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tyres and rims

I'm looking for opinions and or advice from the Norton sages.....but I have to be honest and admit this is not a Norton query but thought tyres and rims are pretty universal.

bike in question has a 300 x 19 front tyre on a WM2 rim ....rear has a 350 x 18 on a WM3 although a WM2 would be more normal...but this is the spec...

the following year with NO changes to frame, swing arm etc etc....the rear became a 400 x 18 on the WM3

So simple question...as I have to replace tyres.....is there a real benefit in fitting the 400 rear ?

thanks for reading..

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Depends if the tyre is a dedicated rear tyre or a universal (front or rear fitting) A dedicated rear tyre usually has a greater tread depth and so gets more miles per tyre. 

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A quick look shows up more choice for 4.00x18 tyres than it does for rear fitment 3.50x18's.
For what its worth,  most older bikes upto the mid 1960's usually had the difference in width of a 1/4" front to back, ie front would be a 3.25", rear a 3.5". This gradually increased during the 1970's  as low profile tyres became the norm then and later chassis geometry was able to allow vastly different front - rear sizes.
Generally the wider the tyre, the greater load it can carry, so this might also be a factor for you also it may well last longer too.

Me? If it will fit onto your bike without fouling anything , I'd go with the wider ​​one.

Regards, 
George 
 

 



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