount a 170 rear by mistake (odd size that may work). I noticed it immediately. Looked to have a different profile Had them mount the correct size. Never did ride it that way but it was noticeable upon visual inspection from about 8 feet away.

 

[Invictus]

Im going to give them a call today about it. I went to the honda dealership as i usually do to have them installed because they have the qualifiers for 267.00 out the door. Which is a price the other places out here cant beat. Never had them try this any other times. I should of listened to what my gut was telling me about it. 180 just seemed to big for the rim ... even if it looks better.

Ill go ahead and take a pic of the rear here in a little bit when its not below freezing outside so you guys can see the tire profile. I wouldnt say the bike handles bad, just not as well as it does with the 160's. Ive had it leaned over at 100+ mph and it other then having to adjust my line more then usual and wait for the end to line up. It didnt seem to handle that much worse. But there is a noticeable difference.

Its not dangerous though is it. funky handling is one thing. The tire breaking a a bead and blowing out at 100mph is something completely different.

 

[Invictus]

There closed on mondays, i forgot about that. So ill have to wait till tomorrow to go up there. Anyway, here is some pics of the 180 that i just took. The thumbnails are clickable...

 

[Invictus]

I thought this might be helpful to others. I emailed dunlop and asked them about the tire issue. I was asking what were the negative side effects and if i had need to be concerned about a blow out. This was there response.

"The tire shouldn't "blow out" only because it is fitted to the wrong width
rim. However, the correct rim width is crucial to handling and stability.
A too narrow of a rim will alter the tire profile, concentrating tire wear
in a very small area during cornering and creating a smaller than normal
contact patch during braking".

 

[Spierings]

Have you contacted the dealership yet?? It's best to go back to your old size.

 

[josh61187]

smaller than normal
contact patch during braking

I would get it changed right away. You or your girls life is not worth it. Putting a 180 tire on a sv is like putting 24" rims on a Escalade no point, there is no gain and there are a hundred threads explaining why. Even for sole purpose of your bike handling like you remember i would change it.

 

[dan46n2]

Putting a 180 tire on a sv is like putting 24" rims on a Escalade ...

analogy fail.

 

[dmmcd]

I thought this might be helpful to others. I emailed dunlop and asked them about the tire issue. I was asking what were the negative side effects and if i had need to be concerned about a blow out. This was there response.

"The tire shouldn't "blow out" only because it is fitted to the wrong width
rim. However, the correct rim width is crucial to handling and stability.
A too narrow of a rim will alter the tire profile, concentrating tire wear
in a very small area during cornering and creating a smaller than normal
contact patch during braking".

I put 3 to 4k miles on a 170 tire a few years ago (on the stock rim) and it definitely handled differently, but as stated by Dunlop, it isn't going to blow up in a fireball or anything.

I would ask the dealer to replace it for free, since they screwed up in their recommendation. Good luck with that, though...

 

[buzzmanrm]

Take it back ASAP. And don't be nice, show them the Dunlop statement and maybe contact dunlop if they are a licensed dealer that is bull crap.

Do they understand motorcycles?

Ask them how wide an SV rim is and how wide a GSXR rim is. I run a 170 on my F3 rim, and a 160 never a 180.


Or tell them you want Luis's 5.5" kit.

 

[randomSV650]

analogy fail.

+1

 

[r3t1awr3yd]

In an effort to loosely tie the analogy together, what Josh meant was it's like putting a 24" sized tire on an 8" wide rim,er, um... no point. (sorry Josh I'm really trying to help but you seriously just made a comparison between apples and supernovas).

OP, let us know if the dealer swaps out your tires for free.

 

[enrico vespa]

Quick, bust your as5 and then sue.

 

[Invictus]

I just spoke to a technician at the dealership who said they do this all the time, putting the 180 on a smaller rim that is. He tried to tell me alot of people prefer it because it gives it more of a "bell" shape to it and lets the like lean over farther. I asked him if he was willing to stand behind his statement that it is completely safe and might actually improve performance to which he said yes. I asked about a tire swap and he said, if the tire is damaged or it rides bad they till swap the tire out. Which ofcourse it doesnt ride that bad and im sure they will take it around the parking lot when i drop it off to find out. It doesnt look like im going to get a new tire out of this. Ive actually put about 400 miles on the new set already. Went out for a long ride yesterday afternoon. And the rear is livable. Its not exactly what i want, but i might just end up getting a larger rim for the rear. Any suggestions? Bolt on preferably if its possible.

*edit* if this is against the rules a mod can remove this. But here is the place that did it. Just so yall know.

http://www.hondayamahafwb.com/