Hello fellow members,
I recently took my bike apart and when I got everything reassembled and noticed my rear tires has a bunch of knobbies missing on the side and some are about ready to come off and even more are sliced on the bottom of the knobby on the sidewall of the tire. I see this is common. I've never had the chunking like this before.
The tire is old so even though there is some life left on it. They no longer make the tire I have. It's is a Dunlop Geomax MX 32 110/90-19. Is the Dunlop equivalent to that tire the MX 33? I have seen a lot of guys going with the Pirelli Scorpion MX32 Mid Soft Tires. Everywhere I look it says my tire should be a 100/90-19. I know the 110 is wider than the 100 but it's slightly taller too I believe. Please correct me if I'm wrong about that.
That brings me to me next question. I was thinking about going up 1 tooth in the rear sprocket. I currently ride a 13 up front and 48 in the rear. If I go with a 100/90 -19 tire instead of the 110/90-19 tire it has now, is that basically like going up 1 tooth in the rear sprocket or would the difference be minimal?
I mostly ride sugar sand and soft sand (mostly sand pits/quarry type sand.) I do ride down trails to get to these places but usually it's soft sand. I was thinking of getting a soft/Intermediate tire. My bike is a 150 SX but I have a 200 SX engine in it. I don't race I'm just a free rider.
Since I'm not a racer I get a lot of miles/years out of my tires and don't need to change them as often as you racers. I'm hearing about hardness of the carcass and the knobby hardness. It sounds like the rubber for hard surface should be softer whereas the rubber for softer surfaces should be harder. But I don't understand the carcasses. I mean when you buy a hard or soft tire you get whatever hardness the carcass is for that tire.
I just wanted to throw this out and see what input I get. Thank you for any advice you might share.
Yes a 110/90/19 is taller than the same tire in 100/90/19. If you want a long life tire don't get the Pirelli MX32. It is a really good tire but it won't last as long as most other tires. MX33 last but they stopped making them. MX34 replaced it but if you are okay running a tire down like the pic than just about anything will be a big improvement especially in sand. Tusk T-35 is about $65. IRC and Kenda also have some less expensive tires.
I won't comment on the gearing as that is more personal and track dependent. I am surprised the 200 would need to regear. I had a 2021 150sx and it was good with 13/48 gearing.
A 110/90-19 is a tiny bit taller and also heavier. It will sap a little power and effectively raise your gearing (a very small amount, however - you might not even notice.) If you go one tooth larger in the rear, it will more than counteract the changes due to the tire size.
Thanks wrc777. I was leaning towards the MX34. It will last me so long I don't care about the cheaper options but thanks for mentioning them. As you can see I get my money's worth out of my tires. The one on there has a date from 2015. I've run them down much lower than this. I don't race but I hear what you're saying about gearing. The 200 had 14/45 stock but was way too tall. i have been gradually going higher on the rear sprocket. I figure I hardly use 6th gear so why not gear it lower to take advantage of the power down low. My bike is a 150 but I dropped a 200 SX engine in it. I love it. Thanks again man.
-Tommy
Thanks Falcon. I actually have a 110/90-19 on it now. It came with that rear tire. It's a Dunlop MX 32. But, the OEM tire is supposed to be a 100/90-19. I've head it now 4 years so I'll probably stay with the 110-90-19 and get a Dunlop MX 34. Sometimes even though I think I know what I'm doing, it's still good to hear someone else back you up when you're not 100% sure. I think I'm going to go with that 110/90-19 and then when the sprockets go I will go up tooth in the rear since I rarely ever need the top end speed.
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^ I should have read your original post a little more closely. Either way, you'll have a slightly taller gearing (very slightly) by sticking with the larger tire.
Your increase in traction will weigh much more into the equation, BTW. New, grippy knobs will definitely be noticeable!
Well, my question was quite wordy. I can't expect people to digest everything I said. But I'm pretty sure I'll stick with the 110/90-19. Leaning towards a Dunlop MX 34. Researching front tires now. I figure the front is pretty beat too so get both new. As with the rear tire the front tire is larger than stock. It's a Michelin Star Cross 5 90/100-21 but the KTM OEM front tire size is 80/100 - 21. Maybe the guy I bought it from was getting a lot of pinch flats or something.
I'll repost here once I get my tires and get to ride them and see what a difference they make. I'm on workman's comp with a foot injury right now so it will be later than sooner.
-Tommy
I still haven't pulled the trigger but I've figured out I'm going with a Dunlop Geomax MX34 110/90-19 rear. The have the front narrowed down to a Dunlop Geomax MX34 90/100-21 or Michelin Starcross 6 Soft to intermediate 110/90-19. I'm hearing good things about the Bridgestone M59 Soft-Intermediate Terrain. Kenda Washougal II and Bridgestone Battlecross have popped up a couple times. Still I have plenty of time to research and figure out what will suit me the best for my riding style and terrain.
I just bought a Dunlop 110/100/19 MX14 scoop tire and MX34 front for my 200SX. The 14 is amazing on my 300SX and popular in my area, not full on sand tracks. You need this tire, much. A no brained, especially for the way you must be torturing that 200 with a nubby tire. It's hard to imagine how much performance you are loosing. LOL
The most intense thing you could do for a small bore in the sand is install the STIC Super X carb. Made my PWK with a front torque wing feel like a mellow trail tune by comparison. No more coaxing the mid hit. It is there immediately. A lot less clutching.
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