Wide tyres
- at SIP Scootershop
Wide tyres are particularly popular in the Vespa scene. They are significantly wider than the original tyres and require special rims or conversion kits for a track-following and safe installation. On a 10" basis, the 100 tyres are possible at the front. At the rear, the 120 and 130 widths are the racers.
The SIP tubeless rims 11" allow even more blatant but stylish conversions. The 12" conversion kit was born from the SIP custom scooter "Glorious Basterd" and is currently the end of the tyre line for classic Vespas.
Which type of wide tyre suits me?
There are scooter tyres for almost every application. We have tried to divide the different tyres into classes. We distinguish:
All-weather tyres: For all-season riders who don't stop at bad weather. These tyres are specially designed for all (except winter) seasons. Especially the modern tyres have sophisticated profiles and rubber compounds and have a good grip even in bad weather conditions. Our tip for everyday vehicles. Germans have experience with bad weather: HEIDENAU supplies with the K58, the K47 and the K66 the most popular all-weather tyres besides the MICHELIN City Grip.
Sport tyres: An absolute must for the sporty driver. The slightly softer compound compared to the classic or all-weather tyres give the sports tyre an incredible grip on the road. Especially nice on tours when the next serpentine is calling! Tuned engines often need tyres with a higher speed index. Our most popular sports tyres are the SIP Performer, the HEIDENAU K80 and the evergreen MICHELIN S1.
Race tyres: As slick or with semi-slick tread, these are best suited for races on dry tracks. Ideal for lap races or quarter mile races. For rainy days, there are also Racing-Rain tyres, which offer the best properties on wet tracks with their tread. Most race tyres are not homologated for normal road use. PMT is the first port of call here. But the HEIDENAU K61 and the MITAS MC 35 also make most racers' hearts beat faster.
Cross tyres: Rough off-road tyres that make a trip with the cross scooter into uneven terrain perfect. For optimal grip, there are different tread requirements depending on the terrain.
Tyre fitting service: Some customers want to combine other tyres and rims beyond our complete wheels. We are happy to do this work: provided that the combinations fit together.
What does the tyre labelling mean for wide tyres?
Example: 3 .50-10 59J (by inch designation)
3.50 Tyre width in inches (1 inch = 25.4mm)
10 Rim diameter in inches
59 Load index
J Speed index
Example: 90'90-10 59J (according to current designation)
90 Tyre width in mm
90 Percentage ratio of tyre width to cross-section
10Rim diameter in inches
59 Load index
J Speed index
What do the additional indications on the tyre sidewalls mean?
Dot number: The last 4 digits indicate the production date. So, for example, 4503 means 45KWin2003
TL: Tubeless indicates use without a tube. However, this type of tyre can be used with an inner tube without any problems.
TT: This specifically indicates the use of an inner tube!
R, rf, XL or extra load: Reinforced refers to tyres with reinforced carcasses and thus increased load capacity.
What do the load index and the speed index mean?
The load index (also load index, load index or LI value) indicates the maximum load a tyre may be subjected to. The speed index (also speed index, speed category, speed class, SI value or GSY) indicates the maximum permissible speed of a tyre. The load index and speed index can be found on the side of the tyre.
Speed index | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S |
V (km/h) | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 | 130 | 140 | 150 | 160 | 170 | 180 |
Table part 1
Load index | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 |
Load per tyre (kg) | 136 | 140 | 145 | 150 | 155 | 160 | 165 | 170 | 175 | 180 |
Table Part 2
Load Index | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 |
Load per tyre (kg) | 185 | 190 | 195 | 200 | 206 | 112 | 218 | 224 | 230 |
Example: A tyre marked 120/70-12 51L has a load capacity of 195 kg at a maximum speed of 120 km/h. If the speed increases to 150 km/h, the load capacity of the tyre is reduced by 75 %, i.e. 146 kg.
If the speed increases to 150 km/h, the load capacity of the tyre is reduced to 75 %, in our case to 146 kg.
What manufacturers are there for wide tyres?
SIP: Our house tyres are manufactured for us by well-known tyre manufacturers. The SIP Performer and SIP Performance ty res are now among the most popular sports tyres in the Vespa sector. The SIP Performance tyres and also the Classic tyres are approved for speeds up to 150 km/h. A must for tuners and unique for the classic tyres.
CONTINENTALThe German traditional manufacturer provides a price-performance ratio for scooter tyres of all models and sizes that is hard to beat. Its classic tyres (also available as whitewall tyres), the K62 are the most popular models alongside the Twist.
HEIDENAUMade in Germany is the name of the game at Reifenwerke HEIDENAU! There, the highest demands are made on production and quality. Due to the wide range of sizes and classes, Heidenau tyres are probably the most widely represented in the scooter sector. HEIDENAU is particularly strong in all-weather tyres.
