Yup. I was running stock everything. Honestly, the 150 doesn't seem much wider than the 130 that was on it before. Maybe its the bias vs. radial ply, but I figure one could even go up to 160 without any fitment issues.

 

Well I hadn't thought much of it but after reading this thread I looked and this is what I found the scoot...
rear,160/60ZR17



Front,120/60ZR17



both radials as you can see no clearance issues and I was a bit shocked to see it fit

 

The most important issue everyone needs to be aware of is that when switching to radials they are designed to use a wider wheel vs. the same size in bias ply. The spec to pay attention to is the recommended rim width. Not always easy to obtain depending on the manufacturer, but it's important to know because the stock wheels are very narrow compared to any of the newer 600's with 17" wheels.

I have a set of Avon Azaro radials in 110/80-17 & 140/80-17 on mine and both wheels were at the max recommended rim width for these tires. I think a 150/70 radial would be about the max, and in bias ply the 150/70 is a perfect match for the stock wheel. Using a tire size outside the recommended rim width will deform the tire contact patch & not provide the best handling.. whether or not you notice the difference?

I haven't seen any 120/60 or 160/60 tires that weren't made for a 1/2 to 1 inch wider wheel. The bike would probably handle better with a 110/80 & 140/80 - 150/70 setup. The 140/80 tire is taller & raises the rear 8mm, the 150/70 is the same height as the stock tire. The 110/70 front is 11mm shorter sidewall height than the stock size.

 

So in your opinion Michelin PILOT ROAD 2 FRONT 110/70 ZR17 TL 54 and Michelin PILOT ROAD 2 REAR 150/70 ZR17 TL 69 is a good way to go?

 

Just want to add that I in no way endorse the tires on my bike just stating what I found out ,furthermore they are worn out and are get'n replaced with new ones closer to those stated in earlier posts

 

I should also add I had no intention of being condescending or anything like that with my previous post. This subject just happens to be in my area of expertise, and it's very important considering your tires are the only connection between your moto and the pavement. I'm not interested in boosting my ego or anything like that, so I hope nobody reads into it the wrong way

With that said, I don't know the specs on the Pilot Road 2 tires so I can't offer any input to them specifically. I wasn't able to find the recommended rim width measurement from a quick search, so I would suggest contacting Michelin directly and asking for the recommended rim width on those sizes & go from there. Not all tires have the same spec including those within the same brand, and I don't want to give you the wrong info.

 

Not intending to start a big discussion, but I thought there was a ton of info here about recommended tires sizes that fit the stock wheels properly and provide the best handling. Recommended sizes for stock F1 wheels are 110 up front and 130 rear.


Exceeding the manufacturer's recommended sizes is not a good idea and even the tire manufacturer's list recommended sizes based on wheel width.


Pinching a fatter tire onto a skinny rim is not a good idea because it changes the side profile of the tire and actually changes tire contact on the road and effects handling and can damage the tire. When the tire is pinched into an egg shape the side contact when cornering is lower on the tire...this could be a big problem in certain situations.


All of the width numbers being discussed are much wider than the recommended tires for the F1.

 

Kind of comparing apples and oranges with bias and radial though. If you want to play it safe... get a 130 rear bias ply. The 130 bias was recommended because that's all there was at the time. Radials tend to have more flex, so can be a bit more forgiving to the stresses they face in riding.

MANY people have used radials (including 'oversized' ones like mine) for many miles without issue. As stated above, different manufacturers will have different profiles. YMMV.

I looked into my tires (Conti MotionPro, 110/70 and 150/70) and saw what the fitment guide stated for the F1... here you go.

 

I thought the stock F1 wheels were 2.5" and 3.5" something not right about those numbers you posted.

 

Checked this morning, front is 3.5" and rear is 4.5"