Put two 190/50 motorcycle tyres from different manufacturers next to one another, and the chances are, one will look slightly wider than the other.
For most of us, this isn’t a problem.
However, for one reader of Motorcycle News it was more than a little frustrating. A change of tyre brands suddenly meant his new tyre was just kissing his aftermarket hugger, despite it claiming to be the same size on the sidewall. Luckily for him, our very own Bryn Phillips was on hand to explain why.
In Europe, the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation, or ETRTO for short, are responsible for establishing common engineering dimensions, along with load and pressure characteristics, and operational guidelines for tyres.
The ETRTO state that a tyre can be manufactured +/- 4% of it’s design width. Looking back at your two 190/50 ZR17 tyres standing side by side, the exact width would be 190mm. Four percent of 190mm is 8mm, which means that one tyre could be up to 16mm wider than the other – a minimum of 182mm and a maximum of 198mm wide.
Also worth bearing in mind is the fact that some tread designs can make the tyre appear wider or narrower that it really is.
With the most experienced sales team in the industry, Cambrian Tyres account holders are backed up by our unparalleled technical expertise and advice, to give their customers the very best support, as well as superior product availability.
Cambrian Tyres is the only number you need for motorcycle and scooter tyres. Why call anyone else?
