Quote from: RSK70 on November 11, 2010, 07:13:57 AM

Quote from: RSK70 on November 09, 2010, 07:59:11 AM
Hello, I'm new to GSTwin as I just got my 500 a few weeks ago but love it already. I'll be changing my rear tires early next season and have been thinking of upgrading to a thicker tire. From everything above, certain 150s will fit the stock rim? Is it better to upgrade the back wheel before putting on the back tire? I am a pretty handy guy but don't know much when it comes to motorcycles. Bending something associated with the brakes scares me a bit if I don't know what I'm doing. Also, is upgrading the wheel (from say a 2002 katana that is being parted out ~$100) worth the tire upgrade? I remember someone telling me that putting a bigger tire on than stock is actually counter-productive because while you gain some traction, you lose on the way the bike handles. Any input?

Thanks

Any takers?  

Not so many takers as this has been done to death on here too many times. Basically, the GS doesn't need a bigger tyre, but some guys like the look. It adds weight, which doesn't help performance or handling. IMHO, the 130 is more than it needs, but Suzuki probably went there for aesthetic reasons, and the fact that rear tyres are hard to get in smaller widths since the fashion went to wide tyres. Narrower tyre also has advantages on wet roads or dirt.

Copied from previous post:

I've used 110/70, 110/80, and 120/70 fronts and 130/70, 130/80, 130/90, 140/70, 140/80, and 150/70 rears on the stock 3.0 and 3.5" rims on my GS500s for various reasons. The 150/70 comes close to or touches the brake rod depending on the tire brand, they vary a bit in actual measured width.  Bending the brake rod is quick and easy with a BFH.

A 150/70 radial or bias is a better fit on the GS500 3.5" wide wheel than a 150/60 supersport tire is.  Some tire makers approve the 150/70 radials on the 3.5 rim and some don't, most all approve the 150/70 bias on the 3.5 rim, but none of the tire makers approve the 150/60 supersport radials on a 3.5 rim in this country although many are running them on the GS500 and Ninja 500 bikes.

I've always felt that the type of tire, ie bias, radial, supersport, sport touring, touring, etc has more effect on handling than the size does within the relatively narrow range of sizes I've used.  A different tire compound means more than a small difference in width.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tirelogs.jpg

RSK70 as a new rider and new to a GS500 I would suggest sticking to the oem size tires until you get some milage under your belt before experimenting with tire sizes, just my opinion.  Wear out another rear tire before you start changing the sizes.