AM52 rear tire :-( Lasertec rear tire :-)

[gsJack]

From previous thread:

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21607

With another switch in brands, Jack, would you mind posting your preference ranking of the tires you've run off your bike.  

Following your posts over the years, it seems you're still hunting for the better tire than the last one you've worn out.  

Since there are new and better tires on the market almost yearly, I'll always be searching for the best tires for my use which may or may not be best for others.   I have averaged just under 16k miles per year for the past 21 years and just won't use tires that would require buying three expensive sets of tires a year, so I really don't have experience based opinions on the all out sport type tires.  Pablo and quite a few others here do.

Besides being a bit better all around in performance, the sport touring radials stand out in 2 particular areas I've noticed over bias type sport touring tires.  Wet performance (hate slowing down travelling in the rain:-)and also they smooth out those road construction grooves and other road  irregularities to where they are almost unnoticed.  

My 02 GS became very nasty handling on the construction grooves with the squared off AM52 rear tire and with replacement of the rear with the 150/70 Lasertec it has become just about as good as the radials were.  So the problem was not at all with the AM51 front which I'm stilll running. I think the Lasertecs will rate quite high overall, but will wait judgement till I've put one on the front and worn them out next season.

Tires I've used on the GSs so far and miles used:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/97GStirelog.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/02GStirelog.jpg

My ranking so far for my type of use:

1.  AV45/46 Avon ST radials

2.  MEZ4/Z2 sport touring radials

3.  ME33/ ME88 Metzelers for longer life with good handling.  Consider Lasretec/ME880 combo now for long life but gives very tall 130/90 or 140/80 rear tire.

4.  BT45

5.  AM51/52

6.  OEM Excedras

7.  K491 rear.  Very long lasting but too slick for GS500s handling.  Worked good on my previous old Hondas though.  <G>

The ME33 front was the most even wearing front tire I've had on the GSs, most other fronts wore very unevenly for me.  Main reason for my trying the Lasertecs, the front has same ME33 type tread pattern.

The BT010 front was put on the 97 because it was immediately available locally and the more responsive handling of this sport radial is quite noticeable over the sport touring radials.  If you ride less miles per year or have lots of tire bucks, you might enjoy the all out sport radials although the rear tire size will be a compromise on our 3.5" wheels.

[ditchdoc1017]

Nice report Jack Thanks.I just put pilot powers on mine rode about 75 miles on them thru some big twisty.Man they stick good, hope they hold together.

[cheesy]

I used the AV45/46 on my gs and LOVED them.

[Frost]

they dont' make Z4 anymore right?...anyone tried the new Z6?...does it fit?

[gsJack]

they dont' make Z4 anymore right?...anyone tried the new Z6?...does it fit?

The Z6 front would fit of course but it might be necessary to grind off the brake torque rod a bit for clearance for the Z6 rear.  Should be easy to do.

The new 150/70 rear Lasertec on my 02 is 149 mm wide on a 4" wheel which would be 144 mm wide on my 3.5" rear wheel.  The 140/80 rear AV36 on my 97 GS is also 144 mm wide on the 3.5" wheel.  Both have just enough clearance to get by and the 150/70 Z6 as well as the 150/70 AV46 are both a few mm wider and probably would rub on the brake rod unless it was ground off a bit.

The 150/70 Pilot Road rear is the same dimensions, both width and diameter, as the Lasertec and should likewise fit OK.  A friend just got 14k miles from the OEM set on his SV1000.  I'd like to try them some year.  

[ditchdoc1017]

My our 150/60/17 look good.

[gsJack]

Anyone wanting to try out some good sport radials can get a real bargain from Moto Race right now on leftover Pilot Sports. A set of 110/70 and 150/60 Pilot Sports for about $140 plus shipping for the pair.

http://www.motorace.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Category_Code=MTSBT