Why use 15" wheels instead of 14" wheels?

[Doogle]

What are the advantages and disadvantages for each?
My thinking says a smaller wheel with the same height tire gives more road impact absorption. Tires are a shock for the shocks. A huge tire with low air pressure can drive over rail road tracks and not even feel it.
Another thought is what happens when you turn. With a solid tire on a rear locked differential, any turns require one or both tires to slip on the surface. With pneumatic tires, the taller the sidewall, the more area the tire has to flex/twist. This allows the surface tread to remain in contact with the trail surface and not slip. When tires slip, you are loosing control.
My original stock 28" tires are almost shot. I will be looking at 32" tires next. This will improve my riding with the above thoughts.
Disadvantages I expect a slight increase in the center of gravity height. And my gearing will now be 30% higher. I hope there is an easy fix for my speedometer.

What are your thoughts?

 

[a94cobra]

We tried a particular 32 on the front of my friends machine and they rubbed a little in the turns.

But I too am looking for a bigger than stock tire/wheel combo.

 

[JACKAL]

What are the advantages and disadvantages for each?
My thinking says a smaller wheel with the same height tire gives more road impact absorption. Tires are a shock for the shocks. A huge tire with low air pressure can drive over rail road tracks and not even feel it.
Another thought is what happens when you turn. With a solid tire on a rear locked differential, any turns require one or both tires to slip on the surface. With pneumatic tires, the taller the sidewall, the more area the tire has to flex/twist. This allows the surface tread to remain in contact with the trail surface and not slip. When tires slip, you are loosing control.
My original stock 28" tires are almost shot. I will be looking at 32" tires next. This will improve my riding with the above thoughts.
Disadvantages I expect a slight increase in the center of gravity height. And my gearing will now be 30% higher. I hope there is an easy fix for my speedometer.

What are your thoughts?

Honda uses the 15" wheel to ensure proper clearance of the brake rotor and calipers from the wheels. A 14" may fit, but you have an much higher risk of damaging your brake components or the wheel if rocks / derbis gets caught in that area. The wheel size used has nothing to do with ride quality or tire selection from the manufacturer standpoint.

 

[CID]

Beaten by JACKAL -

The reason I’ll stay with 15” rims is the gouge on the inside of my rear wheel caused by a rock getting lodged between it and the caliper. 14”ers are have even tighter clearances. It didn’t puncture the rim but it could have, others have shown pictures of the damage.

 

[Neohio]

Honda uses the 15" wheel to ensure proper clearance of the brake rotor and calipers from the wheels. A 14" may fit, but you have an much higher risk of damaging your brake components or the wheel if rocks / derbis gets caught in that area. The wheel size used has nothing to do with ride quality or tire selection from the manufacturer standpoint.

Like he said!

@my99svt put 14's off his Pioneer on one of his Talons early. They didn't last long. I believe the inside of the rim cracked open due to rocks getting trapped between the rotor/caliper and rim.

 

[Adam490]

On top of the previously mentioned rotor/caliper clearance, on the R you have the rear upper links to worry about. Look how close your 15" wheel is to the link mount on the knuckle with your factory wheels. The X doesn't have those to worry about. I have 1" spacers on the rear of my machine and wheels with more offset and I have about an inch of room with 15" wheels:

 

[Remington]

With all the things mentioned are true, but I think 15’s look better anyway. Have them on my P1K5 and obviously on my Talon

 

[PaulF]

What are the advantages and disadvantages for each?
My thinking says a smaller wheel with the same height tire gives more road impact absorption. Tires are a shock for the shocks. A huge tire with low air pressure can drive over rail road tracks and not even feel it.
Another thought is what happens when you turn. With a solid tire on a rear locked differential, any turns require one or both tires to slip on the surface. With pneumatic tires, the taller the sidewall, the more area the tire has to flex/twist. This allows the surface tread to remain in contact with the trail surface and not slip. When tires slip, you are loosing control.
My original stock 28" tires are almost shot. I will be looking at 32" tires next. This will improve my riding with the above thoughts.
Disadvantages I expect a slight increase in the center of gravity height. And my gearing will now be 30% higher. I hope there is an easy fix for my speedometer.

What are your thoughts?

I run 30x14" paddle/buffs and never had a problem in over 2,500 miles at the dunes. My fronts are 8" wide (0 offset) and and my rears are 10" wide (0 offset) with little more than 1/2 clearance to the link mount but that is in the sand.

With my dirt/rock setup, I have pinch flatted 30x10x15's twice (I run 4-6 psi at times and like to go too fast for that pressure). My next set is going to be 32x10x14 to help with the ride and see if that helps with the pinch flat issue.

Fix your speedo with one of these.

SpeedoDRD

If you do go with 14", it is a good idea to clearance your front A-Arms on the R...

14” wheels dont always clear! Careful!!

With 14” wheels The upper A arm will rub the wheel when the suspension is compressed. I only realized after I took the front wheels off. They rub on both fronts and cut a groove in the wheel. I got new wheels and ground down the end of the arm. Easy fix. I ride primarily on the Oregon dunes. So...

hondasxs.com

We tried a particular 32 on the front of my friends machine and they rubbed a little in the turns.

But I too am looking for a bigger than stock tire/wheel combo.

The OP has the R model and 32" tires are not a problem like they are on the X.

 

[Remington]

Fix your speedo with one of these.
SpeedoDRD

which model?

 

[PaulF]

which model?

This one in the dropdown specifically for the Talon...

 

[Remington]

This one in the dropdown specifically for the Talon...

View attachment 331673

Thats werid, when I click on it i get this. Might be different on a computer?

 

[PaulF]

No, i

Thats werid, when I click on it i get this. Might be different on a computer?

It is similar but you are using the wrong dropdown...

 

[a94cobra]

H3 - talon 1000

 

[gullyjumper]

I like the 15" tires , you have a better selection of light truck tire to choose from, but I still dont have 15 rims .

 

[Doogle]

Honda uses the 15" wheel to ensure proper clearance of the brake rotor and calipers from the wheels. A 14" may fit, but you have an much higher risk of damaging your brake components or the wheel if rocks / derbis gets caught in that area. The wheel size used has nothing to do with ride quality or tire selection from the manufacturer standpoint.

Yes, I have read of things getting jammed in between the 14" wheel and the brakes.

 

[Doogle]

I was asking about 14" vs 15" wheels out of curiosity. I thought maybe there was a noticeable difference in performance. Why else would someone do it?

I will pass along the speedo adjustment to a couple friends that recently went to 32's. Thanks for that link.