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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: telle33 on January 10, 2009, 04:10:44 PM

Title: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: telle33 on January 10, 2009, 04:10:44 PM
I was wondering how much bigger of a tire I could buy until it hits the frame or screws up with the handling for a 2006 GS500F. Also with the front tire as well. Thanks guys! :D
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: galahs on January 10, 2009, 04:44:16 PM
140 ok
150 maybe
160+ need to make mods
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: starshooter10 on January 10, 2009, 05:26:25 PM
keep the front stock size...

and for the rear 140 is good and at ~150 the tire hits the chain (or so i heard)
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: fred on January 10, 2009, 05:28:28 PM
Quote from: telle33 on January 10, 2009, 04:10:44 PM
I was wondering how much bigger of a tire I could buy until it hits the frame or screws up with the handling for a 2006 GS500F. Also with the front tire as well. Thanks guys! :D

I wouldn't go any bigger than this:
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_qgUUjZn2qPw/R6NYjnTXvCI/AAAAAAAAAa4/vhq1-NvUwxE/DSC00473.JPG)

Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: GI_JO_NATHAN on January 10, 2009, 06:02:28 PM
I love my 160. But requires Kat wheel, bent brake arm, and space out sprocket a bit.
A lot of people will say it's overkill, I mostly just like how it makes the bike look a little less anemic.
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: gsJack on January 10, 2009, 06:46:56 PM
For a 150 the brake torque rod might need to be bent for some, others will clear w/o bending.  Very easy to bend and then bike will take all brand 150 tires.  No problem on other side, the 150s will clear the chain and guard.  I liked my bikes handling best when I had a 110/80 Lasertec front with a 150/70 RoadAttack st radial rear.
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: jeremy_nash on January 11, 2009, 12:38:30 AM

I have a 140 70 17 bt45 on mine, fit perfectly, and looks alot better than the stock pizza cutter rear tire
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: 905mike on January 11, 2009, 06:13:50 AM
Quote from: jeremy_nash on January 11, 2009, 12:38:30 AM

I have a 140 70 17 bt45 on mine, fit perfectly, and looks alot better than the stock pizza cutter rear tire

thanks for the info.
i need new rubber for my GS this summer and will get stock front and 140 back.
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: Danny500 on January 11, 2009, 01:15:21 PM
150 does not hit the chain, only the brake rail, you just need to whack it out a bit off the bike and it'll fit back in no problem.

Dan
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: telle33 on January 11, 2009, 03:47:46 PM
Ok, one thing I forgot to ask is if I will have to buy a new rim or if the new tire will fit over the old one?
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: mach1 on January 11, 2009, 05:38:38 PM
My 150 fits the stock rim and doesnt nit the brake are or anything else.
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: gsJack on January 11, 2009, 06:21:33 PM
The 150/60 M-1 is 143 mm wide on a 4.0" wheel or about 138 mm wide on a 3.5" rim or about the same width as my 140/70 Roadrider.  The new 150/60 M-3 is 149 mm wide on a 4.0 rim.  Widest 150 I can think of is the Avon Storm 150/70 which is 156 mm wide on a 4.0 rim.  That's a range of 143-156 mm or over 1/2" difference in width for 150 tires and why some fit w/o touching the brake rod and some hit it and require bending the rod.
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: Rabid-Viper06 on January 11, 2009, 10:17:34 PM
in this picture i had a 170/50-17 Conti attack . it was mounted on a bandit 400 wheel. which i took off befor i sold my GS today.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/razthenailer/Bike/Bike021-1.jpg)
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: werase643 on January 13, 2009, 08:25:44 PM
as big as you want.
as seen by the pic above of a 170
a 190 will fit and be even more pinched on the rim
look at the last inch on the outside tread....never gunna see the road unless you are crashing

but everybody is doing it so it must be ok
and it looks kewl
tarded..... but kewl
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: bobthebiker on January 13, 2009, 11:06:26 PM
from a practical standpoint, where you actually wear out the whole tire real world or at least USE all of it, not just most of it,  a 140 is the widest on a 3.5" rim,  4.0 you could go to a 150,  160 on a 4.5" possibly 170 on that width, but I'm not totally certain.   

But my point is, stick with what was designed to fit that width rim.   you dont put a 160 on a 3.5" rim and expect it not to be pinched/rolling over the sides or give you a stable cornering experience because it wont.   

Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: jeremy_nash on January 18, 2009, 08:13:23 AM
my 140 70 17 battleax is on the stock rim
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: scotilac on January 18, 2009, 09:15:00 AM
Can you fit the 150/70 roadattack tire on the stock rim or do you need to get a kat rim?
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: gsJack on January 18, 2009, 09:20:57 AM
I ran my 150/70 RoadAttack on a stock 3.5" rim for about 10k miles, best handling rear I've tried so far.  There are better wearing tires.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/RoadAttack-4.jpg)

Tire was close to the brake rod, best to bend it a bit, I did.
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: Susuki_Jah on January 18, 2009, 11:18:46 AM
I run a 140/70 on the stock rim, don't want to go any larger or any smaller, perfect size and almost all the tread sees the road :)
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: scotilac on January 18, 2009, 12:29:57 PM
is it easy to bend the brake rod and also is it safe to do it?
Title: Re: How big of a back tire can I buy??
Post by: gsJack on January 19, 2009, 08:43:18 AM
Quote from: scotilac on January 18, 2009, 12:29:57 PM
is it easy to bend the brake rod and also is it safe to do it?

Yes and yes.   :thumb:   The brake rod (or brake strut as they call it on GS part fiches) is made of mild steel and bends rather easily without breaking.  Some have heated it to bend it but I bent it cold.  It was marked where the tire touched it so I just took it off and layed it on a piece of 2x4 and hit it with a 40oz hammer right on the spot where the tire marked it while holding it on the 2x4 with the other hand and the outer ends bent upwards so it curved nicely around the tire.