140 rear tire?

[gs500rider]

hey guys, just wanted to know.  I have a 2004 GS500F.  I want to change the tire to a 140 to make it look thicker in the back.  Will it just fit in with no fabrication on the bike.  If there is, what is there that needs to be changed?

GS500Rider

[Mk1inCali]

Do a search on tire sizes, there is a lot of info on the various profiles and models of tire.  If you've got a question, please check the FAQ forum and do revelant searches for the topic first before posting.  It's easier for you cuz you learn more applicable information on your subject and for us because we don't have to answer the same questions over and over again.  That said, I've got a 150/70 Michelin Pilot Sport and it sticks great in the back along with the 110/70 Pilot Sport up front.  I can't lean it all the way over to scrub the edges of the tire in the back, but I like how it leans in way better than the 140/80 profile AV45 that is on my buddy's '01 GS.

[dollar95]

I also have a blue/white GS500F.  I picked up a nail about a month ago and took it to the dealer to have it replace.  I tried to get them to put a 140 on the back but they said it wouldn't fit.

Let me know if you get it done!!

Thanks,



Robert.

[gsJack]

First of all gs500rider and dollar95, let me say again that 130, 140, and 150mm are the nominal width sizes of the tires and they vary greatly from tire to tire so it means very little when you ask if a 140 or 150mm tire will fit your bike.  Exactly what tire are you talking about?

For example, taking a couple of tires from the same tire mfg; a Metz Sportec 150/60 is 143mm wide mounted on a 4" rim and their MEZ2 140/80 is 153mm wide mounted on a 3.5'' rim.  These are Metz figures from their 2002 Complete Product Guide.

I presently have a 140/80 AV36 on my 97 GS and a 140/80 AV46 on my 02 GS.  These are as wide a tire as I would put on a GS500 without altering the brake torque rod for clearance.  A Metz Sportec 150/60 sport radial would be narrower than these Avon 140/80 tires.  An Avon 150/60 AV50 sport radial is 149mm wide mounted on a 4" rim, a bit wider than the Avon 140/80 AV36 and AV46 radials.

Here are some very poor pics of the 140/80 AV36 on my 97 GS and if you can make it out, the tire is very close to the brake rod in the 3rd pic.  As close as I would go without grinding off some of the brake rod like someone posted a pic of on the old gstwins forum to accomodate a 150/70 rear tire.



Let me add that from looking at some of the tire mfg data supplied in the past that showed the same tire mounted on different width rims, there seems to be about 5mm or 3/16" diff in tire widths when mounted on a 1/2" narrower or wider rim.  The 150/60 tires mentioned above would be even a bit narrower on our 3.5" rear rim than when on the tire mfg spec 4" rims.

Just my opinion, but a 140/80 rear tire will look a lot bigger on your GS500 than a 150/60 tire will.  I remember back about 4-5 years ago when I had some 130/90 rear touring tires on my 97 GS500 along with a 110/80 front tire and got used to the look, all the other GS500s with OEM size tires looked very small going by compared to my GS with the "big" tires.  :lol:  

[Briggs]

I second Jack on this. I had a 140/80 in back with the original rim(3.5") then went to a 150/60 with the GSXR rim(4.0") and it was far narrower then the 140. The previu\ous owner had to bend the brake stay to get the 140 on and now i have tons of room.

Listen to Jack he knows his stuff.