RXV Owners Rplace That Front Tire

[orangerider2]

For the last seven months, I`ve been running a 80-100-21, today went for a short ride, before i left, i decided to install the stock front tire a 90-90-21, what a piece of junk, the bike handles so much better with the 80-100-21, it grabs and most of the push is gone. Now i remember why i changed it, in the first place.

[SLORider]

Thanks! You always have great tips, orange!

[Thumper33]

I saw your recommendation for the Maxxis IT rear. Do you recommend the same on the front? I ride the mountains of Colorado and I've heard people here recommend them as well, just thought I'd ask our resident expert .

[orangerider2]

The Maxxis IT, or Dunlop 756.

[Thumper33]

The biggest rear I can find in the Maxxis IT rear is a 120/100-18 68M/TT

Do I need to keep looking for something else that's larger?

[orangerider2]

The big Maxxis, is very close in size, to the stocker.

[mtothef]

the maxxis seem to look meatier than the sidewall reading indicates. likewise, the dunlop 756 desert AT i'm running right now is called a 120, but is wider than the stock 140 labeled michelin donut of suck that the bike came with.

seems like michelin and pirelli 140 tires are pretty similar to dunlop 120s, based on the once in a while eyeball tests i've conducted...

[orangerider2]

mtothef

You are correct, i`ve had the tires side by side, and really can`t see the difference.

[mtothef]

orangerider,

we get that with mountain bikes all the time too. one guy calls his tire a 2.4, and it measures the same as the other guy's 2.0. and usually it's the europeans (michelin, hutchinson, continental), who give a larger number for a comparatively smaller profile. go figure. must be the metric system, or new math, or something...

[cyborg]

Since I'm dual-sportin' the RXV550 I tried the Conti TKC-80's and have been quite impressed with them as all-rounders.

140/80-18 rear

90/90-21 front

I have to say the 90/90, at least in the TKC-80s handles very well on pavement and moderate dirt, so it's probably not all about tire size but also design. The 90/90-21 stock OEM knobby (and the rear too) I thought were junk and lousy handling in the dirt. Interesting info Orange about the larger size front.

The Kenda's sound interesting. Since I like to run DOT rubber, always a compromise, for a bit more dirt oriented I like the Pirelli MT-21's. Not hard core race rubber, but they do very well on road and dirt and last longer than most non-DOT pure offroad tires, though to be fair I haven't tried the Kenda's. Just a few tire experiences of mine.

[SLORider]

Talk about bringing a thread back from the dead...

It was just pointed out to me that the 80/100-21 is SMALLER than the stock 90/90-21. Thus, I'm not sure if what orangerider2 says is correct even though he obviously preferred the 80/100. Any insight?

[dzrtracin]

I NEVER rode my RXV with the stock front, that was the first swap, MT18 HEAVY DUTY.


RIDE ON!!!

[Hunterdobe]

Orange, why are you banned? This isn't a communist forum.

[tbeyer]

Has anyone tried the new Kenda Washougal Sticky on the front? As for BIG rear tires I am using the Terraflex 140-80-18 USA made motosteel. It is a beast of a tire. It raises the bike height about 1/2" with the 1'tall lugs. It is DOT but it is not a great road tire IMO but I really like it off road, on the fire roads, single track and MX track that I have ridden.
Fits without any problems but I did remove the chain guard and reduce the front sprocket one tooth.

[Bah73]

I am of the understanding that a skinnier front tyre gives better handleing so orangeride2 might have been on to something. I just ordered in some Dunlop D756's and the largest sizes in that model are 80/100-21 [overall width 3.6 inches] and 110/100-18 [overall width 5.20 inches] and these are matched to the RXV rims. But I belive Mitchelin [standard RXV tyre] also mesure there tyres different and the Dunlop 80/100-21 equals there 90/90-21 and Dunlop 110/100-18 equals there 130/80-18 so go figure, they wouldnt want to make it to easy for us would they.