Tire size?

[Briliu]

The tires on the bike i just got are rather old. The rear one is balding in the center and they are oversized.

The rear tire is 150/70 and on the right side the sway bar (i think thats what it is) has rubbed the sharp corner off and is still touching the rubber.

The front tire looks fine but will replace it anyway, just because its like 6 years old. The front tire size is 110/80.

My question is, are the rims i have larger than stock also? Or did they just shove larger wheels onto the stock rims. Let me know what you think.


I dont know if this is a stock rim or not, front wheel.


Same thing about rim, only rear tire.


This is the bar i was talking about, you can see it rubbing the edge off.


This is a closeup of where the bar touches the tire.

[JamesG]

And thats the problem with using a 150 on the rear...

That is probably a stock 3.0 rear wheel, a 150 will fit on it, but of course, sqeezes it.  
You can get a 140 Bridgestone and that will fix the rub problem without needing to do any mods OR you can replace the brake brace with a  smaller diameter tube (I've seen ppl use flat stock, but don't recomend that). If you are a cheap skate, you can just take it off and beat the brace flatter where the tire rubs.  Pantablo's web site  has info for fitting a 3.5 wheel if you want to go all out.

[Briliu]

i think im probably going to go back to stock sizes on the tires. Unless the bike is better off with the larger wheels. But they designed the bike for the 130 rear so i'll probably stick with that.

I guess my question was, other than new tires, do i need to buy anything else? (will stock tires fit on the wheels i have?) Is there a way to find out the width of my wheels, like on them?

[JamesG]

Take a ruler or measuring tape and measure the inside of the rim from where it flairs down to make the "bead" of the wheel. It should be more than 3 inch but less than 3.5 inch.

[Michael]

And thats the problem with using a 150 on the rear...

That is probably a stock 3.0 rear wheel, a 150 will fit on it, but of course, sqeezes it.  
.

Isn't the stock rear wheel 3.5"?  Minimum recommended rim size for a 150/ tyre is 4.0", that's why people go for the rear off a GSX-R 750.

[Black Snowman]

3.0" front 3.5" rear. Largest tire I've found designed for a 3.5"x17" rim is the 140/80-17

[glenn9171]

I have the BT45's in the stock sizes and I love them.  Not a single complaint.  I think you would be very satisfied with them.  Going wider does nothing for handling characteristics.  Only looks.

[jag69]

I agree with glenn.  I have the BT-45 in stock size.  LOVE THEM!

[Briliu]

well then, assuming i still have stock rims, thats what i will get ^_^ Thanks again for your help. (im sure this is just my way of showing off my bike!!  :lol: )

[Briliu]

:x  :x  :x  :x  :x       :guns:  :guns:  :guns:  Owner before the one i bought if from.  :nana:

/sigh

Well, 4" rim in back, and 3.5 in front. Either im measuring from the wrong spot, or i dont got stock rims. I took my calipers and measured from the stage below the lip on the top to the same place on other side.

Looks like im gonna need to look at how to make the larger tires fit...

[JamesG]

Yeah sorry 'bout that,  3.5 inch is the rear rim.
I had a "DUH" moment...

140 tires fit very well on the back, but unless you are doing track days or are a kamakazi on the street, good rubber in stock sizes are good enough.

Oh and here is a little diagram I doodled up to show you where to measure a wheel. It the inside of the curve of the lip not the outside.

[werase643]

um...ah....
the rim specifics are cast on one of the spokes of each rim....3.0x17...or something close to this.....

[Briliu]

well wider tire doesnt nesicarly mean more rubber on the road. You can get more rubber on the road with a less inflated thinner tire. Im not sure about it much past that, but the profile of the tire (how round it is in crossection) also plays a role. Heh oh well, someone explain to me also!

[pantablo]

theroetically, if yo put a wider tire on a rim thats too narrow (like the case of a 150 on a stock rim) you pinch the tire, giving you less contact patch instead of more. At least in the center.

I have to say though that I like my 150/60 tire on my stock rim (getting a gsxr rim when I can though to do it proper). Good and sticky in the canyons. Michelin Pilot Sport, btw.


150/70 may fit without clearance problems but since each tire manufacturer's tire is different width for same 70 section you never know. I saw a 150/70 Michelin Macadam 100 mounted and it had 2mm clearance to brake stay arm.

Its too bad 140/70 tires arent available in the US...I'd prefer that to a 140/80 (too tall for my taste)

[Kerry]

I lock my rear and slide into nearly every corner, would a wider tyre help here or am I just downshifting with to much engine speed and applying to much rear brake?

Nearly every corner?  That does sound a little extreme.  Do you slide BEFORE the corner, or IN the corner?  (BEFORE, I hope.)

If you're already using engine braking (which slows the rear wheel), you shouldn't need to apply much rear brake at all.  For a while, I concentrated on using ONLY the front brake in non-critical slowdowns and stops around town.  It really helped me to get a feel for what I could ask of the front brake, and it convinced me that most of the stopping power really DOES come from there.

Of course, it's better to use BOTH brakes all the time.  But I have found lately that I'm using more rear brake than necessary again.  I wonder if it's a subconscious result of recently switching from a car with an automatic tranny to one with 5-on-the-floor...?

Anyway, the "lock-and-slide" sounds like something you'll want to train out of yourself.  Like you said,  Stay Safe!

[glenn9171]

However this said, I lock my rear and slide into nearly every corner, would a wider tyre help here or am I just downshifting with to much engine speed and applying to much rear brake?

If you ask me, you are looking at a highside coming your way if you keep sliding the rear into corners.  If your tire locks up at any point in braking, you are doing something wrong.  Skidding = being out of control.  Unless of course you are a professional-level racer on a well-groomed track.