[tundrafiend01]

Greetings:

I am preparing to purchase a new set of tires for a '99 EX500. The purpose of this post is to determine the widest size as well as the size people have had the best results with. I am currently eyeing the 110/70/17 for the front and the 150/70/17 for the rear.

For members with the 150 tire on the rear, were there any modifications necessary for this tire to fit correctly? Also, where did you find the best price for these tires?

Thanks for your time!

 

[knightslugger]

I didn't have the Demons, but i did have a 150/60 on the back. No modification required, fit in just fine.

have you looked at http://www.americanmototire.com/ ? good prices!

 

[Mad Matt]

+1 on the 150/60 rear. I have Michelin H2's and they have been great. In fact I got them after reading KS's recommendation. www.motorace.com may still have them on clearance for $130 per set delivered. Whatever you settle on I'd seriously consider some radials. It's like a new bike.

Mad Matt

 

[gsjack]

Previous postings on the old EXriders.com forum indicated the 150/70 rear would not fit the Ninja 500 but the 150/60 would? Many are running the 150/60 on the EX500.

 

[tundrafiend01]

Thanks for the quick replies, suggestions, and links. Instead of the sport demons, I think I'm going to get the Diablos.

Thanks again!

 

[knightslugger]

either way, you're getting a good tire.

 

[Mad Mike]

Is there any performance benefit to the 150 over the 130 for a rear tire or is it just that there are more and better options in the 150 size?

 

[knightslugger]

well, a 150 DOES make the tire turn in quicker, but honestly for street riding i wouldn't bank too much on that one. good for the track, meh on the street.

and yes there are a ton of better options in the 150, like the Pilot Powers.

 

[Janinja]

Just to reitterate. The pirellit sport demons WILL NOT FIT in the 150/70/17 size. The 70 is the problem, replace that number with a 60 and your all set. Unfourtuantley the demons dont come in that size, so you get the 140/70/17 which will fit. Being a bias ply its one of the best spourt/tourer tires out there. They give excellent mileage, and are much much more gripier than stock. Water is also a breeze with these. I persoanlly run the 150's on mine, in a radial michlen tire, it makes the bike a little snazier looking, but performance wise besides being stickier to the road, bigger does not equal more traction on this 3.5" wide rim.

Janinja

 

[gospeed81]

I know this is an old topic, but hopefully KS will reply.

I'm due for tires and chain/sprockets(see other thread), and wanted to check my tire sizes.

Looking at the Avon am26 as I need to get a lot of miles out of them, and don't carve the curves up as much as I'd like. You should see my poor pirellis, they are friggin flat in the middle, with like new tread on the outside. When I do lean over pretty far now I can feel that nice ridge where there is very little contact patch, and then it leans over all at once on the near virgin rubber. Anyhow,

Found:

110/70-17 front
150/70-17 rear

After reading around it's not real important to me to have a 150 out back, especially since with this model tire I can't get down to a 60% profile, and don't want to have clearance or fit problems.

I was originally looking for some kind of Mettzler I heard about that has two different compounds, one really hard one in the middle for long highway miles, and a softer outside compound for turning. I couldn't find the exact one (think it was the old me880) in our sizes, and the ones I did find were hella expensive. Has anybody tried these? If so what was your mileage? Also, if anyone has tried the Avons, what was your mileage as well, and would the upgrade to mettzlers or the like be marginal?

Thanks again,
-Damon

 

[tonykz1]

Well, you might look at the Bridgestone BT-45s as they have the dual compound like you're speaking of. I've ran them and they seem to work pretty well. I'm currently running a set of Kenda K-671s so far they're wearing very well and have good traction too.
Tony

 

[fog]

I would suggest a 120 front. When you have a 150 rear,as the radius of the tires is important to handling. The radius of the 150 rear will cause the 110 front to push or act sluggish. Go with the 120 front and raise the rear 1 1/2" (shamless plug)

FOG

 

[JimmyD]

+1 on the 120/150 combo.

 

[2001ex500]

++1 on 120/150 and dogbones too

 

[knightslugger]

i never used a 120. maybe i should have...

 

[JimmyD]

I've honestly never used anything but stock sizes on all my bikes, but some cruiser buddies who are into the fat rear tire thing mount a 200+ rear and stay with the stock front. It's like riding a sled.

 

[knightslugger]

I've honestly never used anything but stock sizes on all my bikes, but some cruiser buddies who are into the fat rear tire thing mount a 200+ rear and stay with the stock front. It's like riding a sled.

i never understood putting a big tire out back. my brother wants to get a 300 series on a chopper soft tail.

why??! it'll be done in like 5000 miles and he'll have to spend $400 just on the rear tire alone...! i don't really think it looks cool at all to be honest...

 

[JimmyD]

Moto-penis syndrome I guess. Thats how I explain the custom bike crowd anyway (all of which have, at a minimum, a 250 rear)

 

[Ninja Johnny]

I would suggest a 120 front. When you have a 150 rear,as the radius of the tires is important to handling. The radius of the 150 rear will cause the 110 front to push or act sluggish. Go with the 120 front and raise the rear 1 1/2" (shamless plug)

FOG

So if I go with the 140-70-17 in the rear, can I keep the 110 in the front, or should I go with the 120?

 

[redkow97]

based on what FOG said, you CAN keep it, but it will feel better if you go to a 120.

and if you think about what he's saying, it makes sense. Take an EXTREME example (i like to do this a lot to demonstrate points). Think if you've got a 250 rear and a 110 front. When that 250 leans over, it's got a much much wider surface to rotate upon. you're literally leaning further off-center. Assuming your alignment is good, the wider rear means that the front is now being 'pulled' into the turn more by the rear. the 120 up front will come closer to matching the curve of the rear (a 110 being more crowned), which will make the bike feel slightly different in turns.

for street use, I say keep your 110 until it wears out. Heck, you'll probably need another rear before then anyway...

If you're tracking the bike, that 'feel' might be a big issue for you, and it might be something you just get used to - but teh 120/150 combo should be better just because the curve of the tires are more closely matched.

a lot of this is going to be personal preference though. While I absolutely respect FOG's advice on such issues, his preferences won't always match yours.

Give it a try with teh 110. You can always buy a 120 later.