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Can You Run Radial Tires on Stock Wheels

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guyver
  • Start date Start date
G

Guyver

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I understand the difference between radial and bias-ply tires and I was wondering if there is any reason that you can't run radial tires on stock wheels, provided that they are the right size.
 
I was hoping to if I could find the right size front tire. It looks like I will be going with the Pirelli Sport Demons (bias-ply) though.

3291403100b.jpg
 
Those Pirelli Sport Demons are great tires. Excellent grip wet or dry, improves your handling and braking considerably. Probably the best choice for the stock rims. :) Shoehorning a 140 radial on the rear rim that's designed for a 130 would be a bad idea - it'd adversely affect the tire's profile and contact patch, leaving you with worse handling. :(

Now if you're willing to do a bit of modfication (GSXR front end + GSXR front and rear wheels), modern sportbike rubber can come into the picture. You could then run a 120 front and 180 rear radial.
 
you can run radials on a stock GS rim ( came with innertubes ) However if you suffer a rapid deflation of the tire there is a chance it can come off of the rim. Rims made for radial tires have an extra ridge to keep the tire from coming off
 
I think you'll find that many dealers won't mount radials on a rim intended for bias ply. Not a problem I guess if you changing them your self. If they do change them for you their taking on a lot of liability if they fail.
 
although not radial, 140/80-17 is a stock size for 1150 EF rear, the front is a 120/80-16 , they don't need to be shoehorned on. I can't tell the difference from the /90's by riding, never tried them back to back. New tires always feel better ...except those michelins, they were a disappointment.
dave
 
I picked up a set of Pirelli Sport Demons yesterday, 110-90/16 front and 150-70/17 rear. They look like good tires and the rubber seems sticky enough and quality made.
 
Guyver said:
I picked up a set of Pirelli Sport Demons yesterday, 110-90/16 front and 150-70/17 rear. They look like good tires and the rubber seems sticky enough and quality made.
Click to expand...

A 150 rear is kinda big for the stock rear rim, no? The stock rear tire size on an 1150 should be a 130/90/17. What size tire is on the rear now?
 
Last edited:
The bike has a 130 rear on it now. However, I had a 150 on my GS1100E and I checked the spacing available for the rear tire on the 1150 and a 150 will fit.
 
Guyver said:
The bike has a 130 rear on it now. However, I had a 150 on my GS1100E and I checked the spacing available for the rear tire on the 1150 and a 150 will fit.
Click to expand...

YMMV as the handling might be a bit off since the tire's profile will be affected from installing a bigger tire than the rim was designed for. But hey, if you're happy with it on the 1100... You could also put a GSXR wheel in the rear and run up to a 180 radial in back.
 
Putting the 150 on the rim intended for a 130 is a bad idea in my opinion. It will have a negative impact on how the bike handles. If you are going to go over size just go one size up instead of two however I always reccomend the stock size tire. Even though the tire will fit in the swingarm doesn't mean it is correct. The profile of the 150 will be greatly altered by forcing it onto such a small rim. The bike will probably feel fine going straight but once you got to turn is when you will notice the problem. Send that 150 back and get the right size tire you won't regret it.
 
I'm going to return the 150 tire and go with the stock size of 130. Thanks Doug, you made me look into it further and measure things out a little more. The outside lip on the mounting bead on the 150 was 4 inches and the outside lip on my rear wheel is about that so it would pinch it a bit.
 
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