Guys,

I recently had a Metzler ME880 - 140 tire mounted on my Sporty. When I got home I was checking it out and noticed a pronounced rub mark all around the sidewall of the tire, below the lip of the tread. I checked all the clearances at the belt and inner fender and everything looked good so I thought it may have just been from the mounting machine. I rode it a couple of hundred miles now and the line has not faded at all so I had a buddy of mine look at it while I was sitting on the bike to see if he could see anything. We discovered that it may be hitting the lower belt guard. Has anyone else had a problem fitting a wider tire to their Sporty? The wider tire wasn't even my idea. It was suggested by one of my indy's mechanics. The owner of the shop normally works on my bike so I just called him but he was out on a test ride. I do like the look of the wider tire but I don't want to mess up the bike!

Later,
W.

Not sure on putting a bigger tire on, I always thought no without going to chain. If your indy suggested it and it rubs I would do 2 things. 1) have him put a new right size tire on at no charge. and 2) Find yourself another indy.

If you are seeing a rub mark you need to change that tire off ASAP. Keep in mind that when you are actually riding your bike the sidewall of the tire is flexing up and down and the center point of the tire also moves (just a bit) on the rim. All of this movement can't be detected once you park the bike, and that is why Metzeler lists minimum clearance distances on their website.

You may be able to find a 140 from a different manufacturer that isn't quite as wide as the one you have on, but I think you need to get a good baseline measurement with the OEM tire before you can measure what your max allowable width is going to be.

:doh

I'm taking it back to the shop tomorrow. I knew it was close when I first saw it installed but I guess I didn't look close enough.

Thanks,
W.

I got a 140 Pirelli. No probs.

Just take off the lower belt guard.....................

Or modify it and remove the inner rubber part.


Ed

Just take off the lower belt guard.....................

Or modify it and remove the inner rubber part.


Ed

I just got back from the shop. It was indeed the inner rubber part. He cut away the portion of the rubber flap that was rubbing and it all looks much better now.

Later,
W.

How much clearence do you have between the tire and
drive belt? 1/4" or so?