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General Category => Maintenance => Topic started by: chiz on March 26, 2014, 10:49:00 AM

Title: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: chiz on March 26, 2014, 10:49:00 AM
Howdy folks
I got in touch with a discount tire shop today to get prices and recommendation's but I don't really know what size tires will be ideal. 
   Front wheel is a 17x 3.5
   Back wheel is a  17x 4.5


I know the back is not ideal but it was what could be had.. please let me know what you would recommend
Thanks
            Chiz 
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: aviationfred on March 26, 2014, 11:28:52 AM
The tire sizes for your wheels should be....

120/70/17 front

160/60/17, or
170/60/17 rear.

Fred
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: andyoutandabout on March 26, 2014, 11:46:26 AM
Chiz,
I agree with fred - those are the sizes I have on my 17'' rims - went for a 170 rear.
I get replacements from the 'motorcycle superstore' on-line. They arrive quickly - postage is free - and prices competitive.
Currently my favored tires  - michelin pilot 3 - run about 300 for the pair. They are amazing tires. There was a thread recently about conti motions, which were on sale for about 170 a pair - but looking at the tread pattern on them - i'd say they would be prone to 'cupping' - an Fj front tire trait.
I'm a cheap fellow, but always buy good chains ,brake pads and tires, because you need that stuff.
Andy
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: chiz on March 26, 2014, 12:46:13 PM
Thanks Guys
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: the fan on March 26, 2014, 04:29:11 PM
the 170/60 is too big for the 4.5" x 17" wheel.

A 160/60 will work but a 150/70 will fit best on that rim. I run the same width on my supermoto and the 150 actually looks wider than the 160 and works way better for really aggressive riding.
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: Tiger on March 26, 2014, 07:56:59 PM
 :hi: Chiz,

Give these guys a shout...Pete's Super Bikes...They are out of Montreal and have great prices and service...delivered to your door with in 48 hours!!

John.
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: andyoutandabout on March 26, 2014, 10:45:11 PM
I stand corrected - just looked at my rims after 'the fan' mentioned that 170 was too big for a 4.5 rim.
I actually have a 170 on a 5'' and it fits great so I guess it would be too wide for a 4.5.
However this raises a question on the front. My wheel says its a 3in and currently wears a 120, which also seems to fit great.
Wonder if I should have a 110 on there?
Andy
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: FJmonkey on March 26, 2014, 11:20:43 PM
Quote from: andyoutandabout on March 26, 2014, 10:45:11 PM
However this raises a question on the front. My wheel says its a 3in and currently wears a 120, which also seems to fit great.
Wonder if I should have a 110 on there?
Andy

After seeing both a 120 and a 110 on a 3" wheel, the 120 looks pinched and the 110 looks like a proper profile. The 110 is on Steve's (Moparman) FJ. His opinion is the same on a 110 with a 3" rim.
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: Pat Conlon on March 26, 2014, 11:42:33 PM
Here is a interesting table compiled from different tire mfgr's data:
http://www.c-note.dk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Motorcycle_Rim_Width_Tire_Size_Chart.pdf (http://www.c-note.dk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Motorcycle_Rim_Width_Tire_Size_Chart.pdf)

The oem tire from Yamaha on the 3"rim ('89-93 FJ) was a 120/70-17
However, did I read somewhere (Alf?) that it was a special edition tire?
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: ribbert on March 27, 2014, 01:13:30 AM
Quote from: FJmonkey on March 26, 2014, 11:20:43 PM
Quote from: andyoutandabout on March 26, 2014, 10:45:11 PM
However this raises a question on the front. My wheel says its a 3in and currently wears a 120, which also seems to fit great.
Wonder if I should have a 110 on there?
Andy

After seeing both a 120 and a 110 on a 3" wheel, the 120 looks pinched and the 110 looks like a proper profile. The 110 is on Steve's (Moparman) FJ. His opinion is the same on a 110 with a 3" rim.

I've had probably 6 or 7 different brand front tyres, all 120's and I've never had occasion to think they were too big nor has there ever been anything to suggest that it's too big. Some of the tyre blokes I use are very experienced, and more to the point, interested in what they do.

I have only ever read about it here.

What is the the particular reason this pops up from time to time and does it matter?

