Thinking about a wider rear tire

[ingobohn_imp]

So it is no option for me because if the police controls me, I am riding without technical permission and therefore also without insurance and without driving license. That gets very expensive, including a driving ban.

[yetanotherGerman_imp]

Not necessarily true. As the CB 1100 has no mandatory tyre brand or name in the registration documents all they (can) control is the tyre dimensions. Will be OK.
The whole thing is a purely German topic by the way - my Dutch colleagues use any tyres that will fit their bikes.
(Still I'd also rather use tyres which have been tested on the bike, and recommended by the manufacturer.)

[ingobohn_imp]

Not necessarily true. As the CB 1100 has no mandatory tyre brand or name in the registration documents all they (can) control is the tyre dimensions. Will be OK.
The whole thing is a purely German topic by the way - my Dutch colleagues use any tyres that will fit their bikes.
(Still I'd also rather use tyres which have been tested on the bike, and recommended by the manufacturer.)

Well, some say so ... and some not. My father is police man, and he says that for bikes there is a general ("fuzzy") regulation that tires must have an official "permit" (Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung) either from the bicycle manufacturer or the tire manufacturer. It is true that the general "tire binding" or even restrictions to a single tire type and model are obsolete. But just having the right dimensions, speed index and load index is not enough ... especially when it comes to an accident and police and insurance need a scapegoat.
And I do not want to try that out...

For example: My old Transalp was shipped with stock tires from Metzeler (Tourance) but nevertheless in a special "U" modification (reinforced). If you use the same tire without U, you drive without technical "OK" form Honda. I called Metzeler in Munich and they confirmed that the "U" model was specifically made for and requested from Honda for the Transalp.

[AzBob_imp]

Keep in mind that if you widen the rear without lowering its profile, you will decrease turn-in capability. This has been implied, but no one has stated is explicitly and wanted to make sure the OP knew.

For myself, I find the stock tire/size adequate. It will do 90+mph sweepers with no problems, assuming you've got your front and rear preload set correctly (the front is as finicky as a half-turn between shake and no shake). I road up to Tortilla Flat a couple of weeks ago with the pillion onboard and was making a "brisk pace" through the twisties without a peep from the stock tires (can't say the same about the pillion, lol).

[rboe]

Is that road still rough and in need of a resurface?

[yetanotherGerman_imp]

....and the pillion, resurface required?
SCNR

Indeed if you want to use a 160 instead of the stock 140 it will be wide and flat in comparison as mentioned above, it is 160/60 where the stock tyres are 140/70 so while the shape of the tyre will be different, the outer diameter will be similar.
Thus, for the same speed in corners more lean angle is needed, and with the wide and low tyre your ride comfort is likely somewhat worse than with stock tyres.

[AzBob_imp]

Is that road still rough and in need of a resurface?

Yes! It's _awful_.

[SCCBrider_imp]

I was surprised at how well the stock tires felt on my bike up at Deals Gap. I scrapped the foot peg fellers around several of the corners up there. Not sure I see a need for a change, unless you are going for a specific look.

[rmack_imp]

A Dunlop road smart 150/70/18 works very nicely and wears well its scope in rim size is 4 to 4 1/2 rim
A 160 is to big for that size rim it requires 4 1/2 rim minimum

[Riko_imp]

anybody considered this?
http://www.motobike-parts24.de/product_i...-2013.html

Kineo sells state of the art spoked wheels, with killer looks, tons of color customisation options, ultry light and most importantly enlarged sized 4.25 rear rim.

I always assumed a 4.25 rim can handle a 160 tire perfectly.

And as stated before by yetanotherGerman, a 160/60 18" has the same diameter as the stock rear tire:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecal...-160-60r18


This is based on many info I see about the same Kineo products for a Triumph modern classic bike (such as the Bonneville and Thruxton)
Many state the 425 rim goes perfectly with a 160 tire....
Bottom of this page for example (its in german): http://www.classicbike-raisch.de/html/ra...asten.html
"und hinten 4,25x17inch für Reifen 160-17inch"

I've mailed a few dealers that sell Kineo and asked about the rim-tire combo, I'll update as soon as I get respons about this.

edit: some Triumph Thruxton owners who have 160 rear tires mounted on 4.25 rims
http://www.triumphrat.net/twins-technica...go-to.html

http://www.triumphrat.net/club-cafe/7219...uxton.html

So I dont believe a 4.50 rim is the minimum width for a 160 tire.
I'd be happy to get some pro input about this, but it seems to me that a 160 tire and a 4.25 rim go together perfectly.