Tire size

[officerbill]

It is time to replace the rear tire, it is looking a bit bald. I'm thinking I'd like more tread on the road and would like to increase the width off the rear tire. Suzuki recomends a 130/90H 17 tire for the '79 850G. The 130 number is the width of the tire. Can I increase this size to 150 or 160 without damage to the bike or altering the handling characteristics too much?
Thanks,
Bill

[BassCliff]

Hi,

No. A 130 is the best width for your 850. A wider tire would cause more pinching on the rim and actually put less rubber on the road.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[bwringer]

Please don't muck up one of the best-handling GS models by applying low-tech car-based thinking to the tire sizes.

130/90-17 is the correct tire size for your bike.

[tkent02]

+1, stick with the correct size.
Just buy better quality stickier tires.

[stanford129]

best tire?

what is the stock tire size or the best tire for my 1980 gs550e i need a new one b4 rideing season and not sure what toget thankss

[Suzuki_Don]

what is the stock tire size or the best tire for my 1980 gs550e i need a new one b4 rideing season and not sure what toget thankss

According to the manual specs the original sizes were:

FRONT
3.25H19-4PR which equates to 100/90H19

REAR
3.75H18-4PR which equates to 110/90H18

Terminology may be incorrect, but these are the sizes.

I know they appear skinny compared to the 850, but THAT's LIFE.

[Nessism]

According to the manual specs the original sizes were:

FRONT
3.25H19-4PR which equates to 100/90H19

REAR
3.75H18-4PR which equates to 110/90H18

Terminology may be incorrect, but these are the sizes.

I know they appear skinny compared to the 850, but THAT's LIFE.

3.25 equates to 82.55 mm - so a 90/90-19 is the closest equal
3.75 equates to 95.25 mm - so a 100/90-18 is the closest equal

I suggest using a 100 front and 120 rear. The rear bulges a little but no worry, you won't have any handling issues.

[stanford129]

hey thats for the quick respons on my question..will a 110/80 18 work for the rear?

[bwringer]

hey thats for the quick respons on my question..will a 110/80 18 work for the rear?

No -- the 80 series tire requires a wider rim.

You could stuff it on there, but it wouldn't handle right.

[stanford129]

alright... im in dire need of a 110/90-18 tire if someone has one with half way good tread give me a price thank you

[psyguy]

+1, stick with the correct size.
Just buy better quality stickier tires.

+1 ....................

[duaneage]

Check out IRC Duotour 310 tires. They have them in every size for 17 inch wheels and are a decent tire. Midpriced too. I've been riding them for years and found them to be a decent all around tire that is good in the rain.

[Nessism]

I put 120/90-18's on my 550E and 1000S, and a 120/90-17 on my 550T, all with 2.15" rear wheels. The stock tire sizes ranged from 3.75" to 4.25" so I find it odd that everyone says "stay with the stock size" - which stock would that be? It's true that a 120 is a tight squeeze on a 2.15" wheel, but it's allowable, for a rear anyway. Avon even recommends that size for the 1979 and 1980 GS1000S (model with the 18" wheel). http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorbik...0-hc-s-seca-ii

[stanford129]

hey guy thanks for all the help i bit the bullet and bought a set of maxxis thanks again

[almarconi]

officerbill, you should charge stanford129 with threadjacking. I had to reread the thread before I realized what had happened.