[ktm520]

what up fellas? i just joined the board today. i'm getting ready to order some 17's for my 450e, and i can't decide whether to go with the 5 or the 4.25 rear wheel? i'm pretty sure that the Distanzias will be my tire of choice. will a 160/60 fit in the swingarm without trimming the tire? since i've heard the avons run big, can you put a 150/60 on a 5" rim? what exactly do you all use the trim the edge of tire if needed?

thanks

 

[youngblood]

what exactly do you all use the trim the edge of tire if needed?

The chain, of course!

Sounds like you are riding on the street so go with the widest tire you can clearance and wheel size will allow.

Seriously, I wouldn't attempt to stretch a 150, no matter what brand, over a 5" rim. You will end up with a flat profile tire and that is no way to go. It will be squirrely in the turns and wear out prematurely.

Go with the middle choice of 160s on a 4.5 and you should be fine.

 

[ktm520]

youngblood, thanks for the reply. yes, i will be use the 17's mainly for the street with a few gravel or dirt roads, and no track use.

who makes a 4.5? so far, the best deal i've found are the KTM hardparts wheel sets and they only come in 5 or 4.25.

so, it sounds like its not a big deal to trim a 160 if it is alittle too wide.

 

[rogerb]

FYI...
the 160 Distanzia is BIG, for a 160.
For running around town, etc, and if you're going to run the Distanzia,
go with the 4.25 rim and the 150.
I've used both combinations (on different bikes) and I liked the
150 Distanzia much better.
I have a 5" rim for my 525sx/smc and the 160 Avon does rub a bit unless the whole assy is way back in the swingarm.
I ran the 150 with a 4.25 on my old DR and it felt good.
I don't know if the compounds are different or what, but the 150 even felt softer then the 160?

 

[ThumpinPumpkin]

Distanzias really? I have look at them to but the big block pattern,no center groove scared me away (wet roads...). Have you looked at the Pirelli Corsa?

Well if you can find a 4.50" rear let me know. I could nt find any when I looked for them??? I think the 4.25" will allow you plenty of traction for the street and probably racing. Plus less rotational mass and less unsprung weight. Youngblood is right, it is more about tire profile.

Went for the 5.00 myself on my exc but :hmmm:

 

[rogerb]

To clarify.
I don't run Distanzia's any longer.
I tried the 160 on my KTM because it's a DOT tire,
(my bike is "street legal")
and I was too lazy to change it before I got to the track. The Distanzia, in my opinion, is too hard for the track. I was breaking the back end lose everytime I got it really hard exiting a corner. It felt OK the rest of time.

I'd only mentioned the Avon because "KTM520" said something about using his bike on gravel roads, etc. The Distanzia is a better candiate for offroad use then the Corsa, IMHO...
And again...I felt the 150 was softer then the 160, for some reason :hmmm:
Another tire to consider, if your doing a lot of offroad w/17's, would be the Avon DOT rains! I really like those tires... :thumbup:
(though I'm currently running Pirelli's on the track)

 

[ThumpinPumpkin]

Rogerb havent tried the tires myself so I wasnt trying to piss on your post Just wondered about the wet.

Yeah the dot avon rains look really good. But all the road tires I have used with small block as thread patern wore weired! Like the corners of the block ``lift`` and that before they wore out(not sure how to explain myself clearer) , Is it just me?

 

[K-9]

I think BEHR makes a 4.5, I don't know how to contact them though. sorry

 

[youngblood]

My bad, I meant 4.25 instead of 4.5. I just put a 160 Conti Force SM on my street wheel (a 4.25) and I'm really happy with the handling and grip. I scrubbed it in at Etown last weekend and I must say I am impressed. So much so that I think I'll run one on the front once my rain wears out in a week or two.

While some tires run big, you cannot push the limits. No 150 tire, no matter how big, belongs on a 4.25 rim!