There's been lots of debate in the 16+ months I've been visiting this forum as to whether using a 150/60 or 150/70 rear tire should be done and whether it fits.

Well, both fit. The 150/70 just barely and may not depending on the brand (brands differ in widths for same size tire).

BUT-
I've talked about the feeling of "falling in" to slow speed corners because of my 150/60 rear (on stock rim).  Today during my impromptu canyon ride I hit a corner a little hot and made a mid corner adjustment-slightly pushing on inside handlebar a little more to tighten the turn-and nearly fell on my ear! My tire is worn down to just shy of the wear indicators and as the tire has worn it has made the "falling in" worse. I just about shaZam! my pants when it happened.

My warning-DONT USE A 150 TIRE UNLESS YOU HAVE THE CORRECT WIDTH RIM.

here's why-when the tire is new the narrow rim pinches the tire a bit leaving the edges turned in suddenly at about 1/2" from the edge of tire. This isn't too bad; you can feel this when you ride and are really leaned over (that's the "falling in" feeling) but as the tire has worn it has made this transition point SHARPER. See the photo below. The transition has become a sharp edge instead of a sharpening curve as it was when new. That' also means that when you hit that point you lose a substantial amount of your contact patch.



[dont gloat Ken]




this view may make it seem like its a big tire but it still looks dinky parked next to a cbr.

YUP! did that too, thought i was going down and put a footdown like a kick and bounced up alittle giving me back my patch, i was lucky.

hey pantablo,
just wanted to tell you thanks for all your info. i finally got my 150 pilot tire and my 89 gsxr rim on my bike and works perfect and looks even better,  thanks again,
brandon

glad you like it. Glad I could help (and that gstwin helps too).

I'm still waiting for a few things before I try installing gsxr rim though...tire being at end of its life helps-I can order new one and install it to the gsxr wheel directly.

I have a Bandit 400 wheel (perfect for a 150 tire), with all the spacers made up to bolt straight onto a GS ($130). It is yellow powder coated, and comes with the cush drive and a good 39 tooth sprocket.

I also have a gold Bandit 400 rear without a cush drive ($100). GS500 cush drive fits, just needs some spacers.

All plus shipping.

had I not already bought the gsxr wheel I would have taken your yellow bandit wheel. D'oh.

This all plays into my theory that there is nothing wrong with the stock size tires.  Especially if they are Bridgestone BT45's

For the street, I'd agree with you John. The GS handles great on the stock sizes, and it certainly doesn't make enough power to need wider tires.

But for the track, all the good rubber only comes in 150 rears.

Quote from: KevinCFor the street, I'd agree with you John. The GS handles great on the stock sizes, and it certainly doesn't make enough power to need wider tires.

But for the track, all the good rubber only comes in 150 rears.

I run BT090 in a 140 rear. Performs great!

Quote from: KevinCI have a Bandit 400 wheel (perfect for a 150 tire), with all the spacers made up to bolt straight onto a GS ($130). It is yellow powder coated, and comes with the cush drive and a good 39 tooth sprocket.

I have a Bandit 400 wheel I picked up for a project - but not the spacers.  Could you measure them and let me know what size I need to make up to install this thing?  I also not on one of the sets of directions for mounting the bandit wheel that the caliper bracket needs to be modified - your note (above) mentions that the wheel is ready to mount - does this mean that the caliper bracket can stay stock?

bandit rear wheel supposed to fit with different sized spacers only-no brake caliper mount changes or other changes that I recall from investigating this. That swhy I wish I had known about the wheel earlier-easier to install if its been set up already.

Quote from: mjmI have a Bandit 400 wheel I picked up for a project - but not the spacers.  Could you measure them and let me know what size I need to make up to install this thing?  I also not on one of the sets of directions for mounting the bandit wheel that the caliper bracket needs to be modified - your note (above) mentions that the wheel is ready to mount - does this mean that the caliper bracket can stay stock?

There are probably several different ways to make the Bandit wheel fit. I used a 3 mm longer spacer inside the cush drive, and a 10 mm thick steel spacer between the caliper backet and the swingarm. This gave me about 2 mm of clearance between the chain and the edge of the Supercorsa 150 tire, with the wheel properly aligned.

I did not modify the caliper bracket at all.

Quote from: johnThis all plays into my theory that there is nothing wrong with the stock size tires.  Especially if they are Bridgestone BT45's

Handling of the GS500 with the BT45 tires is quite good.  Not as good as with the radials, especially in the wet, but good enough.  However, for me there is a serious problem of tire life with the BT45.  

I replaced the OEM tires on my 97 GS with the BT45s and the rear went 9500 miles till it hit the treadwear markers.  I then put on a ME88 Metz that lasted 16,900 miles followed by a K491 Dunlop that was only half worn at 17,800 miles when it was punctured beyond repair.  The ME88 is OK, but the K491 is way too hard for a bike like the GS500.

I replaced the K491 with a second BT45 rear and it was half worn out in about 2000 miles by actual tread depth measure when I replaced it with a MEZ2 radial.  The MEZ2 went 13,900 miles till it hit the markers.  

By the time I had put on the second BT45 rear, I had picked up the pace considerably and I picked it up even more with the MEZ4/Z2 radials.  The maybe 4000 mile rear tire life of a BT45 when ridden hard just isn't ok when I ride 15-20k a year.  Too many tire changes a year.

While the OEM tire sizes work good on the GS, the radials as well as the touring type tires are not available in the 130/70 rear size.  The GS stock 3.5" rear wheel is the reccommended size for a 140/80 tire.  The Dunlop D205, the Avon AM36 now AM46, as well as the Metz Z2 come in the 140/80 size.  I like the Z2 in the 130/80 size.  The touring tires come mostly in the 130/90 rear size.

If you want to stick with bias tires in the OEM sizes, the Metz ME330/550 tires or the Pirilli Demons are also available for about the same or a little more and the new Avon AM51/52 is available for a lot less than any of them.  I wish someone here would try out these new Avons and let us know how they are.   :lol:  So many tires, so little time.  

the tire pictured in first post, a Michelin Pilot Sport is down to tread wear indicators and has about 4600 canyon miles on them. I hear that's about it for most good[sticky] radial tires.

I have 3K miles on my ME550. I hoping for some good milage out of it.
Seems pretty sticky to me but I am coming from the stockers so anything would have been an improvment.
I thought about the getting the Avons but I think of them as wet weather tires so I nixed them because LA is a desert. I laugh at its rainy season.  Although, if GSJack recomends Avons specificly as a high milage sport tire. I'll give them a go  

Quote from: dgyver

I run BT090 in a 140 rear. Performs great!

Amen, brutha!  (for track use, that is)

I run a Bridgestone dual sport 150/70 on the back. If you go with a lower profile tire then it's not going to fit on the 3 1/2 inch rim.  Great tire.