Front tyre woes - think i ordered the wrong size?

Hello,
I ordered a Metzeler Lasertec front tyre for my '81 650.
The tyre i ordered was a 100/90/19 (after reading many other threads)
Stupidly, i didn't check the size of the tyre that was already on the bike.

On the actual wheel it says...
J18 MT1.85 DOT and also MT 1.85x18

On the tyre it says 3.25 S 18.

It doesn't look like the new Metzeler will fit - it looks too big.

Can someone make sense of this and what the heck size of tyre do i need for the front wheel? (Is it a wheel from a 550 or something) I'm presuming that the front tyre is a 18" and not a 19".

My bike has been chopped (see my gallery) which may explain if i have smaller front wheel on there.

Cheers
Nick

 

Nick, my shop tells me that tire will not fit, you can do this, you can call the
maker of the tire, and tell them that someone sold you the
wrong tire and wont help, and that you want to exchange it for the correct one, most times
they will simply send you the tire you need and take back the original
by having you send it to them ups ground. the whole affair shouldnt take
7 to 10 days and an added expense of maby a few u.s. dollars ..not sure where you are.....if you jump on it now you could be riding right in a week...

 

The tire you ordered is correct for your bike IF your bike had the original 19" front wheel. You apparently have an 18" front wheel, not off a 550 they have 19s too. You need either another 3.25-18 or a 90/90-18 (a 100/90-18 might be too wide for that 1.85 front rim.) Metzeler does make a Lasertec front in 90/90-18. That would be the choice unless you want to swap back to the stock wheel...

 

Thanks for the speedy replies folks.
(asphalt i will try talking to the Metzeler people and try that)

Bigfitz. so what XJ had 18" wheels then? (just interested to know what bike my front wheel must have come from).

Guess i'll see about the 90/90/18, hopefully that will be the right one for the wheel as i really don't want to get the wrong one again.
Thanks
Nick

 

If your front wheel says "MT 1.85 X 18" cast into it then it is a 1.85 X 18" rim. The 90/90-18 would be the correct sized front tire for that rim.

 

Sorry, missed your other question: I don't know for sure which XJs may have had 18" front wheels that style. Will research, curious now.

 

Thanks again Fitz. I'll try and get mine swapped hopefully.

 

The tire you need is probably a couple bucks (Euros? Pounds? Quid?) cheaper than the one you already paid for. I wouldn't think they would balk at an exchange.

 

Well, i got around to having a look at XJ's that may have had the 18" wheel at the front. The only one that i could find was on the XJ 600 (1988-1991) listed as a "reduced affect" sports tourer whatever that is.
So it looks like that's the puppy i have on mine.
Well there ya go.

 

Hmm. I couldn't find any US models with anything less than a 19" in that style, even the 400s.

 

my 83 xj900 has 18 in wheels front an back,,,,,

maybe find a 19 in rim to fit the tire if it's a bolt on,,,,,I would think it may add to the looks also,,,but thats another can of worms,,,, good luck,,,Dan

 

Did you see his chopper? I think he's planning to swap the tire; it's quite a nice look the way it is. His Max has the "swirly" wheels, I couldn't find a US model with those in 18"