5.5" rear rim conversion?

[mstingray]

what's needed besides the rim? has anyone done this? i want to use 180 tires and regain my contact patch. 190/55's are too expensive (about $360/set)

[Steve TLS]

Wouldn't a 180 on a 6" rim have a larger contact patch vs a 180 on a 5.5" rim? :dunno

[mstingray]

my spinning the rear all the time on 180's on my stock 6" wheels tell me otherwise. slapped 190/55's no spinning.

the 180's need to extend a little more than on a 5.5" to seat properly on the tire.

[Edwin]

This is facinating. Thanks for sharing your experience Stingray. I recently mounted a 180/55ZR/17 Metzeler Rennsport on my Buddy Chad's 6" SRAD GSXR750 and my opinion (as well as Chad's) is that the 180 on the 6" rim seems to feel like it has a bigger contact patch when heeled over. Maybe it is because the sides of the Rennsport are basically slicks, but we had the exact opposite experience than yours. Chad was running a 190/50ZR/17 before the switch and was able to get the back loose alot easier with that tire. The bike got alot more nimble too...enough to convince me that these tires will be my next choice for rim protectors.

Maybe you should try the Metzelers (180) before making the switch to the 5.5" rim. Just a suggestion. Good luck with your experiment.

[Rupes]

Different tires have different shapes too... the 180 Rennsports (i have on mine too) are quite pointy, same goes for a lot of trackday/racetyres, and even on a 6 inch rim still hold a lot of that V shape, so maybe thats all you need.

[BatesTLR1000]

I bought 5.5 rear when I bought my Dymag's. So I could run a 180 rear. I did run a 180 rear on the stock wheels. But it did stretch the tire. It almost was like I was still running the 190 tire. But with a narrow wheel you can tell a big difference. My bike does not spin as much.

[Edwin]

If you're concerned about milage Stingray (as most of us are) Metzeler now offers the Rennsport thread pattern in the street compound. Since I usually run through 2 back tires per one front tire, I'm thinkin about getting a race compund front and the street compund rear for the TLR. Like Rupes said, they do have quite a "V" shape to 'em (the 180's). The 120/70ZR/17's Are pointy too making them look more narrow than the stock Dunlop's we took off of Chad's bike once mounted, but so far so good: Chads Gixxer still handles pretty solid.

[wormser77]

Are you having trouble with the turn in on a standard 190?

[GXRKLR]

As far as I know the 180 was designed for a 5.5 rim. Not saying is does, but it should have it best contact mounted on a 5.5 instead of a 6. But a 180 on a 6 is still better than a 190/50 on a 6.

[Ryno]

A 97-00 GSXR 600 rear wheel (5.5) will bolt right up.
The newer style GSXR 5.5 rear (600 and 750)
Will also bolt up but you need to use the new style spacers/cush drive. The bolt pattern is different on the sprocket, so you'll need gearing as well.

[mstingray]

so if i bought a complete new gen 5.5 rear, no new fabrication needed? just as long as the cush drive, carrier, hub spacers and sprocket are included?

this is for my race bike. no need for tire mileage. i will be using DOT race and probably moving to slicks as soon as i better my riding.

i'm planning on doing a 4hr race coming oct. and will need to do tire changes. best to save down time and get extra set of wheels if possible.

i can get a set of new gen wheels for $350 complete locally. would the new gen front fit as well? or would it need spacers?

FYI, i've been using 180's on the stock rear for at least a yr. mostly 208GP's. almost highsided myself going through turn 2 @ sears pt. and a few times thereafter beginning of the yr @ various tracks. lowsided a few mo. later going through turn 4 @ thill saved the highside, didn't save the lowside. switched to pirelli supercorsa 190/55's and no sliding.

This is facinating. Thanks for sharing your experience Stingray. I recently mounted a 180/55ZR/17 Metzeler Rennsport on my Buddy Chad's 6" SRAD GSXR750 and my opinion (as well as Chad's) is that the 180 on the 6" rim seems to feel like it has a bigger contact patch when heeled over. Maybe it is because the sides of the Rennsport are basically slicks, but we had the exact opposite experience than yours. Chad was running a 190/50ZR/17 before the switch and was able to get the back loose alot easier with that tire. The bike got alot more nimble too...enough to convince me that these tires will be my next choice for rim protectors.

was he using rennsport street both times? seems odd that the back would slide on the 190 but not w/ the 180.

[KBOlsen]

I bought a 5.5" rim (came from a late-model Gixxer) to mount my rain tire on... it bolts right up. No mods.

[mstingray]

but it needs the carrier, cush drive and spacers right? or can you use the stock spacers?

[KBOlsen]

Using the carrier it came with... sprocket's interchangeable. Stock spacer (99% certain - I'll double check tonight).

[CWN racing]

the front won't work, the rear you need the spacers as well, I swap my 1000 rear with me tl all the time.