mixing tire types

[GRU]

i got a (front) bridgestone bt 010 120/60 17 radial from a friend for cheap and decided to put it on my GS, now i don't know what tire to use on the rear....i looked at some bridgestone tires and can't find radial rear that isn't oversized for my bike....i was thinking about a 140/70 but can't find a radial.....what should i use for the rear?

thanks

[gsJack]

i got a (front) bridgestone bt 010 120/60 17 radial from a friend for cheap and decided to put it on my GS, now i don't know what tire to use on the rear....i looked at some bridgestone tires and can't find radial rear that isn't oversized for my bike....i was thinking about a 140/70 but can't find a radial.....what should i use for the rear?

thanks

I ended up last season with a  110/70 BT010 front and a Avon 140/80 AV36 rear on my 97.  Works for me.  You don't want a radial front with a bias rear.  There is no BT010 rear to fit the GS500, 160 is the narrowist.

Many people run the BT010 frt / BT020 rear combo.  There is a 150/70 BT020 rear that Bridgestone now approves for use on a 3.5" rim, our GS500 standard size.  Might or might not be necessary to grind a little off the brake rod for clearance, it would be tight fit.

Personally, I'd prefer a Avon 140/80 AV36 or AV46 rear with the 010 front which is better fit on 3.5" rear rim.

[GRU]

thanks Jack

if i can't find a 140/70 radial then i'm gonna get a bridgestone 150/70 17 since i wouldn't like to get a 80 series tire because of the high sidewall

[Hi-T]

140/80 is only 7mm taller in the side wall than a 150/70.  The 140's fit fine (it's close) in the swing arm- but I could see how a 150 may not clear the the brake stay.  And you may have to switch out the 150 sooner- especially if it squares as much as they say it does on commuters...  Sometimes it's cheaper to spend a little more money up front...

[GRU]

one more question....

what would fit better, a 150/70 or 150/60....i'm quessing the 60 would fit better but i'm not sure.....if the 60 is better then i'll get a Metzeler Sportec M1 150/60, i don't think i would have any problems because the front is a bridgestone

[Blueknyt]

the 60 will pinch more.

[GRU]

the 60 will pinch more.

ok, so does that mean the 70 would be better?

[pantablo]

I'm not sure why a 60 would pinch more, they're both 150 wide. some brands 150/70 fit fine, others dont. its a crap shoot. get the 150/60. it fits fine. They'll both pinch at the edges. watch the wear bands because as they wear and become squared that edge is harsh.

[tt_four]

just make sure your front tire is stickier than the back tire

[Stephen072774]

just make sure your front tire is stickier than the back tire

Can you explain this statement?  I thought lose the front tire = lowside, Lose the back tire = highside.

[dgyver]

The front tire is more important to have traction than the rear, eventhough a lowside hurts less than a highside. You are better off if the rear slides, it is just going to follow along as the front sticks. If the front slides do to the rear sticking and pushing the front, the result is bad.

[Stephen072774]

The front tire is more important to have traction than the rear, eventhough a lowside hurts less than a highside. You are better off if the rear slides, it is just going to follow along as the front sticks. If the front slides do to the rear sticking and pushing the front, the result is bad.

Ahhh... I see.  Thanks.