POLL:sidewall on rear tire

[hotrodstu77]

first off its a basically new tire, but it doesnt match my shakara front tire. i am mainly just looking for something to do next to my bike and i just thought maye i'd start with evening up the tire sidewalls.
thoughts an comments please.
thanks

[makenzie71]

It really doesn't matter.  Your tires should be bought to suit the performance you need from them...not anything cosmetic.

[bobthebiker]

cosmetics are the last reason to buy a tire.  ever.  I buy my tires based SOLELY on how they're going to handle in the long term for me.

I'd leave it as is, until it wears out then put a 140/70 on it.

[qwertydude]

What tire is that? With all that sidewall I bet it rides smooth, like a cruiser.

[Bluesmudge]

I don't think the tire you have on there is  too bad. How does it ride?
If it is performing fine I think you should keep it, no reason to spend the money yet.

Of course, it is up to you  if you want a different tire you can get one, just make sure you get something that is going to perform at least as well. You will also probably notice the size difference at the saddle, it changes seat height unless I'm mistaken.

[yamahonkawazuki]

or a matching set

[DoD#i]

i am mainly just looking for something to do next to my bike

. . . How about ride it until you wear the tires out, eh?

[gsJack]

Not really a good reason to change tires, I've never taken off a usable tire unless there was something wrong with it.  I've used 110/70, 110/80, 130/70, 130/80, 130/90,140/70, 140/80, and 150/70 sizes on my GSs for various reasons and frequently have had mixed aspect ratios.  I've never felt that the aspect ratio made as much difference as the type of tire does in the handling of a GS unless you're dragging pegs.

What kind, make and model, and size tires do you have now?  Looks like 110/70 front and 130/90 or possibly 140/80 rear in the pics.  When I went to a 130/90 rear with a 110/70 front the steering was noticeably quicker but that Dunlop K491 touring tire didn't want to go around the corners as fast as the GS did.  That was some years ago.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/?action=view&current=GS500tirelog.jpg

[hotrodstu77]

its a 130/90 on the back with stock size up front. im not to worried about seat hieght cause im short and it fits me fine anyways. this tire rides nice but it doesnt have a whole lot of grip. i mostly just wanna do something cause its winter here and im getting antsy.

[GeeP]

If it fits and you can ride it, ride it out.

Looks fine.

[Danny500]

Wait it out and ride it out is all you can do.

I actually got pretty antsy with my tires going on the GS, I put a 110/80 on the front and a 150/70 on the rear. They fill the bike out so well it looks like a Buell from the side now. With my fenter chop the rear tire just pokes past tail light and the front tire is hugged perfectly by the front fender.

Best thing yet is that I barely had do make an adjustment to the rear brake bar, just one good whack with a sledge and that was that.

The furthest I've gone on it was just around the block, but I can tell you from just that it's a whole different bike.

Dan

[gsJack]

I've done about 20k miles with a 110/80 front and a 150/70 rear and it worked great for me.  A Lasertec front with a 150 Lasertec rear followed by Lasertec front with a 150 RoadAttack radial rear.

Using 140/70 rear with 110/80 front Roadriders now but think I'll get either a 150 Roadrider or a 150 Storm radial rear next with the Roadrider front.  The GS looks nice with a 150 rear. 

[fred]

i am mainly just looking for something to do next to my bike

Ride it until something breaks?

[Bluesmudge]

I think you should do something to the bike that the road won't eat.
Have you upgraded front and rear suspension? How about an exhaust? foot pegs? Fork brace? Something that can stay on the bike will probably get you more joy than a slightly different looking piece of black rubber.

[Danny500]

I totally agree on that one... probably the most pleasurable upgrades are those done to handlebars/controls... cuz you see them everyday and they're straightforward installs.

Suspension and stuff is messy... but has amazing benefits too.

Do yourself a favor. Get some new grips, bar ends, maybe some new bars, mirrors, turn signals, etc... little stuff like that makes a huge difference and is really pleasing to the eye at all times.

Dan

[hotrodstu77]

ok thnks guys