Are my eyes deceiving me or what? By rurc (Read 602 times)

[rurc]

OK I have a Kymco Xciting 500. I am getting new tires for it. I have been using the Michelin City 150/70-14 on the rear. I was thinking of getting Avon or Perelli this time.

I go the local moto shop and i see something that seems very strange to me. The Perelli tire with the exact same measurements as the Michelin is visibly much wider. Now before you say that's because it was not mounted, let me tell you that this was mounted and on scooters that were on the floor for sale.

It looks about 10 to 15% wider. The people at the shop did not have an answer for me on this so I bring it here to you guys. Am I seeing things or do they measure different?

[cyborg]

I've had several "sets" of tires with the same numbers and completely different sizes,,,actually had one rear so big it rubbed so it had to be changed

[rurc]

See I have only ever bought Michelin tires for my scoots so I have never really noticed this before.

So I guess that their is no 'standard of the industry' when it comes to how you measure tires? I find this very disturbing because I work in aerospace and I assure you that 'standards' are what we live by.

Thank you for the response.

[cyborg]

I always found it odd ,,car tires have the same issue,,,same numbers completely different size,,,as a side note I've had wear issues with Pirelli my Vespa et4 had them on it when I got it with 92 miles on it,,,at 1300 miles the rear was bald,,,put the same one on again 12-1300 miles later bald,,,so it was the sign to get michelins,,,

[bandito2]

Sizes ARE standardized. But what may be happening could just partially be illusion. Different tire pressure, different tread and sidewall design, actual rim width or tire construction or any combination of those may have one tire looking or actually sitting wider than another of the same size. (I'm thinking rim width in particular would likely have that effect)

(not a professional by any means, but this is just what would seem to make sense to me)

[rurc]

Thank you everyone for the ideas. Everything I check on tells me that there is a difference in the tires manufacturing process. The one thing I did not mention was that the scoots that the tires were on were both Piaggo 250's. Both new on the showroom floor. I wish I had taken a photo but I did not think of it. I assume the rims were the same width.

Like I said even the employees could not tell me why they were so different.

I am going to buy the Perelli tire. But before I remove the Michelin I am going to measure the clearance on both sides and see if there is a difference with the Perelli installed. I will know for sure then.

[frankenscooter]

I had the same issue with tires being different with the same numbers, when I replaced the rear on a lance, the new one was very different in tread width and sidewall, it barely fit past the motor even fully deflated. I think rim size is of course standard but sidewall height and tire tread width is what varies brand to brand.