Fitting 150/70 rear tire

[kdbolt70]

Hey guys, just got my Conti Road Attack mounted, and it is hitting the brake caliper support bar (or whatever its called) when I try to install it. Is there a recommended way of bending this? I searched the wiki but couldn't find any suggestions on it. Thanks!

[lewismug]

There is a write up in the wiki about bending this bar.  It's the katana rear wheel swap and he needed a little extra room as well.  He just heated the bar in the spot he needed the bend to be and bent it.  He then resprayed the bar with flat black paint.  Here's the link:

http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/KatanaRearWheel

[ben2go]

Did you check the manufactures recommendations for wheel size for that 150?I don't think a 3.5 inch wheel is recommended.Onto the torque rod.I laid mine between 2 pieces of wood and hit it with a BIG F'in hammer.

[bucks1605]

Did you check the manufactures recommendations for wheel size for that 150?I don't think a 3.5 inch wheel is recommended.Onto the torque rod.I laid mine between 2 pieces of wood and hit it with a BIG F'in hammer.

That's what I did, I helped make it go a little easier with a torch though.

[Jay_wolf]

I did it also ,and so did Gsjack .. Big hammers Rock

[ben2go]

I did it also ,and so did Gsjack .. Big hammers Rock

Ohhh Yea!!!  I used a 20 pound sledge axe.Axe on 1 side sledge hammer on the other side.Some other areas call them a driver axe.It's used for opening up a tree or log and driving a wedge into it. 

[kdbolt70]

Did you check the manufactures recommendations for wheel size for that 150?I don't think a 3.5 inch wheel is recommended.Onto the torque rod.I laid mine between 2 pieces of wood and hit it with a BIG F'in hammer.

There's plenty of debate on using 150's on our rim, but some seem to work just fine and others are too wide. I saw an email from a Conti rep ensuring it would fit just fine on the 3.5" rim, and it did when I got it mounted. After I placed it in there and ran the axle through, it clears the bar by about 1/4", so I think I'm just fine. The 150 Road Attack rear looks fricking sweet, and compared to what it was on (some squared off worn BT45's) it is a world of difference. I love 'em!

[ben2go]

Did you check the manufactures recommendations for wheel size for that 150?I don't think a 3.5 inch wheel is recommended.Onto the torque rod.I laid mine between 2 pieces of wood and hit it with a BIG F'in hammer.

There's plenty of debate on using 150's on our rim, but some seem to work just fine and others are too wide. I saw an email from a Conti rep ensuring it would fit just fine on the 3.5" rim, and it did when I got it mounted. After I placed it in there and ran the axle through, it clears the bar by about 1/4", so I think I'm just fine. The 150 Road Attack rear looks fricking sweet, and compared to what it was on (some squared off worn BT45's) it is a world of difference. I love 'em!

Yea.I know all that.I just wasn't sure if the conti was rated for it.Glad you did your home work.That could be dangerous running a pinched tire.I am running 160-60-17 on a B6 wheel.It's only rated for a 4.5 to 5 inch rim.I'm surprised it's not rated down to a 4 incher. 

[Jay_wolf]

I feel alot safer knowing that my 150 will not pinch my 4.5 Inch rim , so i know that its going to be fine ... i just want to feel safe on my bike , and a pinched tire wouldnt make me feel safe , but if a company will put there name on the line , if it does pinch ,  let them have hell!

[mach1]

if you look at tires you can make most 150 tires fit if you get a small sidewall. smaller sidewall means less rise and less pinch, my metzeler m1 150-60 fits like a glove and look very close to a 150 on a wider rim.

[Jay_wolf]

My Personal Preferance... Is to have a Tyre Thats Made for the size of the rim . Thats all im saying.. Its Just My Opinion

[mach1]

the m1 are rated for a 3.5 last time I checked but only the lower profiles

[gsJack]

Some of the 150/70/17 sport touring radials are approved by their makers for general fitment on a 3.5" rim and some are not.  Metzeler, Pirelli, and some Bridgestones usually are and Dunlop and Avon are not.  But I can find fitments recommended by Avon for individual model bikes that show their 150/70 radials on a 3.5" rim.

None of the 150/60/17 sport/supersport radials have been approved by their makers for fitment on a 3.5" in this country as far as I know including the Metz M-1 tires.  The 143 mm wide M-1 is the narrowest 150/60 I've seen, fits a preferred or measuring rim width of 4.0", and is approved for 4.0-4.5" rims.  Their new M-3 is a more common 149 mm wide in the 150/60 size and approved for the same 4.0-4.5" rims.

Many are using the 150/60/17 tires on the GS500 and Ninja 500 bikes.  The Ninja 500 bikes have had the same oem size tires and wheels as the GS500 has since 1994.  Their change from 16" to 17" tires in 94 didn't leave enough clearance for the 150/70 tires.

Michelin only shows their preferred rim widths for tires leaving it up to their dealers or customers to choose how much varience they want to use on fitments.

Personally I wouldn't hesitate to use any of the 150/70 sport touring radials or even the 150/60 size if I wanted a sport/supersport type radial for the GS.  You bike is your choice.

I questioned Conti on the fitment of their 150/70 RoadAttack on the 3.5" rim  since they didn't currently show it but had previously approved the fitment for their 150/70 Contiforce radial on a 3.5 rim and got their approval for both fitments.

[kdbolt70]

Thanks gsJack for all the info. My tire choice was in large part due to your recommendation, and I believe it was the email response you got from Conti that ensured the 150 Road Attack would fit. It looks great, and rides like a dream. Thanks again for all the info!