One of the most popular adventure style motorcycles on the market, Triumph’s Tiger 800 has a big following and the range has been greatly diversified in recent times with a number of variants including the ‘XC’ bike pictured above.
In the latest issue of Motorcycle News, our very own Bryn Phillips has been advising an end user who’d been running the incorrect Bridgestone front tyre after picking up an original Tiger 800 second hand last summer.
The original front tyre had picked up a puncture before sale, so both tyres were switched for a matching pair of Bridgestone Battle Wings in OE sizes. After the changeover the front tyre suffered a loss of pressure but the reader claims this eventually settled down, and went on to cover 2,000 miles and even passed an MOT before he picked up another front puncture.
On closer inspection, he’d been running a tube-type Battle Wing, without a tube, on the bike’s tubeless front wheel.
As Bryn explains, Bridgestone along with a number of other manufacturers have approved the use of a different sized front tyre on the bike to that set by Triumph.
So, why have they done this?
The Tiger 800 originally came with a 100/90 R19 front tyre on a tubeless wheel. The problem riders will have is that the Battle Wing BW-501 in that size is a tube-type tyre, and is only H-speed rated. The bike actually requires a V-rated tyre or higher.
In order to fit the correct V-rated, tubeless tyre, riders must therefore use the 110/80 R19 front as approved by Bridgestone in their fitment guide.
A tubeless tyre is able to hold air thanks to an impermeable membrane on the inside of the tyre, often made of Butyl. A tube-type tyre doesn’t have this membrane, so air can bleed out. Without regular pressure checks, air can leak out to such an extent that it affects handling.
A tubeless tyre is safer in the event of a puncture, as it will lose air in a more controlled manner, enabling the rider to keep control of the bike.
If in doubt, always speak to your local motorcycle tyre expert and check the tyre manufacturer’s fitment guide!
If they are unsure, Cambrian Tyres have the information and knowledge to back up our trade customers as the UK’s largest motorcycle tyre wholesaler, with more than 245 years of combined experience just a phone call away!
You can view the full Battle Wing range here.