(I take it everyone here uses the stamped or internal measurement of their wheels, not externally across the flanges. There is exactly half an inch difference between measuring internally and externally)

Noel
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: FJmonkey on March 27, 2014, 07:33:03 AM
FYI - Wheel width measurement: Lower part where the bead seats on the wheel.

(http://www.kawiforums.com/attachments/2007-2008-zx-6r/997d1198205531-question-how-measure-wheel-width-rim.jpg)
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: andyb on March 27, 2014, 08:39:52 AM
IIRC, one of the original tires for the FJ (front) was a bridgestone that while being nominally marked as a 120 actually measured closer to a 110.  A 110 should fit very nicely on the 3" wheel, assuming you can get that size in a decent compound/profile.

A 5" rear really should have a 160 on it, the 170 is a mild stretch, but it depends on what you're doing with things.  A 150 is probably closer to correct on the 4.5" wheel.



Also, as an aside, here's another one of those metric vs imperial unit argument places.  We measure nominal tire width in mm, aspect ratio in %, and wheel fitment in in.  Seriously?!  At least it's not the older tire sizing, which I still can't figure out without a chart...  The wheel size is in*in, with brake rotors in mm, using metric hardware but...

Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: andyoutandabout on March 27, 2014, 01:18:20 PM
All interesting comments. I'll flip a coin perhaps. The entire time I've ridden the Fj on 17'' wheels its had 120 front, 170 back. Maybe a 110 front and 150 or 160 rear would be better in some way or maybe I wouldn't notice much of a difference.
Any other ideas or knowledgable input is greatly appreciated.
Andy
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: FJ_Hooligan on March 27, 2014, 01:45:46 PM
Quote from: andyoutandabout on March 27, 2014, 01:18:20 PM
Any other ideas or knowledgable  input is greatly appreciated.

Well, that pretty much slams the door.  :-)
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: FJmonkey on March 27, 2014, 02:45:32 PM
Quote from: andyoutandabout on March 27, 2014, 01:18:20 PM
Any other ideas or knowledgable input is greatly appreciated.

Since this came from Dunlop and not me I will assume that it fits the catagory of "knowledgable"

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire-catalog/sport-trackday-race/sport-touring/roadsmart-ii/ (http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire-catalog/sport-trackday-race/sport-touring/roadsmart-ii/)

Front: 120 for 3.5 wide wheels, 110 for 2.5 to 3.0 wide weels (17" not provided)

Rear: 150 for 4 to 4.5, 160 for 4.5 to 5, 170 for 4.5 to 5.5, 180 for 5.5 to 6.
Title: Re: Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size
Post by: ribbert on March 27, 2014, 06:54:09 PM
Quote from: FJmonkey on March 27, 2014, 02:45:32 PM
Quote from: andyoutandabout on March 27, 2014, 01:18:20 PM
Any other ideas or knowledgable input is greatly appreciated.

Since this came from Dunlop and not me I will assume that it fits the catagory of "knowledgable"

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire-catalog/sport-trackday-race/sport-touring/roadsmart-ii/ (http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire-catalog/sport-trackday-race/sport-touring/roadsmart-ii/)

Front: 120 for 3.5 wide wheels, 110 for 2.5 to 3.0 wide weels (17" not provided)

Rear: 150 for 4 to 4.5, 160 for 4.5 to 5, 170 for 4.5 to 5.5, 180 for 5.5 to 6.

Of the three wheel sizes they recommend for a 110, the 3.0 is the widest, which puts it at the cross over threshold to the next size up.
Something to consider as well, what sort of modern bike has a 18 x 3.0 wheel? Not a pig heavy bike like the FJ that is hard on front tyres anyway.

There is no point to be won or lost here and I stand by by original statement, I don't think it matters. I don't think anyone would argue that a 120 is better suited to the FJ, it's just a matter of whether it is suitable on a 3" rim. I think it is. Tyre choice comes into it a bit as well. In my case I use a GT (for bikes over a certain weight) version of what is a narrow 120 anyway and I wouldn't want it any skinnier.

The anomaly here, by modern bike standards, is the size and weight of the FJ with a 3" wheel. Something modern fitment charts don't necessarily take into account.

Noel