Modern Vespa

I have a question for the seasoned scooter riders here. I have always ridden motorcycles and know the limits of m/c tires, but is it safe to assume that my LX150 tires will hold with the same amount grip, or close to? I ask this mainly due to the diameter of the tire. I find myself slowing maybe more than I need to through turns and curves because I haven't yet built the confidence in these small wheels. I have seen pics of guys on local race tracks hanging off their Vespa's Moto GP style, but they may be on racing compounds for all I know? I prefer not to go too hard if it is known that these small tires/wheels won't tolerate that kind of riding without skidding out from underneath me.

I'm not saying I'm going to start dragging my knee through corners, but it is fun pitching a bike/scooter on its side through a tight bend? Rain and road hazards aside that is.

Scooter tires like motorcycle tires come in different compounds. The harder the compound the longer life but less grip in the corners.

Soft tire compound the less life but more grip in the corners.

As you indicate you are not going to be hanging off dragging your knee pucks on your scooter.

So I would not worry too much about tires loosing traction under normal riding.

Joe

Good Point. I guess I should have said: Will the Michelin Pilot City tires stick if pushed fairly hard through turns/curves?

Yes - not quite as well as Pilot Sports, but very close. They are both (aren't they all these days) dual compound tyres, just that the City has a harder central line compound. Outer regions is apparently the same (can't spot the source for that, apols).

Aw come on... what's wrong with a little knee dragging

Sorry, I didn't answer the OP.

Smaller diameter doesn't necessarily mean a proportionately smaller contact patch. Tyre pressures are less, and in the main the grip on the road is as good (on all small scooters I've ridden) as on the big ones with big (16") tyres. The bigger ones are heavier - so the bigger contact patch is compromised by that.

The only (and IMHO over-hyped) possible problem with smaller diameter tyres is with pot-holes.

Frankly, if a pot-hole upsets a 10" wheeled scoot - it'll upset to some extent any other bike out there - except possibly the MP3.