You can put performance tyre 110/ 80 12 from TVS…It may drop in efficiency a little
But it is better if we stick to stock specifications for better performance unless you require extra grip for speed & off road driving.
Yes once the tyres are changed you need to adjust belt tension and check alignment at EC.
P.S. I am very satisfied with my Michelin pilot street 2 90/90 12 tyres… good grip and comfortable ride
If you are changing tyres because those MRF ain’t doing it’s job I would Suggest to go for Michelin City pro 90/90 they are really good in my experience the tyres have better grip ,proper curvature for taking turns , and less slippery in Rains
Are there other compatible sizes like 100/80 12 (not sure if this works with Ather) that increases grip, etc? Any insight on such sizes and what effect they have on commute?
I found the below calculator, but not sure which can practically fit the scooter.
I don’t think an upsize is required. I changed my 450X tyres to Maxxis, same size as stock. Grip and braking performance has improved a lot, even pick-up seems to have improved. Some other Ather owners have changed to Michelin with same size as stock and they have seen similar improvement.
I have changed it to Michelin Pilot Street 2 which is very good… its 200/- costier than michillin city pro but gives better wet & dry grip.
I would suggest michellin pilot street 2 tyres.
even Ather’s own service center in Chennai does not support any tire change the last I checked it’s better the community comes together and shares their experience with some photos, location where it was done.
I changed my tires at a local shop and they damaged the rims, NOT happy at all, but big dealers don’t even care for changing the tires which can be done in a tire changing machine. If some one done this is in Chennai please share those details
AKAIK scooter rims are ALWAYS damaged while changing tyre. Nobody cares about those chips, but the owner has to live with it, has become the norm.
I’m not sure if the tyre changing machine, takes the scooter rim size. But if it does, there’s a place called madhus tyre center in Wilson garden. They have an automated Tyre changing machine, which I swear by for our cars. Not sure about scooters though!
I believe this where @hemanth.anand got the tyre valve changed. I remember him mentioning that they couldn’t use the machine for the rear tyre since the sprocket was in the way and they had to use manual tools for that - which ended up scratching his rims.
But For Hemant, those sprockets are removable with a 5mm/6mm Allen wrench but it does complicate the work and extends the time,
when I asked Ather to change my tyres to Mchillen they first agreed and took my new tyres with the scooter, but later on, said they don’t have the equipment to change the tire and the can only sell me a tyre with new rims with the same MRF tyres, so I asked them to remove the rims so I can go out and change them at that time they removed both Discs and the sprocket so I don’t damage them.
while some shops do want business while others treat the customer differently, I’m in Chennai, afaik I have visited multiple shops that does tire change with machine only, but IMHO most of them want to go for a larger business and that they would avoid small income, I went a shop in Mahalingapuram which had a Mchillen tire shop they did a scooter tire replacement before once but when I went again for Ather and they seems to be busy they denied doing any business. so I went to a local puncture shop and replaced them.
I went for Pilot Street 2 the very next day of getting my scooter. They work pretty good on dry road haven’t used on wet yet. Dealer agreed to buy the original MRF’s as well.