Radial Tires and Bike Shops

[CliffHanger]

I had an encounter at my local shop when looking at tires.
My front tire had a slow leak and I was prepared to replace it if it was damaged.

I was planning on going to radials, but the shop tech claimed that the GS can't take radials due to the rim shape or something.
Luckily the tire was just leaking at the bead and the tech reseated it with sealant.
It's been great for the last 6 months.

My question is this: I know others have mounted radials to the stock rims right?
Is my shop just paranoid about manufacturer specs or are they justified?

Should I just do it myself next time and save the hassle?

Thanks for any advice,

[gsJack]

I've run radials on the stock 3.0" and 3.5" GS500 rims and they all have been fitments approved by the tires manufacturers.  I've run 110/70 and 110/80 front and 130/80, 140/80, and 150/70 rear radials.  Possibly there are some regulations in CA that we don't have and your tire mounters must follow?  The only possible problem with the rims would be their narrow width and the limited number of radials available for them.

Twice I've bought a new pair of tires for the car here in the US wanting to mount them on the front and they insisted the tires with the most tread had to be on the rear and refused to mount them on the front.  I think it was more a matter of liability and their company rules rather than any fed regs.  We have far too many lawyers here in our overly litigous society.

Do it youself, I did until I was about 65 yo and now I carry the wheels in for tire mounting.  Don't want to ride a bike someone else put the wheels on.   

[Jared]

Jack....Yeah the new tires are now supposed to be mounted on the rear of a car...

I went through this when I got tires for my truck awhile back . I was replacing tie rod ends and getting an alignment- I wanted the new tires up front...
Costco guy would not do it... said they had to go on the rear... I asked why and he couldn't give me a reason....

The reason I've found is they would rather cause understeer than oversteer...alledgedly easier to come back to control from understeer. So they would rather you run off the road front first then spin off the road..(maybe less rollovers...). There's a logic to it...but if I need good rubber up front so my alkignment comes out right....put my damn tires on where I ask.
So yeah it's an insurance / liability thing.... what ticked me off is the guy couldn't even tell me why....

So I went to my local tire shop that was doing my alignment anyway...spent about 15$ more on tires ( he gave me a price break but couldn't match costco..) and put them up front for me and did my alignment.

As far as radials/bias ply on the GS.... If the tire is the same/right size...use what you feel comfortable riding on.

[Shaddow]

I'm going to ask what may be a really dumb question but you can still buy Bias Ply tyres? I've not heard of that over here in Australia. It may seem dumb but I thought these days ALL tyres were radials.

P.S On cars I only ever get new tyres on the front, I'd rather the good tyres on the end that steers into or out of danger rather then the back, that also includes only ever putting clean skins on the front, no retreads. Actually I never run retreads except for rally tyres but that's a whole different ball game there.

[johnny ro]

I'm going to ask what may be a really dumb question but you can still buy Bias Ply tyres? I've not heard of that over here in Australia. It may seem dumb but I thought these days ALL tyres were radials.

P.S On cars I only ever get new tyres on the front, I'd rather the good tyres on the end that steers into or out of danger rather then the back, that also includes only ever putting clean skins on the front, no retreads. Actually I never run retreads except for rally tyres but that's a whole different ball game there.

In USA for cars they are available only in specialist sizes. You know, the Ford Model T etc. For bikes they are still more common than radials. Harley just fitted them to XR1200 here, as it flirts with the modern age. Our BT45s are bias ply.

My understanding for cars was its new to the front when you are too cheap to buy all 4. Stomp on brakes and the front is where the action is. Maybe I had that wrong though.

[Shaddow]

Ahh see that explains lots. I've never seen bias ply in the land of oz except on old girls trying to stay original.

Reason I fit new tyres to the front is 60%++ of the weight is over the front wheels. Under brakes where is the weight? More over the front again plus they steer and these days tend to be the driving wheels. Also because of that front tends to wear out quicker and as I don't believe in rotation either, I play mostly with old cars and I'd rather sacrifices a pair of tyres to realise some of the suspension has issues. They are good indicators. Bike tyres can do the same.

Excessive wear on one side can indicate a weeping fork, mis aligned forks, etc.

Hmm my bike came with dual compound radials as original fitment. I can see why tyres are an even bigger issue for you guys though.

[fastedmiami]

 I roadrace my 89 gs.  I use radials. bridgestones.  never had a problem, I have the stock rims.  I have used a 110/70 and a 120/70 race tire on the stock front rim with no problems what so ever.  I can't imagine that you would see more stress put on a front tire on the street versus road racing.  I am at a loss as to why this shop told you no to a radial, unless you wanted to put a radial in front with a bias ply on the back.  That is a big no-no, you can never mix a bias on one end with a radial on the other end, but really in my opinion there should not have been a good reason not to put a radial on the front...