10 inch tyres for Vespa & Lambretta
- at SIP Scootershop
The Vespa GS150 was the first model with 10" tyres. Then from the 1960s onwards all Vespa Largeframe and Lambretta models were fitted with these 3.50-10" tyres. All later Smallframes, including the Vespa PK models, Lambretta scooters and LML Vespas, run on 10" tyres, and the choice is enormous. We stock tyres with classic tread for original equipment enthusiasts and slicks for racing, winter tyres for cold days and sports tyres for the best cornering. We also have special tyres such as whitewall tyres or tyres with a high speed index.
You will find much more information on size, tread depth, labelling, manufacturers, tyre types and more. here.
What size do I need for my Vespa or Lambretta?
The following sizes were used for classic Vespas and Lambrettas:
3.00-10": The tyre size for all later Smallframes including the Vespa PK models: Vespa 50/N/L/R/S/Special/90-125/PV/ET3/PK50-125/S/SS/XL/XL2.
3.50-10"The Vespa GS150 was the first model with 10" tyres. Then from the 60's onwards all Vespa Largeframe and Lambretta models were fitted with these 3.50-10" tyres: Vespa 125 GT/GTR/TS/150 VD/VGLA/B/GL/GS/Sprint/V/160 GS/180-200 Rally/PX/T5. The LML Star models also run on 10".
100`90-10": The first tyres in mm specification instead of the old inch specification can be found on the Vespa Cosa models.
The tyre size required for the vehicle is entered in the vehicle documents. There you will find information on tyre width, rim diameter and speed index. Of course, you can also read the tyre mounted on the scooter from its sidewall.
Which type of tyre fits my Vespa or Lambretta?
Tyres are the scooter's point of contact with the road and are crucial for grip, ride, handling, comfort and wear. There is the right tread or rubber compound for every stress. There are scooter tyres for almost every application. We have tried to divide the different tyres into classes. We distinguish:
Classic tyres: These all-season tyres make the look of a classic car perfect! The classic honeycomb tread not only has a nostalgic look, but definitely also a good grip. These profiles usually have a long history or are based on it. The stars here are the MICHELIN S83, the CONTINENTAL Classic, the PIRELLI SC30 and the SIP Classic, which is unique in the segment with its approval for speeds of up to 150 km/h.
Whitewall tyres: Similar to the Classic tyres, the whitewall tyres also contribute to the retro look of the scooter. The flair of the 50s and 60s is palpable here. Whitewall tyres are not only available with the classic tread, but some also have a sportier or all-weather tread. Only a few manufacturers have mastered the art of ensuring that a whitewall tyre does not turn yellow in the sun. CONTINENTAL is the leader in whitewall tyres. But KENDA, MITAS, SHINKO and CST are also popular.
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 gives 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 racing 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 also the HEIDENAU K61 and the MITAS MC 35 make most racers' hearts beat faster.
Winter tyres: For all those who cannot do without scooter rides even in winter, we have a wide range of winter tyres from various manufacturers and in a wide variety of sizes in stock. Optimal traction and lateral guidance in snow and high drainage in wet conditions characterise these tyres. HEIDENAU and IRC are strongly represented here.
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.
Special features in the world of 10 inch tyres
Wide tyresWide 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 Basterd and is the current end of the tyre spectrum for classic Vespas.
Complete wheelsThe tyre change becomes plug & play. The SIP complete wheels are pre-mounted tyres on rims. They are available with SIP steel or SIP tubeless rims for Vespa or Lambretta. The tyres are ready to ride and are also perfect as spare wheels.
Tyre fitting service: Some customers want to combine other tyres and rims beyond our complete wheels. We are happy to do this work, provided the combinations fit together.
What does the labelling on 10 inch tyres mean?
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. Thus, for example, 4503 means 45 KW in2003
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 does 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 10 inch tyres?
From the abundance of manufacturers and brands, we have built up a range that combines, in our opinion, the best manufacturers, the most sizes and the widest range of use. The manufacturers are deliberately not the cheapest noname brands, but all companies whose decades of scooter and motorbike experience come into play in the development of scooter 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 world's leading tyre brands today. With the SC30 scooter tyre as original equipment for 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.
AVON TYRESWith the Viper Stryke AM63 we have a real all-rounder in 10 inch in our programme. Racing history and tradition included.
Safety first: what tread depth should I not go below for 10-inch 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 decreases significantly in wet conditions. 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: Can I change my gear ratio by changing the tyre size?
The gear ratio can be changed very quickly and easily by changing the tyre size. A 120/90 tyre, for example, has a rolling circumference that is 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.