Does a taller tire size affect KTRC.I've run 55's on several occasions.I've never noticed any change in the KTRC action.You MIGHT see a small difference if you put it in mode 2,or 3.1 is the least intrusive.It allows a certain amount of wheel spin,or slippage.That window of 'slippage' is kinda 'long'(timewise).Meaning...if I loft in KTRC 1..it will NOT intervene for several seconds...

If I do that in KTRC 2,it will intervene sooner.In '3'...it won't allow that front to raise(if you punch it in 1st,it'll pull timing immediately).You can try these settings and see just how quick or slow it activates.

Hub and Toledo are both right.Now if you want to split hairs,you'd have to be able to see the sensor inputs to actually tell when the KTRC started activating for any given situation.It doesn't just drop the timing,boom.It intervenes according to the inputs.Big or small.Asking if it'll affect the performance of the KTRC with a taller tire...it COULD,but you might not know it's doing it as opposed to having it kill a wheelstand with 'hard' throttling.This IS a good question.It's not just sensing the wheelspeed(front and back)...it's also reading the throttle inputs.It's designed to PREVENT conditions where a 'likely' loss of control situation might occur.That could be a bunch of scenarios.The closer you set to '1' or 'off'...the less it's gonna step in."off' would be NO intervention.'1' would be,'it's already happening and needs to be corrected'.

In '2' or '3'...it could well be affected by a taller tire.But probably not by much.

I think most here are used to the timing being pulled in an abrupt way...from hard inputs and such.But it doesn't change the timing everytime the same amount.It can pull timing very mildly,so mildly you wouldn't even know it was.The timing degree pulls are not set in stone.The KTRC is intuitive.

If you could set up a test and replicate it exactly the same with a 55...then a 50...with KTRC on the various settings...you might be able to see a difference.It'd be VERY difficult to do that though.EVERYTHING would have to be exactly the same.I'm sure Kawasaki has done tests like these...since they mention the 'non-recommended' tire install deal.They may however be covering their arses since they don't KNOW who's riding the bike,or what skill level they have or don't.

I've never had any problems with a 55 and the Ktrc not working safely.

The ABS also worked fine.It was working anyway...stopped me in the rain at 70mph without a skid or loss of control.FULL braking applied.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/30/2015 @ 9:32 AM *

all the sudden all the little ants come crawling out of the cracks wit their 190/55s. I knew you were out there.

Nasty, UPS...

Trust me, I get it.

alf,

Why could I not keep my ratio if all the yap about is a steeper rake at the front end, then jack the rear spring up and create the same effect... [also] keep the over 6km/3mph initiation in play; has the better stopping action as opposed to the longer stop... TC is timed in too, remember. Where the front end is way more adjustable as to soften or unwind the front springs and collapse the front more. Enter rear brake so the front drops for more quicker steer happening even quicker.

Kawasaki may ALSO be having a 'recommended tire'deal because they have a contract with Bridgestone...possibly?IDK.Kinda 'you supply us with cheap OEM tires for our bikes,we send owners your way with a 'recommendation' clause in the 'safety' arena.We all know...these bikes can accept ANY quality tire,size(comparable)and MFG.55 isn't that far away from 50.Now...changing the gearing...THAT could cause some issues more likely than a taller tire.

I'm sure the service manual says to only use Kawasaki 10w40 motor oil and OEM brake pads, too. I'll betthey don't tell you you can use anything but the Yuasa stock battery. All that stuff was what was on the bike whentested so why recommend anything else? Recommendations of anything aftermarket might open them up to liability.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/30/2015 @ 2:22 PM *

'always use standard size tires of your choice' is the the warning box. I did not say brand, but diameter [if] read between the lines. Like if I said, I'm going to use a 10mm plug so any other spark plug like a 14mm size or 12mm plug is not going to work we tag a valve go head, work that heli-coil-warning-tag.

This be one of them there abstract threads to beat on.

Oh look, stale and hard... yummy!

Lots of excellent inputs; thanks gentleman. Still reading slowly, to decode well.

I like to see a manual as written by engineers, as exact and precise as possible; to be followed. But I can see other hands in it, also.

The reason I wanna know if I can run a 55 is that we have so few good racing tires in 190/50 to choose from here were I live.

Will be back. Thank you.

Ride the 55...it'll be fine.Make yer turn ins sharper as well;)If you're planning on tracking this bike...I wouldn't go with a sport touring compound however.Something gummy.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/30/2015 @ 4:03 PM *

Hello there!

I would like to know from Nastynotch and from Grn14, please, the type of riding that you do mostly on your bikes, with KTRC and ABS switched on (any setting). Is it street riding, twisty roads, or tracks? Thus I can evaluate the situations in which I can use the 55 tire, as tested and confirmed by you both.

I intent to use it on track day events. Would not use the controls switched off untill I am sensing myself in control of the beast. I have only 4 track days events in the record. I must touch donwn the knees before I am 60 years old.

Thank you!

Hmmm...well...I don't really HAVE a lot of twisty sharper roads here that can be railed with a 14(not that they aren't here,but MY 14 just can't deal with really tight stuff well).But for transitioning at higher speeds...above 120,the 55 works very well at helping that.If you're going to track you bike,I guessing you're gonna be railing pretty hard in some track cornering deals.The 55 will help that...however...you need something track oriented as in,sticky.The 14 is kinda heavy with a bunch of mass to move.Just be careful!You know she's NOT a dedicated track bike.There's a reason for that.I'm talking stock suspension here.

