wow, got new tires it's like a whole new bike

[nazgulnarsil]

small steering inputs actually DO something! 
I got pirelli sport demons in stock sizes and WOW. 
i can't wait to see what this bike can do once i replace the front shocks and re-jet.  I can feel the potential when i ride twisties.  riding this bike stock is really a crime.

[toyopete]

small steering inputs actually DO something! 
I got pirelli sport demons in stock sizes and WOW. 
i can't wait to see what this bike can do once i replace the front shocks and re-jet.  I can feel the potential when i ride twisties.  riding this bike stock is really a crime.

Thanx for the input, Probably next week Ill get myself a new set or Bridgestones or Pirelli, but Ill will put a 150 in the rear. I still have stock bridgestone 130's and are at the limit at what you call twisties.

[mach1]

I would say go with a 140 rear tire unless you get a 4.5 katana rim. just my .02

[toyopete]

I would say go with a 140 rear tire unless you get a 4.5 katana rim. just my .02

went to the shop today and they STRONGLY advised me NOT to put on 150's they say you loose the limit in curves because the tire angle is  bent more ..quesstion is it safe?
can't get 140's here,..they wanted to sell me a hornet or a bandit but more I get used to the GS the more I like it.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

150 on stock rim is not safe, IMHO. But, it also depends on the tire. Some manufacturers approve a 150 on a 3.5" rim, it varies. Check GSJack's posts for more info.

[mach1]

I was going to put a 150 on my stock rim after reading this page http://pantablo500.tripod.com/id22.html but I ended up finding a 4.5inch rim off a 93 katana the good thing about the early katana rims is they have the same rim design and our four bolt rotors will bolt on. I will be going stock in the front and a 150/80/17 M1's. from what I read they said a 150 on a 3.5 inch rim will make it hard to get the edges of the tire but will NOT result in bead failure. BUT PLEASE DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK.

[gsJack]

There is a preferred rim width specified for each tire made and then there are permitted rim widths that some makers list that they feel are also good fitments for the tire.  For bias tires the preferred rim width for 140/70, 150/60, and 150/70 tires is 4.0" and 3.5 and 4.5 are listed as permitted rim widths.  For radial tires all mfgs that show permitted widths allow the wider 4.5" fitment but only some allow the 3.5" fitment and others don't.  For old standard fitments see:

http://www.dropbears.com/u/utilities/tyrerim.htm

Not going to recheck all again but offhand the Z6, Diablo Strada, BT020, and Contiforce 150/70/17 tires were listed as permitted fitments on 3.5" rims.  When Conti came out with the RoadAttack tire they no longer listed the 3.5" rim as permitted for both the RoadAttack and Contiforce so I questioned them on it, their reply:

Dear John,
Our head technician in Germany confirmed that you will be OK to run a 150/70ZR17 in either ContiForce or Road Attack on your 3.5" rim.  I have attached some detailed information on the Road Attack for your review.


Safe Riding & Best Regards,
Greg Reich
Continental Tire North America, Inc.
Sales Manager/Motorcycle Tires
-------------------------
Address / Adresse:
First name / Vorname: John
Last name / Name: Paul
Street address / Strasse:
Town, postal code / PLZ, Ort:
Country / Land: USA
Phone / Telefon:
Fax / Telefax:
E-Mail: 

Your inquiry / Anfrage:

Your previous guides listed a 3.5" rim as suitable for your 150/70/17 ContiForce tire. Since the RoadAttack came out you show a 4.0" minimum rim width for both the ContiForce and RoadAttack tires in the 150/70/17 size.

I'm interested in trying the RoadAttack and wonder if it is a less suitable fitment than the Contiforce was on the 3.5" rim.  A number of tire makers approve this fitment like the Z6, Diablo Strada, and BT020 for example.  I'm running a 150/70/17 Lasertec now and am quite satisfied with the performance but would like to get the longer tire life I previously got from Metzler and Avon sport touring radials.

My local tire supplier has the RoadAttacks at a favorable price and I have been seeing very good reviews on them.  Would much appreciate your views on this fitment.

Thank you,
John Paul

It is interesting to note that Avon for example has never listed the 3.5" rim as permitted for their radial tires but you can find where this is their recommended fitment in certain applications in their published fitment guides.  Remember this is a very litigous society we live in.   

Personally I see no reason not to run the 150/70 and 150/60 tires on our 3.5" wheel and would not even consider changing the wheel for this fitment myself.  A tire is about 5mm or .2" narrower or wider on a rim that is 1/2" narrower or wider and putting a 4.0 or 4.5" rim on the GS only complicates the clearance problems.

