Quick question on rear tires size .

[arveno]

Hello everyone 

I have a 02 lemans and just got a 04 cafe sport  ( oh well … you know ..)
and I noticed the rear tire on the Le Mans is 180/55 17

on the cafe sport 170/60. 17 

I was wondering why did they do that ?

any particular reason?

I believe the rear wheel has the same width .

Thank you 

[GuzziMoto]

I suspect the wider tire was a misguided search for more stability (not misguided because stability is bad, but misguided because a wider rear tire is not a great way to add stability).

Assuming both bikes have the same 5.5" wide rear wheel, either size will fit on that wheel. Earlier bikes have a 4.5" wide rear wheel and both sizes mentioned are too wide to fit on a 4.5" wide rear wheel.

All else being equal, a 5.5" wide rear wheel and a 170 tire is going to have a wider footprint as the 180 tire tends to be pinch more from trying to fit a wider tire on the same size wheel. Gut says a 180 will give you a wider footprint, but that isn't typically how it pans out. A narrower tire on the same size wheel usually results in a flatter tire profile and that means the actual part of the tire in contact with the pavement is larger.

Many threads on here about it, here is a recent one

 

[arveno]

Great info thank you