Undersize tyre fitment contrary to OEM recommendations. Good or bad?

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TornadoF5

Race Dog
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
3,453
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Location
Port Elizabeth
Bike
KTM 640 Adventure
I want to get a feeling here regarding the fitment of smaller size tyres as opposed OEM recommended larger sizes.

Let me share my experience.

When I had my 950SE I fitted a Dunlop D908RR (One of the best tyres IMO), but it maxed out in size at 140 at the time. The SE, I must point out the previous owner had fitted the adv rim (which hosted a 150). The RR tyre fitted well and bead seated nicely, but the problem showed it's teeth (this is my opinion) when I was doing a 600km trip in 43-degree heat where the compound started to soften (I felt this with my hand) and eventually the rim torqued on the tyre causing a failure of the tyre destroying multiple tubes.

Now I can conjecture, this may not happen to anyone who has not ridden in these heat conditions, nor if you don't ride a bike with such torque that it won't do that, but it has forever left me uneasy that now I consider a 130 D606 for my 640 (which sure doesn't have the torque the SE had) however I do ride very hot conditions.



 
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