Tire recommendation. GS 300

[78z1joe]

Hi. Bringing a gs 300 as a training bike for new riders. It needs new tires front is a 3.60 -18 and rear is a 4.60-16. It has the mag wheels as it is an L model. Any suggestions for size? And does it need tubes?

Thanks for your help...

[Nessism]

I'd get a 100/90-18 front and 110/90-16 rear. The rim is wide enough to go to a 120 rear but I'm not sure about clearance issues.

[bwringer]

It's gonna be very tough to find that 110/90-16 rear... it's available in a front tire, but not that I can find in a rear. There are some choices in 120/90-16, but the rim is only 2.15 inches wide, so a 120 would be pretty pinched.

You might consider using a front 110/90-16 Avon Roadrider in the rear.

Several of their tire sizes can be used on the front or rear. (You reverse the direction of rotation depending on which end the tire is mounted.)

This size isn't specifically marked as such, but on a small bike with not an overly savage amount of power, I'd be comfortable with it. You might also email Avon USA and see what they say -- they respond to questions pretty quickly.

IRC still sells a 4.60-16 rear, but it's a bit expensive and not a modern tire design.


The GS300 originally came with tubes. The lawyer answer is to install new tubes. But lots of people have converted GS wheels to tubeless with no problems. If you don't have the tools or expertise to do the conversion, you're best off to install tubes.

[Nessism]

A 120 is doable on the rear if there is clearance. I know it's not ideal but my 1000S wears a 120/90-18 on a 2.15" rear wheel. With a 16" rear, the tire overhang is less worrisome too if the tire is too fat for the rim.

[bwringer]

A 120 is doable on the rear if there is clearance. I know it's not ideal but my 1000S wears a 120/90-18 on a 2.15" rear wheel. With a 16" rear, the tire overhang is less worrisome too if the tire is too fat for the rim.

Good to know -- I knew the 1000 wheel was skinny, but I didn't know it was that skinny!

[78z1joe]

"If you don't have the tools or expertise to do the conversion, you're best off to install tubes."


Thanks for the info.....what does it take to do the conversion?

I found a Kenda 120/90-16 and a Pirelli 120/80T-16 or Avon Viper 120/80-16.
I know that the 80 is a lower profile tire. Would this translate into meaning "wider"?

[Nessism]

120 is the width in mm. 80 means the height is 80% as tall as it is wide.

[bwringer]

The 80 series tire requires a MUCH wider rim.

Get the 120/90-16

[Billy Ricks]

The 80 series tire requires a MUCH wider rim.

Get the 120/90-16

What he said, the lower the profile the more the sidewalls will get pinched and you end up losing contact patch with the bike stood up and the profile gets screwed up. The bike will be hard to get to initiate a turn then it will want to fall into the turn when it does lean.

[tkent02]

"If you don't have the tools or expertise to do the conversion, you're best off to install tubes."


Thanks for the info.....what does it take to do the conversion?

It takes a drill and a drill bit.

[78z1joe]

Oh for the valve stem. I can handle that.