Tire prices vs tire life

[3imo]

Do you know of a cheap tire designed for a long life?

I bought my rear tire last year and already need to replace it.  bald as a marble.  I have a spare silver rim with a few miles on it so i'm gonna run that for a while.

I ride the GS everyday, everywhere, rain or shine.  although I own 3 cages.   I just prefer the bike.

[pantablo]

sport touring tires are what you want. long life at the expense of high lean angle stickiness...

[ukchickenlover]

The sport touring tyres are actually quite grippy and you shouldn't have a problem with them. To save money buy the tyres mail order and take them to the mechanic to fit them.

[JamesG]

What was the tire that you have now?

Cheap tires aren't nessisarily long lasting. Plus expensive tires are alot cheaper than parts and hospital bills...

I really liked Dunlop D205s, thier previous gen. sport-touring tire. Comes in GS sizes and sticks/lasts very well.

[galahs]

Not having much to compare it to, but the Bridgestone's on the 2005 GS500F BT45's seem to be a good tyre compromise.

[Egaeus]

Do they make cheap tires? 

I put a pair of BT 45s on my bike.  I've used everything but the last 1/2 inch on either side, and I've never had a problem.  I got them based on their longevity.  They weren't what I'd consider cheap.  I'm sure they were less than Sport Demons though.

[runsilent]

The bias ply sport touring tires in OE sizes are all priced about the same.  Last time I looked, a rear at AMT was:

BT45   $85
Lasertec   $98
Demon   $90
Activ  $89

The BT45 was/is a good tire but the other 3 are all more up to date in materials and construction.  The BT45 is getting a bit dated now.

http://www.americanmototire.com/

The 150/70 sport touring radials will give you about 50% more life for a little more cost:

Diablo Strada  $110
Z6  $120
Pilot Road  $122

Can be cheaper in the long run considering shipping, mounting, and balance costs.

There are a couple of older model tires that will give you decent handling and longer life than the sport touring bias tires if you are a commuter and not a peg dragger with very good prices at Chaparral:

D404  $51
S-11  $66
These are 130/90 sizes and will raise the rear of your bike about 1" over OE sizes.

http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/dept.asp?dept_id=456&mscssid=0C337EFBD88984B99963AA0CAEFB8CF5&Gift=false&GiftID=

Revised prices, they are more everytime I look.      I always check price at several places after deciding which tire I want.

[galahs]

Can you get a radial in our stock sizes.

From searching this forum I noticed most say you have to upgrade to a 140 rear. Correct?

[Egaeus]

The bias ply sport touring tires in OE sizes are all priced about the same.  Last time I looked, a rear at AMT was:

BT45   $85
Lasertec   $90
Demon   $85
Activ  $89

The BT45 was/is a good tire but the other 3 are all more up to date in materials and construction.  The BT45 is getting a bit dated now.

http://www.americanmototire.com/

Sport touring radials will give you about 50% more life for a little more cost:

Diablo Strada  $98
Z6  $109
Pilot Road  $114

Can be cheaper in the long run considering shipping, mounting, and balance costs.

There are a couple of older model tires that will give you decent handling and longer life than the ST bias tires if you are a commuter and not a peg dragger with very good prices at Chaparral:

D404  $51
S-11  $66
These are 130/90 sizes and will raise the rear of your bike about 1" over OE sizes.

http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/dept.asp?dept_id=456&mscssid=0C337EFBD88984B99963AA0CAEFB8CF5&Gift=false&GiftID=

So what do you think of the oversized tires on the rear?  I know a lot of board members don't care for them.  I know that I got the BT45's because GSJack said that they were a good overall tire, and they came in 130/70.  I avoided the bigger tires because I keep hearing that the wider tire causes the bike to fall into turns pretty badly.  It already does that for me, so I don't think it needs any help.

[runsilent]

Can you get a radial in our stock sizes.

From searching this forum I noticed most say you have to upgrade to a 140 rear. Correct?

Can't get OE size radials in this country for GS, must get 130/80, 140/80, or 150/70 to properly fit our stock 3.5" wheels.

[runsilent]

The bias ply sport touring tires in OE sizes are all priced about the same.  Last time I looked, a rear at AMT was:

BT45   $85
Lasertec   $90
Demon   $85
Activ  $89

The BT45 was/is a good tire but the other 3 are all more up to date in materials and construction.  The BT45 is getting a bit dated now.

http://www.americanmototire.com/

Sport touring radials will give you about 50% more life for a little more cost:

Diablo Strada  $98
Z6  $109
Pilot Road  $114

Can be cheaper in the long run considering shipping, mounting, and balance costs.

There are a couple of older model tires that will give you decent handling and longer life than the ST bias tires if you are a commuter and not a peg dragger with very good prices at Chaparral:

D404  $51
S-11  $66
These are 130/90 sizes and will raise the rear of your bike about 1" over OE sizes.

http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/dept.asp?dept_id=456&mscssid=0C337EFBD88984B99963AA0CAEFB8CF5&Gift=false&GiftID=

So what do you think of the oversized tires on the rear?  I know a lot of board members don't care for them.  I know that I got the BT45's because GSJack said that they were a good overall tire, and they came in 130/70.  I avoided the bigger tires because I keep hearing that the wider tire causes the bike to fall into turns pretty badly.  It already does that for me, so I don't think it needs any help.

 


My opinions are the same as gsJacks.

[Egaeus]

My opinions are the same as gsJacks.

I came on just as GSJack left, so it's good to have someone as knowledgeable about tires and the GS in general back on the board. 

[Mandres]

My opinions are the same as gsJacks.

I suspected they might be    On an unrelated note I need to have a valve guide replaced on my head.  I know GSJack posted a while back about the same problem.  Does anyone know if he was able to replace it himself?  I wonder if he would have any advice about the procedure?  A PM would be great so this topic doesn't get hijacked.

-M

[3imo]

Thanks Guys 

I knew someone would know. 

[runsilent]

My opinions are the same as gsJacks.

I suspected they might be    On an unrelated note I need to have a valve guide replaced on my head.  I know GSJack posted a while back about the same problem.  Does anyone know if he was able to replace it himself?  I wonder if he would have any advice about the procedure?  A PM would be great so this topic doesn't get hijacked.

-M

The valve guide was not replaced.  It was an exhaust valve guide and approx half the diameter was broken off down to the head surface; half still project out full length.  After Bob B pointed out that racers ground off all of the valve guide protruding into the port, I decided to let it go as is.  That was Apr 05 and bike has over 14k more miles on it now and runs better than ever.