Someone school me on bike tires!

Hi guys,

I ended up buying an '82 suzuki GN250 for my first bike. It's not a Kaw, believe me I was leaning that way but the suzuki was the best value for me. Hopefully my disloyalty won't prevent my getting some good answers here.

The bike needs a new rear tire. The standard size is 4.60S16 4PR. The rims are spoked so I'm fairly certain I need to run tubes in the tires. In looking for tires on line I've found this size is nearly impossible to find. The closest metric size I believe is 120/80-16 but due to the fact that there's no aspect ratio specified in the stock size, I'm not sure this size is right. Is it? Also, can I use a tubeless tire with a tube? I found a nice pirelli MT 75 for a good price but I'm not sure it would work. How much should I expect to be charged to mount and balance a rear tire? (I'm in Westchester NY)

Any other tire considerations that I haven't addressed? Are the stock tires on my bike radial or bias ply? Can I mix the two?

Thanks in advance!

Alot of times a tubeless tire has a different bead size for the rims.
so when you do get tires make sure you get some for tubes.
Look around at Kendas, they are inexpesive, long lasting and i run em on all my bikes.
Yours is a 250CC, you wont ever go 135 MPH so the Kendas will be fine. thay also hold up in corners pretty well.
I use Kenda Challengers, but you may need to look at Kenda Kruz.

Yes, you CAN use tubes in many tubeless tires. In fact, many tires state right on the sidewall "If fitted to tube type rims, install a properly sized tube" or words to that effect.
4.6" x 25.4mm/inch = 116.84mm so a 120mm width tire will be close enough and should/should fit okay. Your 4.60 tire is/was a 100% aspect ratio tire. IOW, it's as tall as it is wide. The 120/90 x 16 has a 90% aspect ratio so it's only 80% as tall as it is wide. Thus, the overall diameter and circumference of the 120 tire will be somewhat smaller than than the original 4.60 tire....but not enough to worry about typically.
Your bike originally came with bias ply tires and the front is probably still a bias ply, so, NO/NO/NO, it's not okay to mix bias plys with radials. Just like a car you should NOT under any circumstances mix tires of different types of construction.
The "S" is a speed rating designation and IIRC equates to a tire capable of sustaining 100 MPH. This rating is pretty much obsolete these days and most tires carry an "H" speed rating which means they can sustain speeds of up to 130 MPH safely.
I have no idea as to what the shops in your area would charge to mount a tire bought over the Internet....but I know that many shops will not even undertake such work due to liability/traceability concerns. Things may be different where you live, though.

Thanks for the help. After extensive research I found a Kenda Challenger in 120/90-16 for about $40. Another $45 to get it mounted (if I pull and only bring the wheel - 1.5 Hrs labor if I bring the bike).

On my 78 KZ650, which has tubed rims and tires, I mounted the tires myself. It wasn't that difficult. If you've ever done bicycle tires, it's pretty much the same thing, only a little more difficult. On the rear rim the tire lock thingies are a pain in the neck. But, with patience you can do this. I did not and do not have any 'special' tools. Screwdrivers, spray bottle of soapy water for slippery, etc. and carefulness. I did not balance my tires and so far that hasn't been a problem. However, you might check at the price to have a tire balanced. That does require special tools which for most of us are cost prohibative to purchase for the amount of use we'd get from one.
Good Luck!
Terry!
PS. I highly advice getting the big rubber band thingy that fits on the rim and protects the tube from the spoke ends. The old one on your rim is probably not in good shape and for it's cost, I think it's a no brainer to replace it with the tire and tube. Flats on a motorcycle are not fun!!

Damn, I didn't order a rim strip. Maybe I can pick one up at a shop around here. I've become relatively proficient at changing bicycle tires (I've been commuting and road riding on a bicycle for years). I think changing the tire myself might be fun. Did you use a tire iron or a screwdriver to get the old tire off the rim?

What exactly do you mean by "tire lock thingies"?

I doubt a 250 has tire locks. If you do, what they are is rubber wedges that are tightened to force the tire outwards to lock the bead against the wheel. Kawasaki uses 2 of them on most tube type wheels. You can tell if you have them by simply looking at your wheel. You have the rubber valve stem sticking out of the wheel, if you have 2 bolts sticking out similarly 180 degrees apart around the wheel, these are the locks.
To change tires you need tire irons and need to know the right way to use them or you will pinch tubes. I was changing my own tires when I was 13 yrs old on a motorcycle and even to this day will still pinch a tube once in a while. Same idea as a bicycle except 10 times as much effort involved to lever the tire on/off.

My KL250 has rim locks, but it's more dirt oriented.

The 650B has them and the SR (cast wheels) does not.

Kawasaki seemed to love rim locks on spoked wheels.

Strangely enough, my 650C2 has rim locks on both of its stock unmolested cast wheels!!! I think this was probably a "lawyer thing" wherein the Big K's lawyers got more or less scared from year to year....and fought with the accountants on which bike/wheel combos got rim locks....or not.
My .02 worth....

Rim locks will only be found on rear wheels and on Kawasaki as far as I can tell were only used on 18" wheels. 16" never used them.

del

You're right on the CSR. I looked at other 16s and none had them that I could find.