Phoned tire shop but I dont know what size

[chiz]

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 

[aviationfred]

The tire sizes for your wheels should be....

120/70/17 front

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

Fred

[andyoutandabout]

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

[chiz]

Thanks Guys

[the fan]

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.

[Tiger]

  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.

[andyoutandabout]

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

[FJmonkey]

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.

[Pat Conlon]

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

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?

[ribbert]

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

[FJmonkey]

FYI - Wheel width measurement: Lower part where the bead seats on the wheel.

[andyb]

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...

[andyoutandabout]

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

[FJ_Hooligan]

Any other ideas or knowledgable input is greatly appreciated.

Well, that pretty much slams the door.  :-)

[FJmonkey]

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/

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.