180/55-r17

[The Dark Shadow]

I know there's some other threads talking of this...

But for a nervous, anxious, and safety-conscious person, could some of you offer a few thoughts to convince me for or against putting a 180/55 r17 tire on the rear of my 2014 st1300....??

I cannot presently get a Pirelli Angel GT 2 at the spec size, but I can get one for 275 Can$ at size 180/55 r17.

Would a 180/55 r17 be safe...??


Thanks.

(Also, is a Pirelli Diablo Rosso 2 rated okay for the weight of this bike...?? Would it last as well as others...?)

 

[Obo]

The recommended tire size is 170/60ZR17 for the rear on an ST1300. I assume that's why you are looking at other sizes?

A 180/55 size is wider but shorter than a 170/60. I'm unsure if that extra width & decreased height would cause any issues with fitment or performance.




Does it have to be a Pirelli tire? If yes, Fortnine has the Diablo Rosso II for $210 in the correct size. It's also rated for the weight (72W)

Pirelli Diablo Rosso II Rear Tire

Purchase the Pirelli Diablo Rosso II Rear Tire at Canada's Motorcycle. Free shipping and Easy returns.

fortnine.ca

 

[DannoXYZ]

Wider tyre will cause bike to feel more sluggish with slower turn-in response.

 

[Catmandu2]

Wider tyre will cause bike to feel more sluggish with slower turn-in response.

I have been running 180/55zr17 on the rear for years. Hard rider,,, no performance issues. I always order a 2-ply carcass,,, such as A-spec, HWM, GT,,, etc. Keep 'em hard,,,, 42-44psi cold,, prevents wallowing under higher loadings. cheers,, CAt'

 

[DannoXYZ]

I have been running 180/55zr17 on the rear for years. Hard rider,,, no performance issues. I always order a 2-ply carcass,,, such as A-spec, HWM, GT,,, etc. Keep 'em hard,,,, 42-44psi cold,, prevents wallowing under higher loadings. cheers,, CAt'

Of course. There's difference between objective quantifiable effects vs. personal choise. For bigger bikes like this, having some more stability is good thing.

Still not clear what's OP's goals are though. And how they would know it's been achieved.

 

[drrod]

I have run 180/55-17 tires on occasion. Usually when there is no 170/60 available. I currently have a metzler Z8 180 on. I cannot discern any appreciable difference in the handling of the bike. I wouldn't think there is any safety concerns. You may have some interference with the swingarm if you go to a 190 but I can't say for certain as I have never tried it.
This is a 170 I took off so I tend to use all of the tire. There was no 170 available where I was at so I put on a 180.

 

[Jjonahjamison]

I have run 180/55-17 tires on occasion. Usually when there is no 170/60 available. I currently have a metzler Z8 180 on. I cannot discern any appreciable difference in the handling of the bike. I wouldn't think there is any safety concerns.

+1 for the “no discernible difference”.

 

[RaYzerman]

The Pirelli GT2 is discontinued, that's why you can't get them....... go back to the GT, it's better apparently..... Diablo Rosso is a bit softer tire, nice but belongs on my VFR. I"ve played with wider tires and I'd say stick to stock size for best handling, etc.

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

180/55 r17 tire on the rear of my 2014 st1300....??

Michelin 5GT here, you'll feel younger, be better looking, have more money, go farther, faster and be an all around great guy.*


* Actually you will have a slightly larger contact patch, if you stay with the same tire you have now and just change sizes, you will notice nothing. If you change brands you will feel something.

 

[SupraSabre]

I have my second set of PR5GTs on my 2012 and I find that I am not getting very good mileage out of them (nor the set before). I had bought a set of PR4GTs a couple of months ago, to replace the 5GTs, when the current set is ready, but I lent them out, so a guy could continue his ride. When I went to replace the 4GTs, there are NO 170/60-17 available anywhere! So I saw that Chaparral in San Bernardino had a 180/55/17 available, along with a 120/70-18, so I ordered them today!

PR4GTs - 180/55-17

 

[The Dark Shadow]

Thanks all! Since the 180/55 r17 Pirelli Angel GT 2 is available and will match my fairly new front, I'll try it... Cheers!

 

[Raia]

I have my second set of PR5GTs on my 2012 and I find that I am not getting very good mileage out of them (nor the set before). I had bought a set of PR4GTs a couple of months ago, to replace the 5GTs, when the current set is ready, but I lent them out, so a guy could continue his ride. When I went to replace the 4GTs, there are NO 170/60-17 available anywhere! So I saw that Chaparral in San Bernardino had a 180/55/17 available, along with a 120/70-18, so I ordered them today!

PR4GTs - 180/55-17

What the mileage your getting on the PR s, my first st didn’t like Michelin, I’ve been running angel gt and getting about 7500 miles, thinking of trying pr s on the 2017 st hoping to get better mileage. How’s the ride with pr s , I can’t say enough about how much I love the gt .

 

[SupraSabre]

What the mileage your getting on the PR s, my first st didn’t like Michelin, I’ve been running angel gt and getting about 7500 miles, thinking of trying pr s on the 2017 st hoping to get better mileage. How’s the ride with pr s , I can’t say enough about how much I love the gt .

I've been running Michelin since my third tire change with my 2005. Sometime around 2006. I was getting between 10 to 11K miles from a set (I always change the front and rear at the same time). With the PR5GTs, I have only gotten around 7K miles. Since March 2020, my commutes quit, and so I'm not putting the miles on the bikes like I used to. And most of my mileage these days is totally different then riding the freeways 125 miles a day!

 

[Old Blue]

I have my second set of PR5GTs on my 2012 and I find that I am not getting very good mileage out of them (nor the set before). I had bought a set of PR4GTs a couple of months ago, to replace the 5GTs, when the current set is ready, but I lent them out, so a guy could continue his ride. When I went to replace the 4GTs, there are NO 170/60-17 available anywhere! So I saw that Chaparral in San Bernardino had a 180/55/17 available, along with a 120/70-18, so I ordered them today!

PR4GTs - 180/55-17

Just bought a 180/55/17 in Bozeman, Montana. I went Chaparral yesterday also. The 180/55/17 works great.

 

[The Dark Shadow]

Of course. There's difference between objective quantifiable effects vs. personal choise. For bigger bikes like this, having some more stability is good thing.

Still not clear what's OP's goals are though. And how they would know it's been achieved.

I forgot that I started this thread (I thought I had only been reading previous threads on this topic without realizing i started one myself). In case you didn't see my new thread reporting results, I will report that the 180/55 tire is GREAT! For sure it's a bit more sluggish, but it is much better on gravel, less tippy at stops, and feels more rooted/planted in turns. I am not a speed demon nor a racer, but I do indeed like round the bike deeply during turns. This tire is GREAT and I hope the extra rubber helps it get a few hundred extra miles before needing to replace.

 

[DannoXYZ]

180/55 certainly opens up more possibilities in tyres. The Kenda KM-1 on my VFR is going on 5k-miles now with 5 trackdays thrown in with less than 1/3rd worn. VFR folks who turned me onto this tyre has over 10k-miles on theirs. I may try it on my ST next.