Can I run a 150 tire on a 3.5 rim?

[knowyourenemy66]

Searched and could'nt find what size tire I can run on a D.I.D. 3.5" rear rim--laced to a '78 gs1000 hub--putting it on one of my projects--'79 gs750e--running a custom built wide and long swingarm--side clearances won't be a problem--should I run a 140 or possibly a 150? I'm guessing here--help me out guys--thanks!

 

[knowyourenemy66]

forgot to mention--18" rim--thanks!

 

[Tarbash 27]

I would say a low profile tire might work. When I bought my katana, it had a 140/70-17 on it and the rim is 2.5" wide. I than changed it to a 130/90-17.

I think the first gen gsxr ran a 18 x 4.0 rim with a 150/80-18 tire.

I may be wrong here but just wanted to chime in.

 

[posplayr]

I would say a low profile tire might work. When I bought my katana, it had a 140/70-17 on it and the rim is 2.5" wide. I than changed it to a 130/90-17.

I think the first gen gsxr ran a 18 x 4.0 rim with a 150/80-18 tire.

I may be wrong here but just wanted to chime in.

I think it also matters if going radial or bias ply. Radial needs a wider tire of same size. For a radial, 140 might be the max; for bias ply you might go 150

 

[rapidray]

I have a 150 Michelin on my 1150 3.5 wheel. Ray.

 

[salty_monk]

Avon do a Sport Touring Radial that will fit on a 3.5" rim but I couldn't find any other brand radials to fit when I looked...

Dan

 

[sharpy]

depends on how big you like your chicken strips

 

[bwringer]

The rear rim width on my VX800 is 3.5", and the stock tire size is 150/70-17. I've used a couple of different radials (love the Avon Storms), and there's a bias-ply dual sport tire on there now.

With all that said, the "proper" rim width for a 150 tire is around 4 inches, as on the V-Strom. But you won't die right away or anything, as long as there's room between the rim and the swingarm -- the side of the tire tread on the VX800 comes very close to scraping the swingarm.

 

[Guest]

The rear rim width on my VX800 is 3.5", and the stock tire size is 150/70-17. I've used a couple of different radials (love the Avon Storms), and there's a bias-ply dual sport tire on there now.

With all that said, the "proper" rim width for a 150 tire is around 4 inches, as on the V-Strom. But you won't die right away or anything, as long as there's room between the rim and the swingarm -- the side of the tire tread on the VX800 comes very close to scraping the swingarm.

I will be adapting a VX800 rear rim to my GV1200 Madura ... and would love to install a Bridgestone Battleaxe BT-021 160/60ZR17. I can deal with modding the swingarm but am wondering if the 160 is too wide for the 3.5-inch rim (i.e.: slip off the rim, etc.).

 

[Steveb64]

Searched and could'nt find what size tire I can run on a D.I.D. 3.5" rear rim--laced to a '78 gs1000 hub--putting it on one of my projects--'79 gs750e--running a custom built wide and long swingarm--side clearances won't be a problem--should I run a 140 or possibly a 150? I'm guessing here--help me out guys--thanks!

If you've got a wider swingarm and side clearances aren't a problem, then a 150 on a 3.5" is fine. I ran one for years on my spoked 18" rims on my old GSX. Pirelli Phantoms at first, then Michelin A/M59x's (radials). With tubes. No probs. I found Michelin were slightly narrower than other brands - the Pirellis could only fit a 140 - and that was with the rear brake stay arm squashed flat. Chain clearance was a slight problem too...

 

[bwringer]

I will be adapting a VX800 rear rim to my GV1200 Madura ... and would love to install a Bridgestone Battleaxe BT-021 160/60ZR17. I can deal with modding the swingarm but am wondering if the 160 is too wide for the 3.5-inch rim (i.e.: slip off the rim, etc.).

I would wonder about side clearance between the tire and swingarm.

What's wrong with a 150/70-17 BT21? It's just as easily available.

 

[knowyourenemy66]

OK guys--thanks for the feedback--just what I needed, some different points of view and previous experience.

 

[Guest]

I would wonder about side clearance between the tire and swingarm.

I will know in approximately 1 month when I fit the wheel which presently has a 150 tire.

What's wrong with a 150/70-17 BT21?

Nothing ... It most probably will be a 150, but not a 150/70. I will use a 150/60 tire in order to retain similar gear ratio. (The GV1200 wheel is 16-inch.)