Anyone concerned about getting to the edge of the tire is only concerned about image and that doesn't concern me at all. 

[Chuck]

I was going to put a 150 on my stock rim after reading this page http://pantablo500.tripod.com/id22.html but I ended up finding a 4.5inch rim off a 93 katana the good thing about the early katana rims is they have the same rim design and our four bolt rotors will bolt on. I will be going stock in the front and a 150/80/17 M1's. from what I read they said a 150 on a 3.5 inch rim will make it hard to get the edges of the tire but will NOT result in bead failure. BUT PLEASE DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Doesn't the 93 Katana have a 3.5" rim?  I thought it has the same 4-bolt rotors and the same sprocket carrier because it's EXACTLY THE SAME WHEEL.  That's why we're all getting 1998-2002 Katana wheels.

[toyopete]

There is a preferred rim width specified for each tire made and then there are permitted rim widths that some makers list that they feel are also good fitments for the tire.  For bias tires the preferred rim width for 140/70, 150/60, and 150/70 tires is 4.0" and 3.5 and 4.5 are listed as permitted rim widths.  For radial tires all mfgs that show permitted widths allow the wider 4.5" fitment but only some allow the 3.5" fitment and others don't.  For old standard fitments see:

http://www.dropbears.com/u/utilities/tyrerim.htm

Not going to recheck all again but offhand the Z6, Diablo Strada, BT020, and Contiforce 150/70/17 tires were listed as permitted fitments on 3.5" rims.  When Conti came out with the RoadAttack tire they no longer listed the 3.5" rim as permitted for both the RoadAttack and Contiforce so I questioned them on it, their reply:

Dear John,
Our head technician in Germany confirmed that you will be OK to run a 150/70ZR17 in either ContiForce or Road Attack on your 3.5" rim.  I have attached some detailed information on the Road Attack for your review.


Safe Riding & Best Regards,
Greg Reich
Continental Tire North America, Inc.
Sales Manager/Motorcycle Tires
-------------------------
Address / Adresse:
First name / Vorname: John
Last name / Name: Paul
Street address / Strasse:
Town, postal code / PLZ, Ort:
Country / Land: USA
Phone / Telefon:
Fax / Telefax:
E-Mail: 

Your inquiry / Anfrage:

Your previous guides listed a 3.5" rim as suitable for your 150/70/17 ContiForce tire. Since the RoadAttack came out you show a 4.0" minimum rim width for both the ContiForce and RoadAttack tires in the 150/70/17 size.

I'm interested in trying the RoadAttack and wonder if it is a less suitable fitment than the Contiforce was on the 3.5" rim.  A number of tire makers approve this fitment like the Z6, Diablo Strada, and BT020 for example.  I'm running a 150/70/17 Lasertec now and am quite satisfied with the performance but would like to get the longer tire life I previously got from Metzler and Avon sport touring radials.

My local tire supplier has the RoadAttacks at a favorable price and I have been seeing very good reviews on them.  Would much appreciate your views on this fitment.

Thank you,
John Paul

It is interesting to note that Avon for example has never listed the 3.5" rim as permitted for their radial tires but you can find where this is their recommended fitment in certain applications in their published fitment guides.  Remember this is a very litigous society we live in.   

Personally I see no reason not to run the 150/70 and 150/60 tires on our 3.5" wheel and would not even consider changing the wheel for this fitment myself.  A tire is about 5mm or .2" narrower or wider on a rim that is 1/2" narrower or wider and putting a 4.0 or 4.5" rim on the GS only complicates the clearance problems.

Anyone concerned about getting to the edge of the tire is only concerned about image and that doesn't concern me at all. 
very usefull information John,
actually these where the answers I was hoping to find, Ime confident now in my choice. finding the limit of the tires is also a personall thing, for me its scraping the footpegs,..simple as that, many thanx Greetings from Brasil.

[Jay_wolf]

100% correct Chuck , i have a set of wheels on my gs off the 1990 GSX that i got my front end off , its 3.5 inch x17 , it marked on it ,

saying that tho , the 140 that came on it , looks more of less identical to the 130 on the stock gs rim , and im running a 150/70 on my 3.5 inch *granted i havent mounted the wheel yet * but the garage was more than happy to mount it for me 

[mach1]

most of the rims are 3.5 but if you get lucky and find a 4.5 than you have a stock looking rim but wider. Before I bided on the rim I asked the seller to post a picture of the marking on the rim and its a 4.5x17.

[Jay_wolf]

IM sure Dgyver will back me up on this , the pre 98 IS 3.5 inch , the same rim design as the gs , is basicly a gs rim , the Swept spokes are the 4.5 inch