[GeneAwrey]

Installed new tires on my bike last week. Not looking to start a debate on what tire size is better. This is the size I wanted to go with for my bike. Personally for my type of riding, I think they are great. I just wanted to make this post with some pictures as when I was looking for information on this tire size (fitment etc) I couldnt find anything.


Installed 120/70R17 and 160/60R17 Continental ContiMotions. Installed them myself. Didnt have any trouble.

 

[GA300RNR]

Looks good - how does it ride on the new tires?

 

[giant]

Looks great ... I had a 160 put on by mistake when having my tyres replaced ... the shop owner picked it up when he was finalising my bill ... he had a look but said the edges were distorted because the rim was pulling the tyre in too far ... so he replaced it with the 150 that I originally asked for ... mind you, the 160 did look good k:

is the tyre edge distorted on yours?

 

[GeneAwrey]

Doesnt have any distortion on the edges. Rides great. I have way more confidence when leaning into corners now. Not necessarilly from the size but just the better tires themselves.

 

[zx3rohio]

Which stock tires did you have?

Also, was installation easy? I'm always worried about scratching my wheel, so I have someone put them on for me. I have one of these tools, but have been afraid to use it and keep taking it to a shop: http://www.motosport.com/bikemaster-3piece-tire-iron-set

 

[GeneAwrey]

Which stock tires did you have?

Also, was installation easy? I'm always worried about scratching my wheel, so I have someone put them on for me. I have one of these tools, but have been afraid to use it and keep taking it to a shop: http://www.motosport.com/bikemaster-3piece-tire-iron-set

I had the 110/70R17 & 140/70R17 IRC RoadWinners. Installation was pretty easy. The tool you have I found to be to thick and makes it difficult. Plus you need more than 1. I use 3 of the spoons shown in the picture below as they are thin and work really wheel. The other 2 pieces are rim protectors that clip on the edge of the wheel so you do not scratch it. Other thing to consider is you need to balance the wheels after. I bought a product called dynabeads which you put inside the tires and they rotate with the tires to keep them balanced. No vibrations with mine so they seem to work good.

 

[Ghostface]

Whoa! 160 is a big time jump from the stock 140s. Have you had any trouble with steering? Is there a possibility that in a lean you could fall over from the unnatural shape of a tyre too big for the rim?

 

[cadd]

How did u break the bead with just the spoons?

 

[Zaph]

How did u break the bead with just the spoons?

Back before I had a dedicated bead breaker, I would just use a 6" clamp and squeeze the bead off.

 

[twystron78]

Have you experienced improvement in road grip and specially under braking ?

 

[howlinhoss]

Back before I had a dedicated bead breaker, I would just use a 6" clamp and squeeze the bead off.

I got a cheapo bead breaker from Harbor Freight. Cheap and does the job.

 

[speedracerx]

I also had my tires Installed 120/60_160/60R17 Conti Motion. I feel more secure on freeways .

 

[cadd]

Back before I had a dedicated bead breaker, I would just use a 6" clamp and squeeze the bead off.

Yup! I did the same. Even with the bead breaker, it's still tough. I didn't want to scratch up the lip of the wheels. My bead breaker is not a dedicated bead breaker. I use the Motion Pro lever (which has a built in bead breaker that will scratch up the inside of the wheel). Which bead breaker do you have? How do you like it?

 

[Zaph]

I use a Pit Posse Bead breaker. Works pretty good. Used it a lot when I was burning up race tires every 2 days on my 675R. It's not breaking my heart that a set of race tires lasts so long on the 300! Also, I favor Xtra Slik bead lube. With enough lube, you can do anything.

 

[cadd]

That's what she said.

I use windex!

 

[Zaph]

Oh man, try some bead lube. A gallon of Extra Slik is only $12 at Autozone and works so much better than Windex. Give it a try.

Some people like No Mar lube paste, but it's $42 a gallon and it doesn't clean up well. It's essentially grease, while the Extra Slik stuff is closer to a soapy feel and can be washed off easy after you're done.

 

[Neanderthal]

Oh man, try some bead lube. A gallon of Extra Slik is only $12 at Autozone and works so much better than Windex. Give it a try.

Some people like No Mar lube paste, but it's $42 a gallon and it doesn't clean up well. It's essentially grease, while the Extra Slik stuff is closer to a soapy feel and can be washed off easy after you're done.

I'm getting low on my No-Mar lube (it's actually vegetable-based) and might give the Extra Slik a try. Have you ever used RU Glyde? If so, how does it compare to the Extra Slik?

 

[TB300]

Installed new tires on my bike last week. Not looking to start a debate on what tire size is better. This is the size I wanted to go with for my bike. Personally for my type of riding, I think they are great. I just wanted to make this post with some pictures as when I was looking for information on this tire size (fitment etc) I couldnt find anything.

I know this is two years old but I’m glad I found this post. Everyone has said you can’t fit a 160 rear tire on a 300 when clearly you can. And what people don’t bother to tell you is that the chain cover is just plastic. Easily modified if need be to fit a 160 rear tire!!!

 

[mj300noob]

I have had 2 sets of 120/70 / 160/60 diablo rosso III's and I'm shopping for new tires now. dunlop, pirelli, something. My current tires have about 1" of chicken strips, so I can lean pretty good on the pirelli's, but I'm no racer and I haven't ever leaned so much to touch my knee or anything. Maybe on a track I'd try, but not on open road. My cousin is more aggressive than I and he also leans as much as he feels comfortable. He says the grip on my bike is good, but he doesn't know (on a bike with smaller tires than his bike) if he should lean more --- he didn't want to try and end up putting it down. But to me - compared to the stock tires in the beginning - I love the diablo rosso's. I love the grip. They feel softer and I feel more comfortable and confident leaning into turns. I shouldn't change what's working, but I've heard good things about Dunlop, so I may try a different brand of tire.