Wider Wheel Pros Cons | Motorcycles

Fat Tires for Motorcycles | Pros & Cons Motorcycle fat tire kits have gained popularity among riders seeking to customize their bikes for a unique appearance and improved performance. These kits involve replacing the stock narrow tires with wider ones, giving the motorcycle a distinct look and altering its handling characteristics. Like any modification, fat tire kits come with both pros and cons that riders should consider before making a decision.

Pros: Aesthetic Appeal: One of the primary reasons riders opt for fat tire kits is the visual impact. Wider tires can give your motorcycle a bold and aggressive appearance, making it stand out from the crowd. Enhanced Stability: Wider tires provide a larger contact patch with the road, potentially improving stability and grip during cornering, especially at lower speeds. Customization: Fat tire kits allow for personalization and customization, enabling riders to express their individual style through their motorcycles. This can include choosing from various tire tread patterns, rim designs, and color options. Unique Handling: While it may not be to everyone's taste, some riders enjoy the altered handling characteristics that come with wider tires. The bike may feel more planted and stable, especially in straight-line riding. Improved Traction: The increased tire width can result in better traction, especially on surfaces like gravel or sand, where wider tires can help prevent sinking. Cons: Altered Handling: While some riders enjoy the unique handling, others find that fat tire kits can negatively impact the bike's maneuverability. The wider tires can lead to slower and less responsive steering, making tight turns more challenging. Increased Weight: Wider tires are typically heavier than their narrower counterparts. This additional weight can affect acceleration, braking, and overall performance. Limited Tire Choices: The variety of tire options for fat tire kits might be more limited compared to standard tire sizes. This could restrict your choices when it comes to tire brands and tread patterns. Installation Complexity: Installing a fat tire kit is more complex than simply swapping out tires. It often involves modifications to the swingarm, rear suspension, and other components. Professional installation is recommended, which adds to the overall cost. Cost: Fat tire kits can be expensive. In addition to the cost of the kit itself, there's also the expense of professional installation, potential modifications, and any necessary adjustments to the bike's suspension, brakes, and drivetrain. Legal and Safety Concerns: Widening the tire size might lead to legal issues depending on your local regulations. Additionally, handling changes can affect the bike's stability and safety, especially if not properly adjusted or ridden without the necessary skill. Types: 240, 300, 330 Here's where the rubber hits the road. If you go 240 rear wheel then all you will need is a simple extended sprocket that is slightly wider than the original. Big advantages to going 240 because of this, plus the ride is better and more truer for a wider wheel. However when you go wider than a 240 wheel, you will need a Jack Drive or OSD (Out Side Drive) setup. The jack drive requires 2 chains and lots of ongoing adjustments, while the OSD requires a single chain but still has the double bearing sprocket drive. Regardless, going wider than a 240 greatly increases your rear end weight and decreases all ridability in curves and corners. Plus tires are expensive and so are the rims. Swingarms: Custom swingarms, extended or single sided swingarms can be pricey costing many thousands of dollars. Again, you go wide, the cost goes up and the ridability goes down, that simple. Bottom line, our recommendation is go 240 with a braced standard swingarm. Note: Unlike OSD systems, the Jack drive is almost always built in to the swingarm and quite often a single sided swingarm. In conclusion, motorcycle fat tire kits offer a unique and attention-grabbing aesthetic along with potential handling improvements for some riders. However, they also come with downsides such as altered handling characteristics, increased weight, and added costs. Before installing a fat tire kit, it's essential to thoroughly research, consider your riding preferences, and consult with professionals to ensure that the modification aligns with your motorcycle and your riding style.