Author Topic: 190/50zr17 vs 190/55zr17 (Read 17778 times)

IRULE · « **on:** July 10, 2011, 12:09:11 AM »

What do you prefer? Lot of talks about increase to 55. What's the positives and what's not?

stevewfl · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2011, 12:15:18 AM »

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=2241.0

stevewfl · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2011, 12:16:51 AM »

55 is taller so it turns in quicker, handles better.

drawback, you'll pay a few bux extra for that extra 5 mm worth of mad handling.

DaveO · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2011, 05:07:58 AM »

just use a 180/55 .
Same effect as the 190/55 but costs less and weighs less .

Rudy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2011, 05:36:03 AM »

Larger contact patch when leaned all the way over onto the edge of the tire with the 55.It feels more planted when at extreme lean angles. At least on the PR2 and Metzeler Z8's that I've used. You can see it when looking from the rear. If you like to sport ride you cannot go wrong with a 55. Also, your speedo will be more accurate with the taller tire.

So Cal Joe · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2011, 06:51:31 AM »

Quote from: DaveO on July 10, 2011, 05:07:58 AM

just use a 180/55 .
Same effect as the 190/55 but costs less and weighs less .

When I had my rear tire replaced the dealer didn't have the 190/50 he had a 180/55 so he put that on and it works great

Jeremy Mitchell · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2011, 07:33:03 AM »

No drawbacks to usinig the 190/55 that I am aware of. My PR2 seems to be wearing more evenly than any other tire I have used yet. I am getting ready to do a ton of interstate riding for a trip to Arlington Cemetery and will put over 2000 miles on the center of my tires so this should be a good test.

stevewfl · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2011, 03:52:54 PM »

180/55 is what I used on most my bikes before the manufacturers stepped up and created the 190/55.

190/50 is just out.

B.D.F. · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2011, 04:11:42 PM »

Old topic but the contact patch area is only dependant on the pressure in the tire, not the tire's size. A 190/55 and a 190/50 will have the same contact patch area on the same bike, at the same tire pressure. The contact patch shape may (and probably will) change but not the contact patch area.

Brian

Quote from: Rudy on July 10, 2011, 05:36:03 AM

Larger contact patch when leaned all the way over onto the edge of the tire with the 55.It feels more planted when at extreme lean angles. At least on the PR2 and Metzeler Z8's that I've used. You can see it when looking from the rear. If you like to sport ride you cannot go wrong with a 55. Also, your speedo will be more accurate with the taller tire.

B.D.F. · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2011, 04:13:17 PM »

A 190/55 is heavier than a 190/50 also. More unsprung weight on the bike although it is probably not a big difference.

Brian

Quote from: stevewfl on July 10, 2011, 12:16:51 AM

55 is taller so it turns in quicker, handles better.

drawback, you'll pay a few bux extra for that extra 5 mm worth of mad handling.

B.D.F. · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2011, 04:15:47 PM »

Just to point this out: the usual wheel width for a 180 series tire is 5.5" or 5 and 1/2" wide. The usual wheel width for a 190 series tire is 6" wide. You can certainly put a 180 on a 6" wide rim but it will change the radius of the tire and make it somewhat flatter. Whether or not this makes any difference I do not know, just wanted to point it out.

Brian

Quote from: stevewfl on July 10, 2011, 03:52:54 PM

180/55 is what I used on most my bikes before the manufacturers stepped up and created the 190/55.

190/50 is just out.

CrashGordon · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2011, 05:12:30 PM »

Quote from: So Cal Joe on July 10, 2011, 06:51:31 AM

When I had my rear tire replaced the dealer didn't have the 190/50 he had a 180/55 so he put that on and it works great

Same here. No problems so far.

jjsC6 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2011, 07:44:41 PM »

Quote from: B.D.F. on July 10, 2011, 04:11:42 PM

Old topic but the contact patch area is only dependant on the pressure in the tire, not the tire's size. A 190/55 and a 190/50 will have the same contact patch area on the same bike, at the same tire pressure. The contact patch shape may (and probably will) change but not the contact patch area.

Brian

I still don't believe it and never will. You still can't explain to me why GM went to the trouble and expense of putting wider tires on the Z06 than the base model. Tire pressures and even the actual tire are the same - except for the size. I've read too much to believe it doesn't have more tread on the ground than the smaller tire. I still think it's one of those physics theories that is taken out of context.

stevewfl · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2011, 07:47:04 PM »

Quote from: B.D.F. on July 10, 2011, 04:15:47 PM

Just to point this out: the usual wheel width for a 180 series tire is 5.5" or 5 and 1/2" wide. The usual wheel width for a 190 series tire is 6" wide. You can certainly put a 180 on a 6" wide rim but it will change the radius of the tire and make it somewhat flatter. Whether or not this makes any difference I do not know, just wanted to point it out.

Brian

180 = flatter is correct. Thats why we used the 180's on our ZX14s to launch at the drag strip, more contact patch on the ground for the straight line.

B.D.F. · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2011, 07:53:19 PM »

More contact patch area? Sure but only if you use lower pressure than a 190. Tire contact patch area is a function of the pressure in the tire, at least w/in any reasonable limits (putting the space shuttle on two bicycle tires is not a reasonable limit for example).

Brian

Quote from: stevewfl on July 10, 2011, 07:47:04 PM

180 = flatter is correct. Thats why we used the 180's on our ZX14s to launch at the drag strip, more contact patch on the ground for the straight line.

stevewfl · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2011, 08:02:25 PM »

Quote from: B.D.F. on July 10, 2011, 07:53:19 PM

More contact patch area? Sure but only if you use lower pressure than a 190. Tire contact patch area is a function of the pressure in the tire, at least w/in any reasonable limits (putting the space shuttle on two bicycle tires is not a reasonable limit for example).

Brian

Yes sir, they were aired way down. Just enough air in them to prevent spinning the rim.

Rudy · « **Reply #16 on:** July 11, 2011, 05:31:03 AM »

If you look at the shape of a 55 vs a 50 profile from the rear you will understand that the 55 does indeed have a larger contact patch when on its edge. The 50 profile is more round whereas the 55 is pointed. And tire pressure does have everything to do with contact patch size.

danvforce · « **Reply #17 on:** July 11, 2011, 08:01:04 AM »

All I can say after using the 55, I will not go back to the 50. The 190 55 make this bike handle bette tha any bike I've ever owned. What an improvement.

IRULE · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2011, 08:37:53 PM »

danvforce, have you ridden your at in bad weather? how is it handle in the rain?

jjsC6 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 11, 2011, 08:43:19 PM »

Quote from: B.D.F. on July 10, 2011, 07:53:19 PM

More contact patch area? Sure but only if you use lower pressure than a 190. Tire contact patch area is a function of the pressure in the tire, at least w/in any reasonable limits (putting the space shuttle on two bicycle tires is not a reasonable limit for example).

Brian

Brian, because I like you so much I'm going to share a thread I started on another forum with you and the rest of the folks here. I'm "jschindler" who started this thread.....

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z06-discussion/2871368-tire-contact-patch-physics-question.html

News:

Author Topic: 190/50zr17 vs 190/55zr17 (Read 17778 times)