TVS Apache RTR 180 Tyre Size, Front and Rear

TVS Apache RTR 180 tyre size, front and back

ABS did not alter the rubber. A few listings show a fatter 120 section rear for this bike; nearly every spec sheet, plus the factory pressure table, names the 110/80-17, so treat that as stock and let the markings on your Apache's rear settle any doubt.

Apache 180 tyre size numbers in plain words

Up front, 90/90-17 describes a tyre 90 mm across whose wall stands at nine tenths of that, about 81 mm, around a 17 inch hoop. Out back, 110/80-17 means 110 mm of width and a wall near 88 mm. A dash where radials print R signals bias ply construction, which is what TVS used on this naked street bike to keep it tough over broken tarmac.

The front shares its size with the smaller Apache RTR 160, which also runs a 90/90-17 up front. Do not assume the rears match without checking.

Apache RTR 180 tubeless back tyre size and old tube type bikes

Bikes with alloy wheels can run a tubeless 110/80-17 behind, as long as the rim is marked tubeless and the valve is a snap in tubeless type. Early Apache bikes that left the factory with tubes can often be converted, but only if the rim bead is in good shape and not bent from a pothole. A tyre shop will check the rim for cracks and fit a proper valve.

Apache air pressure, solo and two-up

TVS figures for the last version: 25 psi front and 28 psi rear riding alone, rising to 32 psi rear once a friend climbs on. Set it cold, before the morning ride. The swingarm label and owner's manual carry the same table. That bigger figure stamped by the bead is the casing's survival limit, irrelevant for daily filling. The bike tyre pressure section has more on gauges.

Is a 120 section rear a good idea on an RTR 180

Many riders fit a 120/80-17 for a beefier look. It mounts on the factory rim, yet stands taller and wider than the 110/80-17. The speedo then reads slightly lower than your real speed, the chain may brush the tyre if the adjuster is set short, and steering feels heavier at slow speeds. If you want a wider look, have the mechanic spin the wheel and eyeball chain and swingarm gaps first.

Spotting a worn RTR 180 tyre

• The tread blocks have shrunk down to the little wear indicators across each groove.
• The rear centre is flat while the edges look new, a sign of years of straight commuting.
• Fine cracks run around the base of the tread, common on bikes parked outside through Indian summers.
• Braking on a wet flyover feels like the rear wants to step sideways.

The build date is coded on the sidewall; see tyre manufacturing date to read it.

What to say at the counter

Ask for "90/90-17 tubeless front" or "110/80-17 tubeless rear". A sporty soft compound grips well on hill roads but wears faster; a harder touring compound suits riders who cover long highway kilometres to work. Buy from a shop that can balance the wheel, and replace the valve with each new tubeless tyre.