The CB1100 Community Forum

My service manager said going up 1 size is all that's recommended. When I wear this one out that's what I'll do.

(07-26-2013, 12:19 PM)Jim21680_imp Wrote: [ -> ]This probably isn't true, but I would hope any good service shop would refuse to mount a 180 tire on a 4" rim. I wouldn't even risk a 160. Now, if going to a 150 gave me better or more diverse tire options, that's definitely something I would consider (sadly, it doesn't ). But I would be really weary about going over a +10 on the tire width. Good luck to you Sil, keep us posted about what you decide, and how it works out.

Think about this and then take a good look at TOO MANY of the imports running around on wheels and tires that shouldn't even be in the same zip code with one another, let alone mounted to each other and then postulate the chances of someone mounting the incorrect tire on a too narrow/wide of a rim for it. There are stupid people out there and unfortunately they walk among us.

Thanks for looking out for me guys. There is a bunch i do not know about tires obviously.

(07-26-2013, 01:08 PM)FUZZY_imp Wrote: [ -> ]My service manager said going up 1 size is all that's recommended. When I wear this one out that's what I'll do.

I may do exactly this when it's time to change

I have a BT-45 Radial 150/70/R18 and it fit perfectly.
not much more room to clear the swing arm pivot
but plenty around fender. Would not go any wider.

Two of the reviews I read on the CB commented on how flickable the bike is with these tire sizes compared to supersports with 180/200s. I noticed in a few hundred miles that I had no "chicken strips" on the rear, and very narrow ones up front. That's tough to do in South Florida....the land of flat and straight roads.

150 is the max one should go IMHO , anymore and the bike would lose its aesthetic appeal on what it should reflect..apart from all the technicalities around it... Going too wide would change the statement the bike makes, but hey everybody has their own statement to convey as well ... .. Beauty always lies in the eye of the beholder...

(07-27-2013, 09:25 PM)The Spaceman_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Two of the reviews I read on the CB commented on how flickable the bike is with these tire sizes compared to supersports with 180/200s. I noticed in a few hundred miles that I had no "chicken strips" on the rear, and very narrow ones up front. That's tough to do in South Florida....the land of flat and straight roads.

Spaceman,

That's pretty good. I still have close to 3/8" wide chicken strips on the front, and I got them that "small" by playing around in parking lots.

I used to grind down the peg feelers on my Bonneville, but that was kid's play. I don't think I've come close or ever will come close to touching peg feelers on the CB.

A 160/60-18 rear tyre is officially recommended by Bridgestone in Germany as a possible replacement of the original 140/70-18 BT54.
Note the 160 is a /60(per cent of the width) whilst the 140 is a /70 so the outer diameter will be similar.
They have two different versions of sport touring tyres (brand new Battlax T30 and few years old BT-023 model) which can also be combined.
See the pdf here, sorry the text is in German but the basics (standard rims and tyre sizes) are clear anyway: http://moto.bridgestone.de/~/media/Files..._SC65.ashx

I would not recommend to use wider rear tires, you simply lose too much agility. And that's what I basically like at the CB 1100: it is a compact and very agile bike.

EDIT:
The problem here in Germany is that you have not much choice of tires for your CB 1100 (if you do not go for wider ones):
- Dunlop Sportmax D205 (one of the two stock tires)
- Bridgestone BT54 (the other one - but very old tire model)
- Pirelli Sport Demon

When my tires are used up, I will first try the Bridgestone tires. Unfortunately, my bike was shipped with Dunlops, and as far as I understood these tires are worse compared to the Bridgestones.

You could also consider the classic BT 45 as it is available in the right dimensions. It is however NOT recommended by Bridgestone, so you'd run on your own risk.