tires

Ok gents and ladies maybe someone could help me I'm looking to change the back tire bit I would like a wider back then stock (150/90 15) I was told to only go up 1 that would be a 160/90 15 and as they don't make them for a 15 I seen a 170/80 15 and woundered if it would fit on the back with all stock meaning frame and fender without having to mod anything. As I am new to doing this I was hopeing someone who knows what they are doing could help.asked shops and was told they couldn't tell me as it would be a liability.

A 170/80 x 15 tyre would be 20 mm wider than the 150 section, that's 10 mm either side, if you've got 10mm clearance with swing arm, chain, suspension and mudguard your good to go, It will affect the cornering slightly but not a great deal.

Thank you for your quick answer.but old tire is off and gone so I don't know if I have 10 mm on sides. Something I should have measured prior.

Hi frank,
Metzeler ME 880 Marathon`s are a popular aftermarket tyre to fit,, the Metzeler in standard size (150/90 15) has a pronounced ridge on the sidewall (a few mm either side) and this can rub on the inner wheel arch and usually wares through the left rear indicator wires,, apparently from the factory a lot of the VZ800 rear mud guard is set slightly off centre and is kinked to the right a little. My VZ 800 did exactly that ,,, i remedied it by putting a scissor jack up in the rear wheel arch between the mud guard rails and pushed them apart a little. The point i am trying to make frank is that if a standard size tyre catches you will have to be careful putting a larger tyre on, its not only the space between the swing as Sim quite rightly said but also the inner edge of the mud guard when the bikes suspension is working, fat gits like me doesen`t help matters,,, Hind site is a wonderfull thing mate but it would have helped you to measure it before the tyre went, but you now have food for thought,,, good luck mate.

A much wider tyre is very often not as wide when fitted as it might at first  be sold as. The reason for this is that a narrow rim on a fatter tyre will shrink the width and instead add height.