front tire question

[RobinV]

I need a new front tire on my 1996 GS 500 (Stock) There are Dunlop 110-70-17 sportmax availible in town quickly and at a good $$. One shop is telling me that I can't use that tire on the GS because it is a radial. The other didn't.

Oh mighty forumites who is right?? Can I use the Dunlop on the GS or not??

Thx RV

[gsJack]

I need a new front tire on my 1996 GS 500 (Stock) There are Dunlop 110-70-17 sportmax availible in town quickly and at a good $$. One shop is telling me that I can't use that tire on the GS because it is a radial. The other didn't.

Oh mighty forumites who is right?? Can I use the Dunlop on the GS or not??

Thx RV

No problem with running radials on a GS500.  I have for a couple years now and so have many others here.

You don't say what kind of tire you have on the back.  Mixing radial and bias ply tires is not generally reccommended.  It can work OK with a radial on the back and a bias on the front, but a radial on the front with a bias on the back is a no no.   I wouldn't do it myself.

What is your present rear tire?

[scratch]

Wecome to the site!

And what GSJack said, I'll second.

[RobinV]

Yeah I do have a Bridgestone BT-45R on the rear, which I think is bias. There are zillions of 120-70-17's at shops, and just a few 110's . Are the `120's just out of the question for  the GS?

[gsJack]

Yeah I do have a Bridgestone BT-45R on the rear, which I think is bias. There are zillions of 120-70-17's at shops, and just a few 110's . Are the `120's just out of the question for  the GS?

I've only put 110/70 and 110/80 on the front of my GS, but others here have put on the 120/70.  It should fit ok and any bias ply front tire would be a better choice than a radial for use with the BT45 rear.  All the BT45's are bias ply.  The 120/70 size is approved for use on the 3.0" wide front rim that the GS comes with.