I'm not the best one to ask this of anyway.Big difference between hitting big curves at speed,and tearin up a twisty track like road.I rarely run my 14 with the Ktrc on.Guys here that burn out on the exits and such,they'd be better to ask this stuff with.I'm just a Joe A...Rook's had track experience,with his 14.Maybe he'll chime in here?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 6/1/2015 @ 8:23 AM *

QSL (understood), Grn14. Thank you.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.The gearing change might produce some 'different' KTRC results...not sure.Some guys said way back that changing the rear sprocket to a 43 or 44 and dropping the front by one,their Ktrc caused the bike to sputter at certain rpms...mine didn't do this.

Add a taller tire,with those gearing changes...it possibly could....

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 6/1/2015 @ 9:12 AM *

I know of at least one case, a BMW S1000RR from a friend, that also does have the sputtering when using 190/55. But it runs ok with 200/55. I figure the "firmware" is better written and does not allow such liberties with its parameters (tire sizes), and just shuts off the traction control. But without warning...

Thank you. You were of help, of course.

I would not change the tires if the Supercorsas were available 190/50. Still searching. Brazil is very large...

Hub, I promise I'll only try the 55 if and only if I can't find the Supercorsas in 190/50.

Thy shall not disrespect the engineers that created the green beast.

Sorry... couldn't resist. Thank you too.

* Last updated by: alfcruz on 6/1/2015 @ 9:56 AM *

I haven't used a 190/50 in so longI can't tell you exactly how much better a 190/55 is. i just remember getting on the bike after changing from my very well worn stock 50 and being astonished that I could feel the extra seat height in the 190/55. The low speed turn in was shocking. It felt like it dropped into a lean at low speed almost too easy. At higher speed, the turn in was a lot more manageable. All situations were fine after I got used to the 190/55. I still wear my tires out to the wear bars or maybe a bit past. A fresh tire is always a welcome change but it's not such a big shock now that I'm used to the 55 height.

As mentioned before, I think you'll like the Supercorsas. I always have wanted to try something new each time I changed tires but that Supercorsa is so good, I'd put that on the next tire change rather than try something new. I don't think it could get a lot better. The BT-016 was also a fave and the Bt-003 was a nice track tire. I'm sure low temps are not a problem in Brazil so you will have no problems getting this. I was amazed at how how the rubber was rolling off almost to the edge even after my first session.

http://s461.photobucket.com/user/Rookzx/media/2008%20ZX-14/wheels/Tires/GOPR0470.jpg.html?sort=6&o=8

I can't tell you how KTRC will be affected by the larger diameter tire but if you are used to using KTRC, maybe it would be best to have it in play mode at the track. I've just gotten used to being very light and even on the throttle in a corner. I know when it will step out and I don't let it do that unless the tires are good and hot.

* Last updated by: Rook on 6/1/2015 @ 10:32 AM *

I must touch donwn the knees before I am 60 years old.

If you don't have long legs, you might have to try pretty hard! My legs are short for my height and I don't think i've come close. I did scrape the exhaust a few times and that tells me it aint gonna happen, at least not with low tire pressure.

a BMW S1000RR sputtering when using 190/55. But it runs ok with 200/55.

I don't have it, alf, the book does. I just read between the capacitors.

OH look 1/8" scale 55's... Tastes rubbery... mmmmm, Fresh!

Prolly thos day olds;)Actually,pop em in a tire warmer for a few minutes....SWEET!

I don't have it, alf, the book does. I just read between the capacitors.

Only options to Supercorsa I can find here:

i) Metzeler Racetek K3 Interact
ii) Michelin Pilot Power 3
iii) Bridgestone S20 Hypersport (oem with my bike)

None seems to compare well to the Supercorsas.

Experienced an observation over the past few days and wanted to share my findings. I have two set of wheels but run 2 different size tires on each one, stock 190/50/17 and a 200/55/17 on the other one. Most of the times I run with TC off but I switched over to TC3 to see how TC would work with a larger tire. With the 200/55 installed I can twist the throttle immediately to 100% from a slow roll in 1st/2nd gear to get the rear tire to spin, and noticed that TC has some lag before it initiates and sometimes it doesn't kick in if the rear wheel gain enough traction and balances out with the front wheel. Head back to the house and installed the wheel with the stock size tire on it and repeat the same exercise and TC intervenes immediately. I repeated this 3 times this week with the same results.

This makes sense if TC is hard coded to work with stock tire sizes, because a 200/55 tire will make less full rotations compared to a 190/50 tire. So in theory when some tire spin kicks in with a 200/55 tire, there will be some spin allowed before TC kicks in, whereas with the stock 190/50 as soon as the tire spins TC cuts the power. I guess @Hub was onto something with his comments in this thread.

Reviewing this thread, as a software developer, Hub's BASIC Programming example was pretty accurate. Although I would probably put it in terms of equality between the front a and rear tone sensor cycles, as a ratio since the f/r tires appear to be slightly different diameters (It seems like the tone rings are the same). I'm sure there's a tolerance for tire wear built into the algorithm.

It seems odd to me that Kawasaki, and probably other manufacturers, only account for stock tire sizes. I'd think it would not be prohibitively difficult for them to add a menu setting and select different tire sizes, at least those that fit stock rim (3-4 sizes for front and rear). Or it seems like even building an adaptive system that can store the last 50 miles of whatever the average ratio between front and rear tone signals. Considering the things they do store at least until battery disconnect it doesn't seem like this would be much different than avg fuel consumption and whatever.

I suppose this begs the question too, that different tire profiles can affect TC, can it also affect ABS? I don't think so, BUT when you consider that 2% may make a difference at full lean and emergency braking maybe it could?

It won't influence your TC. You have a tone ring on the two wheels. TC is searching for the back wheel going a lot quicker than the front prior to talking. Utilizing a somewhat taller profile tire won't have that very remarkable effect.