Motorcycle enthusiasts will propose two primary necessities when considering purchasing a motorcycle or starting in the motorcycle hobby. These two necessities are the handling of the bike and rider comfort. Acquiring these necessities does not have to come by buying an expensive bike but can be found in simple adjustments to the bike.
The Pros And Cons Of A Wide Back Motorcycle Tire
Pros
- Better grip when turning and taking corners.
- Improves the bike’s ability to take corners at higher speeds while remaining stable.
- Enables deeper lean angles when taking corners or sharp turns.
- The width increases the overall stability of the motorcycle.
- A more comfortable ride, absorbing bumps on the road
- Prevents the tire from slipping in wet and rainy conditions.
- Helps with the power transfer, especially with bigger more powerful motorcycle engines.
- The greater surface grip makes it possible for more throttle application when the bike is leaned over.
- Increases the safety when trail braking.
- Enables the bike to handle harder breaking.
Cons
- The cost of wider wheels is more expensive than skinnier wheels.
- The extra weight makes the bike feel heavier.
- There will be more unused parts of the tire’s sidewall if the tire is not fully utilized.
- The extra weight will lean the bike over more when taking corners and sharp turns.
- More acceleration is required to get the bike moving.
- Brakes and suspension work harder to perform correctly, meaning more regular services and maintenance on the bike.
A wide back tire provides more stability and helps for a safer ride in wet or slippery conditions due to the tire’s increased surface area. It contributes to a smoother and powerful riding experience. Some of the disadvantages are that the bike is harder to lean into corners when turning, and handling may be more difficult.
Enhancing your motorcycle is a really satisfying aspect of owning a bike. Finding the fit and style, as well as adding improvements to your bike, makes riding a whole lot more fulfilling! Changing your rear motorcycle wheel’s size to a wide back motorcycle tire has many benefits but has a few disadvantages.
Keep reading and you will find out what the pros and cons of fitting a wide back motorcycle tire really are.
Should You Only Replace The Back Tire With A Wide Tire?
In the past, a back wheel’s width to be considered a fat wide tire was 150mm, but now that width has grown to 330mm.
It is possible to have different-sized front and rear motorcycle tires. The reasons for why the changes are made are many, but the multiple benefits are the leading cause.
Replacing motorcycle tires with different sized and styled wheels is a common decision for riders. Many of the options are dependent on the rider’s own preferences and individual requirements.
Front tire changed only
If you change the front tire to a wider tire and leave the back tire with a thinner tire, it will enable you to handle corners easier. This is done mostly by riders who like to risk a little more and are looking for an adrenaline rush when taking corners at higher speeds.
Front and rear tires changed
It is also an option to replace both the rear and front tires with wider tires. When both tires are changed, it enhances stability and the ride’s smoothness, especially how the bike will absorb bumps better.
When both the front and back tires are changed for wider tires, there is often a more significant loss of the quality of the bike’s handling, which is why many opt for only replacing the back tire only.
Rear tire changed only
Replacing the rear tire with a wide tire and leaving the front tire stock is a standard change made by many riders looking for more stability and power. This change also helps the bike handle wet or slippery conditions and helps with the power transfer for bikes with bigger engines.
Replacing just the back tire helps keep a decent level of handling on the bike while enhancing the stability, smoothness, and feeling of power that the motorbike can give.
Function Of The Rear Wheel
The power generated by the motorcycle engine is all fed to the back tire of the bike. The rear wheel acts as the moving force behind the motorcycle that propels the bike forwards.
Choosing to use a broader or thicker wheel is preferable, as the thicker back wheel helps increase the wheel’s surface area that comes into contact with the road. This, in turn, creates more traction, which increases the grip and handling of the motorcycle.
Having the wider rear tire also vastly reduces the risk of slippage when riding in wet or rainy conditions, which is a big help, especially for larger-sized bikes.
A wide back tire will make long-distance rides a lot more comfortable because of how the wider tire absorbs any bumps or gravel along the road and maintains stability and smoothness, helping with the motorcycle’s comfort level.
Most of the weight of the motorcycle sits at the back of the bike. A wider rear tire helps carry the overall weight better, making it steadier to handle for the rider when the bike moving.
When riding a cruiser or larger-sized bike, having a wider back tire enhances the bike’s aesthetics and overall look. For these larger-style bikes, a wider back tire makes them look tough and powerful.
The motorcycles handling
As with any motorcycle, more importantly, with cruisers and touring bikes, having a bike with good handling is essential. A wide back wheel provides better alignment between the back and the front wheels, especially throughout turns and corners.
A wide back motorcycle tire reduces the back wheel’s possibility of breaking off and causing a wreck or accident. Wider back tires help hold a steady line when steering through rainy conditions. It works better to eliminate the wheel skipping over puddles or wet surfaces.
The wider back tire also allows more of the tire to grip the road, increasing the tire’s surface area, which comes into contact with the ground. The extra width increases the traction and enhances the tire’s grip, translating into better bike handling.
Because of the larger surface area of the tire coming into contact with the road, it enhances the ability to maintain the bike’s stability when riding at high speeds and transfers the power of larger motorcycle engines to the rear wheel safely, thus providing the power necessary to move the bike forwards at speed.
Comfort level
The wider back tire makes sitting on the bike a lot steadier and more stable. The rider will experience a significant change in the bike’s feel when riding. The wide tire absorbs bumps and other uneven road surface abnormalities much better than a slimmer tire.
The motorcycle will hold a straight steering line better and will be less sensitive to small movements on the handlebars. This contributes to more comfort, more specifically for long-distance rides.
A shorter and wider rear tire also makes it easier to hold the bike up and steady when it is not moving.
The motorcycles appearance
Although it is not much of a functional contribution to the motorcycle, the appearance of having a wide back tire adds to the aesthetic look of a tough, strong, and powerful bike.
For many riders, appearance is essential! In most cases, when owning or riding a cruiser or larger-sized motorcycle, wide tires enhance the “beastly” look of the bike.
Although many riders won’t like to admit it, the appearance of wide-back motorcycle tires is the main reason why most riders purchase them!
The cost
One of the most evident disadvantages of wide tires is the cost. Wider tires cost more than skinnier tires by a fair margin of difference. The effects of having a wide back tire will also cause higher maintenance costs and service expenses due to the quicker wear and tear on brakes and suspension.
The wear and tear happen because of the extra weight and larger size of the wheel, which causes the breaks and suspension to work harder to maintain the correct performance levels.
Replacing tires will cost more, and services will need to be more frequent, with a higher chance of replacing certain parts of your motorcycle more regularly.
Conclusion
It is more common for owners of cruisers, touring bikes, and larger-sized motorcycles to buy wide back tires. Riders who ride sports bikes or more specialty bikes will generally stick to the motorcycle’s recommended tires’ style and make.
For those who do own larger bikes, changing the rear tire to a wide back tire has more benefits than disadvantages. It is worth considering making this change for the long-term enjoyment of your motorcycle. The primary consideration when thinking about this change is the costs and sustainability of maintaining the bike.
The pros and cons of wide back motorcycle tires are worth assessing and considering when deciding on changing the rear tire’s size. If you are looking for stability, power, appearance, and comfort and can afford it, then a wider rear tire can be a beneficial addition to your motorcycle!
Happy riding!
