160/60 17 rear. Safe? -PICS

[ATLRIDER]

Hey guys,

Was wondering what the shelf life of a tire is.  I've got a Metzeler MEZ-3 on a 4.0" wheel I'l like to install.  It's a few years old but has no dry rot and looks practically new.  Will it be safe to use?





Also, looking to pair it with a 120/70 17 front.  It's been discussed here before, but for clarity, will this negatively alter the handling?

Thanks for any feedback.

[qwertydude]

Tire looks fine. Now the outside may have dried out a bit so be a little more carful until the tire is scrubbed in, but looks to be fine to me.

[mattress]

I'm curious about 120's in the front too, I just found this awesome deal on tires:

http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=CGC_1430200_pkg_G&tier2=219

(FRONT + REAR PAIR) ... (PRICE)
120/60-17 + 160/60-17 $169.98
120/70-17 + 160/60-17 $169.98
120/70-17 + 180/55-17 $169.98
120/70-17 + 190/50-17 $179.98

[bucks1605]

When I bought my kat rear wheel it had a tire that was a couple years old. So far I've had no issues with it...*knocks on wood*

[ben2go]

Hey guys,

Was wondering what the shelf life of a tire is.  I've got a Metzeler MEZ-3 on a 4.0" wheel I'l like to install.  It's a few years old but has no dry rot and looks practically new.  Will it be safe to use?


Also, looking to pair it with a 120/70 17 front.  It's been discussed here before, but for clarity, will this negatively alter the handling?

Thanks for any feedback.

Yes it will work.I've seen that tire on a Kat wheel on a GS.I'm going to be running Shinko 160-60 on a Bandit600 wheel and 120-60 on the stock GS front wheel on a Katana 750 front end.

I'm curious about 120's in the front too, I just found this awesome deal on tires:

http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=CGC_1430200_pkg_G&tier2=219

(FRONT + REAR PAIR) ... (PRICE)
120/60-17 + 160/60-17 $169.98
120/70-17 + 160/60-17 $169.98
120/70-17 + 180/55-17 $169.98
120/70-17 + 190/50-17 $179.98

Most 120-60 will work.If your fender rubs pick up a Bandit400/600,89-97 Katana 600/750 front fender.I am running a Bandit400 front fender.The GS fender is a little narrow in the front.

[ATLRIDER]

Any thoughts  on a 120/70 vs 120/60?  Handling, fit, looks...

[ben2go]

Any thoughts  on a 120/70 vs 120/60?  Handling, fit, looks...

I know some have used 120-70.I personaly have not seen that size on a GS wheel. 

If you find out let us know,please.

[08GSSteve]

Now this comment may open a can of worms with you modders but I have always been told that a bikes forward tilt geometry and tyre footprint should never be messed with by going larger or smaller (more than 1 size) in tyre size or more forward or rear tilt by changing suspension height. 

From what I have read going a wider tyre front and rear or a combination may "look better" but serves no purpose what so ever and "may" lower the bikes handling ability, stability and braking performance.

Only my 2 cents but I have NEVER on any of my bikes changed the front tyre size and have only changed the rear tyre by 1 size to open up more tyre selection.  EG:  have changed the rear from say a 120 to a 130.

Sorry Dude I may be out of line by saying this but there is no way in hell I would put a 160 on the rear of a GS.


Best of luck though, post up some pix if you go ahead with the mod.

[average]

I have a 150 on my Kat wheel and it rides fine. I think you would absolutely cut the life of that 160 in half by putting it on the GS. My experience is very limited but the tire may be more rounded on the 4 inch wheel than what it should be but other than that it should be fine.

[ohgood]

I'd scrub that tire (cleaning, you know, brush and bucket) really well before mounting it on the bike. Ride it enough to warm it up, let it sit, etc and keep a close eye on the rubber for cracks. Especially down in the grooves.

If it was laying on it's side, shouldn't be a problem. If it was actually standing up on the rubber, might have flat spots.



keep us posted

[gsJack]

Now this comment may open a can of worms with you modders but I have always been told that a bikes forward tilt geometry and tyre footprint should never be messed with by going larger or smaller (more than 1 size) in tyre size or more forward or rear tilt by changing suspension height. 