MICHELINMICHELIN has a long history in scooter tyres. The S1 and the S83 are classics. The many years of experience in racing also benefit Michelin's modern scooter tyres. The best examples are the City Grip, which has also been used as an original equipment tyre by PIAGGIO for years.
PMTPMT from Italy has been producing high-quality racing tyres for scooter racing for years. Despite the high price level, it becomes clear after the first ride at the latest why PMT are worth every cent. Absolutely essential to be at the front of the pack on the race track! Whether in lap races or on the quarter mile.
MITASThe Slovenian tyre manufacturer MITAS is one of the leading producers of motorbike and scooter tyres in Europe and has been selling tyres worldwide for almost 100 years with great success. Even whitewall tyres come off the production line there. MITAS also offers road tyres with a good price-performance ratio and popular semislicks.
PIRELLIAs early as 1872, Battista Pirelli founded the PIRELLI brand, which is still one of the leading tyre brands worldwide. With the SC30 scooter tyre as original equipment on various Vespa models, PIRELLI established itself in the scooter sector. PIRELLI is one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world.
KENDAKENDA was founded in 1962 as a bicycle tyre manufacturer. As a leading original equipment manufacturer for scooter manufacturers such as Peugeot and Kymco, KENDA tyres are produced under very high quality standards.
DUNLOP: One of the largest tyre manufacturers for over 120 years. Through constant research and new technologies, DUNLOP is one of the most successful manufacturers in the two-wheeler sector. The TT series has been convincing on the racetrack for many years and can also be used sportily on the road.
SHINKOThe Japanese SHINKO Company was founded in 1946. After the merger with the Korean SHIN HUNG Company, the SHINKO tyres became high-impact quality tyres: manufactured with Japanese technology and superior Korean craftsmanship.
CSTCHENG SHIN TIRE is the company behind this acronym. The brand tyres offer innovative technology for high performance demands. The various CST tyres offer the right tyre for every application and terrain.
IRC: With the Urban Snow, IRC was one of the first tyre manufacturers for winter tyres worldwide. The IRC with their special sipe technology are convincing and are our absolute recommendation for the winter.
Safety first: What is the minimum tread depth for wide tyres?
According to the law, the tyre tread depth must be at least 1.6 mm, otherwise the tyre must be replaced. However, a tread depth of at least 1 mm is sufficient for bicycles with auxiliary motors, mopeds and light motorbikes. To make this easier to see, some tread grooves have small protrusions, the so-called TWIs = tread wear indicators. These indicate the remaining tread depth, which can vary depending on the manufacturer. A scooter rider who rides with less than 1.6 mm tread depth has fallen below the legal limit (StVZO §36: Tyres and treads, Article 2) and must expect a fine and points in the central traffic register
If the tread depth is low, the tyre's grip in wet conditions decreases significantly. The tyres can no longer displace the water film. They lose contact with the road and the vehicle can no longer be steered and braked. Therefore, do not wear tyres down to the legal minimum tread depth. Depending on the width of the tyres, replace them at the latest at 2 to 2.5 mm, winter tyres already at about 4 mm remaining tread depth."
Technical tip 1: Can I change my gear ratio with wide tyres by changing the size?
By changing the tyre size, you can change the gear ratio very quickly and easily. A 120/90, for example, has a rolling circumference about 7% larger than the original 3.50-10" tyre. This means that higher speeds can be achieved with the appropriate engine power. The percentages are based on the ratio to the original 3.50-10 tyre.
Tyres | Width | Circumference | % |
3.50-8 | 88.9 mm | 1154 mm | |
4.00-8 | 101.6 mm | 1241 mm | |
3.00-10 | 76.2 mm | 1235 mm | -6% |
3.50-10 | 88.9 mm | 1307 mm | 0% |
4.00-10 | 101.6 mm | 1394 mm | 7% |
90/85-10 | 90 mm | 1237 mm | -5% |
90/90-10 | 90 mm | 1265 mm | -3% |
100/80-10 | 100 mm | 1259 mm | -4% |
100/85-10 | 100 mm | 1289 | -1% |
100/90-10 | 100 mm | 1319 mm | 1% |
Tyres | Width | Circumference | % |
110/80-10 | 110 mm | 1307 mm | 0% |
110/90-10 | 110 mm | 1374 mm | 5% |
110/70-11 | 110 mm | 1322 mm | 1% |
120/90-10 | 120 mm | 1434 mm | 10% |
120/70-11 | 120 mm | 1365 mm | 4% |
130/70-10 | 130 mm | 1330 mm | 2% |
130/70-11 | 130 mm | 1407 mm | 8% |
For even more information on tyres, visit our tyre technology blog.