Anyone know about Dunlop GT501s?

[nurider]

The guy at the stealership recommends those.

[nurider]

and now a ? about the max sizes

The manual says
110/80 17 front
140/80 17 rear

and lists Dunlop (K655F front and K655 rear) and Metzeler (ME33 front and ME55A rear). These may not even be available any more.

Any reason to even get a 140 for the rear?
Sounds like the max for the front are 120. Correct?

[HS2020]

I have used the tires that they replaced and they worked great. You can put a 110/70 on the front and a 150/70 or 150/60 on the rear and be just fine. Gives you more tire options. I would go with the M1 sporttechs from Metzeler. They are a good tire. You can not go wrong with the GT 501's either. I have never ridden on those but they will be just fine.

[The CyberPoet]

The 501GT's will work, but I refuse to recommend bias tires for Katana riders because when a bias tire loses air, it quickly deforms, while a radial retains it shape significantly better (this means if you're in a turn when the tire gets punctured, you'll probably make it through on the radial, and you'll probably bite it with a bias tire). One of our riders [kwebbel] has great pics about this -- his tire took a 2.25" long x 1/2" gash in it during a high speed curve (truck part laying in the road) and he didn't wipe at all because the [radial] tire held it's shape until he came to a stop.

Personally, my recommendation for your bike is:
120/70ZR17 Metzeler Z6 front
150/70ZR17 Metzeler Z6 rear.
Note that the "R" stands for Radial.

Careful on the ME33 & 330 /ME55 & 550 -- I didn't think they're still weight-rated for the Kat's operating load. I know they're definitely not marketed for it as the preferred tire anymore.

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[nurider]

.....

Personally, my recommendation for your bike is:
120/70ZR17 Metzeler Z6 front
150/70ZR17 Metzeler Z6 rear.
Note that the "R" stands for Radial.

.....

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

Cyber,

I'm leaning towards the Z6s. For a 97 K600, is a 120 ok for the front?

[ThAzKat]

you will slow the turning down a tad but not really noticeable. 120 will work!

[The CyberPoet]

Cyber,

I'm leaning towards the Z6s. For a 97 K600, is a 120 ok for the front?

You can push the numbers on either end by one width-step safely. Thus, a 120 will fit where a 110 was stock. The change from 110/80 to a 120/70 will also keep the outer edge of the tire in approximately the same location as previously (110mm x 80% = 88mm; 120mm x 70% = 84mm), meaning you won't have a huge glaring change in the speedo. Additionally, depending on the tire brand and make you previously had, you will probably find the handling better (sharper) due to the triple-apex design and wider footprint that the 120/70 will have.

PS - if I didn't think it was ok, I wouldn't have recommended it for your bike.

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet