Scooterotica

Anyone on here running a wide rim/tyre conversion (with 130 section tyre) on a Vespa - and if so are they any good?

I really like the look of them & quite fancying fitting one - purely for the cosmetic value & not looking for any handling/performance gain from it - but my concern is weather it would have a detrimental effect on the handling?

Cheers - Graham.

I have a 130 section rear on my T5, its using the old way of doing it by fitting a spacer on the rear hub and the two wide rim halfs. It all came as a kit from SIP. But npw you can buy a 130 section rear tubless rim from SIP. The only thing you need to do is cut 10mm from one half of the engine where the engine bolt goes through the frame. You get a spacer with the rim.

I think they look the biz and I wouldn't worry about any effect to the handling. All super bikes have a wider rear tyre and even my lads 50cc moped has a wider rear tyre. I'm putting one on a PK too.

T5-190 wrote:I have a 130 section rear on my T5, its using the old way of doing it by fitting a spacer on the rear hub and the two wide rim halfs. It all came as a kit from SIP. But npw you can buy a 130 section rear tubless rim from SIP. The only thing you need to do is cut 10mm from one half of the engine where the engine bolt goes through the frame. You get a spacer with the rim.

I think they look the biz and I wouldn't worry about any effect to the handling. All super bikes have a wider rear tyre and even my lads 50cc moped has a wider rear tyre. I'm putting one on a PK too.

Cheers for the reply... I think I'll give it a go

Look fantastic. I have 130 rear tyres fitted on three bikes, they handle as good/bad as a std bike.
Two things I do though are off-set the rear shock top mount so its still upright after moving engine across, and fit Cosa rim with 100/90 tyre on front.

i,ve done a few of these in my time so just wanted to point out another couple of potential issues over and above the previous ones highlighted so far .
firstly check out your existing engine side panel clearance because this can vary especially on different models ..and the motor will be moved 1 cm nearer the panel ..
also ,your existing exhaust may not fit and clear the new wider rear tyre as most systems fit pretty close to the tyre anyways ..
must agree tho that the fatter rear tyres look great .

I might look into fitting one as i will have no issues on the new scoot ime building clearance etc.

sean brady scooters wrote:i,ve done a few of these in my time so just wanted to point out another couple of potential issues over and above the previous ones highlighted so far .
firstly check out your existing engine side panel clearance because this can vary especially on different models ..and the motor will be moved 1 cm nearer the panel ..
also ,your existing exhaust may not fit and clear the new wider rear tyre as most systems fit pretty close to the tyre anyways ..
must agree tho that the fatter rear tyres look great .

Good point re; panel clearance Sean - I've had a look at mine tonight & I reckon I'd have enough room to accommodate shifting the engine 10mm over to to the right - but that might then create a head room issue with me carb as it's rear facing & sits quite high... plus the exhaust that's currently on there wouldn't work with a wide tyre either - but I have a Curley pipe that might be ok.
Another thing I hadn't thought about is what OZ pointed out about offsetting the rear shock top mount to keep the shock inline.
So not just as straight forward as fitting longer hub studs & sticking a fat back wheel underneath.... lots to consider

Uany pics of conversion

Side stands, Fat tyres, PM pipes

is it me or are all the wide tyre conversions not centre with the frame?

the one above still looks like the centre of the tyre is slightly to the left

only asking as mine is the same, when you look at it from the rear the tyre looks like it still needs moving over about another 5mm