Thoughts/Experience with a wider tire?

So I just bought a 1994 vfr750 and I got to looking and noticed the front and rear tires have some dry rot in them. Unfortunately the tires both have good tread but have small cracks in between the treads. They hold air but I'm just way to paranoid to do any riding in the twisties with them as is. So my next move is to replace them. I'm thinking though to go to a 180 over the factory 170. Has anyone tried this before or recommend it? I like the look of a wider tire and logically I'm thinking I may gain a bit more grip. Also motorcycle-superstore.com has the Dunlop roadsmarts on sale for $100 rear 90 front with free shipping. Is this a good tire or should I go for PR2's or something. I'd be doing more back and forth riding around town and work than riding in the mountains but I do ride aggressive when the opportunities arise. Thanks for any help!!

 

Wider tire does not mean you can have more grip......it is the compound and skill that help in the turn.
You can lean further if you are Marquez or Rossi
Couple members here have used wider tire but not comfortable in the turn due to the geometry and the lean angle so they switch back. As for tires Dunlop is good but get harder after few k miles. I prefer pilot power, pilot road2 or 3

 

You will actually have less of a contact patch while leaning over. By putting a tire on that is to big for the rim you will be pinching the bead to far in. If you have an old tire take the bead and pinch them together and then see what it does to the contact patch. Tire manufacturers make the tires to work the best they can on the right size wheel. I tried it once when i was younger on a 86 vfr. The handling was ruined. Sure i looked cool but you know not to smart. I would stick with the stock size if i were you. I like pilot powers for cornering. They may not last as long as the sport touring tires but they sure do give you confidence leaning it way over.

 

I just bought my '97 and it has a brand new set of Avon Storm's. The rear is the AV56 180/55, front is the AV55. So far I like the 180 tire, but since I don't have the 170 to compare it too I guess my judgement is bias.

 

Well said !! Too many kids think bigger is always better and want to go with the Harley-inspired fat tire look no matter what it does to the bike. Form over function, another victim of fashion.

 

I don't know about your side of the world, but locally the standard size isn't that common so tyre choices are limited. The only reason I would change.

 

Now THAT is a very good reason indeed !

 

Thank you guys for your feedback. Well that answers my question perfectly. I didn't even consider "pinching the bead". That makes perfect sense. Ill be sticking with the stock tire size because I definitely prefer function over form. Ill be ordering me some new tires in the near future. I believe ill go with the PR2's or PR3's or you tell me. Ive only ridden the pilot powers on my old R6 and felt very comfortable with them, but now that ill actually being paying for the tires I'd prefer something that has a bit more life to them. I definitely could use some recommendations on best bang for the buck tires and where to get them from.

 

Honestly, I'm not Valentino Rossi, neither Jorge Lorenzo, I was riding two years with the SHINKO STEALTH 190 Tyre rear in my previous VFR RC36, and NEVER had any problem, actually I bought with it, I used it in wet.. dry, sun, mountain.. highway some times very tilted... nothing wrong, during the two years I owned I didn't touch, in 7000 miles, no accidents, no heavy drive, no problems in twisty... I don't know.. I think that you need to have a very refined and sensible feeling to notice something wrong.

Repeat, I'm not a purist.

 

The 4th gens had a thinner rim (5 inch) to save weight. When I had my 97 it came with a 180 and it was really sluggish when turning in and handles poorly compared to the 93 VFR I had before the 97.

Around this time I started doing track days and a very wise old fellow VFR 4th gen owner told me on VFRWorld "go with the 170" rear tire since I wanted new rubber for the track. Nigh and day difference. The 97 turned in so much faster and was so stable in the turns. Grip was never an issue. I am sure a few pics of me on the track running a 170 tire are still in my photogallery.

The 4th gen was only designed for the 170 tire UNLESS you get a 3rd gen 8 spoke wheel. That will let you run a 180 tire since its a 5.5 inch rim.

BZ

 

A good thing to keep in mind is that 70 years ago dudes were riding Isle of Man on this oversize bicycle wayyyyyyy faster than most of us will ever ride. The above posters have already broken this down, but I thought I'd provide a historical example. On the bike that preceded the linked picture, the BSA Empire Star, Wal Handley did a lap on Isle of Man in 1937 with an average speed of 107 MPH. Those tires are probably a third the size of current 180s. Accordingly, Wal Handley's balls were probably three times the size of mine.

Size matters not!

 

I like my tires like my brother likes his women, fat and wide!