Not a tire thread

[roverfj1200]

I don't want to start a tire thread and I hope this doesn't go that way.

So this is more a rim thread and I won't ask which oil do I use either.

5" rims.... I run a 5" rim on my 91 upon which I have mounted a 160 60 17. It would seem that I can out ride this tire. Leaning right to the edge where the tire looses grip and slips in corners. ( I think that is what happens)

So my question is what is the ideal tire to run on this rim?

Now keep it clean!

[Urban_Legend]

One with more edge grip sounds good to me. 

[T Legg]

I don't know what size tires would be best for your rim but here is an illustration of the effect of different width rims with the same size tire mounted on them.

[oldktmdude]

   Richard, a tyre width of 170 would have a more rounded profile on the 5" rim than the 160 which would have a very flat profile in comparison.
I think a 60 profile would be about right. My TDM has a 5" rear wheel and Yamaha recommend a 170 tyre width.

  Regards, Pete.

[ribbert]

  Richard, a tyre width of 170 would have a more rounded profile on the 5" rim than the 160 which would have a very flat profile in comparison.
I think a 60 profile would be about right. My TDM has a 5" rear wheel and Yamaha recommend a 170 tyre width.

  Regards, Pete.

Pete, what do you run on the FJ?

Richard, do not be unduly influenced by rim/tyre size charts as a guide, they do not take into account that anything running 5" rims these days weighs substantially less and does not make the power of an FJ. I've ridden an FJ with a 160, it felt very squirrelly under power in corners, I'm not surprised you are out-riding it.

Noel

[Hersey289]

Well, I've run 170 60 17 tires from numerous quality sport touring tire manufacturers on my 5" wide rim. I ride them to the edges as well but they all performed well. Perhaps I don't ride as aggressively  but I still have fun! My '85 has 1200 engine installed so similar power and torque I would imagine. I would not use a wider tire on this rim.
Hope this helps,
Rob

[Pat Conlon]

My first rim swap on my '84 was a YZF600 5" wide rim.
A 170/60 tire was perfect.  Absolutely perfect.

I think the 170/60 on a 5" rim makes the FJ a tad bit more nimble than my current 180/55 on a 5.5".

[oldktmdude]

  Richard, a tyre width of 170 would have a more rounded profile on the 5" rim than the 160 which would have a very flat profile in comparison.
I think a 60 profile would be about right. My TDM has a 5" rear wheel and Yamaha recommend a 170 tyre width.

  Regards, Pete.

Pete, what do you run on the FJ?

Richard, do not be unduly influenced by rim/tyre size charts as a guide, they do not take into account that anything running 5" rims these days weighs substantially less and does not make the power of an FJ. I've ridden an FJ with a 160, it felt very squirrelly under power in corners, I'm not surprised you are out-riding it.

Noel

Noel, i've been using Michelin Road 5's since just before the Rally in March. Done about 4,000km's on them and must say I'm no entirely satisfied with them.
Had more than 1 or 2 slides in the wet and a slide or 2 when I thought the tyre's had warmed up. My all time favourite tyres were the Metzeler Z8's which are no longer available. (so I'm told)
   Regards, Pete.

[Millietant]

My 5" rim is as used on the Fazer (FZS) 600 and Thundercat (YZF) 600.

For the Fazer, (upright, alrounder sport-tourer type bike) Yamaha put a 160/60x17 tyre on it from the factory.

For the Thundercat (leaned over sports type bike....the Yamaha 600 Supersport before the R6) Yamaha put a 170/60x17 tyre on it from the factory.

So I'd guess both tyres will perform properly on a 5" rim, but their turning characteristics etc will obviously be different. Yamaha intended the Thundercat to be an out an out sports bike, turning quicker and having more edge grip than the Fazer, which was expected to spend more time in town and on the motorways/interstates than such as the Thundercat.

I'm running a 170/60x17 on my 3CV (with the FZR USD front end and wheel) and absolutely love the way the bike turns, holds a line and grips. 

[roverfj1200]

Pete Met Z8 still available here

https://www.motorcycletyrewarehouse.com.au/metzeler-sports-touring-tyres#/pageSize=48&viewMode=grid&orderBy=0&pageNumber=1

Pair

https://www.motorcycletyrewarehouse.com.au/metzeler-sportec-z8-pair-deal-12070-17-18055-17

[ribbert]

  Richard, a tyre width of 170 would have a more rounded profile on the 5" rim than the 160 which would have a very flat profile in comparison.
I think a 60 profile would be about right. My TDM has a 5" rear wheel and Yamaha recommend a 170 tyre width.

  Regards, Pete.

Pete, what do you run on the FJ?

Richard, do not be unduly influenced by rim/tyre size charts as a guide, they do not take into account that anything running 5" rims these days weighs substantially less and does not make the power of an FJ. I've ridden an FJ with a 160, it felt very squirrelly under power in corners, I'm not surprised you are out-riding it.

Noel

Noel, i've been using Michelin Road 5's since just before the Rally in March. Done about 4,000km's on them and must say I'm no entirely satisfied with them.
Had more than 1 or 2 slides in the wet and a slide or 2 when I thought the tyre's had warmed up. My all time favourite tyres were the Metzeler Z8's which are no longer available. (so I'm told)
   Regards, Pete.

Thanks Pete, you and I have similar expectations and demands of our tyres and I always have a lot of faith in your reviews, they always turn out to be spot on.


There are 3 bikes in the garage with recently fitted Metz 01's and it's coming on Winter so I won't need tyres for a while, but I might give the Mich 5's a go next time. Your satisfaction with them, unless you've slowed down , is high praise indeed. As you may remember, I didn't like the Mich 4's and had them on two bikes at the same time and had both of them let go enough times in the dry to conclude it was the tyres.

What size rear do you have on the FJ?

Noel

[oldktmdude]

   Thanks Richard, I've bought all my FJ tyres from Nigel since the day we met him. The last Z8 Alf bought from him, was made in China
(previously made in Germany) so I haven't looked into buying any more Z8's. I was also told by an (turns out) unreliable source, that they were no longer available.
 
Noel, you may have not read my previous post correctly. I said that I was NOT entirely satisfied with the Road 5's. As for the Metzeler 01 I had a problem with them wearing flat across the tread after only riding between home and Melbourne. (about 800 kms). Fantastic dry handling, turn in and wet weather performance but the flat wearing thread did not impress me. I have never had a rear tyre wear like that, as you know, we hardly ever ride in a straight line and
rarely at posted speed. Interesting to see if you have a similar wear issue. Ended up getting around 9,000 km's out of them so a good lasting tyre.  
  Regards, Pete.

[fj-f3a]

I am presently running a 160/60 17 on my 5" rim as my regular supplier had no 170/60's available at the time.
I do recall checking out the Metzelers, not sure if it was the O1 or Z8,  but I seem to remember that a 180/55 measured 186mm at its widest, which would cause chain clearance problems for me.

The road 5 measures 180mm at it widest and has no clearance issues.

Every tire manufacture, from what I have personally seen, manufactures their top performance tires in a 180/55 17, 120/70 17 combination and they seem to be readily available almost everywhere.

The same can not be said for the 170/60 17. IMO

BTW and FWIW, the 160/60 look and feels OK on the 5" rim, but then again, I do not ride the bike like a Cruise Missile.

I do have a 5" and 5.5" rim I can use.

Gavin.