160 rear tire? RVF400

[RVFHooligan]

Anyone run a 160 rear instead of the 150 on a RVF400? Yes, no, good, bad, indifferent? There is a very limited tire selection in the 150 size in the US. Thanks.

[Cammo]

I run a 165 slick which narrows the profile a bit (on a 4.5" rim).

A 160 will be fine. You should be able to get dunlop gpr alphas or brdgy BT090's in 150/17, even in the US.

[calirvf]

I would think that a 160 will be pitched on 4.5" rim. I have heard that you can fit Michelin's PowerRace 160 on the rear since it's profile more like a 155.

Jeff- take a look at Pirelli Diablo Rosso. For the front you can run 120/70 with no problems.

[grandpanot]

I run a 160 rear on the dymags but they are a 5.25" rim out back.

[RVFHooligan]

I wanted to run the Pilot Power 2CT because that's what I used on my last trackbike but I can't seem to find them anywhere. I can get the Power Race in the 150 but only in the soft compound. I'll probably try them and see how they hold up. Last bike was a CBR1000RR so somehow I don't think the RVF will be as hard on tires, ya think? This will be mostly for the track with hopefully some street miles thrown in there on Sunday rides. Thanks for the replies.

[hannakournikova]

I run a 160 rear on the dymags but they are a 5.25" rim out back.

+1

[hannakournikova]

i also ran a 160 on a std 17" rim, and its maiden day out was the track...no probs at all!

[cal44walker]

Pilot Race?????? Not a good idea on the street as they need to get real hot to work properly. I used them last year on my track bike and had to use tyre warmers so that I did'nt have to do 2 laps to warm them up and avoid cold tearing. I had a pair on some spare wheels so I decided to try them out a few months ago on the street. There was zero grip until they had alot of heat in them and even then Pilot 2CT's were giving more grip. They are holomogated race tyres. Use 2CT's, they have an insane amount of side grip and warm up real fast. It's important to use a tyre which corresponds to the enviroment it will be used in as they are specific designed. The Pilot Race will shed heat much faster than a fast road/trackday tyre and grip will suffer.

I use a 160 on the rear as it's the smallest size you can get a 2CT for. No difference whatsover in handling.


Matt

[RVFHooligan]

No, the Pilot Race I would use at the track with warmers. This bike is mostly for track use, unless I can get it tagged for the street and then I would just use the Pilot Power in 150 or the 2CT in 160. You say no difference in handling between the 150 and 160? Have you tried both? On the street or track? And I suspect from another thread that there is no clearance issues either with the 160? Thanks.

[cal44walker]

I tried street and track and felt no difference at all. One difference that I could feel was changing to a 120/70 profile on the front instead of a 60. There is alot more side grip at extreme lean angles. I have modified radiators so there is room to run it. My lap times dropped 3 seconds on a short 2.3 km circuit.

Matt