From what I have read going a wider tyre front and rear or a combination may "look better" but serves no purpose what so ever and "may" lower the bikes handling ability, stability and braking performance.

Only my 2 cents but I have NEVER on any of my bikes changed the front tyre size and have only changed the rear tyre by 1 size to open up more tyre selection.  EG:  have changed the rear from say a 120 to a 130.

Sorry Dude I may be out of line by saying this but there is no way in hell I would put a 160 on the rear of a GS.

Best of luck though, post up some pix if you go ahead with the mod.

Here in the US if you want to run radials you must run a wider rear tire.  Available supersport sizes start at 150/60 or 160/60 and available sport touring radial sizes start mostly at 150/70 although there are still two available in the 140/80 size (AV46 and D205)

I have personally run 110/70 and 110/80 fronts and 130/70, 140/70/, 150/70, and 140/80 rears.

As far as changing the attitude (tilt) goes, I've used a 1" taller 130/90 or MT90 rear with 110/70 front and found the steering to be noticeably quicker with the steeper rake and liked it that way but didn't like the not so sticky touring tires I was trying.

I put on lowering links to lower the rear approx 1" with a 1/2" taller 150/70 rear and a 1/2" taller 110/80 front tire which gave more rake, still much closer to sport bike than cruiser territory.     The slightly slower steering was much more noticeable at slow almost parking lot speeds than at running speeds.

I put a 110/70 BT010 supersport radial front on once with a 140/80 AV36 sport touring radial rear and the 97 GS was noticeably twitchy at slow 20-30 mph speeds but was nice and stable at running speeds.  I've mixed so many different tires as far a brand and type goes that I can hardly remember them all so I'll post my tire log:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tirelog.jpg

I wouldn't put a 160 on a GS either but I think the 150's I used looked best.     Not really a good reason for a wider tire though.

[ATLRIDER]

Well I already have a 160 sitting in the garage so might as well give it a go. It came as a spare with the bike I bought.
So the thought is to match the manufacturer of the rear to the front.  I'm working on a deal for a 120/70 M-1 Sportec with "badguy"  right now. Hopefully the combo will work out.  Otherwise I really won't have that much $$ invested.

Can anyone tell me if this is a Bandit or Katana rear wheel?

Thanks for the advice.





EDIT: MORE PICS

[bucks1605]

Kat wheels are either 3.5 or 4.5". So I'm assuming that is a Bandit wheel

[ben2go]

The wheel pictured looks like a Bandit 400 wheel.I have a 4.5inch Bandit600 wheel with a 160-60-17 Shinko 005.I will be doing a write up on the Bandit600 wheel.I know there's a write up already but Dgyver and mine is a little easier.

[ATLRIDER]

I was getting a little discouraged about doing the swap with the Bandit400 wheel as I'm getting back on board working on bikes.  Last bike I worked on before this was a 84' Kawasaki KX80 over 20 years ago.  I used to take that thing apart and remember my mom praying I'd forget how to put it all back together.  I think the praying made it go faster

Is the B4 and B6 basically the same swap procedure? 

Thanks.

[ben2go]

Now this comment may open a can of worms with you modders but I have always been told that a bikes forward tilt geometry and tyre footprint should never be messed with by going larger or smaller (more than 1 size) in tyre size or more forward or rear tilt by changing suspension height. 

From what I have read going a wider tyre front and rear or a combination may "look better" but serves no purpose what so ever and "may" lower the bikes handling ability, stability and braking performance.

Only my 2 cents but I have NEVER on any of my bikes changed the front tyre size and have only changed the rear tyre by 1 size to open up more tyre selection.  EG:  have changed the rear from say a 120 to a 130.

Sorry Dude I may be out of line by saying this but there is no way in hell I would put a 160 on the rear of a GS.


Best of luck though, post up some pix if you go ahead with the mod.

The reason I chose the sizes is because I wanted radials in a z rated tire designed to lean.I kept the diameters the same as the factory 110/130-70's.Some times it helps to read tire specs instead of stated size.