80/100 x 21" OR 90/ 100 x 21"?

Suns_PSD
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9/9/2011 2:15pm Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 4:05pm
Guys, I wanted to ask opinions of the 90/100 front tires.

I'll be running a Bridgestone 403 and I was considering trying one of these. My tracks are well prepped and are loamy and/ or rutty in the turns.

What can I expect w/ a tire like this? Will it work well or will it try and walk out of ruts? Where is there an advantage besides flat hard pack which I don't ride?Thanks.
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ThegodSmith
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9/9/2011 3:59pm Edited Date/Time 9/9/2011 4:00pm
A friend of mine runs the 90/100 403 on his '07 CRF450R and loves it. Says it's like cheating it has so much traction.

I'm planning on picking up a pair for my KTM's.
CR250Rider
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9/9/2011 4:32pm Edited Date/Time 9/9/2011 4:33pm
bigger is almost always better
JB 19
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9/9/2011 5:00pm
I'd say slimmer for deep rutted turns.
9/9/2011 5:08pm
MXA has hurt the movement to the 90 series front. they have said they dont like the 90 front and 120 rear, and a lot of people listen to them. i like the wider tires, MX is all about traction. but some guys think they make the bike feel heavier, and harder to turn.

The Shop

MXVet261
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9/9/2011 5:15pm Edited Date/Time 9/9/2011 5:15pm
I've been running a 403 90/100 x 21 on my RMZ450 since 2006. The wide ones came stock on the Zooks. I like them in a wide variety of conditions, ranging from sand at Red Bud, deep ruts at High Point, and also locally in Ohio which is typically more hardpack. I run the 80/100 version on my RM125.

Give it a try.
raddad
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9/9/2011 5:25pm
the 90 floats in loam, its easy to tell how bad they are if you change tires for conditions regularly. The 90 is great in super hard pack but it does steer heavier IMO. I am with MXA on this and I really hate those arrogant pricks.. In well prepped tracks with loamy conditions use the narrow tire.
FGR01
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9/9/2011 5:59pm
I have the 90 on my CRF450 and it is good on hardpack but I run the 80 on my 2-strokes. To me it seems like you steer more with the front tire on a thumper due to the engine braking and weight of the bike.
TX24
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9/9/2011 7:18pm
I like the 90 a lot better if you ride off road at Hidden Falls.
pt046
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9/9/2011 9:03pm
I prefer the 80 size 90% of the time. If your riding a lot of ruts get the 80. Try the 603 front that thing is great except in muddy or sandy conditions.
Big
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9/10/2011 4:08am
Interesting. A 50-50 thing 80 versus 90? How about 120 versus 110 Rear (450)? Any opinions or real testings?
Suns_PSD
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9/10/2011 5:41am Edited Date/Time 9/10/2011 5:42am
Well that was all over the place. LOL

I tried the 90 years ago and it turned poorly in the ruts. It walked out and struggled to get bite. But I was thinking it was that particular tire and bike combo. And about 50% of my turns are just flat loam.

My bike turns plenty quickly even w/ the 120/80 rear which I like more for it's much slower rate of wear than it's actual performance.

I might have misread a couple of the posts but the couple of guys that struck me as experienced track only guys w/ conditions similiar to me seemed to prefer the 80.

Any other opinions from prepped track only guys? Especially ones that have compared the different sizes back to back

Thanks.
raddad
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9/10/2011 6:50am
Suns_PSD wrote:
Well that was all over the place. LOL I tried the 90 years ago and it turned poorly in the ruts. It walked out and struggled...
Well that was all over the place. LOL

I tried the 90 years ago and it turned poorly in the ruts. It walked out and struggled to get bite. But I was thinking it was that particular tire and bike combo. And about 50% of my turns are just flat loam.

My bike turns plenty quickly even w/ the 120/80 rear which I like more for it's much slower rate of wear than it's actual performance.

I might have misread a couple of the posts but the couple of guys that struck me as experienced track only guys w/ conditions similiar to me seemed to prefer the 80.

Any other opinions from prepped track only guys? Especially ones that have compared the different sizes back to back

Thanks.
The bottom line is that each tire size has its place and if you want to change tires for each track or have a spare set of wheels then you're good to go! But overall I would stick with the 80, its most versatile and only is at a disadvantage in super slick hard pack with no loam or ruts. As far as wide rear tires, I use both depending on conditions. I also try many brands and find that the 404 floats in loam but the MX51 digs in using the wider profiles. No tire seems to cover all IMO and you simply have to change tires for each type of track. Buy 2-3 sets of tires and change them as ness. If you race every weekend you will use at least that many tires anyway so no more expense but you will have to learn to change tires the right way, take a look at Dunlops tire guy showing you how on Utube!

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